What is the true definition of a 'rotary' drill.

[mart]

When I think of a rotary drill, I see the shape of the Milwaukee models.

I was looking online and saw some Makita 'rotary' drills, but the shape was more like a conventional sds hammer drill. Is a true rotary drill always the shape of the Milwaukee models?

What can a rotary drill do that a good quality SDS hammer drill cannot? They seem to have much larger motors, upwards of 1000w. Is that the main difference. I don't understand what 'rotary' means in respect of drills.

 

[sako243]

Not a Milwaukee but we've got a pair of SDS Max "drills" that don't have a rotary function, i.e. they're just breakers.

My Milwaukee SDS Plus can hammer only, hammer and rotate or rotate only.

Not sure if that's what you're after but based off the breakers I'd say you can get some that don't rotate so perhaps they're emphasising that it rotates.

 

[mike os]

One that rotates

 

[mart]

But don't all drills rotate, but not all breakers rotate?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

But don't all drills rotate, but not all breakers rotate?

Aye. My hilti is a breaker only.
Prefer it that way. Less likely to go wrong on me

 

[mart]

Not a Milwaukee but we've got a pair of SDS Max "drills" that don't have a rotary function, i.e. they're just breakers.

My Milwaukee SDS Plus can hammer only, hammer and rotate or rotate only.

Not sure if that's what you're after but based off the breakers I'd say you can get some that don't rotate so perhaps they're emphasising that it rotates.

I don't have a lot of drilling jobs to do, but I do have some holes to drill through concrete that my Makita SDS drill will struggle with.

 

[mart]

Aye. My hilti is a breaker only.
Prefer it that way. Less likely to go wrong on me

Can you advice on the type of jobs a breaker would be capable of doing please?

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Can you advice on the type of jobs a breaker would be capable of doing please?

Breaking out concrete. Taking down a wall. Stripping render
While my ads has a breaker setting it's not designed for long term use and certainly wouldn't cope with removing a garden path

 

[MetalMonkey]

A lot of those terms are used interchangeably which probably doesn't help.

Shape doesn't really matter, there are SDS drills shaped like traditional percussion hammer drills, and ones shaped like mini breakers.
Usually it is about the ergonomics of the tool or the power and weight which dictates those design choices.

It's all about the Joules when it comes to breakers, and that is proportional to the weight of the machine - which is why a 15kg 50J breaker can dig up a path and a 2.7kg 3.6J cordless SDS can't.
Conversely trying to drill 6mm holes upside down in a concrete beam is better suited to the lighter weight machine

The larger SDS Plus and SDS Max machines usually feature a rotary stop so you can use them for light breaking or chiselling.
The larger Max machines often don't bother with a hammer stop, whereas the SDS plus machines will often have this. Breakers don't rotate at all.

Horses for courses - depends really what the application is.

 

[mike os]

But don't all drills rotate, but not all breakers rotate?

nope, Ive definitely seen rock drills that are hammer only

 

[Arc Tourist]

Even an old Star-Bit used with a lump hammer is a rotary drill.