Cordless Hammer Drill Challenge 2015 . – Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee

Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Metabo, Milwaukee

The hammer drill is the most popular cordless power tool, so no surprise these are the tools we see manufacturers reinvent every couple of years. 

For tool weight they felt pretty close but the Dewalt was the clear winner here and Makita came in as the heaviest. We did measure with the handles and the Makita long handle alone may have been the difference.

TOOL WEIGHTS: Bosch 5.50 lbs, Dewalt 5.05 lbs, Makita 6.05 lbs, Metabo 5.70 lbs, Milwaukee 5.75 lbs 

Manufacturer Torque Reported: Bosch HDH181X - 752 in-lbs, Dewalt DCD995 - 650 UWO (best guess 800 in-lbs), Makita XPH07 – 1,090 in-lbs,Metabo SB18LXT – 797 in-lbs, Milwaukee 2704 – 1200 in-lbs.

POWER/SPEED: Bosch 6:44, Dewalt 6:21, Makita 5:57, Metabo 5:45, Milwaukee 5:01  

BATTERY LIFE: Bosch 39 (20 small/19 big), Dewalt 39 (20 small/19 big), Makita 57 (30 small/27 big), Metabo 80 (40 small/40 big), Milwaukee 72 (40 small/32 big)  

Overall Performance:    

Not very surprisingly to us the Milwaukee Hammer Drill 2704-22 performed the best overall. Naturally there is a bit of a leap frog effect with the technology improving so rapidly in brushless motors and Lithium battery technology. Milwaukee FUEL generation 2 is the newest tool in the bunch so naturally the expectation is to not just catch-up but go to the head of the pack. If we do this test again next year (which is likely as long as there is more to talk about than just 6.0Ah) will we see new competitors from Bosch, Dewalt or Metabo? If so will there be more power than 1,200 in lbs? Smaller footprint? Or will they bring new different innovations in safety, connectivity or otherwise?