
#SDS PLUS BITS PLUS#
SDS and SDS Plus bits are interchangeable since they’re both 10mm diameter and the latter is just a modernized version of the former. Moving along the list, you go from lightest-duty to heaviest-duty.

Their composition is the same, but there are nuances between each that make them unique. SDS Max: What Are the Differences?Īll three of the variants – SDS, SDS Plus, and SDS Max – work on the same principle and are based on the same concept. It’s generally brazed which makes the head of the bit much stronger than it would otherwise be. Lastly, a bit’s carbide tip works with the head to break up the concrete. The head of an SDS drill bit works to break up the concrete similar to the head of a standard hammer drill bit. It removes dust and debris while the drill is drilling or hammering a workpiece. The land of the bit is the raised portion of the spiral Next is the flute which performs exactly the same as it does with a standard bit. Additionally, the grooves allow the bit to slide within the chuck which means better energy while hammering, and better torque while drilling.

The grooves guide the bit to allow it to rotate, as well as ensuring the bit doesn’t fall out of the chuck. The big difference, though, is that an SDS bit shank has four grooves on it that fit into the drill’s collar. The shank overall works the same way as a standard drill bit. An SDS bit is quite different than a standard bit and is composed of five parts. The dual action of rotation coupled with proper hammering makes chiseling and drilling through hard materials much easier than with a standard drill bit. That way, it can be used with softer materials.Īn SDS drill bit is, as its name suggests, a bit designed to be used with an SDS rotary hammer drill. That’s because with standard hammer drills, it’s their chucks that move back and forth, not the bits themselves.īy isolating motion in the bit, it allows for less chatter, more efficiency, and much higher accuracy.Īn SDS drill has a switch allowing for the hammer option to be turned off and to perform like a standard rotary drill. The hammer is like a piston – the SDS bit gets shot forward and backward which gives a more accurate and precise action compared to a standard hammer drill. There are indentations along the shaft of the bit that fit between ball bearings in the chuck.


Looking at an SDS bit helps you to understand why the chuck has to be equally special. SDS drills have an internal hammer mechanism in their specialized chuck. Using two different types of motion, it maximizes efficiency and allows the user to apply much more force to the materials at hand. It can easily drill through brickwork, concrete, steel, and tougher materials. SDS Drills: What Are They and How Do They Work?Īn SDS drill is a more capable and powerful alternative to a standard hammer or rotary drill. In this article, I take a look at what makes the SDS system unique, at what the differences between regular SDS, SDS Plus, and SDS Max are, as well as at some of the most commonly asked questions about the topic. In the latter case, rather than regular concrete drill bits, you will generally need to get SDS drill bits. If you are looking to work with concrete or masonry – and need to drill holes – chances are you looked at getting a regular hammer drill or heavier duty rotary hammers like the Hilti TE 7-C. Handyman's World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to.
