Drills are an incredibly useful tool for use both in the construction industry by professionals, and around the home for DIYers.

Using a rotating or chipping motion, drills can be used to make holes in a wide range of materials; let’s take a closer look at 4 of the most common types of drills and when they might be used:

1. Hammer drill: Sometimes referred to as a hammer drill driver, too, these tools have a hammer mechanism that when chipping away at a material like concrete, vibrates the drill bit backwards and forwards as the bit is spun by the motor. However, you can usually disable the hammer mechanism should you wish to, and use it like an ordinary drill driver.You can use a hammer drill to drill and drive in just about any material, but they can be messy, so if doing work at home, you may want to prepare the area and take precautions so as not to inhale any silica dust.
2. Rotary hammer: Otherwise known as a combination hammer, this is the bigger sibling of the hammer drill. With a stronger mechanism for hammering and chipping (they typically come with both modes), they are capable of delivering far more power than your average hammer drill. They also come with a rotating option, but this is rarely used, and then, only by professionals.If you need to drill holes in concrete, stone, masonry or brick, or need to break any of these materials apart, a rotary hammer is the best tool.
3. Impact driver: You could argue that this isn’t really a drill, however, these tools have a hex chuck that supports the use of spade bits and twist bits to name but a few, provided they’re compatible, of course. Rather than using a mechanism that forward chips, these tools use a mechanism comprised of a rotating hammer and anvil. Once the chuck begins to turn, the hammer proceeds to strike the anvil with force; much more forcefully than a regular drill. While not as smooth as a drill, it can be used to make holes in materials like wood, metal and plastic. With the ability to drive screws far faster than a regular drill driver, this tool is used by many construction professionals alongside a standard drill to prevent them from having to swap the bits over while they work.
4. Core drill: Not as commonly used as other types of drills, it’s still worth a mention as when it comes to making large holes in a material like concrete, there’s no other tool quite like it. spinning the bit instead of hammering, chipping or driving, core drills create a core that can be removed, instead of grinding away to make an entire hole. While these specialist tools are slow to use, they are capable of making holes of up to a few feet in diameter in concrete.

Drills are a common tool found on all construction worksites, and can come in extremely useful around the home for DIYers, too. To know more about the many different types of drills available, and which one might best suit your needs, talk to a power tool specialist or browse the many options laid out in an online tool store.