Is it normal for SDS Plus drills to have slight wobble?

Deleted member 174758 · 17 Nov 2015

Tony Kay said:
It is VERY interesting you say all your SDS drill have a bit of wobble but the question is what is 'normal' wobble and if my drill is within normal limit?

There is a fair bit of variation in manufacturing and very few drill bits I've used don't exhibit a bit of this behaviour, but in general it doesn't stop me from doing the job properly so I tend to ignore it - mostly. I find that after a drill and bit has been dropped (onto the bit), or even if someone leans the drill and bit up against a wall after use (when hot), that SDS drill bits can bend a little. At that point they can "helicopter" and they are scrap because you'll never correct them.

crank39 said:
Just been looking at the specs and what have you and it says for coring its rated from 30 to 50mm and I noticed you want to cut 100mm with it presumably for an extractor, for that you'll probably need a 3kg drill

I've got to agree with you - to use a 100mm core without risking injusry your drill needs to be rated for it (and have the appropriate clutch performance)

Tony Kay · 18 Nov 2015

JobAndKnock said:
Tony Kay said:

There is a fair bit of variation in manufacturing and very few drill bits I've used don't exhibit a bit of this behaviour, but in general it doesn't stop me from doing the job properly so I tend to ignore it - mostly. I find that after a drill and bit has been dropped (onto the bit), or even if someone leans the drill and bit up against a wall after use (when hot), that SDS drill bits can bend a little. At that point they can "helicopter" and they are scrap because you'll never correct them.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip about handling hot SDS drill bits. I'll keep an eye on it.

crank39 said:

Just been looking at the specs and what have you and it says for coring its rated from 30 to 50mm and I noticed you want to cut 100mm with it presumably for an extractor, for that you'll probably need a 3kg drill

Click to expand...

JobAndKnock said:

[I've got to agree with you - to use a 100mm core without risking injusry your drill needs to be rated for it (and have the appropriate clutch performance)

Click to expand...

Thanks crank39, the specs are saying 50mm but the below review is talking about being able to handle 150mm core. As a once off, if it can handle it, that will be good enough for me. Thanks for the warning though, I'll be careful and stop if there is any sign of issues.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-rev...iewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

So I took the drill to my local B&Q and got it examined by some experienced looking staff and he said the slight movement of drill bit is normal for SDS drills. We checked by inserting a drill bit in different SDS drills on display (many high spec ones) and all had similar levels of play / movement. So I guess my inexperience with SDS was showing up as I am used to a solid and centered drill bit grip in keyed rotary drills. Also I have to get use to the idea of how to use a SDS (almost like using a PC mouse for the first time, initially it appears bit clumsy but eventually you get a hang of it!).

JBR · 18 Nov 2015

Come to think of it, I've just been having a look at my drill and bits and actually one of them (5.5mm) does wobble a bit more than the others. Perhaps, as JobandKnock says, I have done something to it. Even so, the last time I used it there was no problem drilling a clean hole in stone.

chappers · 24 Nov 2015

This really isn't an issue. How much bigger do you think the hole you are drilling is ending up. Put the drill bit to the work pull the trigger it's how you steer it after that. I have used clearly bent drill bits in the past and never has it caused so much trouble that I couldn't fit a brown plug ok

Tony Kay · 27 Nov 2015

To draw a line under this thread - I had been using normal rotary drills where the bit is rock solid and straight. I have found out SDS drills do have some play - it is normal. I checked basic to top of the range models - all have play. It is more a case of getting familiar and its a treat to use the SDS then. Its like using mouse first time ever could fiddly to start with and soon it becomes second nature. My Hitachi SDS drill ay 850 watts is solid and goes like a rocket into wall where my normal drill use to struggle. Many thanks all for your input.

RLR · 29 Aug 2017

I'm facing a similar situation with my new Hitachi DH28PCY SDS+ Drill. Can anyone please comment on the following vid:

Is this normal? Or, have I received a faulty unit?

SammyInnit · 29 Aug 2017

RLR said:
I'm facing a similar situation with my new Hitachi DH28PCY SDS+ Drill. Can anyone please comment on the following vid:

Is this normal? Or, have I received a faulty unit?

I'd call that beyond reasonable. I've seen percussion drills with more play than that.

Doggit · 29 Aug 2017

The issue is the drill bit (unless it does it with all bits of course) and I'd take it back. But if it does it with all bits then I'd take the drill back.

Now Tony, I've got to ask this, but have you slid the collar back to engage the drill bit. The first time that I used an SDS drill, it completely fluxomed me and I had to ring the guy that lent it to me and ask him.

As an SDS drill works on a pneumatic principle, any play between the chuck and the drill bit would wear both over a quick period of time. Now becuase of that pneumatic action, the drill bit won't follow such a straight course as a hammer drill, as it's going backwards, and then thumped forward again damned hard, so it'll pick up different hadnesses in the substrae much quicker.

RLR · 29 Aug 2017

@SammyInnit
@Doggit

I can notice the chuck wobble in drill &/or drill+hammer mode/s. I think the play in the bit is because of the wobbly chuck. Made a vid:

Is this normal?

Doggit said:
I've got to ask this, but have you slid the collar back to engage the drill bit.

Yes.

Doggit · 29 Aug 2017

There does seem to be an anomoly, but have you tried other bits, and taking it back to the store.

Roger928 · 29 Aug 2017

It looks fine. Any sds will have a small deflection due to the nature of the design.

RLR · 29 Aug 2017

Doggit said:
There does seem to be an anomoly, but have you tried other bits, and taking it back to the store.

Will try with new bits and report. But don't think it will help as the chuck itself seems wobbly. Bought it online, so only option is return and refund.

SammyInnit · 29 Aug 2017

RLR said:
Will try with new bits and report. But don't think it will help as the chuck itself seems wobbly. Bought it online, so only option is return and refund.

I mean for what it is, to put your mind at ease just send it back and get it swapped anyway. Tell them you're not happy with it. If you get a second that's giving you doubt then perhaps try for a refund and try another make but I can't see hitachi giving you that much trouble.

SDS drills by design have a bit of backlash in them so you can't expect too much.

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Is it normal for SDS Plus drills to have slight wobble?

Deleted member 174758

SammyInnit

Doggit

Doggit

SammyInnit

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