It displayed impressive power and efficiency for chipping away old mortar from bricks. We also fitted the hammer drill with a chip bit and switched it to “hammer only” mode. Some of the other cordless hammer drills we tested were faster or came with higher BPM ratings, but the DeWalt isn’t made just for speed-it’s made to drill powerfully and efficiently. The DeWalt features a top speed of 1,050 rotations per minute (rpm), and it generates up to 4,600 beats per minute (BPM). It’s slightly on the beefy side for tile, however, and is really meant for heavier-duty tasks. We also tried it for drilling through ceramic tile-with a smaller bit-and it drilled evenly without chipping the surface glaze. Its smooth action and power under pressure let us drill smooth holes in concrete and cinder bricks. We fitted it with a large masonry drill bit and started testing by drilling holes in concrete. Photo: Glenda Taylor How efficient is the DeWalt rotary hammer drill? I found it comparable to a three-jaw chuck, but it does require special SDS bits. It also features an SDS chuck, which is German for “steck, dreh, sitz,” or for English speakers, “insert, twist, stay.” This type of chuck is common on rotary hammer drills, while regular drill drivers usually come with a standard three-jaw chuck. The DCH273B is lighter and has smoother and more refined action, but it’s still highly efficient. Older, corded hammer drills can quickly leave hands, wrists, and arms fatigued with their intense vibration. My favorite aspect of this cordless hammer drill was its reduced vibration. The bar is adjustable and rotates to the most comfortable position. The DCH273B is ergonomically designed and features a nonslip pistol grip and a detachable stabilization bar. My husband thought it was wonderfully lightweight and easy to control. I was able to drill a few holes without straining too much. Fortunately, the DeWalt cordless hammer drill weighs just 6.4 pounds without the battery, and with the 5Ah battery, it weighs just under 8 pounds. Traditional corded models have always been too heavy for me to use with any degree of accuracy. The DeWalt hammer drill we tested was noticeably lighter than traditional rotary hammer drills, some of which can weigh as much as 18 pounds. Photo: Glenda Taylor Is the DeWalt hammer drill easy to use? This DeWalt hammer drill functions as a standard drill and hammer drill, as well as hammer only, which is a chipping function for use with a chipping bit. For those who have a higher-capacity battery, that’s even better. The tool didn’t come with a battery, and because hammer drills demand a lot of power, it’s probably best to use it with no less than a 5Ah battery. In testing, we paired the DeWalt cordless hammer drill, model DCH273B, with a DeWalt 5Ah rechargeable battery, which is considered a high-capacity battery. With constant improvements in lithium-ion technology, however, that’s all changing. Hammer drills require immense amounts of power to drill holes in masonry materials, and until very recently, battery technology wasn’t adequate to efficiently run a hammer drill. The unique aspect of the DeWalt hammer drill we tested is its lack of a cord. Hammer drills are not new-for decades, pros and DIYers have used them to drill holes in basement floors, patios, sidewalks, and foundations.
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