I was told by some people from the store that there exists 2 types of percussion types regarding the rotary hammer drill: the pneumatic percussion and the mechanical percussion. I need a confirmation if this is true or not ?
The second question is: What is the difference between a rotary hammer that has a pneumatic percussion system and a rotary hammer that uses a mechanical percussion system ?
The 3rd question is: how can I identify (if the manual does not specify) which is pneumatic and which is mechanical ?
Pneumatic Vs Mechanical Rotary Hammer
drill
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Best Answer
I think the first step is to clear up the terms you are using. There are "rotary hammers" and there are "hammer drills". You are combining the two, causing some confusion.
In general, if a product is called a hammer drill, it will have (to simplify) a pair of ridged disks inside it that rub together and cause the bit to move in and out a little when the drill rotates. This hammer drill will have a high "beats per minute" and has a characteristic sound almost like slowly rubbing a coarse file with a nail.
A rotary hammer is normally larger and the in and out motion of the bit is performed by a pneumatic piston. They are more powerful and also absorb shock more for the user so can be used for longer periods. They also will typically have the ability to use the hammer without the bit rotating (which is not possible on a hammer drill).
So to answer your last question, if it is called a hammer drill, it uses mechanical percussion, and if it's called a rotary hammer it uses a piston. I guess a manufacturer could use the wrong term and at that point you would need to look at the manual or a parts diagram. This article from Popular Mechanics actually mentions a drill that is marketed as a hammer drill but is designed like a rotary hammer (the Rockwell).