SDS max or SDS plus: pros and cons analysis

After construction or major renovation of premises, it is necessary to install communication equipment: heating, water supply, electrical wiring, communication cables, without which modern residential and office premises will not be fully functional.

For quick and accurate installation of all equipment around the house, it is necessary to prepare a route for its installation; for this you need holes of various diameters in the walls and floor, niches for sockets and distribution boxes, grooves for laying trays for power wires and cables. The main tool used for drilling holes in walls is a concrete drill with an sds shank. What it is and how to choose the right drill can be found in the material below.

Drilling technology

Without going into the details of modern technologies for drilling with laser or ultrasonic machines, the main tool for drilling holes in various materials is a drill and hammer drill. The difference between this tool is that the drill is designed for drilling holes - a hammer drill for drilling.

There are different types of drills, but the principle of their operation is the same - this is the removal of a layer of material, so the cutting part is sharpened in such a way that there is a sharp edge that cuts off a layer of material - this applies to “sticky” materials: wood, metal, plastic and various alloys of them.

It will not be possible to cut a layer of high-strength concrete products, special types of expanded clay or basalt rocks with a sharp edge: since the hardness of the stone exceeds the material of the drill, and if we take into account that modern concrete is made with a filler of iron oxides, then it is better not to think about drilling and don't even think.

To get out of the situation, concrete drills were invented.

For what purposes are SDS cartridges needed?

Universal SDS chucks are designed for drilling concrete structures. The tool is quite simple to secure, and in the shortest possible time.

The most popular cartridges are SDS-PLUS and SDS-MAX. In the first case, the products are designed for small, lightweight hammer drills (up to 4 kg), so they are widely used in performing a variety of household and repair tasks.

SDS-MAX cartridges are already suitable for equipment weighing over 5 kg, that is, they are designed for larger-scale drilling and rapid destruction of concrete and brick structures. Therefore, they are most often used by construction teams on large projects.

SDS cartridge structure

Structurally, the shank is equipped with 4 grooves, 2 of which are open, and the rest are closed. In the first case, the grooves act as guides, that is, they provide the necessary location of the tool, and in the second they are responsible for fastening in the chuck.

Also, the design of the chuck includes special balls, which are also responsible for the correct position of the drill. That is why the drill needs to be turned a little until the balls fit into the closed grooves.

To ensure that the SDS chuck lasts as long as possible, it is recommended that the shanks be cleaned and lubricated regularly. It is worth understanding that there is a slight backlash between the shank and the cavity of the cartridge. This is necessary to protect the instrument from impacts. And to prevent contamination, all cartridges are equipped with rubber boots.

If during operation of the hammer drill you notice frequent stops, cranking, or hear an extraneous knock, then the rubber gasket may have worn out, so the mechanism needs to be cleaned or the boot needs to be replaced. The ball may also wear out, but most often you just need to use a new cartridge.

For drilling particularly hard surfaces, it is recommended to additionally use special lubricants or emulsions.

Drill device for concrete

The principle of operation of a drill differs from a drill in that it does not drill, but destroys the material on which it is used. Therefore, using drills for drilling metal is completely unsuitable, and using a drill for drilling stone is generally unacceptable.

If you look at the tip of the drill, you can see that there are two or four carbide tips at the ends. (in Russia VK8-VK10 - “Win”). The sharpening of the soldering edges - flat - are at an angle of 60 0 from each other. It is this sharpening and arrangement that allows the concrete structure to be destroyed with simultaneous impact - torsion. The hard edges of the drill break off particles of concrete, which come out through the ring grooves.

When using the drilling method, the quality of the concrete drill itself for the sds rotary hammer and the tool with which it is used comes first. The thing is that when drilling, the impact force is not so important (this is not a chipper); here the quality of drilling is determined by the frequency of impacts and the accuracy of their directions to the center of the drill body. In other words, the more accurately the drill is made, and the hammer blows are directed exactly to the center of the working tool and their frequency is more than 10 per second, making a hole in a concrete wall becomes a simple and easy task, regardless of its diameter.

In what case should you purchase a hammer drill with an SDS-Max chuck?

If light and medium hammer drills are suitable for drilling, installing anchors, dowels, and chiselling a wall to make a hole for communications, then the SDS-Max models can perform the function of a real jackhammer.

With their help you can easily:

• remove a thick layer of reinforced concrete;
• destroy a wall partition made of brickwork or concrete blocks;
• remove asphalt from the road;
• split heavy rock.

They can be used for simpler tasks (drilling a hole for a cable or pipe in the wall, making a ventilation outlet, cutting a niche for an outlet, etc.), but due to the increased power of the tool, such work will be completed much faster. Therefore, SDS Max hammer drills are purchased not only for heavy dismantling work, but also for installing electrical or plumbing in large volumes. Then they pay off due to productivity and help to deliver the project faster.

Rotary hammers with SDS Max cartridges weigh from 5 kg, which is important to consider when choosing, because if you have to work a lot on the ceiling, you will need more frequent breaks. Security requirements here are much higher. The lightweight SDS+ can weigh 3-4kg, making it much easier to hold at height. The operation of this powerful tool requires a highly skilled operator and is therefore only suitable for professional use.

Understanding the purpose of a powerful tool, let’s consider the rating of SDS-Max rotary hammers, which will help you see already tested models with positive reviews. The advantages and disadvantages of the product will simplify your choice and allow you to spend your money wisely.

Hammer hammer design

All rotary hammers have two types of impact devices used - ratchet and impact mechanisms.

Ratchet mechanism

The principle of operation of the ratchet mechanism is based on the sliding of two notched coupling halves relative to each other, which creates an impact effect. Similar devices are used in relatively low-power hammer drills and drills. The use of a ratchet in a powerful hand tool limits the disadvantages: the recoil force is equal to the force of impact on the working tool, intense wear of the coupling halves, the intensity of vibration depends on the force of pressing, that is, on the use of muscle force, the more powerful the tool, the more difficult it is to do this. It is recommended to use a concrete drill sds no more than 6x110mm with such a device. The most progressive has been the use of a device with an oscillating bearing. The oscillatory motion during rotation is created by the eccentric outer race of the bearing (which is popularly called drunk). The clip, swinging relative to the ellipse, sets in motion the rocker, which is connected at its outer end to the piston of the impact mechanism. The piston of the impact tool, making a horizontal movement, strikes the striker, which in turn transmits the impact energy to the working element. This device is used on rotary hammers with a power of up to 5 kW, which is optimal for concrete drill sds 10x210. More powerful hammer drills use another type of impact piston drive device - a swinging rocker, in which the role of the piston drive is assigned to the eccentric rocker of the piston drive by a connecting rod drive. The piston moving along the cylinder creates an impact load on the firing pin. This design is interesting in that there is a counter-weight on the slide that absorbs part of the recoil energy, working in the opposite direction to the main piston. (analogous to a car crankshaft). Also, in such designs, an air shockproof system is used to further soften the recoil force. Large concrete drills sds 32 1000 and concrete drills sds 25x600 are used with such hand tools.

How to choose the right SDS drill?

To select a suitable drill, you must consider the following recommendations:

1. Expediency, that is, it is worth understanding for what specific tasks the drill will be used. To select an SDS chuck for concrete, it is worth considering the hole parameters, that is, depth and diameter.
2. Compatibility of SDS-plus and SDS-max with the tool. It is clear that the drill shank should be inserted into the equipment chuck without any problems.
3. Quality. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the manufacturer of the drill, because only reliable products made from high-strength and wear-resistant materials are designed for long-term operation. Everyone understands that inexpensive equipment quickly becomes unusable and requires replacement.

It’s better not to save money and buy really good products for performing various construction tasks.

SDS – shanks on drills and their qualification

Depending on the power of the hammer drill, chucks such as SDS-plus, SDS-max, SDS-top and SDS-quick are used.
The design of the SDS cartridge is quite simple. There are four recesses on the drill shank (two are used on SDS chucks up to 8 mm). Two closed and two open. Open ones serve to properly fix the shank in the chuck and transmit shock-rotational motion to the working element. The closed slots align with the locking balls in the chuck and serve to secure the tool in the chuck. When you press the moving part of the chuck, these balls come out of the grooves in the shank and the tool is released.

SDS+

The sds plus concrete drill shanks for hammer drills in this category are designed for medium-power power tools with a diameter of 10 to 18 mm with a corresponding chuck. These diameters are the most popular among repairmen. If necessary, you can always order or purchase a set of sds plus concrete drills with different shank diameters in any required range.

SDS – max

concrete drills sds max have a shank diameter of 18 mm or more, are classified as professional and require appropriate equipment, which includes not only hand tools, but also guides, special dust extractors and vacuum cleaners. Particularly popular are concrete drills 32 sds with different drill lengths (from 100 to 600mm).

SDS-top and SDS-quick are used in professional and special hammer drills that have a specific slotting mechanism and are not discussed in this article.

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It is difficult to imagine carrying out construction or repair work without the use of a specialized tool - a hammer drill. Rotary hammers are produced in three classes: light, medium and heavy. All of them are equipped with a chuck with the ability to quickly change tools using the SDS system. The Germans say Steck-Dreh-Sitzt in the English version - Special Direct System - whichever is more convenient for you. A standard developed by Bosch in the mid-70s of the last century.

Table of contents

1. SDS shank - what, how, where
2. Classification of equipment for rotary hammers video, video
3. Selection and installation of drills for a rotary hammer
   Choosing a drill bit manufacturer for a rotary hammer
4. Sludge removal rate
5. How to insert a drill bit into an SDS chuck video
6. Hammer chuck malfunctions video

SDS shank - what, how, where

For convenient work, quick change of working tools, as well as to increase the contact area of ​​the drill shank with the chuck, the SDS standard was introduced.

Bosch has developed 5 types of shank:

• SDS - the first representative of its class, shank with two grooves;
• SDS-plus - developed on the basis of SDS and is fully compatible with it, supplemented with 2 grooves. The diameter of the shank is 10mm. Used in light hammer drills. Maximum drilling diameter – up to 26mm;
• SDS-top – reinforced SDS-plus, shank diameter – 14mm. Designed to eliminate drill breakage when drilling large diameters 16-26mm. Requires installation of another chuck on the hammer drill.
• SDS-max is the standard for heavy professional rotary hammers. The diameter of the shank is 18mm. Hole diameter – from 20mm.
• SDS-quick is a system developed in 2008. Used only on specialized equipment (several models of Bosch rotary hammers). Compatible with ¼" holder

Two standards have become widespread and popular: SDS-plus - for light rotary hammers and SDS-max - for heavy ones, as they are the most popular in the construction market.

Classification of equipment for rotary hammers

A modern hammer drill is a multi-purpose tool. It is enough to choose the right equipment and you will have the opportunity to perform a wide range of construction work, from removing tiles in the bathroom to expanding a door or window opening.

Most rotary hammers on the market operate in three modes:

• chiselling;
• drilling;
• drilling

Yes, that’s right, drilling with impact is called drilling. Each operating mode has its own equipment. Modern drill sets for rotary hammers provide for most basic operations.

Impact mode is the main mode of operation of the instrument. Depending on the hammer drill model, the translational movement of the piston transfers energy to the impact mechanism and to the equipment (pneumatics). In some lightweight hammer drills, they are driven by a mechanical system - springs.

Bosch rotary hammers are also equipped with an additional function for rotating the chisel at a given angle (46 positions) - vario lock.

Impact mode uses:

• shoulder blades;
• peaks;
• channel chisels;
• semicircular chisels;
• serrated incisors;
• mortar cutters;
• tamping plates;
• core boards;
• sledgehammers.

The drilling mode is used when drilling holes in concrete, brick and masonry. The simultaneous use of impact and rotational motion ensures rapid destruction of the material in the cutting zone due to crushing and subsequent removal of material. The drills used for this type of work are called drills or hammer drill bits. Also, in hammer drilling mode, core drills are used to select material for future installation of socket groups and switches. The length of the drill bit for a hammer drill ranges from 100mm to 1m.

Drilling mode is used for drilling wood, plastic and other soft materials. Also, a lightweight hammer drill (up to 3 kg) can be used as a screwdriver.

Important. The non-impact drilling mode must be used under certain technical conditions. When operating only in rotation mode, the hammer drill must be switched to rotation mode with impact and rotated at idle speed to distribute the lubricant inside the tool.

Selection and installation of drills for a rotary hammer

As was said earlier, among the 5 Bosch standards, two have become widespread: SDS-plus - with a shank diameter of 10 mm and SDS-max - with a shank diameter of 18 mm.

Accordingly, most equipment is made to these standards. Of course, it is possible to use equipment with an SDS-max shank on light rotary hammers, but this is not advisable due to their low power, which will lead to a decrease in tool life.

Choosing a drill bit manufacturer for a rotary hammer

There are only one and a half dozen (to be more precise, 14 companies) manufacturers of drills for rotary hammers registered in the world. At the same time, several brands can be produced at one plant. Thus, in Germany, the DreBo Werkzengfabrik plant produces products for Hitachi, AEG, Milwaukee, and Wurth.

In this case, there is no doubt about the quality of the drill. Moreover, these brands are also successfully produced in China.

If you want to purchase a product made in Europe, then you need to turn your attention to the products of ALPEN-MAYKESTAG, one of the leading manufacturers in Europe. Complaints for products amount to 2 pieces. per 1 million. The company's factories are located in Austria and Italy; there are no company factories in China.

But not all China is of bad quality. So, the same Bosch has its factories in China. Products manufactured under the Bosch brand are no worse than their European counterparts, and in some cases even better. The main thing is to get to an industrial manufacturer, not a handicraft manufacturer.

Sludge removal rate

Sludge removal is one of the most important properties of drills. The quality of drilling directly depends on the rate of chip removal. For shallow holes (up to 60mm), drills with a slight steepness of helical grooves are well suited. For more intensive drilling, it is necessary to use a drill with a steep spiral. The disadvantage of this equipment is that it reduces the strength of the drill body.

Auger drills remove sludge as quickly and efficiently as possible. They are the most effective for drilling deep holes.

How to insert a drill into an SDS chuck

Installing a drill into an SDS chuck is not difficult.

Before installing the working tool, you should make sure that the tool is in good working order, make sure that there are no chips or cracks on it, and check that there are no breaks in the rubber boot. It must be cleaned of dust. After this, you need to apply a specialized lubricant to the splines of the equipment and forcefully insert it into the hammer drill chuck.

You need to press until you hear a click. Pull the drill towards you; if it does not come out, the installation was successful. To replace the drill, you need to press the chuck ring along the axis towards the tool and remove the drill.

Important: During operation, the drill heats up; change equipment only with gloves to avoid burns.

To increase the service life and prevent accelerated wear, the tool, like the equipment, must always be kept clean, removing excess lubricant and dust adhering to it.

Hammer chuck malfunctions

Since the hammer drill operates under very difficult operating conditions, breakdowns cannot be avoided. Most often, hammer drill cartridges fail. Sometimes the drill bit may fly out of the hammer drill, which indicates wear on the ball or washer of the chuck. In this case, they must be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

If used incorrectly, the drill bit in the hammer drill chuck can break. In this case, two scenarios will arise.

First, remove the sealing washer, plastic clip and stopper. Remove the bushing and retaining ball. The drill shank should come out freely from the hammer drill barrel.

Another option is to flatten the back of the shank. In this case, it will be necessary to disassemble the entire hammer drill in order to “sink” the drill shank into the tool barrel. This procedure can be carried out independently if you have experience or at least a detailed diagram of disassembling the tool. But it is better to entrust this work to professionals.

Important: in order not to break the drill bit in the hammer drill, it is necessary to regularly remove it, inspect the shank, remove dust and grease, and apply new lubricant.

Operating the tool in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements will ensure the tool's service for many years.

Selection of drills for concrete

To purchase a tool, you first need to decide on the number of holes and their diameter. If a one-time renovation is being carried out in an apartment, it is better to purchase several Chinese-made pieces than one branded one. For inexperienced users, when drilling concrete, it is very easy to break the working tool, especially with a diameter of up to 10 mm. If you are confident in your abilities, then it is more advisable to purchase a tool from a branded manufacturer. According to numerous reviews, the highest quality drills are from Makita and Philips. But still, when purchasing even such tools, you must first of all carefully examine them:

• Initially, it is necessary to place the tool with the shank on a horizontal surface, the drill should be level, without deviations. The accuracy of the striker’s impact and the transfer of impact force to the tool tip depend on this parameter;
• The second mandatory check is tip runout. To do this, it is necessary to rotate the tool in a working drill or hammer drill; the deviation from the horizontal of the tip during rotation is the runout; the smallest one must be selected from the tool being tested;
• The third check is that if the tool is chrome-plated, it is better to discard it immediately. When working with concrete, such a coating is short-lived; external beauty can mask defects. In addition, a fragment of the coating can fly off and get inside the hammer drill or injure your hand;
• If you purchase a branded tool, then a clear logo of the company and its name must be laser-etched on the shank. If the marks do not have a clear structure, this is most likely electrochemical marking on cheap tools.

Understanding the markings of the diameter and length of the working body is not difficult. Drill SDS plus 32×600 stands for: drill for concrete, size SDS plus, diameter 32 mm, working length 600 mm.

Purchasing a tool

Purchasing quality tools is best done in branded or specialized stores. You can also buy a concrete drill sds plus or a concrete drill sds max on specialized websites of dealership centers. On the Internet resources of branded stores there are easy guides that help with choosing the necessary tool. Such sites have online consultants who can ask you any questions about choosing the optimal tool. Consultation by e-mail is also possible if you leave your address on the manufacturer’s website. Come to our store and you will not be left without the set of tools you need.

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The best SDS-Max rotary hammers with an impact force of 12-20 J

These are units for the most difficult tasks. With their help, it is easy to knock down walls, punch large holes (expand window and door openings), remove layers of concrete from floors, etc. But the increased impact force affects the impact and ease of working with the tool. Here are the best hammer drills with the SDS-Max cartridge and an impact force of 12-20 J.

Makita HR 4511 C

The first place in the ranking of the best is given to the Japanese Makita hammer drill. The product is notable for its power of 1350 W, impact force of 13 J, electronic speed control from 130 to 280 per minute and impact frequency of 1250-2750. The hammer drill weighs 8.5 kg. A long cable of 5 m allows you to do without carrying it in most cases. To make holes in concrete, you can use drills with a cross-section of up to 45 mm and crowns of 125 mm.

Watch the product video

+ Pros of Makita HR 4511 C

1. Adjustable impact force from 2.7 to 13 J, for materials of different densities.
2. Network cable 5 m.
3. The product is manufactured at production facilities in the UK.
4. Good anti-vibration performance.
5. Cable fault indicator and power button.
6. The rubberized body will last a long time, despite repeated impacts and falls.

— Cons of Makita HR 4511 C

1. There is no reverse.
2. Your hands get tired quickly.
3. The screws in the case are gradually unscrewing - you need to tighten them.
4. The mode slider is difficult to switch.
5. Periodically shuts down due to overheating.

Conclusion. The main difference between this hammer drill and other participants in the rating is its compactness. The case length is 458 mm, although most competitors have this figure from 600 mm. This SDS-Max unit is suitable for working in cramped conditions (installation of plumbing in bathrooms, drilling in the attic, basement or inside a panel room). Here you can also choose not only the number of strikes, but also the level of force. This will help you carefully make a hole in both brittle and very hard materials.

Bosch GBH 8-45 D

Powerful hammer drill with 1500 W motor. The maximum diameter of the equipment is allowed: drill - 80 mm, crown - 125 mm. The impact force is 12.5 J, and the number of shocks is adjustable from 1380 to 2750 per minute. The cartridge rotates at a speed of 305 rpm. The kit comes with a plastic case and a tube of lubricant. For clean drilling there is a soft start. The housing behind the cartridge is heavily perforated for faster heat dissipation. When the drill bits, the fuse is triggered and the chuck does not rotate with the engine.

Watch the product video

+ Pros Bosch GBH 8-45 D

1. Double main handle that can be held with both hands.
2. There is a locking start button for constant chiselling, so as not to keep the trigger pressed.
3. Recessed mode switch.
4. A long additional handle with a 360-degree change in position relative to the barrel.
5. A stable platform for placing the tool on a plane.
6. Easily drilled into concrete foundation screed.

— Cons of Bosch GBH 8-45 D

1. You have to rest your elbow on your leg or stomach, otherwise it’s difficult to keep your weight up.
2. Strong kickback in the hands during chiseling mode.
3. Grease flies out of the SDS-Max cartridge.
4. Weight 8.2 kg is heavy to operate and transport.
5. Power cord 3 m.
6. Without vibration protection.

Conclusion. The product is worth a closer look for those who often work with equipment 500-600 mm in length. Typically, towards the end of drilling, the speed of the equipment may drop due to increased resistance. This model is equipped with a Constant Electronic system, which will not allow the speed to drop even with increasing load.

Makita HR5212C

Makita produces this hammer drill with the SDS-Max chuck as the flagship among the representatives of the professional line. The power of the device is 1510 W and it is capable of striking up to 1100-2250 times per minute with a force of 20 J. The rotation of the equipment occurs at a speed of 150-310 revolutions. The housing is equipped with anti-vibration inserts. It is allowed to work with drills with a diameter of 52 mm and hollow bits of 160 mm. All controls are located within reach of the left hand. An indicator light indicates the need to replace the brushes.

Watch the product video

+ Pros of Makita HR5212C

1. Almost completely rubberized body.
2. Comfortable grip and non-slip handle.
3. Long trigger for all fingers of one hand.
4. The mode switch does not catch on clothes.
5. Clear operation of operator protection when biting equipment.
6. The auger, 11 m long and 62 mm in diameter, easily passes through clay (suitable for drilling wells).

— Cons of Makita HR5212C

1. The wind from the cooling system blows straight into your face.
2. Loud engine operation.
3. Weight of 12 kg requires frequent breaks from work.
4. No reverse.
5. Large dimensions 599x140x287 mm.
6. It will be inconvenient for lefties.

Conclusion. This hammer drill is a leader in performance and impact force. Its rating is 20 J. This makes it easy to destroy wall materials and ceilings, remove top layers or drill stone. User reviews like the constant chiseling button, which relieves the finger during long-term use.