Best Bosch Hammer/SDS Drill
Best Bosch Hammer Drills / SDS Drills
After testing all of the Best Rotary Hammer Drills available on the market, it only felt right that we wrote a Best Bosch Hammer Drill Review. Our favourite Bosch hammer drill (SDS drill) is just a great drill, it is also the best on the market. When you buy a Bosch power tool you know you are getting high-quality and that is why contractors and homeowners alike choose Bosch.
Bosch has been synonymous with quality in power tools and the hammer drill we’ve chosen is not different. It’s not only great value for money, it’s a great drill regardless of your budget. We could bore you with endless choices but we’ve handpicked this model because it’s a stand out winner.
Bosch 11255VSR SDS-Plus Bulldog Xtreme Rotary Hammer
All in all, we love the design of the Bosch 11255VSR Bulldog Xtreme Rotary Hammer Drill. It’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into how this drill was made from the design process to the overall build. It seems that Bosch has thought of everything and it can do anything required from the needs of masonry workers, construction workers or DIY’ers. The first thing you notice about the Bulldog Xtreme Rotary Hammer Drill is its incredible power, with the ability to reach up to 1,300 RPM and 5,800 BPM it’s impressive.
This is an electric corded rotary hammer which means there is no running out of power, so it’s perfect for workers who have jobs requiring long periods of using a hammer drill. You can really rely on this hammer driver-drill and it can take a battering without needing cooling breaks, which means you can get the job done quickly and efficiently. Although corded hammer drills don’t offer the same freedom or flexibility as cordless options, this model has a turret cord which provides a decent range of flexibility. Obviously it’s not as easy to get into tight spaces as cordless alternatives, but we were still impressed with its maneuverability.
At Wonkee Donkee, another feature we love about the Bosch Bulldog is that it comes with an SDS Plus bit system. This means that changing bits is extremely easy and no other tools are needed. Plus, the system comes with 36 different bit positions to chose from, this means you can always choose the ideal working angle.
The Bosch 1125VSR Bulldog Xtreme Rotary Hammer is simply one of the best power tools on the market today. An excellent and invaluable addition to any tool kit.
Guide to Buying the Perfect Hammer Drill
After reading our Best Bosch Hammer Drill Review you might want a little bit more information on what all of the different terms used mean, and what you need to look out for when you are buying an SDS hammer drill. In this next section, we have put together a complete hammer drill buying guide to help you make the best decision when it comes to buying the right hammer drill for you.
What is a hammer drill for?
One of the first things to think about is what will you be using your hammer drill for. As previously mentioned, the hammer drill has a rotating hammer action. When drilling harder surfaces such as rock and masonry, this drill is much better than a regular drill. This is because of the power that can be concentrated in one place to drill into extremely dense materials.
The hammer drill is probably one of the most powerful tools available on the market, with many models offering the use of different drill bits for different tasks. A high-quality hammer drill will make a hard job a lot easier and quicker.
Corded or Cordless?
The decision whether to have corded or cordless hammer drill really depends on just how much work you want the tool to do. If a lot of the material you will be working with is tough then a corded hammer drill is your best option. This is because a continuous power source will be needed and you will save time not having to wait around for batteries to recharge.
Another thing that you will need to consider is the location where you will be using your hammer drill. If you are using it in places that don’t have access to the mains then you will simply have to use a cordless option. These don’t provide the same amount of power, but they do provide an unrivaled amount of maneuverability and flexibility
Hammer Drill or Rotary Hammer?
When looking into the different hammer drills available, you will most likely come across the rotary hammer drills. These are more powerful than standard hammer drills as they use a piston action to turn the drill bit as it hits the material. The drawbacks of these models are that they tend to be much heavier, larger and expensive compared to hammer drills. So, only go for a rotary hammer if you know you will be drilling much larger holes and heavier workloads.
The Top Features of a Hammer Drill
Power Source
Power is obviously a key feature. However, equally as important is the power source that a tool is using. The cordless hammer drill is ideal for use in the home or for lighter jobs. It offers greater versatility, something the corded drill cannot match. It also has great maneuverability and gets into all those places the corded drill can’t, making it a very useful tool. However, they cannot offer you the same amount of power as a corded hammer drill. The corded hammer drill gives much higher rotations per minute (RPM) and gets tougher jobs done quicker, without the need to stop to recharge batteries.
Power
Being connected to a power will determine how quickly the job gets done. The motors on standard hammer drills are about 7 amps, with some models with larger motors available at around 10 amps. Therefore, the larger the motor you have, the more power you have at your disposal. If you are going to be using a hammer drill for a long period of time then you should also take into account comfort into this equation. The more powerful the hammer drill the heavier and bulkier it tends to be, which can be tiring when using for long periods of time.
Variable Speed
Variable speed is a very handy feature for a hammer drill to have, as it gives much greater control. It will allow you to get better results as it allows you more accuracy and precision in your work. Different speeds provide the tool with a greater range of tasks that it can complete, making it much more useful. Often many hammer drills will take a wide range of drill bits, meaning you can even work with much softer metals and wood. You will just need to choose the appropriate drill bit and adjusting the RPM. One warning we will give is that hammer drills are designed to work on much harder materials, so be careful even when using low-speed settings with lighter materials. You don’t want to damage what your working on or your drill bit!
Safety
It’s important to remember that safety is just as important as any other feature. When using a tool as powerful as the hammer drill it is of vital importance. A hammer drill will have two handles which provide both safety and comfort. This means you have stability and complete control whilst in operation. All the best hammer drills handles will have a comfortable, ergonomically designed grip with shock absorption technology. A very important feature when it comes to powerful corded hammer drills.
Depth Gauge
When holes need to be drilled to a particular depth a depth gauge is very useful. It will make your work less prone to errors and certainly make your life easier. It seems a simple feature but we find it really helpful to complete professional projects.
Keyed Chuck
A lot of drills today come with keyless chucks. This makes the changing of bits much quicker and easier. It allows you to change the drill bit without the need for extra tools in order to tighten the chuck to secure the bit in place. These can be extremely convenient, however, at Wonkee Donkee we much prefer keyed chuck on SDS hammer drills. It just provides up with that extra peace of mind that the drill bit is secure.