I want more power, but will $160 plus tax and bits make a big difference?
Can anyone compare a Harbor Freight rotary hammer such as this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-amp-3-in-1-1-18-in-variable-speed-sds-rotary-hammer-69274.html
to their demolition hammer like this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-amp-120-volt-demolition-hammer-68148-8068.html
I have a four year old version of the first, model 97743 (about $70 well
spent), and have been using it with 3/4" chisel from this set:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-sds-masonry-flat-chisel-set-42651.html
My project is demolition of a bathroom. The rotary hammer in chisel
mode has been fair breaking the wall tile, which is metal lath with 1/2"
of cement, 1" of cement, then tile. I used a diamond blade in an angle
grinder to cut the vertical grout joints to make the tiles pop easier,
but I'm at 2.5 days and still have more to go. The tile guy did quality
work back in the 1960-70 range. Unfortunately, the galvanized water
pipe behind the tile is plugged and cold water barely flows, requiring
near full demolition. There are also problems with the drain pipe, so
while I'm at it...
I want more breaking power, especially since the next step will be to
cut a trench in the slab to get at the drain pipe. For the trench, I'll
probably drill a series of holes then connect the dots with the pointed
chisel, starting at an edge and making small breaks.
My question is will I get more breaking power with the demolition
hammer? They are both 10 amps and about 3000 beats per minute. The
demolition hammer has an impact energy 9 ft. lbs. but that means little
to me in comparison and there is no impact specification for the rotary
hammer.
My other option is to just have the plumber break the trench. I'm
getting tired of demolition, but I like electrical and framing. I will
hire out the plumbing since there are two bathrooms and the other one is
used by my wife and daughters, so time is very important once that work
starts.
By the way, if anyone needs to drill a 1" hole through a 10" poured
concrete foundation, a rotary hammer like one of these is the way to
go. I now only use my 1/2" hammer drill for tiny things like Tapcon
screw holes.
Shop content - this bathroom is an apartment under the garage (hill side
home, garage at street level at the top). As part of this project, I'm
also installing a sub-panel, so I can get real power in the garage and
run my 15A compressor without unplugging the living room entertainment
center and pulsing the compressor on/off a few times to get it started
without tripping the breaker.
Thanks,
Brian
_______________________________________________
Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
|