Hammer drills are so called because they are capable of hammer drilling into tough materials like concrete and masonry. The hammer action can also be switched off, making them suitable for drilling all standard materials like wood, metal and plastic as well. Equipped with forward and reverse switches, they are also capable of driving screws though they are not typically the first choice of machine for this task. Some machines have dedicated screwdriving modes and a few have torque control systems which increase their capabilities in this field however. The main advantages of hammer drills compared to cordless drills are their increased speed, power and unlimited runtime.

Hammer drill safety:

As with all drilling machines, eye protection should be worn at all times when using a hammer drill.