- 1. Metabo VS. Makita Hammer Drill
- 2. What Is A Hammer Drill
- 3. Difference Between A Hammer Drill And An Impact Drill
- 4. Can A Hammer Drill Be Used As A Regular Drill
- 5. What Is A Hammer Drill Mode
- 6. Why Should You Own A Hammer Drill
- 7. Buying Guide: Things To Consider When Purchasing A Hammer Drill
- 8. Conclusion
Just like other technologies today, power tools are also innovating to make things easier for everyone who’s into home repair and maintenance.
Gone are the days where you will put on effort just to drill something into a hard surface because, with hammer drills, things are now made easier.
Hammer drills are one of the essential power tools that can help you with home repair and maintenance. It has the power to drill into a brick, block, or cement.
Also, it’s one of the most versatile tools today, since you can also use it as a regular drill. But with the many brands today, it can be challenging to choose the best ones.
Metabo and Makita are two know brands for hammer drills, and I reviewed both hammer drill brands below to help you choose the best one for you.
Metabo VS. Makita Hammer Drill
1. Metabo 600782620 SBE 850-2 1/2” Hammer Drill
Metabo SBE 850-2 Hammer Drill is known to have both performance and functionality. The tool has a rotational speed of up to a maximum of 3,400 RPM and 60,000 BPM of percussion frequency.
This hammer is powered by an 850-watt electric motor, which is already sufficient enough, including drilling into concrete and steel.
The Metabo SBE 850-2 Hammer Drill is using a keyless chuck to ensure its convenience to its users. One of the best things about this hammer drills is the clear case that it has, which is easy to change the bits.
This hammer drill includes a double-speed gearbox, which is durable enough to protect your power tool.
Metabo SBE 850-2 Test & Review (Video)

Pros:
- High performance
- The cord is long enough
- Ideal for working in a stationary drilling machine
- Comfort grip
Cons:
- Heavyweight
2. Makita HR2475 1 Inch D-Handle SDS Plus Rotary Hammer
Makita HR2475 Rotary Hammer is a powerful tool with a 7.0 AMP motor, which is perfect for a short period of work on concrete.
The maximum speed of this Roary hammer is 1,100 RPM. You can use one of the three modes, including hammering, rotation, and hammering with rotation.
These modes can be controlled using a speed trigger that’s very easy to operate.
The Makita HR2475 Rotary Hammer weighs 6.2 pounds and is considered lightweight for its use. To ensure your comfort when using it, the rotary hammer has two handles that are both ergonomic.
The front handle is rotatable of up to 360 degrees, so you will have full control when operating the rotary hammer.
Makita HR2475 Test & Review (Video)

Pros:
- User-friendly
- Lightweight
- Consists of three modes of operation
- Powerful motor and durable
Cons:
- Warranty is short
What Is A Hammer Drill
A hammer drill or also known as an impact drill or a percussion drill is a powerful tool that is used to drill in hard materials.
It is a kind of rotary drill with a mechanism that is similar to an impact wherein it generates the hammering motion. It also has a mechanism similar to a percussive which will give a quick succession of hammer thrusts that is short.
This will help pulverize the surface to be bored. In most hammer drills today, the user will be able to turn off the hammer drill mechanism so the user can use it as a traditional drill.
Difference Between A Hammer Drill And An Impact Drill
A hammer drill is used to drill on metal, plastic, wood, and light masonry drilling. Its main purpose is to create holes in materials and is slightly bigger than cordless drills.
This is better for home tasks compared to a traditional screw because it will help prevent fatigue.
An impact drill, on the other hand, has a hammering mechanism. It is a small impact wrench and has a rotating direction.
An impact drill has a lot of torque for unscrewing and screwing bolts and screws. Minimal effort is needed when using an impact drill.
Can A Hammer Drill Be Used As A Regular Drill
Yes, you can use the hammer drill as a regular drill. All you have to do I to turn off the hammer drill mechanism on your power tool. This will allow you to use it as a typical drill if you want to.
What Is A Hammer Drill Mode
A hammer drill mode is used when drilling onto mortar, brick, concrete, and stone. When the hammer drill mode is turned on, it will start rotating like a regular drill bit with forward hammering.
Why Should You Own A Hammer Drill
Most professional contractors and homeowners own a hammer drill. The reason behind this is that it helps the tasks easier, especially when drilling holes.
If you need to ensure that the screws are securely screwed, using a masonry drill is ideal.
It is also ideal to use hammer drills on wood frame constructions. Also, drilling holes on footings, slabs, and concrete piers is necessary for you to be able to install metal anchors.
Using a hammer drill will make things more comfortable because it has the speed and power to blast through different materials, including concrete when needed.
Also, using a hammer drill is one of the easiest ways to help you split big stones and boulders. All you have to do is to start creating holes in the boulder.
Insert two iron feathers into each hole. To help the wedge to go deeper into the holes, you need to use a small sledgehammer.
Another reason why you should use a hammer drill is that it will help you drill into mortar joints or brick. Remember that mortar is easier and softer to drill compared to a brick.
But screws and anchors will securely bite into a brick. The same goes when drilling to concrete block walls.
Lastly, if the hammer drill mode is turned off, the hammer drill can be used as a traditional cordless driver/drill for driving screws and drilling holes into different materials.
Buying Guide: Things To Consider When Purchasing A Hammer Drill
Brushless Motor
One of the things that you need to consider when purchasing a hammer drill is the brushless motors. Choosing one that has a brushless motor technology will help increase the run time by 50% for every charge compared to a brushed motor.
20V Lithium-Ion
When working on creating holes, it is ideal that your power tool won’t cause fatigue, especially if you work for an extended period of time. The best thing that you can do is to choose a hammer drill that utilizes 20V Lithium-Ion batteries.
It would also be best to select a power tool that comes with an extra battery. So that if the other battery runs out, you have a new battery to use while charging the other one.
Just make sure to store them properly for both batteries to last for a long period of time.
Fuel Gauge
It would also be best to choose a hammer drill with a fuel gauge. This will help you know if you’re about to lose the power of your battery.
You can immediately change the battery when needed.
LED Light
Some of the latest hammer drills today have built-in LED light. This will help you work on areas with limited lights or areas where it is dimly lit.
Having a hammer drill with LED light will help illuminate the areas that you are working on.
Convenience
Of course, when working on your home maintenance and repair, you need to choose a hammer drill that is ergonomically designed.
This will help hold your hammer drill comfortably. Also, this will help you to have high precision because you are comfortable with the power tool that you are using.
Consider The Brands
Lastly, it would be best to consider the brand of the hammer drill that you’re going to purchase.
Yes, popular brands may be expensive or higher than usual, but this will be a good investment. Avoid sacrificing the quality for the price.
Features To Watch Out For
When purchasing a hammer drill, it would be best if your power tool has the features below.
In this way, you will be assured that you’re buying something with features that you will be able to use when working on your home repair or maintenance.
- Belt Clip
- Screwdriver Bit
- Carrying case for accessories and tools
- Impact rating of a minimum of 32,000 blows every minute
- Rubber handgrip
- 20 and above clutch settings
- Maximum torque output of up to 500 in. Lbs
- Two-speed motor
- 1/2 Inch Keyless chuck
Conclusion
With the above Metabo VS. Makita hammer drill reviews, you have evidently decided as to which of the two gives you the features that you need.
Give yourself a favor by preventing fatigue from happening when working on your home repair and maintenance by choosing the hammer drills above.
Just make sure to consider the tips above when purchasing a hammer drill and always think of it as a great investment.
It will not only make your job easier but as well as prevent fatigue.