We already know that a hammer works by swinging its weight to a particular object and creating an impact. But are you familiar with a rotary hammer? First time hearing it? This is a versatile tool that works differently compared to the standard hammer.
A rotary hammer is commonly known as a rotary hammer drill. This is a heavy-duty and robust version of the typical hammer drill. But what exactly does it do? The first thing you should know about this tool is that it looks almost identical to the standard model but with one significant difference: the head moves up and down instead of side to side, like on traditional models.
This means that if you need something done quickly without spending hours trying to figure out where exactly everything goes and which direction you are working in, then using one will save tons of time!
Now that you have an idea of how a rotary hammer works, it’s now time to learn what its uses are. So keep on reading, and don’t forget to share your thought in the comment section!
USES OF ROTARY HAMMER

If you are a starter, you need to have enough knowledge before using the rotary hammer. Remember, it’s easy to run into problems with any type of drilling machine if you don’t know what you’re doing. So without further ado, here are the unique uses of a rotary hammer!
🟤 Drills holes and chisels away hard materials
A rotary hammer drill is a type of hammer drill that uses a special kind of a bit called an impact bit. These bits are designed to break up rock, concrete, and other hard materials at high speeds. They’re also used for digging holes in the ground for various purposes.
Rotary hammers have many applications in construction and demolition projects. They can drill through more rigid materials than other drills, such as concrete and rock. The most common benefit for rotary hammers is drilling through brick walls so that you can install plumbing pipes behind them without having to remove the bricks first. Other uses include:
- Breaking into old buildings so that they can be renovated
- Digging holes for fence posts or tree stumps
🟤 Used for larger construction projects
Rotary hammers are most often used for larger construction projects such as making new homes or building additions. The tool is used in many other jobs as well, including:
Demolition
The rotary hammer can be used to break up concrete and brick walls in order to create openings for pipes and utilities.
Underground work
Rotary hammers make it easy to drill holes into the ground without having to worry about hitting underground cables or pipes. This process is especially helpful if you’re installing an irrigation system on your property because it makes digging trenches much easier than it would be with a traditional drill or shovel.
The rotary hammer is a type of drill that’s designed to get you through rigid materials. A regular drill might be used for drilling holes into wood or metal. However, a rotary hammer is specifically designed to make it easier to drill through tougher materials like concrete or rock. The difference between this tool and a regular drill is that the head on a rotary hammer has more weight behind it so that it can break through hard surfaces without issue.
🟤 Make large holes or small holes.
The size of the bit being used determines the size of the hole. A larger bit will make a wider hole, and a smaller bit will make a smaller hole.
The size of the bit is also determined by what type of material you are drilling through. If you need to dig through thick material, such as concrete or rock, you will need to use a larger bit than if you were only drilling into metal or wood.
🟤 Designed to operate at very high speeds and with great force.
A rotary hammer is designed to operate at very high speeds and with great force. It can drill through more rigid materials than other drills, such as concrete and thick walls. It uses reciprocating bit movements as well as a percussive action to crush masonry materials as it drills through them.
WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?
Rotary hammers are equipped with a reciprocating chisel motion. This means that they move up and down like a jackhammer rather than just spinning like a drill. The movement is powered by the rotation of the drill bit, which causes it to strike downward on one side of the tool’s head while another part is moving upward, hence “reciprocating.”
Rotary hammers can also be used for chipping away at concrete or masonry materials or breaking up hard rock, though they’re not really great for this. They are more powerful than other kinds of drills, which means they can be used to drill larger holes. This makes them ideal for construction projects where you need to bore through concrete or rock.
A rotary hammer uses a reciprocating bit movement and a percussive action that allows you to drill with ease. Lastly, the weight of these tools is also significantly lighter than those used by other types of drills, making them more accessible and more comfortable to use for long periods.
OTHER TYPES OF DRILL

Aside from a rotary hammer, there are various types of construction drills that have a different functions. To give you a brief explanation, check the list below.
🟢 Right Angle Drill
If you find yourself in a situation where the walls are too close to allow for a regular drill to be used, a right-angle drill is your best option. These are great for drilling in tight corners or other narrow spaces where other drills cannot fit. They also come with a wide range of attachments that allow you to get into even smaller spaces than standard drills can reach out.
🟢 Impact Drill
An impact drill is one version of a drill that uses a hammering action to bore holes in concrete, brick, and masonry. The hammering action is achieved by a piston that is made to strike the back end of the drill bit repeatedly. The piston is activated or triggered by an electric motor.
An impact driver can be used as an alternative to an impact drill because it performs similar functions but with less weight and power than its heavier counterpart.
🟢 Hand-Held Core Drill
Hand-held core drills are a specialized drill that is used to cut holes in concrete. They are usually lighter than a standard impact drill so that they can be held easily with one hand and operated with the other. A hand-held core drill is often used for smaller jobs like installing a fence post or plumbing pipes.
🟢 Pistol Grip Core Drill
The pistol grip core drill is a tool used for drilling holes in concrete. It is typically used for plumbing and electrical work, as well as for larger holes. Pistol grip core drills are generally used to drill 1″ diameter holes up to 4″ in diameter.
The tool consists of three main parts: the handle, the motor, and gearbox assembly, and the chuck or bit holder assembly. The handle attaches firmly to either one or two attachments which connect with each other via a pivot point inside the body of the tool’s housing. There is also usually an adjustable wrench attachment on top of these attachments. This allows you to tighten them down onto whatever bit or attachment you’re using at any given time, like when tightening down your chuck.
🟢 Diamond Core Drill
A diamond core drill is a high-powered drill that is used mainly for drilling holes in concrete. It uses a diamond tip, which can be as large as 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter and up to several inches long. It works by spinning the tip of the bit at high speed, creating heat from friction and boring through concrete like butter. The material that comes out of your hole will look similar to ground glass once you’ve done your work!
The key benefit of this method is how quickly it can produce large diameter holes with ease; however, it does require some additional equipment and costs more per hole than other methods listed above. Although not nearly as much as hiring professional help.
BOTTOM LINE
Those were some quick insights on what the rotary hammer is, how it works and how it can help you in building your next project. As you can see from this blog, a rotary hammer may be a better choice than a traditional drill. But it still depends on your specific needs. Rotary hammers often exert less strain on your energy reserves since you don’t have to press the trigger continually. Also, they weigh less as well, making them easier to transport. That’s why these tools are often used by construction workers and tile setters.
Fortunately, you can find plenty of rotary hammers with the right balance of power, weight, and speed on the market. Just remember that the more features you are looking for, the higher the cost it will be.
Other types of drills are power and hand drill. Want to know what works best for you? Check the next article by clicking here!