General Blogger

At last week’s media event we saw so many tools and all of them were pretty impressive. Milwaukee has been on a mission as of late to make cordless tools as fast or faster than their corded counterparts. They’re trying to prove that cordless tools can be heavy duty tools. When I think of heavy duty tools, rotary hammers are the first that come to mind. They are always working with a hard material in dirty, dusty conditions. How can a cordless tool possibly keep up?!! The M18 Fuel Rotary Hammers have changed my perspective.

Last week Milwaukee introduced two new tools, both are M18 FUEL Rotary Hammers. They released a 1″ SDS+ hammer in the medium category and a 1-1/8″ hammer in the large category. That gives Milwaukee a full line of SDS+ hammers and one battery platform. A company doesn’t have to have multiple battery platforms to power their various hammers, they only need one. Milwaukee is the only company offering this right now.

Milwaukee conducted a lot of research with contractors to see what would make them switch over to cordless for their rotary hammers and it came down to three things; it has to be fast, has to be durable, and has to use the same battery platform as all their other tools. At the event they squared off two popular 1-1/8″ corded hammers against the new Fuel. Of course the Milwaukee won by a landslide (I wouldn’t expect anything less at a manufacturer event). It goes to prove though that the speed is there. It was faster than comparable corded tools. Here’s a clip where you can see how far ahead the Milwaukee is from the competition.

Like I mentioned above, rotary hammers are some of the hardest working tools on the jobsite and see some of the harshest conditions. It is impossible to prove a tools durability in a 30 minute demonstration but we all took turns on the hammers. They had a good feel to them. The vibration dampening worked well enough and the fit and finish was really nice. Time will bear out Milwaukee’s claims though. We’ll know soon enough how durable they are.

M18 FUEL™ 1-1/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit (2715-22)- NEW

M18 FUEL™ 1″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit (2715-22)- NEW

M18™ 7/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (2605-22)

M18™ 5/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (2612-22)

The new M18 FUEL Rotary Hammers will be available starting in October 2014 in the US and that includes the dust extractors. Look for them at Home Depot and independent dealers.

Contributing Editor Jeff Williams is a Project Manager for a masonry restoration company specializing in large historic buildings. Jeff comes from a long line of Contractors. His parents started a Commercial General Contracting firm many years ago and it has afforded him life-long, hands-on learning opportunities from rough and fine carpentry all the way to structural steel and concrete. Jeff has a Construction Management degree and loves the thrill of coordinating and successfully managing large jobs from start to finish. Inspired by the difficulties sometimes encountered to complete punch lists his motto is, "Work hard until the job is done."

@jeff_williamsJeff Williams

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Several years ago when the first pro brushless drills hit the shelves for Milwaukee & Makita we did an 18V Hammer Drill Showdown with these same brands. At the time the Makita was at a disadvantage because they had just launched their first brushless drill which was made for the largest user base which doesn’t require a high torque tool but focuses more on runtime for medium duty applications. Of the 4 original drills only the Milwaukee remains the same, all 3 other tool companies have launched newer heavy duty hammer drills within the last year. The new Bosch Drill HDH181X however is not brushless, the torque has been increased and it now has the Active Response torque control feature but remains a 4 pole brushed motor which Bosch feels can hold it’s own against the brushless competition.

Why this is Not a Good Comparison Test

Let us be the first to point out all the flaws in this test and save you the time of calling us out. First off 3/4″ holes in concrete in not an application we see a lot of with these types of tools, of course you should be using an SDS-Plus drill and all these manufacturers offer cordless versions of those tools (we’re working on a test as we speak). Second a single test doesn’t paint an accurate picture of power and run time we should do a bunch of different tests adding one running out a battery doing 3/8” in concrete, then run a battery out doing 2-9/16” with a self-feed bit in wood, followed by a full battery driving self tapping screws into metal, etc. When we have 5-10 different tests then you could give a much more definitive answer on run time. Third we should take out the human element of people applying different pressure and not drilling the exactly same depths or wobbling the drills or getting tired. A stationary rig with equal force would be the way to go here for sure. We do understand all these issues however the main purpose of this test was actually as a training exercise the folks at Ohio Power Tool were doing with their staff to give the guys a chance to use all the tools and see what the differences were so they could talk intelligently firsthand about each tool. They also spend time with all the reps who demo each tool individually in various applications but rarely do they ever do side by sides like this. We just wanted to share some of this testing and hopefully you may find some of this information helpful.

The Wrist Breaking Torque Test

We wanted to revisit the torque test we had done before and see what kind of numbers we see as compared to what the manufacturers are claiming as well as test out this new Bosch feature that will cut the tool power if it were to jam up. Running tool on the Skidmore is kind of like putting your car on a dyno. What the manufacturer claims is a cars horsepower is always a bit lower when you translate that to at the wheel on a dyno. The same can be true for power tools (at least for impact tools) on the Skidmore.

Putting hammer drills on a Skidmore is not what it is made for and kind of like a split second bull ride. When the drill tops out, unlike an impact, it jerks out of your hand and you obviously can’t apply anymore force. In this test we found the Milwaukee to be about the same as last time topping out around 6000 bolt tension or slightly above which roughly estimates 660-690 in-lbs. The Dewalt was about the same on most tests but we would give it a slight advantage on some of the pulls topping out in the 6250 range or 675-700 in-lbs. What was the biggest surprise and easiest on Kris’s wrist (the repair tech who of his own wrists on the line testing these tools) was the Bosch. The Active Response torque control feature made a big impact here as when the tool began to jerk it would stop and the LED light would come on and flicker. Our prediction was that this feature would kick in too early and not allow the tool to reach its full potential but the opposite was true and applied almost 7000 bolt tension before doing so which is in the mid 700 in-lbs range where it claims (752 in-lbs). Again if we mounted these tools in a rig and did not allow for any movement perhaps the other tools would hit their published torque numbers as well but we wanted to know what was possible to hold on to as you would in the real world. The winner in this challenge was the new Makita which we expected with its published 1090 in-lbs rating. It actually hit 9000 bolt tension range (close to published rates) but it was equally harder to hold on too, definitely needed the extra long handle.

Our biggest concern here is people not understanding what the power this Makita tool brings to the table and pitching the side handle as they may have done with drills in the past. Only a few years ago the highest rates 18v were around 550 in-lbs so if pretty short time these tools have doubled in torque. That being the case this tool could seriously cause some injuries if guys don’t give these drills the proper respect.

Drilling into Concrete

Last time we used 1/2” carbide bits (and regretted it then) but we didn’t get any smarter and this time we went with 3/4″ Bosch Blue Granite bits to really put these tools to the test. Using the hammer drills in concrete does not test the top end torque but it is extremely taxing on the tools. We wanted to test speed as well as battery life so we recorded the first 2 users who did 4 holes each (total of 8 holes/tool) for this small sample of out of the gate performance. We averaged these first 8 hole (again this is not a laboratory test, just a quick sampling). The remaining holes were drilled by several different folks who all drilled 1 or 2 holes with each tool so hopefully consistent in their inconsistency. The time differences varied by 50+% which means the best times from any one of these drills could beat the worst of any other. Looking at the average you get a little better idea how they performed overall.

Speed Per Hole for the First 8 Holes (Min-Max, Avg, total):
Dewalt – 24.0-48.9, 35.7 avg, 16 total
Makita – 18.2-33.6, 26.0 avg, 16 total
Milwaukee – 18.8-37.5, 27.5 avg, 16 total
Bosch – 24.4-34.3, 28.6 avg, 12 total

All 4 of these units were generally pretty comparable in this application with nobody sticking out as they shouldn’t be in the competition. The Bosch as the only brushed tool and held its own pretty well in the beginning but began to slow and by the 12th hole was too hot to hold at the handle. All 3 remaining brushless drills died/overheated on the 16 holes which unfortunately makes this part of the test pretty inconclusive. Both Milwaukee and Dewalt started the 17th holes Milwaukee got about ½ way and Dewalt not even that far. The Makita was the fastest of the 4 but in this test all drills we in high speed setting so doesn’t utilize that high top end torque. The Dewalt was the worse of 4 on vibration which most likely lead to the widest range of speed results, user discomfort may have lead to some of the longer drill times as there were also several pretty fast times.

Overall 4th place – Bosch 18V Cordless Hammer Drill HDH181X-01L ($319)

The only brushed hammer drill in the running we feel pretty confident saying this is one of the beat brushed drill around. It did have pretty respectable drilling speed though the first several holes in concrete but over heated in this rigorous test and just couldn’t keep up with the brushless counterparts. From a safety director stand point this would probably be the winner. We can see how the Active Response feature was a real benefit and could prevent unnecessary injuries on the jobsite especially with inexperienced users. To our surprise this feature didn’t hinder the overall power and actually looks like it helped on the peak output. If Bosch could put this feature on a brushless drill as powerful as the Makita and put that tool in a combo kit with their Socket Ready impact driver ($279) Bosch would have a home run on their hands.

Overall 3rd Place – Dewalt Brushless 20VMAX Hammer Drill DCD995M2 ($299)

In torque testing it did edge out the Milwaukee but probably not enough that you would notice in real world applications. For the testing in concrete it was noticeably slower and the vibration was also noticeably more than the Milwaukee or Makita. The top metal part also got extremely hot but kept up to 16 holes before quitting so the runtime with the 4.0Ah (all were tested with 4.0Ah) was right in line so we had to rank it above the Bosch. This was the lightest of the 4 units and the only with 3 torque/speed settings so again depending on your priorities this could be the tool for you.

Overall 2nd Place – Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hammer Drill 2704-22 ($299)

This same drill won the previous concrete drilling challenge in 2012 but with new models from all the competition it was a big question mark if this one would still hold up. It was a pretty close call between 1 and 4 this go around, there were pluses and minuses for each drill. In the end we put the Milwaukee at the number 2 spot because our main focus here was the concrete testing and it really held up well. Good speed, potentially the best runtime (although too close to call) and low vibration.

Overall Winner – Makita 18V Brushless Hammer Drill XPH07 ($319)

Based on the stats and being the newest of the bunch this was Makita’s competition to loss but they did not disappoint. The Makita backed up their claim for more torque and we do understand why it comes with that ridiculously long second handle (you’ll need it). It had excellent performance in our concrete testing with lowest vibration of the bunch with very nice speed (fastest average time). If you are looking for the most powerful cordless hammer drill we think Makita has it, at least for the time being.

Takeaways from this Test for Our Team

First, we were pretty surprised to see such similar performance in the all the models for the concrete testing, we were hoping for a more definitive winner. We may revisit another type of test to determine a more clear runtime winner. Second, as the torque on these drills continues to climb we thing features like Bosch’s Active Response torque control could really be a big advantage. Milwaukee is putting a similar feature on their M18 Hole Hawg (coming soon) and Makita & Dewalt do similar things on their grinders and other tools so they are all capable. Finally, next time we do testing it’ll be something much less brutal on the guys. In the future we’ll leave 1/2” or 3/4” holes in concrete for the rotary hammer drill just wanted to compare it more closely to the previous showdown.

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While Milwaukee has always offered rotary hammer drills in SDS-Plus sizes they have not been serious players in the category. Bosch and Hilti have been the leaders with Dewalt and Makita taking their share of the pie as well. Up to this point 18V cordless SDS-Plus drills have been more of a lower powered niche product. Things look like they are about to shake up however as Milwaukee is working to prove their M18 FUEL cordless rotary drills can not only outperform any 18V or 36V but corded drills as well.

At the recent Milwaukee New Product Launch event we watch the Milwaukee folks test these new drills against the top corded SDS-Plus hammer drills from Bosch & Hilti. In the video we can see the M18 FUEL 2715-22 ($549) drill take on the Hilti TE-30 ($600-900) as well as the Bosch Bulldog Xtreme Max RH228VC ($259) which are all rated up to 1-1/8” solid bit capacity. Not in the video they also test the M18 FUEL 1” 2712-22 against the 1” versions of both the Hilti and Bosch with similar results in favor of the cordless Milwaukee.

We also spent some time on our own drilling with various models as well as using the new M18 tools in chipping model to verify these results. With the long runtime of the 4.0Ah batteries and M18 5.0Ah batteries here shortly there are very few reasons we could not see going to going cordless with one of these new SDS-Plus drills.

HAMMERVAC HEPA Add-ons

One thing we did not get to see at the event and what can be a very beneficial feature is the new M18 FUEL drills both have the option for attachable/detachable HAMMERVAC HEPA vacuum systems which will collect the majority of silica dust created from drilling in concrete. For more and more jobs especially anywhere near food prep or medical these types of vacuums are required. For many situations of course you may not need a HEPA vacuum attachment so you may opt to not get the option or it can be easily removed and used without. Either way it is always better to know at least the tool is HEPA vac ready so if that situation comes you will be ready, even if you need to run out and buy it. It is almost 40% less expensive to get the HAMMERVAC units in the kits upfront but they are available as standalone items as well, 1” 2712-DE ($139) and 1—1/8” 2715-DE ($139).

Milwaukee M18 FUEL SDS-Plus 1” Rotary Hammer Drill 2712-22 ($499)

Length    12.48″
Weight    7 lbs
No Load Speed    0-1,400
BPM    0-4900
Blow Energy    1.7 ft-lbs
Trigger Lock    No
Solid Bit Capacity    1″
Thin Wall Core Bit Capacity   2-1/2″
Drilling Mode    3-Mode: Rotary Hammer, Hammer Only, Rotation Only
Vibration    8.9 m/s²

With HAMMERVAC 2712-22DE ($599)   

HEPA Filters 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 μm.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL SDS-Plus 1-1/8” Rotary Hammer Drill 2715-22 ($549)

Length    12.8″
Weight    7.7 lbs
No Load Speed    0-1,350
BPM    0-5000
Blow Energy    3.3 ft-lbs
Trigger Lock    No
Solid Bit Capacity    1-1/8″
Thin Wall Core Bit Capacity   3″
Drilling Mode    3-Mode: Rotary Hammer, Hammer Only, Rotation Only
Vibration    8.6 m/s²

With HAMMERVAC 2715-22DE ($649)   

HEPA Filters 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 μm.

Certainly time will tell if Milwaukee can take a chunk of the SDS-Plus market but it is clear all power tools are moving towards cordless and these rotary hammers look to be out front at least for the time being. If you have any questions on Milwaukee M18 Standard or M18 FUEL cordless tools contact the experts at Ohio Power Tool 800-242-4424 they would be more than happy to help you find the right tool for the job. Read more in the full Milwaukee press release below.

MILWAUKEE, WI – Milwaukee Tool redefines the cordless SDS Plus rotary hammer market with the addition of two new M18 FUEL™ models that will round out the line and deliver the market’s first and only full SDS Plus solution powered by one battery system.

The SDS Plus rotary hammer market is divided into three product segments that satisfy varying user needs: compact, medium and large.  The market is currently trending away from corded and into cordless, as users look for increased productivity.  Manufacturers have developed tools for the compact segment on 12V-18V platforms and in the medium to large segments on 18V-36V platforms, but none offered the complete range of solutions on a single battery platform.  The technology did not exist to use a single battery platform that was small enough for use on compact tools but powerful enough for medium and large tools.

“Users don’t want to manage multiple battery platforms, it’s a productivity killer,” said Andrew Plowman, Director of Product Management for Milwaukee Tool.  “By utilizing proprietary M18 and M18 FUEL™ technologies, we’ve developed a single battery system solution that meets the full range of user needs in each distinct SDS Plus rotary hammer market segment. Our full solution now includes a lightweight M18 5/8” for the compact segment, a M18 7/8” and M18 FUEL 1” for the medium segment which makes up the majority of the market, and an M18 FUEL 1-1/8” for the most demanding applications in the large segment.”

The new M18 FUEL™ 1” and 1-1/8” SDS+ Rotary Hammers drill faster than their corded counterparts, are built with corded durability, and can deliver a full day of work on one charge.    Milwaukee is able to accomplish this level of performance by combining three exclusive innovations, the POWERSTATE™ brushless motor, REDLITHIUM™ battery pack, and REDLINK PLUS™ intelligence.

The POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor works harder, lives longer, and converts energy into power more efficiently, providing the tools with greater speed and performance than competitive corded units.  There are no wearable parts which extends the life of the motor, reduces motor friction and cools more rapidly to deliver years of maintenance-free performance.

Milwaukee REDLITHIUM™ XC4.0 batteries provide a full day of work on one charge, 20% more power and 2X more recharges than standard lithium-Ion batteries.  REDLITHIUM™ XC4.0 also delivers best-in-class performance in extreme job-site conditions.  With Milwaukee® durability built into each pack, the REDLITHIUM™ XC4.0 battery operates cooler and performs in climates below 0°F/-18°C with fade free power.

REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence hardware and software is the most advanced system on the market.  It integrates full-circle communication between tool, battery and charger to protect them from overloading, overheating and over-discharging.  The protections help maintain ideal conditions for maximum application performance.

Available in October of 2014, the new M18 FUEL™ Rotary Hammers are a true testament to Milwaukee’s focus on the user and investment in game changing technology. Full SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Solution:

M18 FUEL™ 1-1/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit (2715-22)
1-1/8″ Max Capacity
0-1,350 RPM
0-5,000 BPM
12.8″ long
7.7 lbs

Includes M18 FUEL™ 1-1/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ XC4.0 Battery Packs, Charger, Side Handle, Depth Rod and Carrying Case

*Also available as a bare tool (2715-20) and with HAMMERVAC™ Dedicated Dust Extractor (2715-22DE)

M18 FUEL™ 1″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit (2715-22)
1″ Max Capacity
0-1,400 RPM
0-4,900 BPM
12.48” long
7 lbs

Includes M18 FUEL™ 1″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ XC4.0 Battery Packs, Charger, Side Handle, Depth Rod and Carrying Case

*Also available as a bare tool (2712-20) and with HAMMERVAC™ Dedicated Dust Extractor (2712-22DE)

M18™ 7/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (2605-22)
7/8” Max Capacity
0-1,400 RPM
0-4,800 BPM
11.75” Long
7.2 lbs

Includes 2605-20 M18™ 7/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer,(2) M18™ XC High Capacity RED LITHIUM Battery Packs, 1-Hour Charger, Side Handle, Depth Rod and Carrying Case

*Also available as a bare tool (2605-20)

M18™ 5/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (2612-22)
5/8” Max Capacity
0-1,300 RPM
0-7,000 BPM
12” Long
5.5 lbs

Includes M18™ 5/8” SDS Plus Rotary Hammer,  (2) M18™ XC High Capacity RED LITHIUM Battery Packs, M18™ and M12™ Multi-Voltage Charger, Side Handle, Depth Rod and Carrying Case

*Also available in a one battery kit (2612-21) or as a bare tool (2612-20)

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Seen on constrution sites all over the world, Estwing manufacturers some of the finest hammers on the market, and as you'd expect, we've got loads in stock for you to choose from.

All Estwing hammers feature that lovely slim neck, designed to give you great aerodynamics; the hammer will flyer faster and smoother through the air. This is vitally important to let you hit harder with less effort.

The hammers are made from one solid piece of forged steel; no joins or welds that can break. The difference are in the head design and the grips, as we'll cover below.

With its iconic handle made from pressed leather washers which are polished and double lacquered, this is a hammer that will always look great slung from your tool belt. But it's not just about great looks, the Estwing curved claw hammer is perfect for driving and removing common finishing nails, and features a smooth face.

We're stocking the 16 and 20oz versions (450g and 560g respectively), get them here.

This is an English pattern headed hammer, and like all Estwing hammers is forged from one solid piece of steel. The grip is very 21st century, however, bonded to the steel during manufacturing and designed by Estwing to offer you the best possible levels of comfort due to the active reduction of vibration, Estwing call it the Shock Reduction Grip?.

Ideal for anyone battering in nails all day long.

Again, this hammer has a smooth face and the design of the head makes it perfect for bashing and pulling out common finishing nails.

We're stocking 16, 20 and 28oz versions (450g, 560g and 680g respectively), and you can see the all here.

Estwing's Ultra Series Solid Steel Hammers benefit, once again, from their almost 100 years of manufacturing expertise. These hammers benefit from a sleaker profile. This means they're lighter and even more areodynamic, allowing you to hit harder with less effort, faster.

Lighter hammers like these are much easier to use for longer periods of time, but due to their construction and design they aren't "lightweights" in terms of how you can hit with them, so bear that mind.

Again, they benefit from Estwing's "world famous" Shock Reduction Grip?. As a result, the company claims these hammers are "the most durable and reliable" on the market.

They also feature a couple of other great little benefits aimed at professionals, namely the inclusion of an extra nail biting slot in the head to help you remove nails in confined spaces. And to help you hammer the nails more accurately, and help prevent bruised and bashed fingers, there's a magnetic nail starter built into the head.

Click here to buy one!

Framing hammers look different from curved claw hammers. Typically they have longer necks to give you more hitting power. And that's evident in the range of Estwing framing hammers we stock. They also tend to be a bit heavier than finishing nailers.

Once again you'll find the Shock Reduction Grip? wrapped around the single piece of forged steel; no joints or welds that could break or shatter.

Clearly the big difference between curved and straight claw hammers is the shape of the claw.

A straight clawed framing hammer lets you do loads of extra tasks that a curved claw would struggle with. And that's partly because hammers aren't just for hitting nails. The straight claw on these Estwing hammers will help you in the demolishing stage of any job you're working on, including ripping up floorboards or even splitting lumber.

We're stocking 22oz, 24oz and 28oz sizes (616g, 680g and 748g respectively) see them here.

Very similar to its standard claw hammer cousin, Estwing also offers the Ultra capabilities and specification, but in a hammer aimed at anyone undertaking framing applications.

Yes, it has the additional nail pulling notch and magnetic nail starter in the head, which is forged, along with the long neck, from one piece of steel, wrapped around which is the afore mentioned nylon Shock Reduction Grip?.

Again, this Ultra hammer, of which we're stocking 15oz and 19oz weights (425kg and 540kg respectively), is designed to be lighter but able to deliver a harder hit as a result.

Click here to buy one.

To say this is a radical new design of hammer is an understatement. As you can see, this design from Estwing look nothing like the hammers they're famous for as a company.

So what's Estwing's thinking behind the design; what'll this hammer do for you?

Essentially the design is to aid accuracy when you hammer. Its weight is all towards the front of the head, meaning that's where the power goes when you swing it. This is to help protect you against overstriking, while at the same time reducing the amount of effort you need to put into the swing to drive the nail.

Rather than being forged from one piece of steel, these hammers feature a fibreglass handle which includes a shock reduction gasket and the Shock Reduction Grip?, keep the vibration you experience in your hand, wrist and arm to a minimum.

All in all this is a great hammer for anyone who's ever suffered from Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) in their arm or wrist; the hammer flies true through the air with little effort and you don't have to battle to keep the swing under control.

Click here to buy one.

So far all of the Estwing products we've look at are for bashing in nails, along with all the other little jobs that a fantastic hammer will allow you to do.

But what about lengthy spells pulling nails out?

Yes, your Estwing hammer will manage this ably. However, we've got an Estwing product designed specifically to pull nails all day long, comfortably. Made from fine tool steel that's drop forged and temepered, then chrome finished, giving PC300G brilliant durability and rust-resistance. Wrapped around the steel is a cushioned grip, designed to to allow you to grip the nail puller, whichever end of it you're using.

And yes, each end of the nail puller has a different shape of claw that are sharp enough to get out imbedded nails, or even nails that have "lost their head", while minimising damage to the wood.

Click to buy it.

And if you've got any questions, please also let us know in the comments section.