Guides4Homeowners Useful Information & Guides
I recently undertook quite the garden project that involved having to buy a concrete breaker to get rid of a garage base & other bits of stone, as you can see in the lovely flattering picture above. Like most, I initially thought about hiring one, because of it being a heavy bit of equipment I naturally thought it would be quite expensive to purchase.
I always try and purchase tools as opposed to hire them, even if it’s a bit more expensive, because I’m of the mind that I’ll use it again at some point, so I began researching concrete breakers and it wasn’t easy to find everything I wanted to know, so here’s a guide of everything for you:
This articles quite long, so here’s a table of contents to quickly navigate:
- Types of concrete breakers
- What to look at for when buying
- Handheld or mounted
- What else should I consider? (Budget, weight & extras)
- My top 7 concrete breaker picks
Current Best Selling Concrete Breakers
Before you start reading through our buying guide & finding out what options might be for you, there are constantly new concrete breakers coming to the market. We’ve compiled a list that constantly changes to the best selling concrete breakers currently on the Amazon market.
- Maximum power will always be at your disposal, both in the house and in the...
- The Einhell TC-DH 43 Hammer is an indispensable tool for DIY enthusiasts to...
- The additional handle of the heavy hammer has been designed to be 180°...
- The hammer is immediately ready to use thanks to the supplied flat and...
- The sturdy and durable construction ensures the heavy duty hammer an...
- 【High Performance】Full copper motor will excellent heat...
- 【Perfect for family use】Compact and lightest weight is perfect for...
- 【Multipurpose Chisels】With 2 different use chisel.Point chisel for...
- 【Practical Accessories】Bones wheel case,pair of gloves and complete...
- 【Safety】Locking switch keeps power on and long-time...
- With a 1050 W power rating and a blow strength of 12 joules, the powerful...
- It gets the job done even when resistance is stubborn - remorselessly! To...
- The adjustable additional handle provides a firm, secure grip to ensure...
- A rugged four meter rubber cable provides maximum flexibility when...
- Tools can be changed quickly and easily with the robust SDS-max tool chuck
What Are The Types of Concrete Breakers?
There are three main types of concrete breakers that you have the option of choosing from, but if you’re looking at buying your own and doing a DIY project then typically you will only need the first. Here are the three:
Electric – These are powered by using a motor that pumps the head of the tool, are relatively straightforward and simple making them easier to use. All you have to do is plug them into the mains and go. These typically won’t be suitable for large scale demolition jobs and if you’re in the trade you’ll probably want to consider other options, however for the most looking at a DIY task these are the best and cheapest option.
Petrol – The heavier duty concrete breaker that allows you to use it in an area that doesn’t have any electricity. If you’re on a building site with no access to electrics this is likely your best option, but they are usually more expensive to run, more expensive to buy and require more maintenance than their electric counterparts.
Pneumatic – The top tier and heaviest duty model. These air compressors to move the attachment up and down and if you have a large extensive demolition project then these are the ones to choose but they are by far the most expensive and should only be purchased if you’re going to be using it regularly.
What Should I Be Looking At?
When looking at buying a concrete breaker there are two things really that you need to look at, the blows per minute & the amount of jules (J) it produces. The higher the blows per minute and the jules the heavier duty the model is in essence.
Don’t just look at these two figures though, make sure you check the reviews & do your research around each of the products, because most of the heavier duty mounted models will do pretty much any DIY job you require with ease, so it’s more about the quality and handling of the product to ensure you can use it for the duration you need.
Some of the cheaper models have quite a bit of rattling and can often be quite heavy, and after using it for a period of time it can get tiring and you may need to take breaks. The more expensive models are usually much more comfortable and easier to use for longer periods.
Handheld or Mounted?
Handheld concrete breakers look a little bit like drills, with a hammer head. These are okay for small projects, like chipping bricks or breaking off little bits of concrete, but when you’re referring to a “concrete breaker” they often aren’t powerful enough and will struggle to break through anything of substance.
A mounted concrete breaker is more likely what you’re looking for, these are the heavier duty upright models that you need to grasp in two hands, one on the handle and one on the power. These usually weight quite a bit, around 10kg – 18kg, so be aware of that when purchasing.
What Else Should I Consider? (Budget, Weight & Extras)
There are a few additional things that you may want to consider when looking into concrete breakers, which are:
Budget – Concrete breakers vary massively from around £100 all the way to in the thousands, chances are if you’re undergoing a bit of DIY you don’t need to buy one in the thousands… What you really need to consider is what you are going to be using the concrete breaker for and how often you’ll need to use it. If you’re looking for repeated use you might want to buy a more reliable model like the Makita or DeWalt we mention below.
Weight – I’ve touched on this previously but weight is a big thing to consider. It depends on your personal physical strength but remember that you probably have to lug the breaker around for a few hours at a time when undergoing your project, so weight is definitely something you could look at with some concrete breakers weighing up to 18kg.
Extras – There are lots of extras you can get with a concrete breaker and some come with a few when you buy them & others come with none which is something you need to watch. There are different types of chisels and heads that you can get for the breakers themselves, as well as carry cases, so when buying a model do a bit of research on how much these extra pieces may cost, if you require them.
My Top 7 Concrete Breakers
Without further ado, here are my top 7 picks for demolition concrete breakers (jack hammers) to suits all kinds of budgets, these are in no particular order:
It’s quite light in comparison to a few others in the market at 10KG and will carve through any kind of concrete you need it to with ease. It handles well so you can often keep using it for a longer duration than some of the cheaper models.
The only perhaps downsize to this model is that it doesn’t come with an extra chisel which can be a useful part.
Frequency 50 Hz – Rated Voltage 230V. No Load Speed: 1900RPM. Speed: 1800 Impacts Per Minute. It’ll cut through just about anything you need.
A lot of people complain about the oil leaking, and when I first had it delivered I did have to top up the oil, but after which had no problems with it whatsoever.
Blows/Impacts Per Minute: 1900bpm; Power: 1500W; Impact Force: 45J
It’s more than suitable for brick, block, asphalt and concrete and is priced well in comparison to some of its competitors. Although I have personally never used this breaker the reviews at the time of checking have been fantastic with most being 5 stars and I can find very few complaints.
Impact Frequency: 3200min-1, Impact Energy: 30J, Max Power and Speed: 1800w (1.34HP) and 7000r/min
This also comes with a pointed chisel and flat chisel as extras that are included, so you save a bit of a cost there compared to a few of the other alternatives.
This one has mixed reviews, it’s a German brand and the manual comes in German which can cause a few problems, but with a bit of online research you should be able to overcome these.
It’s got great handling, accuracy and control which is where the real difference to some of the cheaper alternatives are. When buying something around the price of the Makita here you will find that you can use it comfortably for a lot longer than you can with some of the budget models, so if you are undertaking a project that is going to take you a long time, then it may be worth considering something like this.
It’s one of the heavier of the breakers at 15KG but it boasts an impressive 45J of force. A great product, priced right in the middle of the cheapest and most expensive.
