Which is the Best Cordless SDS Drill?

Hitting hard and drilling big are important features of any SDS+ hammer drill. Many of us are tethered to a power cord when we use our SDS+ hammer of choice, but in this guide, we’ll show you why you should buy a cordless SDS+ hammer drill.

We’ve got a fantastic range of cordless SDS+ hammers in stock for next day delivery, click here to see what’s on offer.

So, what can you do with an SDS+ Hammer Drill?
First off, we need to understand what SDS+ means. There are a few definitions of the term, the most common of which is “Slotted Drive System”. Some argue that it comes from the German phrase ‘steck, dreh, sitzt’ that translates as ‘insert, twist, fits’.

Either way, SDS+ refers to how the chuck interacts with the bit.

SDS bits are slotted and the design allows them to be inserted into the chuck, with a twist, locked into place via the chuck’s sprung ball bearings. This pays dividends when the drill is used in hammer mode as the slots in the bit allow for the back-and-forth action required while reducing friction within the drill.

Energy is delivered to the bit in a much more efficient way, reducing the amount of pressure you – the operator – needs to put into the application. The hammer action, coupled with the SDS+ bit, means you get the job done without breaking your back.

Put simply, an SDS+ hammer drill will allow you to drill into wood, metal and masonry with ease. Now we need to consider the modes of our SDS+ hammer.

SDS+ hammer drills are available in a few different varieties, determined by the modes.

A 2-mode SDS+ hammer drill will have rotary hammer and rotary only modes. You’ll be able to drill into wood or metal (using rotary only) and by selecting the rotary hammer mode you’ll also be able to drill into masonry thanks to the hammer-action.

A 3-mode SDS+ hammer drill gives you the same functions as a 2-mode SDS Drill, but with the added addition of chiselling function. This is the ideal drill for some light chiselling or chipping into concrete or masonry.

Often a 3-mode SDS+ hammer drill will include a neutral position on the mode selector which gives you the opportunity to position your chiselling bit at the desired angle, before moving the selector ring to chisel mode.

WHAT FEATURES SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A CORDLESS SDS PLUS HAMMER DRILL - PORTABILITY OR BIG HITTING POWER?

That being said, the harder the drill works, the more charge the motor will need to pull from the battery. So if tougher applications are your norm, you’re going to be in the market for a tool that comes supplied with higher capacity batteries, such as 4Ah or higher.

In summary then, determine the type of applications you’ll perform most with your cordless SDS+ hammer drill, then make a buying decision based on the number of modes you’ll require.

Think Size and Weight - Just because an SDS+ hammer drill has been designed for pushing larger bits into harder materials doesn’t mean that the drill itself needs to be large and weighty.

The advent of brushless motors has seen more smaller sized SDS+ hammer drills appear on the market which give the grunt you’ll need.

Therefore, even though the addition of a battery adds a little weight to these drills, going for a brushless model will claim some of that weight gain back in your favour, meaning you can use the drill for longer periods without arm or hand fatigue.

Our guide will cite the weight of the drills with the battery attached.

Think Safety!

Clearly, the type of applications you’ll be performing with your cordless SDS+ hammer drill will take a toll on the tool and you. So, keep your eye out on the safety features installed on the drill.

Some manufacturers engineer safety checks into the motor and battery of their tools. These are great ways to make sure you’re not overloading the drill, putting yourself, those around you, and the tool itself, at risk.

Therefore, check the spec of your new cordless SDS+ hammer drill for any safety features built-in.

Should You Buy a Body-Only Cordless SDS+ Hammer Drill?

Sometimes it’s possible to buy a cordless power tool like an SDS+ hammer without batteries.

This is called “naked” or “body only” (click for our guide to this type of tool). If you’re already carrying around spare batteries that are compatible with the SDS+ hammer drill from your manufacturer of choice, it might save you cash opting for the naked version.

Alternatively, look out for the SDS+ hammers that are supplied with higher capacity batteries, such as 4Ah from Makita or DeWALT, 5Ah from HiKOKI or even Metabo’s 5.2Ah Li-ion packs. Higher capacity means longer runtimes, it’s that simple.

And if your cordless SDS+ hammer is sold with more than one battery, that could be a huge advantage to you also.

So, what is an sds hammer drill and which is the best cordless sds drill? We hope this Toolstop guide has taught you the main features of an SDS Drill and what exactly they can be used for. Let us know what your favourite SDS+ Hammer Drill is!