rotary hammer or demo hammer?

[Plumb Level]

Thanks Mark - checked out your blog the other day, looking good!

[merc66rkm]

I get the impression that the Chicago Electric is a low quality product. Is the demo hammer previously mentioned tough enough for building a log house? It seems a couple of hundred $ more for a name brand machine in the grand scheme of things isn't that much more. Thoughts?

[dazedandconfused]

Will this one on ebay do the job

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hitachi-PH65A-H6...item2565314280

[blane]

I bought a used Chicago demo hammer from a fellow LHBA member for my build and it has done an excellent job on building 2 homes. The previous owner had to replace the switch at a minimal cost. Other than that it will get the job done. I have bought some Harbor Freight tools that were a waste of my money and time but this one is a good buy IMO

I get the impression that the Chicago Electric is a low quality product. Is the demo hammer previously mentioned tough enough for building a log house? It seems a couple of hundred $ more for a name brand machine in the grand scheme of things isn't that much more. Thoughts?

[StressMan79]

one thing to note, "jack hammers" usually use bigger bits than the SDSmax bits that we generally use for rebar. They are also much heavier. They'll pound harder and if using seasoned wood or 5/8ths bar (or both) i'd go with a bigger machine.

[lilbluehonda]

It's not that bad and the other demo hammers you see that are a little more aren't capable of driving rebar it takes a heavy hammer the next closest hammer that is high quality costs hundreds more

[dazedandconfused]

stress and lil blue where you responding to my question above regarding the ebay listing Hitachi PH65A H65 ? Thanks again

[merc66rkm]

Thanks Blane! Just getting started here, and am trying to soak up all the knowledge I can.

[blane]

So, are you signed up for the next class?

Thanks Blane! Just getting started here, and am trying to soak up all the knowledge I can.

[Plumb Level]

Hey Dazed - I tried to buy a couple of those Hitachis of Ebay, but near the last few minutes of the bidding, the price would rise up to several hundred dollars. Same thing happened with some Hilti's and some Bosch's. The Hitachi machine is a brute according to the specs, and hitachi has a good reputation. But like Stressman says, it doesn't take the SDS Max bits like the harbor frieght, take the larger 30mm bits.

[rkissinger]

Hey Dazed - I tried to buy a couple of those Hitachis of Ebay, but near the last few minutes of the bidding, the price would rise up to several hundred dollars. Same thing happened with some Hilti's and some Bosch's. The Hitachi machine is a brute according to the specs, and hitachi has a good reputation. But like Stressman says, it doesn't take the SDS Max bits like the harbor frieght, take the larger 30mm bits.

I have recently been shopping for demo hammers also. I picked up a used Harbor Freight on Ebay for about $45 + $25 shipping, I also got one on Craig's list for $75. Theses are the orange ones that are discontinued from Harbor Freight. They have replaced them with new models. They now have 3 sizes of demo hammer, small, medium, and large. The medium is similar to the old model and it goes for about $350. Everyone should call your nearest Harbor Freight and check if they have any of the discontinued ones left, Model 93853, they dropped the price to $70-something bucks, but I don't think there are many left. I couldn't find one in any of the stores I called. On Ebay there is a steady stream of returned ones from Empire Liquidators, they seem to be going from about $50-$80 + shipping. That's where I got mine, I haven't pounded anything with it, but I have turned it on and it goes brrbrbrrbrbr. They definitely are inferior to the name brand tools, but for $75 I'm going to take my chances, I think between the two of them I should get the job done. I have also learned that the Dewalt driving bit (the two piece one) comes in SDS size and the 3/4" hex size, but the 1 1/8 hex bit is a one piece. So you can get a larger hammer and still get the same bit. The sds bit is model DW5847, but I think they are phasing it out and making a new 1 piece bit. I've noticed it for sale with the same model number.

[merc66rkm]

Yep. Heading to Vegas in September. Hope to get a well and power on our place in the next few years. Paying as we go...

[Mosseyme]

We got nervous about getting a HF demmo hammer when we saw that they had been discontinued, so when we went to the store and they had the display model left I bought it and ordered a power cord since they had cut it off. Paid to much for it. Then I started seeing them on EBay and picked one up for $37 plus shipping. Then last week I was brousing craigslist and saw a month old listing of one that was In excellent conditions so I went and bought it for $60. So I guess we are good for hammers but may need another Hole Hawg. Also need advice on what kind of nail gun is best for doing the chinking nails.

[Sheepdog419]

As of August 2019:

https://www.harborfreight.com/125-am...kit-63437.html

[Shark]

There is one at home Depot for a bit over$100 now.

[MPeterson1020]

As of August 2019:

https://www.harborfreight.com/125-am...kit-63437.html

So a 12.5 amp will do the job?

[John17three]

So a 12.5 amp will do the job?

That link has two different models pictured for the same listing. 15 amps would be better, but those units are much heavier. Jwhitehead23 recently purchased the one you linked, but it was the one pictured with the square casing, NOT the one with the more formed/aerodynamic look to it. It seems to work nicely. His logs were large, green yellow pine.

[dgrover13]

This is the one you'd want from HF.

https://www.harborfreight.com/15-Amp...Kit-64277.html

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[DoubleJRanch]

I was just looking at the Harbor Freight web page and they don't have any demo hammers listed anymore but there are two used ones on Ebay

Amazon had them, fairly reasonable, the big names like De Walt etc are pricey. But there is a few harbor freight grade ones I would consider. In fact, I have one in my cart.
Look under demolition or jackhammer

I think a good one for 200-300 mark, they have them for 100-150, not sure I'd trust them.

[rawson]

Amazon had them, fairly reasonable, the big names like De Walt etc are pricey. But there is a few harbor freight grade ones I would consider. In fact, I have one in my cart.
Look under demolition or jackhammer

I think a good one for 200-300 mark, they have them for 100-150, not sure I'd trust them.

I bought one of the $150.00 demo hammers now years ago off Amazon. Came with 2-bits, also bought the spade bit. Took the advise from others to remove all screws, coat the threads with lock tight and tor-ck em tight. Did that. Also recommended replacing the electrical cord, did not do that no problems with the cord or the hammer. Got plenty of use out of the spade bit for all kinds of digging assistance. Concrete demo's a bunch of that. Cut the point off of one bit, attached hydraulic hose to the end of the bit to drive rebar pins into the beams for a modest post and beam addition add-on. Never had a performance problem with it. It gets a-lot of use and still in service. It was a gamble buying it as with most purchases it is a decision and budget constraints to boggle ones mind with.

[DoubleJRanch]

This is the one I ordered. https://www.trindustrial.com/product...ition/tr89305/

Looks like 13 amps. I got the series 300. It came with a point and chisel, I ordered the rebar bit too.

OK, just showed up today, what an absolute beast. 35lbs, It didnt look that big. . OK, rebar/ground rod tool coming later. Good news, it comes in a nice case that rolls, has wheels on one end like luggage.

This is not a practical unit to take up on top of a log wall, its more the size of a real jackhammer. A 10-20lb unit would be a better fit. I am going to look into a smaller unit. This would be perfect for digging footers and removing any rocks you may encounter.
Attachment 4194


Way too big, so also ordered this one.


Amazon for under $100 bucks.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Much more manageable for up on a log wall.