Replies

1. 
   JonE | Jun 25, 2006 04:01am | #1

   I have a Bosch and it's great.  SDS-Max with an adapter for regular SDS bits.  Got it off eBay cheap.

    

2. 
   McDesign | Jun 25, 2006 04:50am | #2

   Love my Bosch SDS Plus - about 5 years old.  I even got a set of Czech wood chisels for it, to carve away parts of bad sills - works like a charm

   Forrest

1. 
   JonE | Jun 25, 2006 03:04pm | #5

   Where'd you find the chisels?  I'd like to get something like that for roughout of timber frame pieces. 

1. 
   McDesign | Jun 25, 2006 03:33pm | #6

   Highland Hardware in Atlanta - they've got a big online site - super place.

   Forrest

3. 
   BryanSayer | Jun 25, 2006 05:22am | #3

   I had to keep searching ebay, but I finally scored a Hilti TE-6 for around 250. An auction that ends at an odd hour is a good possibility. If you need major power there are bigger models.

1. 
   estacado | Nov 18, 2006 08:29am | #8

   how do you like that TE-6? Do you think it better than a Bosch bulldog?

1. 
   CAGIV | Nov 18, 2006 09:12am | #9

   I have the TE-16 also, not sure how that compares to TE-6, however using both the TE-16 and the bulldog I'll take the hilti hands down.

   The bulldog is good, don't get me wrong, but the Hilti has more balls and that's what I want in a mini demo hammer

   Edited 11/18/2006 1:13 am ET by CAGIV

1. 
   estacado | Nov 18, 2006 09:20am | #10

   seems like that TE 16 would way out class both the Bull Dog and TE 6, but i'm not that much up on hilti. Do you know if hilti makes a ship auger bit in sds+?

1. 
   CAGIV | Nov 18, 2006 08:42pm | #11

   No I do not

2. 
   dieselpig | Nov 19, 2006 03:59am | #13

   You've got pretty good taste in tools Neil. View Image

3. 
   CAGIV | Nov 19, 2006 04:18am | #14

   you ain't no slotch your self...

    

    

2. 
   BryanSayer | Nov 21, 2006 06:31pm | #15

   There is less vibration in the TE-6, and I think it can make holes in some places too hard for the Bulldog. I already have a bunch of SDS bits, so I wanted one that would use what I have, rather than going to the SDS-Max.But I don't do this all day either. I just have really hard brick that I need to attach things to, so I went with a used TE-6 that I got on e-bay.Right now I wish I had gotten the C model with the chipping action. Oh well, back to the rental place.

1. 
   estacado | Nov 24, 2006 10:53pm | #16

   Thanks! I wanted the chippingaction just to have it. I rented a bulldog few months back to chip out around a drain and it was very useful. Thought I'd need one again thats why I bought the Hilti. Plus drilling occasional holes.

1. 
   BryanSayer | Nov 27, 2006 06:33pm | #17

   So did you get the TE-6c, with the chipping action? Or a different model all together, like the combo models?I have the TE-6s, which has some option the c does not, but the s does not do chipping, and right now, I really need the chipping of course.

2. 
   estacado | Dec 09, 2006 05:45am | #18

   The TE 6C withthe chipping action. Haven't put it to work much yet. What were you doing that you needed the chipping for?

   It seems compact enough to get into some fairly tight space. Seems to have good enough power. Guess time will tell.

3. 
   BryanSayer | Dec 10, 2006 08:02am | #19

   We have a small entry addition on the back of the house. Where the original back door was, there is concrete. We've ripped out a bunch of layers of flooring, and got the hardwood back in the butler's pantry (that's in the old part). Anyway, we are tiling the addition, and extending the tile over the old exterior wall, and I need to chip out some concrete. Just about 3' by 1'. I've scored it with a grinder, but I need to chip it out, so that everything will be level after I put in Hardi-board and tile.I'll just rent one for little bit I have to do.

4. 
   estacado | Dec 11, 2006 12:24am | #22

   That chipper could have helped with the tile too.

3. 
   dgbldr | Dec 10, 2006 11:57pm | #20

   For a 1" rotary hammer, Metabo. KHE-D28. Beats Bosch, Hilti and everything else hands down.

1. 
   estacado | Dec 11, 2006 12:22am | #21

   Thanks. If I ever wear this Hilti out I'll look into that one. ToTT had a revioew and the Metabo didn't rate that well but it may not have been the same model.

1. 
   dgbldr | Dec 11, 2006 12:37am | #23

   On the contrary, the Metabo I recommended won the test. July/Aug 2006.

   That's when I got rid of my Bosch. They were correct.

2. 
   IMERC | Dec 11, 2006 02:37am | #24

   the Metabo is good but not that good... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

1. 
   dgbldr | Dec 11, 2006 03:59am | #25

   I don't know what "that good" means, but the Metabo D-handle is the best 1" rotohammer. Period. And it's only $20 more than the Bosch.

   In bigger sizes, I can't say. Don't use them often enough to do extensive testing.

    

   Edited 12/10/2006 8:01 pm ET by dgbldr

2. 
   IMERC | Dec 11, 2006 04:19am | #26

   if you take the Bosch, Metabo and Hilti out to the field and absoulutely abuse the snot out of them the Bosch and Metabo a run close to neck and neck...

   it's a price / sevice / color issue as to which one ya get..

   Hilti will run those other two into the ground... but they generally cost more (sometimes a lot more) than either the Bosch or Metabo and it's availability and service is the scarcest of the three...... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

3. 
   dgbldr | Dec 11, 2006 06:32am | #27

   I agree Bosch and Metabo are about equal except the Metabo vibrates less.

   Hilti doesn't even make an inline rotohammer, which is indispensable for chipping/chiseling at a shallow angle. So yes, the Hilti will outlast the other two because most of the time I can't use it :)

   You may have a good point about abuse. I don't know. Abuse is not a popular sport on my worksites.

   As to price, it's not a determining factor for me if I use a tool to make my living. But those full time Hilti guys at HD make a decent wage. I talked to a couple of them and they are sharp. Their salary comes out of your pocket and it's not minimum wage.

4. 
   IMERC | Dec 11, 2006 06:45am | #28

   abuse makes or breaks a tool...

   it happens...

   it's a fact of life....

   learn which ones can take it and which ones can't..

   then get the can does for yurself...

   never considered buying Hilti from HD even though they are displayed out with the rest of the tools without a Hilti body to be seen anywheres...

   come to think of it... really don't ever consider buying much of anything from HD... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

5. 
   dgbldr | Dec 11, 2006 07:31am | #29

   I never buy tools on durability. It either is the best tool or it isn't. If it's the best tool but not very durable, I buy an extra for backup and replace it more often. It's a cost issue. Probably still cheaper than buying Hilti :)

   I can never justify the cost of an injury or lousy job due to using a mediocre but durable tool.

   This is not to suggest that Bosch or Metabo are not durable, nor that Hilti makes mediocre tools (well, not all of them anyway). Just that quality/performance trumps durability in my shop.

6. 
   IMERC | Dec 11, 2006 07:33am | #30

   HUH??? 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

7. 
   dieselpig | Dec 23, 2006 05:20pm | #31

   HUH???

   Yeah, I'm with you there.  When it comes to tools, I don't understand how you can even measure "quality" without factoring in durability.  It's certainly not the only defining point, but it's pretty huge.  Especially with something like a hammerdrill of all things.View Image

8. 
   IMERC | Dec 23, 2006 07:44pm | #32

   put a kink in the hose and factor in the company that makes them...

   or do you think that would be a bit much.. 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

4. 
   kanaka | Jun 25, 2006 12:44pm | #4

   Another vote for Bosch. I've got a Bosch bulldog (SDS) and it takes care of 90% of light duty stuff I need to do, including removing tile and thinset that had been laid right on top of concrete. Makes a great concrete drill, too.

5. 
   ccal | Jun 28, 2006 12:27am | #7

   I got a hilti te16 used from the home depot rental dept. and it has workrd well for light demo.

6. 
   renosteinke | Nov 18, 2006 10:04pm | #12

   Light duty around the house? If an SDS-type is big enough, it sounds like the $75 Harbor Freight model is just what you want. Better yet, it comes with a basic set of bits!

7. 
   mwgaines | Dec 29, 2006 12:46am | #33

   I'm engaged in an extensive remodeling project that includes removing an entire fireplace and chimney. Today, I went to Harbor Freight and bought a demolition hammer for $149.99 plus tax (Chicago Electric, 93853-2VGA). I'm always suspicious of any "bargain" level tool. But I'm strictly a DIY'er, so I decided to gamble on it. Besides, the local rental shops wanted $65.00 a day. Anyway, I used it today to remove the hearth and surrounding brick that extended to the ceiling and I was impressed with the performance. This was my first expereince with a demo hammer so I can't really say how it compares to the name brands. It's a heavy tool (37.5 lbs.), which made it difficult to work with from a step ladder. It's too soon to give this tool a firm endorsement, but so far so good.

   Michael