Rotary hammers demand tremendous power to bust up concrete. This 36V model from Bosch promises to do it as well as any corded model.
For brute concrete drilling power, a rotary hammer is the clear choice. Its raw power is too much for ordinary household tasks, but if you've got to do concrete demolition work or have a ton of pins and anchors to install, this is the tool. Rotary hammers are one of the last remaining tools that require a corded for all-day performance. At least, until now.
Bosch just announced its new RH328VC-36 Bulldog 36V rotary hammer, which promises to deliver a punch of 4,100 bpm, good enough for the most demanding job sites. This unit can function in three modes: rotary hammer, rotation only, and hammer only, which gives it a ton of utility. The power generated from its 36V 4.0 Ah battery compares favorably with any corded models.
Rotary hammers always suffer from intense vibration ,which is understandable considering when you are working with a tool that delivers 2.4 ft/lbs of impact energy on each blow. Here, Bosch has a vibration dampening handle as well as a kickback control system that will shut down the tool if it gets stuck. But the best feature is the electronic precision control that provides a soft start by limiting the power to 70 percent to prevent the tool from walking or skating when you need precision drill hole placement.
This type of power doesn't come cheap but it's available now for $749 and includes the tool, battery, charger, and case.