Recommendations of power rotary hammer/ chisel

I have both 36-volt and wired Bosch rotohammers, plus a wired Bosch demo hammer. The demo hammer is the go-to tool for any serious pavement removal, followed by the wired rotohammer as a distant second. Since both require a generator in the field, I only use the rotohammer for drilling holes.

The 36-volt can dig in a pinch, but it's not well-suited to the task - too small and not enough battery life for real digging.

I also have a Bosch Brute 60- lb. jack, but it's too big to mess with on most jobs.

For a deep dive into a quality tool I recommend this video:

[MEDIA=youtube]joetVGrMfAY[/MEDIA]

I do not think that any survey rig is complete without a cordless rotary hammer, a grinder is a nice also.

For setting points a 18V should do okay, for heavy work a 36V is better. DeWalts are nice on the price and are light, Bosch and Hilti are the best.

If you are going to be digging up the street all the time you may need to go further, perhaps try renting some tools to see what you like.

I like to use a big spoon. The kind that is often used to serve slop in a cafeteria line.

Of course I use a "weed burning torch first". I have a 250,000 BTU torch, that connects to a standard barbecue grill tank with a 10 ft. hose. The wand is a little over 3 feet in length, and it really roars. it is not that bad to lug around with a ATV.

I can dig through a foot of old asphalt without breaking a sweat. When it is time to fill it back in, you end up with a perfectly finished looking job.

FWIW...the big spoon keeps you from burning your hands with hot asphalt. My biggest hole so far was 3 ft in diameter through 14" of asphalt. On that point I was using a shovel.

I worked with a gentleman who liked to use a coffee can with the bottom cut out, he would put it over the search position pour some kerosene in the can and light it, sinking the can and removing the asphalt as he went. I never saw the process in action but he asserted that it worked well.

Bosch now makes a heavier duty battery for rhe 36 volt hammerdrill series. 4 batteries will outlast most workers for the dsy. There are a few things to remember with these.
Never pry sideways. Never use the hammer function without pressure on the bit.

I use a Hilti TE 7A 36volt battery operated rotary hammer. I've never used it in asphalt, but it drills holes in concrete, salt and rock and chisels through salt with ease.

party chef, post: 444756, member: 98 wrote: I worked with a gentleman who liked to use a coffee can with the bottom cut out, he would put it over the search position pour some kerosene in the can and light it, sinking the can and removing the asphalt as he went. I never saw the process in action but he asserted that it worked well.

I can attest that it works very well.

I'm researching the purchase of a cordless rotary hammer. I need something that can drill fifty 3/8" x 18" holes with a 3/4" x 3" countersink in concrete over the course of an 8 hour day. Is there anything out there that can handle that? We would charge batteries with an inverter in the truck.

Have you already decided that a San Angelo bar won't do the trick? I've used a hammer drill with a 3/4" bit to drill a series of holes around the perimeter of some pavement to be removed, but it was the San Angelo bar that really did the work.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ludell-72-in-17-lb-San-Angelo-Heavy-Duty-Bar-50030/204326729

I don't think any of the current major brand sds plus rotary hammers would have a problem doing 50 holes a day.

We are currently running a Hilti TE2 with a Honda generator. This set up works fine, except for the inconvenience of the generator and the cord.

I'm considering this as a replacement: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-Bulldog-36-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-1-1-8-in-SDS-Plus-Variable-Speed-Rotary-Hammer-with-2-4-0-Ah-Batteries-RH328VC-36K/206215129

backspur, post: 444827, member: 11896 wrote: I'm researching the purchase of a cordless rotary hammer. I need something that can drill fifty 3/8" x 18" holes with a 3/4" x 3" countersink in concrete over the course of an 8 hour day. Is there anything out there that can handle that? We would charge batteries with an inverter in the truck.

Backspur,
I have the 36v Bosch Bulldog for setting various types of monuments. I use it quit a bit to set the Bernsten plug monuments which have a 12mm stem and 26mm countersink. With a good bit the drill takes about a minute a hole. I also use the drill to mount similar monuments hard rock for tunnel work. The drill does great with a 60mm core bit in A/C (used to countersink aluminium caps). You are going to need a couple of spare batteries and some bits I would guess. Just remember, let the hammer do the work, don't force the bit and they last a lot longer.

John Putnam, post: 444913, member: 1188 wrote: Backspur,
I have the 36v Bosch Bulldog for setting various types of monuments. I use it quit a bit to set the Bernsten plug monuments which have a 12mm stem and 26mm countersink. With a good bit the drill takes about a minute a hole. I also use the drill to mount similar monuments hard rock for tunnel work. The drill does great with a 60mm core bit in A/C (used to countersink aluminium caps). You are going to need a couple of spare batteries and some bits I would guess. Just remember, let the hammer do the work, don't force the bit and they last a lot longer.

What John said- you'll need 3 batteries, and you're still liable to have lag time- I'd research the more powerful batteries as mentioned above... My 36V bosch is about 3 years old with the batteries that came with it. Drilling 18" holes for 5/8" rebar in asphalt sucks a lot of juice.

Just an update. I just set 7 of the Bernsten plugs in concrete & 11 5/8"IRs in AC. It took the better part of 3 standard batteries. When I set rebar in AC is drill a 5/8" hole ~12" deep and then use a 1-1/2" core to counter sink the cap 2". It is the core bit that suck the juice.

John Putnam, post: 446914, member: 1188 wrote: It is the core bit that suck the juice.

Those core bits scare me. I nearly twisted my arm in two when a 2" core bit jammed in a concrete paver. I was driving it with a generator-powered rotohammer. I had a sore elbow for months after that.

This is what we use. You can find it at the DYI Outlet

Chris_Fowle, post: 446929, member: 6109 wrote: This is what we use. You can find it at the DYI Outlet

Thanks Chris, I just ordered one

Jim Frame, post: 446927, member: 10 wrote: Those core bits scare me. I nearly twisted my arm in two when a 2" core bit jammed in a concrete paver. I was driving it with a generator-powered rotohammer. I had a sore elbow for months after that.

I have a core bit (Stadea concrete hole saw) that I use in asphalt that never fails to crank my wrist in ways it shouldn't bend. Does a great job of coring asphalt , but it finally killed my Milwaukee fuel hammer drill. (Which is why I'm checking out this thread.)