From helper to subcontractor

A drill uses a clutch and steady rotation for drilling holes and precise driving. An impact driver adds rapid rotational blows that drive long screws and lag bolts with less effort but less finesse. Most crews own both.

A hammer drill handles small holes in block and occasional concrete. A rotary hammer uses a piston-driven hammer and SDS bits, and is the right tool for frequent or larger holes in concrete.

Stay with the battery platform you already own, because batteries are the expensive part. If you are starting fresh, compare cost per amp-hour and whether the platform has the specialty tools your trade needs.

Count your compaction days per year. If you rent more than a handful of days a year, owning usually pays off, and battery models remove the fuel and noise problems on occupied properties.

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