Thread: Buying a Jackhammer - Any Advice?

I dug out about 10x 7Cubic metre skips of clay using a Hitachi jackhammer with both chisel & spade attachments, probably 120 hours hammer work, then sold it for more than an Ozito from Bunnings, then bought the Ozito, It uses the same attachments and has a 12 month warrantee, although most of the work is now done.

But for a single Job the Ozito would be fine. If it stuffs up, take it back & exchange. Thats what I do with angle grinders.

there are pretty much only 2 brands you see on work sites: Hitachi and Hilti.

Hitachi: 80% of jack hammers on site are Hitachi, from concreters, floor removal to demo work. These are either owned or hired (nothing gets flogged harder tha hire tools)

Hilti: Like all their gear it is top notch, but is priced at a premium. That would be why it isnt seen as much, but to see them on site is saying something.

I have also seen hitachi's used out west for fencing. Small genset on rear of truck, little overhead arm with weight/pulley/balance, these are used to drive in star pickets for fence lines.....now there are many 1000's of km/s of fencing out west.....thats alot of star pickets!

I have an hitachi based on a recommendation from a builder mate. He reckons the cheapies are rubbish because they wear out quickly. He has had a hitachi for years. I live on steep rocky hill and and use it for landscaping. Planting trees too worth the money if you would otherwise have to hire.

I have a Hitachi. For an electric macine it's about all you'd want. For solid stuff (which you don't have ) go with pneumatic.
I bought my Hitachi second hand from a reputable second hand tool store with a guarantee. I could probably sell it now and many many jobs later for similar money (about 1/2 new price). It's been totally reliable.
Don.

I've worked for years with jack hammers and my experience was:
1, hitachi for heavier and tougher work
2. Kango for trenching and more digging type work where you've got to throw it around lots.

We used a kango to dig 100m stormwater trench 1.5m deep, yep 1.5m deep by hand before laws on shoring came into effect.

Bottom line for versatility I'd go kango anyway.

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I HATE jackhammers, but do own a couple of them, that I occasionally use. I have an Atlas Copco Cobra 2 stroke petrol one that also can be used as a drill for blast holes etc and would say it is not far off the pnuematic ones I have used in the past except it is much heavier. (weighs about 35kg) But it can break a 2 foot cube of footing (shed footing) in half in about 2 mins.

I also have a Ozito, that I bought when I did some work at my Mums 200km away and went to Bunnings to buy a crow bar and sledge hammmer, I walked out with a jackhammer instead, and to be honest it's not bad, and I would prefer to use it over the Cobra when I can.

The wind up is if you only need it for the one job go the Ozito for sure (it's covered warranty for 12 months) if not look at the other models listed above but they will cost 4 to 5 times the price and have the same warranty.

I have used lots but own a Makita. Only reason for the Makita was it was on sale at a very good price. All the name brands seem to work as well as each other as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by justinc

Oh, and i thought this was another thread about buying a 4BD1 to fit to a 110....


JC

Now that's just plain mean