Concrete Demolition

A sledge hammer may be effective for removing very small amounts of concrete- maybe 20-80 square feet. For amounts over that it will be worth it to visit the rental yard and pick up a demolition hammer, a rotary hammer, or a chipping hammer. Here are the uses for each:

Chipping hammers are lightweight, hand-held concrete breakers that can be easily positioned to break vertical and overhead surfaces. By offering a controlled chipping action, these hammers allow operators to precisely chip away o­nly specific areas.

The smallest chipping hammers, powered electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically, usually weight between 5 and 30 pounds. As usual, a good indication of the power of the tools is their weight. The heavier the tool, the more powerful it is apt to be. The chipping action of this type of equipment is rapid, ranging from 900 to 3,000 blows per minute.

Because chipping hammers are most often used to break concrete o­n vertical and overhead surfaces, they must be light. They are maneuvered by holding a handle at the back of the tool and gripping the tool by its shaft with the other hand. Some tools have a second handle along the side. This gives operators control of the tool's weight and the ability to direct its chipping action at different angles.

By offering a controlled chipping action, these hammers allow operators to precisely chip away o­nly specific areas.

Big rotary hammers are known as either SDS-max or spline-drive hammers, depending o­n whether they accept SDS-max or spline-shank bits.

The versatility of the rotary hammer allows it to demolish concrete with a hammer o­nly method, or to deliver rotary-hammer action for boring holes in concrete. This is done in the rotary hammer mode by driving twist drills and core bits, or in the hammer o­nly mode to utilize everything from flat chisels to ground-rod drivers.

However, this versatility comes at a price, since rotary hammers have an extra drive train that rotates drill bits in the rotary-hammer mode. This siphons off energy and decreases efficiency in the hammer-only mode.

Rotary hammers use a battering ram that floats inside a cylinder and is launched and retrieved by a piston. A shock-absorbing airspace between the ram and the piston compresses and drives the ram forward as the piston advances, then sucks it back as the piston retracts.

Demolition hammers

Demolition hammers are similar to rotary hammers and are used in the same way in terms of delivery hammer blows. However, demolition hammers deliver hammering action o­nly, unlike rotary hammers, which can also be used to bore holes.

What demolition hammers lack in this regard in terms of versatility, however, they make up in punch. The demolition hammer is able to deliver more powerful blows than rotary hammers, since they typically have about 35% more power. This is due to the fewer parts in a demolition hammer, and sometimes a longer piston stroke, as well.

While the demolition hammer delivers fewer blows per minute than a rotary hammer, the increased strength of the tool actually makes it a quicker and more efficient means of demolishing concrete and masonry.

At Zoher Hardware, we offer all these types of hammers along with a free demonstration if needed.