A Complete Guide to SDS Drills

SDS drills, also known as chisel or hammer drills, are a powerful type of hammer tool best suited to heavy-duty drilling applications. These specialist power tools can be used to drill through materials such as steel, brick, masonry, and concrete, making them handy tools for a range of tasks.

These tools combine the hammer action of a standard hammer drill with the rotary motion of regular drills, making them highly beneficial, effective power tools.

Interestingly, there is no definitive answer to this question. However, the most widely accepted theory is that SDS is a simple acronym for ‘Slotted Drive System’.

An interesting alternative is that the name derives from the original German phrase ‘steck, dreh, sitzt’ (insert, twist, fits).

Multiple different types of SDS hammer drills are available, each with their own advantages and most suitable applications. Although these drills can be categorised in several different ways, one of the simplest is to determine whether the drill is a corded or cordless model.

The two different types are explained below:

Cordless drills are often preferred due to the increased mobility and flexibility that they offer. Instead of being tethered by a cable and constrained by the proximity of a plug socket (or the length of an extension lead), you can use a cordless drill virtually anywhere. However, cordless drills run on batteries, which means you need to keep an eye on your battery power and may need to pause work to allow the battery to recharge.

On the other hand, corded power tools take their power from mains electricity, avoiding the time taken to recharge batteries. This also means that they need to be connected to an outlet to work, which may be problematic in certain situations. However, the key advantage of using a corded drill is that the majority of corded drills are more powerful than their cordless counterparts. Additionally, they will usually offer greater torque, too.

In addition to corded and cordless models, another way to distinguish the different types of SDS hammer drills is by brand. When shopping for a drill, quality and durability should come across all else, and selecting the best model for your requirements is essential.

Browse a selection of leading brands below and click through to shop with RS.

It is possible to use a standard bit with an SDS drill but using specialist SDS drill bits is always recommended where possible. It is important to note that you will need to use a chuck adaptor if you want to use regular drill bits, as the standard parts will not fit the drill chuck otherwise. Some models feature interchangeable chucks for this purpose, but others will need the addition of an adaptor.

If you will be using standard drill bits with an SDS drill, you must ensure that the hammer action is disabled before use. This will avoid damaging the bit and will also help to keep you safe while operating the drill.

In essence, SDS drills are a type of hammer drill. However, SDS drills are more powerful than the standard hammer drill, making them well suited to more heavy-duty drilling applications. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but if you need a drill for use with tough materials like concrete and masonry, an SDS drill will be the best option.