Ever since primitive man first discovered he could smash things more effectively with a big rock than he could with his face, the development of tools has been the driving force behind humanity’s rise to the top of the food-chain.
First rocks for smashing, then knapped flint for cutting and arrow heads and, ultimately, Homo sapien reached a point in development anthropologists call ‘Jemeromo Clarksonien’.
Today of course, we’d quickly revert to our arboreal ancestors if we didn’t have the right tools to help us do the things we can’t on our own. Whether that’s kitchen utensils to cook, GPS to direct us out the same ditch we’d keep falling in otherwise, or even AI to relieve us of all our jobs, these are all tools of a type created by humanity to ease our lives and possibly replace us.
But there are still those tools in our day-to-day lives that simply cannot function without human handling and, fortunately for us, these are also by far the coolest tools. Yes, I’m talking power tools – tools ignited by the awesome energy of electricity, whether mains wired or battery backed, to place unimaginable DIY potency in the palm of your hands.
Naturally when it comes to around-the-houseness, the undisputed king of the power tools is the power drill, wielding the ability to repair and destroy in equal measure, and king of kings amongst power drills? The hammer drill!
Destructive and exacting in equal measure, a good hammer (drill) will bore precision holes into the toughest materials like brick, stone, concrete and block, or can be used to shatter those aforementioned materials into near dust, should you need rid of them, providing a sense of self-satisfaction that will thrill even diehard DIY detesters.
With similar looks but differing abilities and differing levels of hammering oomph, the hammer drills, or SDS (Slotted Drive Shaft/System) you require very much depends on your general job requirements, whether you want wired or cordless, your budget and, of course, just how obsessed with possessing absolute hammer power you are.
Let’s drill down.
Draper Tools D20 SDS + Rotary
Best for: Precision power, reasonable price
A name from the world of tools that’s as solid as the stuff it puts holes in, I’ve used Draper tools in many of my DIY disasters over the years (disasters on account of me being hapless, nothing to do with the tools) because I’ve always found them to be utterly dependable and eminently affordable, and the D20 is no exception.
At a shade over 200 quid, the D20 might seem a little pricey to some, but then you’re getting four tools in one: a drill, a hammer drill, a chisel and chisel lock, and variable speed function, so it’s actually a bit of a bargain.
Built to withstand pretty much anything you can chuck at it and weighing in at 2.2kg, the Draper D20 comes complete with a side handle to allow for easier management and control, and there’s also a handy depth rod for, well, measuring hole depth and an LED light to illuminate your handy work and ensure you’re not blindly boring a big hole where you shouldn’t.
Now, let’s talk about torque. While ‘speed’ is how fast your drill turns (0-1400rpm in the case of the D20), torque is how much force it applies to turn an object, which for the Draper D20 is a max. torque of 135Nm (Newton metres) – power aplenty!
A wireless wonder, too, the D20 comes cord-free thanks to 2x 2.0Ah batteries and, of course, a charger, all of which neatly pack away into its blow-moulded carry case when your hammer drilling endeavours are all done.
Putting the ‘power’ in power tool, the Draper D20 is the serious DIYer’s drill for life.
Buy now £186.99, Robert Dyas
Bosch Universal Impact 700 Hammer Drill Driver
Best for: Hammering home on any and all projects
A cunning drill combo, the UniversalImpact 700 from the big boys at Bosch skirts in at under £60, yet offers you the ability to not only drill into masonry like a hot knife been oddly poked tip first through butter thanks to the hammer action, but also an impact function that lets you drive screws and bolts into wood and metal with utter ease and abandon.
Weighing 1.7kg, the Bosch is compact and comfortable in use thanks to the well-thought-out ergonomics of the thing. Featuring a Press&Lock chuck you can change drill bits quickly and free from faff, which provides wrist relief from all that screwing and unscrewing. Also helping make life simpler is Bosch Speed Preselection, which – as it sounds– lets you preselect your speed so that it’s precision-matched to the material you’re working on.
Good to go on masonry, wood, stone, metal and tile, the 700 has an auxiliary handle that affixes to the front to afford greater control and comes with a cable length – yes, this one is wired – of 2.5m, which should be ample for most home uses.
Now on the numbers side of things, the Bosch is a speed demon at 0-3000rpm, while torque sits at 17Nm, making the Universal Impact 700 a great all-round home hammer drill.
Buy now £85.99, Currys
Black+Decker 650W SDS+ Hammer
Best for: Hardcore hammer-action
A name synonymous with tools and DIY, Black+Decker has long been the power tool brand of choice of my dad, a man who knows what he’s doing when it comes to home improvement (a skillset I did not inherit) and, indeed, the choice of countless millions (at a guess) others worldwide, too.
Here we have the B+W 650W SDS+ Hammer, finished in the firm’s instantly recognisable black and orange livery (Decker is not a colour) and built for balance, ergonomics and drilling the absolute damnation out of any material you point it. Even engaging in some light demolition of brick, masonry and tiles, should the mood take you.
With three modes at your fingertips, one for hammer destruction, one for hammer drilling into otherwise impenetrable surfaces, and one normal drill mode for wood and metal, the B+W has a very comfortable soft grip handle, an adjustable and removable side handle and a cord to keep you powered up beyond the life of even the best batteries.
A variable speed trigger adds to the feeling of control and precision and the drill itself comes with a keyed chuck, an 8mm SDS-PLUS bit, and a 6mm SDS-PLUS bit, which will be enough to tackle most household tasks until you feel the need to buy more drill bits and truly explore your hammer drill habits.
Buy now £62.25, Amazon
DeWalt D25033K
Best for: Combined speed and safety
Now retailing at £126, down from £146, the DeWalt D25033K not only saves you 20 quid but also places in your hands the power to plough holes in concrete, masonry, wood and metal with equal ease, and battle away at brick and soft masonry (concrete not so much) with complete confidence.
Weighing 2.5kg and with a no-load speed of 0-1550rpm, this mains-powered hole-maker has a nicely ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use and – a feature many will appreciate – comes with a mechanical clutch that stops the whole yellow thing jumping violently out of unprepared hands should a bit jam result in a high-torque reaction.
Heavy-duty enough then to handle most domestic demands and even beyond the home, the De Walt has a chunky mode selection switch that can be operated with work gloves firmly on, while the 360° removable side handle helps keep everything steady and efficiently on-target.
Coming complete with carry case, the DeWalt D25033K offers hammer drill oomph and, let’s face it, no matter how dust-filled things get, in a colour that means you’ll never misplace it.
Buy now £145.98, ToolStation
Black+Decker BCD900D1K
Best for: Unerring cordless competence
Designed to give the intermediate user’s DIY a brawn boost, the BCD900D1K from Black+Decker is a cordless and remorseless drilling, chiselling and chipping machine, with a capacious battery that doesn’t self-discharge, meaning you can run around free from the shackles of cables, DIYing to your heart’s content.
Having a lot of experience with this model, I know what it is capable of, so if you’re after medium-duty assaults on concrete, brick, masonry, wood, metal, tiles and plastic, the B+D is a domestic goddess, while the mighty motor makes powering through tedious tasks swift and painless.
With a removable aux handle to keep even the shakiest of drill users on target, an LED guide light, plus a sizable knob to help you switch between modes with ease while wearing gloves, the BCD900D1K comes with carry kit box containing all you need to bore at your very best.
Buy now £105.60, Homebase
Makita DHR242Z
Best for: A three-way wonder
Makita has been making tools since the early 20th century was a thing, and today it makes and sells its high-performance power-presenters all around the globe, so you can be confident in completing your project properly before you even open the box the DHR242Z comes in.
Indeed, a tool that’s tooled-up, this Makita is a cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammer that features variable speed control, an electronic brake, torque limiter, a one-touch sliding chuck for quick bit changes, electronic clutch, brushless motor, and vibration-absorbing cushion rubbers to protect the battery.
With a maximum speed of 680rpm, an easy-to-grip handle that’s ergonomically designed to give maximum thrust and a removable side handle, this is a drill that delivers precision and power in abundance.
When you add to that a chuck that offers 40 bit angle positions across 360° for optimum chisel angle and depth gauge, whether drilling, chiselling or hammering, the Makita is more than up to the task, and thanks to the easy-grip handle you’re in for a comfortable ride too.
Buy now £172.00, Amazon
Ryobi R18SDS-0 ONE+ SDS Plus Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill (Body Only) - Hyper Green
-Hyper-Green.jpg)
This Ryobi hammer drill uses a universal battery, so if you've already got one one of Ryobi's other 150+ tools you won't have to shell out for another.
The L-shaped design allows you to get close to the jobs to allow for precise application and there are four modes so you can pick the one best suited to your task. The drill is ideal for working with tough surfaces like brick, concrete and stone. It can also be used to chisel into masonry and getting rid of floor and wall tiles.
The drill is comfortable to hold and light enough to work with for big jobs.
Buy now £99.00, Amazon
