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For normal construction and remodelling, the Bulldog is the best for Tapcons and anchors like Red Heads and such. Pushing hard only dulls the bits and they aren't exactly cheap.The bits are SDS and that's part of the secret of good rotary hammers. They eliminate the possibilty of a bit getting stuck in concrete and the chuck spinning around it, and also, I believe, maximize the effect of the hammer. Oh well. I might be wrong on this, but I think while your average hammer drill with a Jacob's-style chuck has the "hammer" striking a part of the chuck assembly which is holding onto the bit, an SDS hammer is striking the bit itself. When drilling into a floor, the weight of the tool is usually all you need. This was my first ever reconditioned tool (bought at the same time as the Recon Bosch Multi X, no issues with that tool either).
The only blemish is that the factory carved or etched "RECON" in small print into a rubber area. The Bulldogs are awesome hammer drills. I felt I was taking a risk, but I'm glad I did. A direct, no middle-man use of all the power available.As for being reconditioned, all I know is I'm happy I tried it. The hammer drill looks and works perfectly. There are (much) larger rotary hammers - if all you do is drill through concrete and masonry and can justify $500-1000 and more. Saved at least $70 which buys a nice assortment of bits and chisels.
Nothing faster.One tip: Use no more pressure than neccesary to keep the bit against the work.
of labor if I had it when I started the job. I ordered this Bosch drill after seeing a favorable review in a trade magazine I subscribe to. I dicked around trying to drill holes in some old fireplace brick with a regular drill and masonary bit and just about ruined the job. This is the right way to drill holes in cement or brick. The price is good especially when compared to a few times renting one. This drill would have saved me 6 hrs.
Remember, this tool works in a dusty environment. Use proper eye protection, a dust mask, and clean the tool during and after use.Remember, also, if you need to do heavier work, rent or buy the appropriate larger tool. It will drill holes fast and install anchors in concrete or masonry in a few seconds. My favorite use is to remove bricks when masonry repair or a larger door or window need to be installed.The trick with brick removal is removing the first brick. When the chisel bit is pressed against the brick, the brick turns into dust, but it is not thrown about as much as one might expect.This is a commercial-quality tool and will last a long time if it is maintained. I love all of my Bosch tools, and this one is no exception.
This one is very capable for all normal home building or remodeling tasks. It drills most concrete as if it is drilling butter. It is very important to follow the maintenance procedures in the manual. Bricks in difficult starter positions, perhaps in the center of a wall, are best attacked by first drilling a series of 1/2-inch holes across the face of the brick. There are larger, more powerful rotary hammers, of course. As soon as the bricks are no longer in compression, the bricks remove quickly.
Bosch makes them, too. I do this by turning the tool to hammer function only, installing a 1-inch chisel bit, and applying the chisel to the brick.
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