The chipping motion doesn’t help drill any faster in those materials. You should never use hammer mode when you’re drilling in wood, metal, plastics, or other materials. In addition to the sound of the bit, there’s a fast buzzing sound from the hammer mechanism working. You’ll also notice a big difference in sound when you’re drilling in hammer mode. However, when you use larger bits or you have a lot of holes to drill, it makes a big difference. Even on hammer drills with electronic settings, the clutch, modes, and gearbox are still mechanical switches and collars on the head.Ģ seconds may not seem like a big deal. Regardless, the hammer mode is almost always right next to the drill mode. Some models have the mode changes separate from the clutch collar and others keep them all on one collar. When you look at a hammer drill, it has an additional hammer mode you can switch into. Modern drills and hammer drills have clutch settings and drill settings. Looking at the two side-by-side, you might not even be able to tell the difference. In most cases, it adds a small amount to the overall length and a few ounces to the overall weight.
To make a hammer drill, most manufacturers start with a drill driver and add a hammer mechanism behind the chuck.
Hammer Drill vs Drill: Physical Differences
You may also want to check out our articles on hammer drills vs impact drivers and rotary hammers vs hammer drills for even more information. For an extra $10–$20, you get some 25% faster drilling in concrete based on our tests. 10-Second SummaryA hammer drill adds a mechanism to give the drill a chipping motion while drilling and adds very little weight and length.