Confused by drill types, impact/combi etc
Discussion
For power tools I currently just have a Parkside drill which just has a clutch and drill function, don't believe it has a hammer action like a combi would.
I also have a 1/2 inch impact wrench for automotive use, wheel nuts, big seized suspension bolts etc etc.
Now I need something for DIY around the house. Nothing crazy just stuff like:
- Drilling into plasterboard
- Drilling into wood/joists etc
- Drilling into breeze block and typical brick/mortar in the garage + other brickwork for curtain poles etc
I don't see myself using it for drilling into any metalwork. I assume the tools I have already aren't really up to the brick work. However people online say even your basic drill can drill into masonry with a proper masonry drill bit and that there's no need for a combi at all.
So do I need another power tool for those tasks? If so which one? Combi, hammer drill or SDS?
I also have a 1/2 inch impact wrench for automotive use, wheel nuts, big seized suspension bolts etc etc.
Now I need something for DIY around the house. Nothing crazy just stuff like:
- Drilling into plasterboard
- Drilling into wood/joists etc
- Drilling into breeze block and typical brick/mortar in the garage + other brickwork for curtain poles etc
I don't see myself using it for drilling into any metalwork. I assume the tools I have already aren't really up to the brick work. However people online say even your basic drill can drill into masonry with a proper masonry drill bit and that there's no need for a combi at all.
So do I need another power tool for those tasks? If so which one? Combi, hammer drill or SDS?
wolfracesonic said:
The Parkside sounds like a drill driver which will cover the timber/plaster board bases, for masonry, an SDS is what you need, no question.
This guy manages to drill into some really dense concrete with the Parkside impact drill with a measly 2Ah battery though, is an SKS really necessary?https://youtu.be/qRKsg6l0pCE?si=m2Lgk_AwrLAeLY4q
(best off playing on mute)
I have a battery powered combi drill with hammer function. It's perfectly fine for wood and plasterboard. For years I got by using it for drilling into brick/masonry, but you had to press hard and it wasn't a quick job.
Finally gave in when we moved and had to put up curtain poles, drilling into concrete lintels was impossible, even with specific masonry bits. Bought a fairly basic Bosch SDS drill, and quite frankly it's a revelation. Knife through butter is the relevant phrase, wish I'd bought one years ago.
Finally gave in when we moved and had to put up curtain poles, drilling into concrete lintels was impossible, even with specific masonry bits. Bought a fairly basic Bosch SDS drill, and quite frankly it's a revelation. Knife through butter is the relevant phrase, wish I'd bought one years ago.
Acuity30 said:
This guy manages to drill into some really dense concrete with the Parkside impact drill with a measly 2Ah battery though, is an SKS really necessary?
https://youtu.be/qRKsg6l0pCE?si=m2Lgk_AwrLAeLY4q
(best off playing on mute)
7n concrete blocks aren’t particularly dense, even a softish clay brick will be way harder to drill never mind concrete or engineering bricks. Even a cheapo SDS from one of the sheds will be light years ahead of that thing in the video.https://youtu.be/qRKsg6l0pCE?si=m2Lgk_AwrLAeLY4q
(best off playing on mute)
A combi drill with hammer action might be suitable for drilling into brick etc, but one day you might find it’s just not powerful enough to drill into something. An SDS drill will make light work of the same task as the hammer action works differently.
Maybe buy a Parkside combi so you can use the same battery as you’ve already got?
Impact drills aren’t really for drilling into masonry but are brilliant at powering big screws into wood without breaking a sweat.
Maybe buy a Parkside combi so you can use the same battery as you’ve already got?
Impact drills aren’t really for drilling into masonry but are brilliant at powering big screws into wood without breaking a sweat.
Invest in decent drill bits, they do the work Bosch multitrade are good.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-expert-hex-shank-...
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-expert-hex-shank-...
There are lots of threads on this, but in a nutshell, if you are regularly going to be drilling into concrete (and I mean concrete, not brickwork), get an SDS, otherwise, a simple combi (hammer) drill will drill into brickwork happily. Not as easy as an SDS, but, they'll do it fine with a bit of weight behind them. We all managed with hammer drills until SDS became common.
Its not a case of "get an SDS no question" - MOST general DIYers don't NEED one. They are a nice thing to have. I have x2 SDS (corded and cordless) and several hammer drills. The cordless SDS comes out when I'm drilling LOTS of holes in bricks. Otherwise the hammer drills are fine for the odd few here and there, and are smaller, lighter, and importantly don't make the huge mess SDS drills do. Don't underestimate this.
My corded SDS (Titan) only comes out for core drilling. It's huge, heavy, powerful and a massive overkill for any other jobs.
Its not a case of "get an SDS no question" - MOST general DIYers don't NEED one. They are a nice thing to have. I have x2 SDS (corded and cordless) and several hammer drills. The cordless SDS comes out when I'm drilling LOTS of holes in bricks. Otherwise the hammer drills are fine for the odd few here and there, and are smaller, lighter, and importantly don't make the huge mess SDS drills do. Don't underestimate this.
My corded SDS (Titan) only comes out for core drilling. It's huge, heavy, powerful and a massive overkill for any other jobs.
Griffith4ever said:
There are lots of threads on this, but in a nutshell, if you are regularly going to be drilling into concrete (and I mean concrete, not brickwork), get an SDS, otherwise, a simple combi (hammer) drill will drill into brickwork happily. Not as easy as an SDS, but, they'll do it fine with a bit of weight behind them. We all managed with hammer drills until SDS became common.
Its not a case of "get an SDS no question" - MOST general DIYers don't NEED one. They are a nice thing to have. I have x2 SDS (corded and cordless) and several hammer drills. The cordless SDS comes out when I'm drilling LOTS of holes in bricks. Otherwise the hammer drills are fine for the odd few here and there, and are smaller, lighter, and importantly don't make the huge mess SDS drills do. Don't underestimate this.
My corded SDS (Titan) only comes out for core drilling. It's huge, heavy, powerful and a massive overkill for any other jobs.
The only harder stuff I intend to do is add shelving to the garage and maybe drill a piece of timber into the brick, then drill into the timber e.g. pegboards, hooks for tools etc. Once in a while may need to drill into concrete/steel lintel for blinds though the sellers kindly left their blinds attached so probably won't need to ever do that eitherIts not a case of "get an SDS no question" - MOST general DIYers don't NEED one. They are a nice thing to have. I have x2 SDS (corded and cordless) and several hammer drills. The cordless SDS comes out when I'm drilling LOTS of holes in bricks. Otherwise the hammer drills are fine for the odd few here and there, and are smaller, lighter, and importantly don't make the huge mess SDS drills do. Don't underestimate this.
My corded SDS (Titan) only comes out for core drilling. It's huge, heavy, powerful and a massive overkill for any other jobs.
SDS for light DIY probably also depends on the construction of your house, if it's a recent build with blockwork internal walls and soft bricks a combi drill will most likely be fine. If you find it's hard going with a combi with decent bits and your holes aren't ending up where you intended them to be and not the diameter you expected it might be worth buying a cheap SDS for occasional use.
You don't need an impact driver for DIY use, a drill driver will be fine. But they're cheap nowadays, and if you're doing a project where you still need a pilot drill it can save a lot of time to have one tool set up for drilling and another for driving screws.
You don't need an impact driver for DIY use, a drill driver will be fine. But they're cheap nowadays, and if you're doing a project where you still need a pilot drill it can save a lot of time to have one tool set up for drilling and another for driving screws.
Buy a light 1.5 kg corded sds, and a standard chuck with sds adapter. This will do all your needs in all materials up to 13mm.
Screwfix do a Makita for about £100 and a decent sds chuck adapter is about £30.
Buy a selection of Sds bits for masonry, along with standard bits for metal and wood, and this will last you a lifetime of DIY, replacing drill bits as you need to.
Screwfix do a Makita for about £100 and a decent sds chuck adapter is about £30.
Buy a selection of Sds bits for masonry, along with standard bits for metal and wood, and this will last you a lifetime of DIY, replacing drill bits as you need to.
I very rarely use my sds (corded or cordless) around the house, a decent cordless combi will drill holes in most things with decent bits, the bits are probably more important than the drill, they vary in quality massively, Irwin do some good bits for cordless drills. It does depend on the house to a degree, a Victorian house built with nothing but solid brick will be a lot tougher than a modern house with a breeze block internal skin.
I have a GALAX PRO Cordless Impact Driver 20V currently £42 on Amazon.
Night and day better than my cordless drill for putting screws in. Even more useful getting old screws out. I only use it infrequently and am not suggesting it would survive trade or heavy DIY use but more than worth the cash for the odd job here and there.
Night and day better than my cordless drill for putting screws in. Even more useful getting old screws out. I only use it infrequently and am not suggesting it would survive trade or heavy DIY use but more than worth the cash for the odd job here and there.
I bought a £60 Erbauer combi hammer from Screwfix to leave in my apartment in France for odd diy tasks.
Putting up some shelves on a cast concrete wall and I was pleasantly surprised how good a job it did, substantially better than the 20 year old corded black and decker it replaced!
There's no question my DeWalt SDS would have been quicker, but for occasional use it was very acceptable.
Putting up some shelves on a cast concrete wall and I was pleasantly surprised how good a job it did, substantially better than the 20 year old corded black and decker it replaced!
There's no question my DeWalt SDS would have been quicker, but for occasional use it was very acceptable.
grumbas said:
I bought a £60 Erbauer combi hammer from Screwfix to leave in my apartment in France for odd diy tasks.
Putting up some shelves on a cast concrete wall and I was pleasantly surprised how good a job it did, substantially better than the 20 year old corded black and decker it replaced!
There's no question my DeWalt SDS would have been quicker, but for occasional use it was very acceptable.
I've invested in the Erbauer tool range, I've found it all excellent.Putting up some shelves on a cast concrete wall and I was pleasantly surprised how good a job it did, substantially better than the 20 year old corded black and decker it replaced!
There's no question my DeWalt SDS would have been quicker, but for occasional use it was very acceptable.
Got:-
Twin Pack with Impact & Combi Drill
SDS Drill
Recip Saw - Bare
Circular Saw - Bare
Multi Tool - Bare
All 18v and for the money I cannot fault them.
Even bought the paint sprayer which was £200 and the finish has been excellent!
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff