Hammers Reviews

I just purchased this Makita HR2455 Rotary Hammer through Amazon and couldn't be happier with it. The 7.0amp motor has plenty of power to drill through most concrete and the chipping mode is outstanding if you purchase the proper bits (not included with this package). The carbide tipped bits that come with the hammer are a great bonus and work great for most drilling applications. The rotation only mode isn't very useful, especially when drilling into concrete, but just switch over to the rotary/hammering mode and it goes through concrete with ease. I used the hammer only mode to break up some concrete on a fence post and it worked great. The hammer mode is great for very small concrete demo, but is definately not for larger jobs (this is not a jack hammer). Additionally, I just completed a basement renovation and was able to drill the studs into the concrete foundation and furing strips into cynder block walls with no problems at all. I highly recomend this for the advanced DIYer or small contract jobs.

I have not yet used the 4 1/2" grinder, but if it is like other Makita products, I am sure I will not be disappointed.

My only complaint is the case that comes with the rotary hammer. The case is cheap and I am a little concerned about protecting the unit while transporting it around and moving it in and out of my truck. This is the only reason I gave this item 4 out of 5 stars. It also would have been nice if the grinder came with a case.

All in all, I highly recommend. This thing really is a "Pit Bull".

In the past I used my standard drill with a masonary bit and a ton of patience to get a project done. This time I was going to by a small hammer drill. After reading the reviews on several brands they appeared to have many faults and seem weak. Then I came upon this Makita package deal and went for it. On my project this summer I drilled 22 holes in old concrete to anchor a plate down and couldn't be happier about my purchase. The drill saved me time and the possibility of ruining one of my electric drills from overheating on this project. I haven't use the grinder yet but looks sturdy. I have to mount 4 new window wells to the house this summer and this new drill will be out of the box again. I give this drill 5 stars!

The Makita HR2455X2 "Pitbull" Rotary Hammer is a bargain priced workhorse. Don't let the comparatively low price or the free grinder throw you, this is a tight, professional quality tool that can hang with others costing twice as much. I've used Milwaukee and Hilti rotary hammers and hammer drills, and let me tell you, the Makita drills holes with less noise and less vibration than the competition (still, wear ear plugs!). The D-handle is the way to go if you have room to use it. The handles are comfortable, though nothing fancy. The drill is sleek, so you can get next to walls to drill anchor holes. The bit changes take longer to think about than to execute, and a long power cord helps keep extension cords out of the way.
The case is the industry-standard compartmentalized plastic, with barely enough room for the tool and cord. The bag Makita offers with its cordless kits is much better; it would be nice if they included a similar option with more of their tools. As it is, I usually just chuck the plastic cases, or find another use for them, and either use a bag or oversized tool box to carry tools and accessories. Anyway, it's normal for tools to come without cases or bags so the user can use whatever best fits their needs, so the Pitbull doesn't lose any points because of the case.
I've drilled lots of concrete, sandstone, dense mudstone, limestone and others with this drill, and the HR2455X2 handles them all. It's one of those tools that I look for any excuse to use. It is so smooth and efficient, it's like the holes were already there, and the drill just finds them.
The grinder is standard issue Makita- super. The diamond wheel works great for cutting and scoring rock and cutting concrete. Wear a dust mask!

EXCELLENT FOR BASEMENT DEWATERING CAN BREAK 5 TO 6 INCH THICK CONCRETE. BEST WORKING RANGE WOULD BE LESS THAN 4 INCH THICK. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THE 18 INCH BITS UNLESS YOUR REALLY SHORT. WOULD BE NICE IF UNIT WAS 6 INCHES TALLER THATS MY ONLY BEEF WITH THIS HAMMER

Just used this to break up 4-6" thick 30 year old concrete in my basement. Started the job with a rental Bosch Brute, but needed something smaller to get into some tight spaces. I decided to buy rather than rent this time and I'm glad I did. While not as powerful as the Bosch Brute, it is less than half the price and weight. Priced way less than 35-42lb hammers from Makita and Hatachi, it has similar power output. I am very pleased. I could have done the job with my smaller Bosch rotary hammer but might have ended up having to replace the tool afterwards. This DeWalt will fill in nicely between the abilities of the Bosch rotary and a larger rental unit. It may even eliminate the need for a rental, because it seems to be very capable. The video of this tool on the DeWalt website sold me, not to mention giving me some ideas about uses I had not thought of myself. The video is worth checking out. Also, check Tool King for reconditioned options. Save some $$$.

I have been in heavy construction for over 30 years and have used many pavement breakers,jack hammers and demo tools. This is just the right size for good control, great variable power and reduced vibration. The first job was on some very old 4000PSI conrete. No problem. The handle can be a small problem for left handers. For the smaller demo especialy inside structures it is perfect. Unit did not wear me out. Great productivity. Completely satisfied with the product.

ok, it's heavy, but,.. its got no cord and it's lighter than the 18 volt model. it will take a good bit of abuse and it's quite powerful for cordless. you'll have trouble finding competition with higher rpms. the variable speed switch is smooth and provides alot of control. the clutch works well. it will drive long deck screws and pre-drilled lags comfortably. the hammer works great for small holes(ie tapcon) and well enough for occasional, larger holes, depending on what you're drilling into. it's nearly impossible to find competition that builds a serious duty cordless pistol grip drill(T-handle drills are fine for folks in labcoats or suits who just hold a drill up to the light to admire its balance or price point, but,.. pistol grip drills are for folks who use and abuse them every day and need the added leverage and accuracy that only a pistol grip provides). the only dewalt batteries that i've had trouble with keeping a charge on are the ones i followed dewalt's advice with, to recharge as soon as you feel a loss of power. for what my experience is worth, it's still better to run nicad batteries down all the way, with, say, a flashlight, before recharging. i agree with dewalt, though, that it's a good idea to stop putting a heavy load on the battery once it starts losing power. good idea too, i think, to let the battery cool before charging.

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p.s. don't waste your time trying to find a holster to hang this drill on your belt. it won't work. if you need to put it on your belt, the big lug is the only way to go,.. and one of those S looking paint can holder/hook things works well on ladders too.

This is a great drill for rough carpentry, but it's a bit heavy for woodworking applications. If you're building a deck, this is the tool for you - it's great at boring large holes quickly and cleanly, and it's got plenty of torque to drive lag screws. The clutch and electric brake make it great for delicate work, BUT IT'S TOO HEAVY! If you need to use it one-handed at arm's length, good luck controlling it. The grip and trigger are very nice, and the variable speed is really helpful. The keyless chuck works nicely - this tool feels very smooth and well-machined. My only serious complaint (besides the weight) is the location of the direction-of-drive switch. The drive direction can be changed without changing your grip on the tool - you just press the button with your index finger or thumb. Some people might like this feature, but I find it's easy to bump the button accidentally when working one-handed. I've only used the hammerdrill feature a few times, but it worked very well. This drill was originally purchased as a gift for my father to use at his camp in the Adirondacks so that he could drill holes in rocks (for boat anchoring) while standing in water without the risk of electrocution. It's primarily been used for rough carpentry and deck repair/rebuilding. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT TOOL AND IT WILL SERVE YOU WELL, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T FIND IT TOO CUMBERSOME. Note that the model I've used is a few years old - it's the exact same model number, but mine doesn't have the automatic spindle lock or the extended-run batteries.

from the moment i bought this drill, it hasn't been put down! building, sheetrocking, repairing all made easier. extremely usful adjustable torque settings and electric brake allow for precision drilling. dual speed alows for different levels of power and control. can be very powerful with hammer feature. i do recommend buying the accessory kit with the rapid change bit attachment. great drill, well worth the price.

Though not the most expensive you can find, for the price I know I will get my use out of these chisels. This will be the lifetime set I will surely take care of. And now I am planning to get the gouges to match (and make a case for each.)

I was hit with a late minute Christmas List and knowing my Son, who takes pride in his wood working tools.
I was in the market for a "good" Woodworkers Chisel Set when I came across this set which was highly recommended to purchase if I saw it. And not to mention the price$$$...
Thank you so much! It will make my Son's Christmas when he receives this gift...

The freud set compares well with the Marples and the Footprint sets that I have. Although the Freud set is Chrome Vanadium steel, compared to the Sheffield steel of my other chisels, they sharpened very well out of the box, and they seem to hold an edge as well as the other sets. For a ten piece set, the price was outstanding, and the set also came very nicely boxed. I haven't cut any dovetails yet, but I like the low profile for the outside edge, it should make cutting the pins very smooth. I highly recommend this set.

The hammer is basic but what is really neat are the screw drivers which covers all basic needs that a household has. One drawback is that one has to choose between flat top or philips heads for the screwdrivers.

The hammer is basic but what is really neat are the screw drivers which covers all basic needs that a household has. One drawback is that one has to choose between flat top or philips heads for the screwdrivers.

I am over fifty years old and can't say enough about the GAM 601 C P Claw Hammer and Screw Driver Coimbination Tool. I remember having one in my household when I was a little girl and I have always have two in my home; one with phillips screw drivers inside and one with flat edge screwdrivers inside. Those are and have been the handiest tools I have ever had in the house and I use them for EVERYTHING. I give them for gifts and always get smiles and a thank you from young people at first and as time passes, I get rave reviews from the same people. The older receipients seem to know the jewel they hold in their hand when they receive it and they are thrilled. This tool is great for all kinds of small and large jobs and it stores is a small space where it is easily found. It does not wear out because of the superior materials and workmanship. College students, Widows, Widowers, young people starting out on they own, new couples, employees, apartment dwellers, home dwellers, etc. all will love this product. I wish I could speak with the company about this product. It really is one of those old fashion tools that just can't be improved upon. Try one and you'll see why I feel this way.

I bought this drill/saw combo kit at a tool show for just $-
It's built with makitas typical precision and industrial ruggedness. The drill is faultless. The saw is very accurate and has a decent capacity, though it does tend to bog down a bit in denser hardwoods.

This product by makita is a great investment. The miter saw is great for a new house with no electricity and is lightweight. The hammer drill / driver works great for all situations.

I have used the Makita kit for about 1 1/2 years now. I am a woodworker and carpenter and bought the kit to replace an older one. This saw is great. It is perfect for trim, especially smaller parts. Lightweight, accurate, durable, what else can I say? I love the batteries, although after hard use they are almost due for replacement.
I also bought the drill, circ saw, and sawzall combo kit. I dropped the drill 8 feet and broke the case, and a new case cost only 20 bucks. I hardly use my Skil wormdrive anymore, because the circ saw is so convenient.

I don't put tools on display, I use them. These are good ones.

I have about 5 cubic meters of various stages of decomposing granite to remove. The spade bit slices through the soft granite like butter. And the point bit eventually breaks hard rock into managable pieces. I started off with a pick & sledge and rate this tool as 200 times easier. Or, for every hour breaking with this hammer, you would need 200 with the pick.

The HM1500B accepts standard bits which can be bought at Home Depot. It is a little heavy with the bit in place, but it does the job.

I am a builder and remodeler. My company frequently has to do concrete removal work. Usually for installing egress windows in basement walls or for moving underground plumbing. The first time we used this tool was to go through a basement wall we had scored with a concrete wet saw. The wall was 10 inches thick and the the blade can only go down to about 4 3/4 inches. This tool broke through the rest of the way in minutes. We were left with a large heavy slab 10 inches thick that had been in the hole. I was able to break the piece into 12 smaller pieces within about 5 minutes to make it easier to carry. Great tool so far

I like the light weight of this tool for a jack hammer. I have used it for digging ditches with a 5 1/2 inch clay spade, and breaking up small amounts of concrete. It has worked well for everything that I have used it for.

Basicly this hammer drill has most of the points I would look for in this type of tool and at a slightly lower price then competative models. It has a more power that allow us of more accessories such as shovel head for earthwork and I would really like a hands on trial to see how models compare on vibration if your using them for extended periods. without the hands on comparison this model has an advantage in terms of past experiance with makita tools and price.

For the price you can not beat the durability of this hammer. Having owned a consrtuction company. This is the one tool that withstood the abuse of employees. Only had to have it serviced once in the 11 years of ownership.

Bought it, love it, plus it's well made with a "good" plastic case. Price is very good for the tool. Wish it had Rotation only as an option.

It's tough

Ive had this hammer drill for about 7 months now and can say it is the best cordless drill on the market for endurance.

The company claims it has 600in lbs of torque in actuality 600in lbs of torque is not near enough to be compared to a corded drill.

the drill will power a 2-9/16 self feed bit and I did get thru over 20 holes in redwood 2x on one charge but the motor stalls many times trying to keep that bit turning.

The fit and finish of the tool are not milwaukee impressive and the cheap chinese plastic pieces integrated into the tool are unacceptable for a $400.00 tool.

Overall you are paying for the battery which is very impressive but the tool itself is not. Milwaukee says "cut the cord" but they need to add about 200in lbs of torque to make that happen. the drill is larger than 18v units and slightly heavier.

If you dont earn money with your tools and you dont have it to burn I would pass on this one.

I have had this drill for a couple of months now. It has tons of power and runs a LONG time before you need to switch to a fresh battery. It has all metal gears and an awesome chuck that actually holds the drill bits securely. This has been a sore spot with other cordless drills I have used.
I would recommend this drill to any professional tradesman. They also recently extended the warranty on the batteries to 5 years just like the tool itself. Can't beat that!
Milwaukee makes great tools and they scored a winner with this set of cordless tools.

I've used Milwaukee's 18v drill for years (I own two of them) and they've never failed me. By far, the best cordless drill available... until now. When Milwaukee came out with their V28 line, I was intrigued, but I didn't need a new drill. Besides, the 18v drill I had worked fine, I didn't think it was necessary to upgrade (especially for the price). When it came time to buying a hammer drill, I looked again at the V28 hammer-drill and decided to buy one, figuring it would at least allow me to combine two tools into one and save the room in my car. I ended up getting a LOT more then I expected.

First, the belt clip is amazing. I didn't think twice about it when I read the drill's description, since I have a holster that works fine. The holster's now in the garbage as the belt clip is absolutely ingenious. Now I can easy attach the drill to my belt without looking and it's fully secure. With one hand I can push down on the latch and detach the drill for use... a marvelous idea. Best thing about it is I can also use it with my V28 flashlight when I need to.

Another thing I really like about this new drill is the bit holder... I always liked the idea of DeWalt's drill's holding the single bits, but Milwaukee provides a place for two. However, the only downside to this is if you use the drill in the hammer-drill setting, the bits tend to slide out after prolonged use.

Then there's the power... one of my first uses was drilling a 1" hole at an angle through two old 1x10 joists and a 2x4 in order to run a wire. I've done it several times with my old 18v, but I always end up having to reverse back a bit then start again to get a bit of momentum. If I can, I normally leave the job up to a corded drill to make things nice a quick. Not anymore... the V28 ripped right through the wood without the slightest problem. The power difference between the 18v and the V28 is shocking... you'd think you were using a corded drill.

The hammer-drill function was another big plus for me... I used this drill side by side with another corded Milwaukee hammer drill to drill numerous holes into a concrete foundation. The cordless worked just as well as the corded... no difference at all, except I wasn't lugging around a cord.

Lastly, there's the longevity of the charges... usually I'll go through at least one full battery and charge it on the site. Again, not anymore. I rarely need to use the second battery during a single day.

If I could, I'd give it six-stars. This thing is just incredible.

I bought this combo kit 4 years ago and have used it extensively. The first set of batteries lasted 2 years the replacement set again lasted 2 years. If you don't mind buying $150 worth of batteries every two years it's a great set. The saw cuts well but does not have quite as much power as a corded saw. You are somewhat limited in blade selection as well since there are not many 6 1/2 inch blades at the home centers. The hammer drill however is wonderful. I have nothing bad to say about this drill. It just drilled a half inch hole in granite last weekend with just a masonary bit. If I knew about the batteries before I bought this set I would not have bought it. There are many good alternatives with much better batteries.
FYI when I contacted Milwaukee about the battery life they offered to "look at them for warrantablity" I shipped them to Milwaukee at my cost and they told me they were worn out and offered to sell me new ones for twice the price I could buy them at the store. Great customer service.

I'm a home improvement contractor. I bought this combo kit because I needed to replace my 20-year-old half-inch hammer drill. I figured I'd get the combo with the 6 �" saw just so I wouldn't have to break out extensions for jus a couple of cuts. I've had the saw out of the case for more than three week already and I haven't put it down! This thing works great! My partner and I are both using it, so it's in constant operation. I've cut 100 year old nail imbedded oak (didn't see the nails), as well as more traditional spruce-pine-fir.

The drill works great too; not as difficult to handle as I thought an 18 volt would be, and it's the first drill with a chuck that I really holds what I put in it, even in the hammer mode.

This is a great package. The hammer drill has tons of torque and the clutch works well to match the power to the type of project your are doing. The 2.4 amp batteries provide excellent run time. I have drilled oak 4x4's with 2" forestner bits with no lack of power and the chuck grips very tight. The saw is balanced and powerful. I highly recommend this package to anyone who is looking for quality, reliabilty, and a good value.