SDS Drills are extremely heavy-duty tools designed to drill and chip through brick, masonry, concrete, and more. However, there are so many different models available on the market, so which one should you opt for? Well, the answer is simple. It all depends on your budget, how often you will be using it, the applications you will be using it for, and whether you already own any tools from an existing battery platform.
If your existing tool collection is made up predominantly of Dewalt tools (or Makita and so on) you may wish to opt for a Dewalt cordless SDS drill as you will already have the compatible batteries to go with it. If you are new to the tool world or are just looking for some recommendations, take a look below at some of the most popular SDS drills on the market and why they are loved so much. If you are unsure as to what exactly an SDS drill is, you can check out our in-depth blog post. (link to the previous blog)
SDS drills typically come with either 2 or 3 modes. A 2-mode drill will have a rotary hammer and rotary only modes. You’ll be able to drill into wood or metal using rotary mode and masonry with rotary hammer mode.
A 3-mode SDS drill gives you the same functionality as a 2-mode SDS Drill only with the added addition of chiselling function.
Generally speaking, for the most demanding tasks, you want to opt for a 3 mode SDS drill.
Also keep a look out for BPM (beats per minute) and RPM (revolutions per minute). Typically, the higher the number, the better in terms of how hard the drill will chisel or drill.
Joules, or impact energy, is also important. Whilst a smaller machine will give you superior ergonomics and reduced fatigue, it may lack the energy to punch as hard as one of its larger relatives.
Our top choice for the best cordless SDS drill is the Makita DHR242Z 18V LXT SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill. This high-performance machine has 3 operation modes; rotation + hammering, hammering only & rotation only, providing it with the versatility to complete a variety of heavy-duty tasks. It will drill up to 24mm in concrete and 13mm in steel. Its efficient brushless motor reduces energy loss by 30%, giving longer runtimes between battery charges.
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Satisfied customers who bought this drill said: “Drill is surprisingly light even with the battery. It works just as well as any corded drill but with the convenience of no cords. I’ve used it to drill a 20mm, half-meter drill bit into a wall and it did it with ease.”
Securing a top place for the best corded SDS drill we have the Dewalt D25033K 2 Mode SDS Plus Hammer Drill. This SDS drill has an electric motor and is capable of drilling up to 30mm in wood and 22mm in concrete. It is well and truly designed for the most demanding applications.
It features Rotation-stop for light chiseling applications in brick, soft masonry, and occasionally concrete and an Impact-stop for drilling in wood, steel, ceramic, and screw driving applications. The mechanical clutch eliminates sudden high-torque reaction, should the bit jam, for optimum user safety. It weighs only 2.5kg, meaning it is lightweight in use for reduced fatigue.
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Satisfied customers who bought this tool said: “Incredible piece of kit. Light and very powerful”
Coming in at under £100, our top pick for the best SDS plus drill on a budget has to be the Bosch GBH 2-20 D SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill. It has a powerful 650W motor capable of drilling up to 30mm in wood and 20mm in concrete. You can expect a fast drilling rate and 30% higher chiseling performance than others in the entry-level class. It is compact and lightweight yet has 3 drilling modes for tackling a greater range of jobs.
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For the professional tradesman, our top pick for the best SDS drill has to be the Dewalt DCH614N 54V XR FlexVolt Brushless SDS Max Hammer Drill. Part of the 54V FlexVolt range, it produces power equal to that of a corded tool. You can expect unrivaled power output thanks to its brushless motor which allows it to carry out all heavy-duty demolition, chipping, and drilling applications.
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As we have previously established, SDS drills are big tools, which can often see them being quite heavy. For a full day’s work, this can take its toll. But new technology sees some SDS drills weighing less to reduce user fatigue. Our top pick for lightweight SDS drill is the Makita HR1840 SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill.
As it is a corded model, there are no bulky batteries weighing you down. This model weighs in at only 2kg! Fatigue upon use is now a thing of the past. Though compact and lightweight, this Makita SDS drill will drill up to 35mm in concrete with a TCT core. Its one-touch sliding chuck allows for easy accessory changes and two operation modes: Rotary Hammer and Rotary Only, which allow you to complete a number of tasks.
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That was our top pick for the best SDS drill. Whether you decide to opt for corded or cordless, there is an option for everyone. Keep an eye out for RPM, BPM, Joules, the number of modes it possesses, and whether it is capable of drilling as far into the material as you need it to. These are our favorites, but there are many more great models on the market.
written by Katy Bruce (Toolstop)
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