Can You Use an SDS Chisel in a Hammer Drill?

One of the questions many people who are new to using SDS chisels may have is whether they can be used in a hammer drill. The short answer to this question is yes - chisel bits are best used in a hammer drill. This is because these bits are most commonly used for heavy-duty drilling on materials such as concrete and masonry. Drills that have hammer action have the power and capacity to work without the risk of broken bits, slipping or damaged tools. With that said, you will not be able to use SDS chisels in a regular hammer drill. Instead, you will need to either use an SDS drill or a drill that has an SDS chuck adaptor. These adaptors essentially turn regular drills into SDS drills, allowing you to get the features of an SDS drill. 

In this guide, we’ll share some tips on using SDS chisels in hammer drills, to give you a better idea of which drill type is best for these bits.

Can SDS Chisels be Used in Hammer Drills?

So, can SDS chisels be used in regular hammer drills, then? To answer this question, let’s first look at the function of chisels and drills that use these chisels. 

SDS chisels

First things first, let’s look at SDS chisels. These bits are used for heavy drilling, working on even the toughest materials. They are used for a wide variety of projects. From renovation to restoration, demolition, wall removal, tile and plaster stripping, reinforcement clearing, adjustment, tile removal, heavy-duty demolition, channelling, and chiselling. There are a few different types of chisel. These include SDS Flat Chisels, SDS Pointed Chisels, SDS Tile Chisels, SDS Wide Chisels and SDS Gouging Chisels. At Ruwag, we have chisels for SDS-Plus chucks and SDS-Max chucks. 

To get the best results from chisels, you will need a drill that can withstand heavy work. When you are working with extremely tough materials such as concrete and stone, on construction and renovation projects, you need a drill that is able to take on even the toughest job without the risk of jamming or other problems. Rotary drills do not have this capacity, which is why hammer drills are used instead. Although hammer drills are suitable for chisel bits, you cannot use SDS bits in a regular drill unless it has an SDS chuck adaptor. This brings us to our next point…

Hammer vs SDS drils

Hammer drills have an up-and-down action that makes them ideal for heavy work. Used to break through materials, lift tiles, clear reinforcement, and take on other tasks, the hammer action of these drills makes it easier to get through tough masonry without putting excessive on bits or tools. Chisel bits work best in hammer drills. 

However, to use SDS bits, you will need to either use an SDS drill or a hammer drill that has an SDS chuck adaptor. This will allow you to use three settings on your drill - rotary, hammer and rotary/hammer. The unique design of SDS drills works perfectly with chisels, giving you more control and more power. This allows your bits to chisel concrete, brick, stone and other materials to break through more easily. You’ll also need to consider whether you need SDS-Plus or SDS-Max bits. If you are using SDS-Plus chisels, you will need an SDS-Plus chuck. If you are using SDS-Max chisels, you’ll need to use an SDS-Max chuck. 

Ready to see these powerful, versatile bits in action? Ruwag offers a collection of SDS chisels to suit every project and budget, giving you the best quality bits at all times.