Thinking about buying a Milwaukee rotary hammer drill for dilling dirtholes and drilling pilot holes for anchors after the ground freezes. Good or bad?

awhile ago, someone posted about using a hammer drill for digging frozen trap beds. I saved it...SOMEWHERE!

I tried the search, not getting anywhere with it.

if the OP doesn't chime in, I'll try to dig through my "filing system"...

The rotary drill is a lot more weight than a regular cordless. If that makes any difference to you.
This year I'm using the drill all season long. Did a timed test between, by hand and by drill.
Hand time 4 minutes
Drill time under 3 minutes.
And the new brush less drills are in my opinion, are the only way to go when using them in the dirt.
I use a 1" auger bit for cable stakes
3" auger for the few d/holes I make.
Hope this helps

Wetdog, weight not so much a issue as I trap with a side by side. Your experiences is what I'm looking for.

They have cordless jackhammers that might work ?

seen some neat machines run in my 20 yrs of workin at cutco cutlery.some kinda scary.

I have never used the Milwaukee but have heard good things.Hopefully,someone who has will post.

The augers that I use,1 1/2" and 3",work well in thawed,hard ground or slightly frozen ground but not so much in flint hard,frozen ground.With carbide bits,I can drill stake holes regardless how frozen the ground is.

Now if you want to chisel beds,you need a rotary HAMMER.A rotary hammer has standard drill mode,hammer drill mode and hammer mode which does not spin but is for chiseling etc.I believe most rotary hammers will have a little more torque than the rotary drills of similar voltage.

Mine is a 20V Dewalt.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/eUw2a1i.jpg[/img}

I use Bosch bits,5/8"x 21" for 1/2" rebar stakes,1"x10" for mouse holes and a 1 1/2" tile chisel for beds.

I know a regular hammer drills only use on a trapline with hard or frozen ground is as dead weight. Been there done that, totally useless.

I’ve switched to a rotary hammer (like Taximan has in his photos).

So far so good in summer soil.

I burnt up the motor on my Dewalt in pretty short time. I see now they make a rotary hammer with a brushless motor. I think the one Taxi has is a brushless Dewalt. My Milwaukee is a animal. Makes short work out of frozen ground. If you can keep your batteries warm in the cab of your buggy you will have no problem. When it gets 20 below out the batteries get ate up pretty quick.

22 below zero the day I made the set. Rotary hammer and wax dirt sure makes it easier.

Andy were you using the Milwaukee before the dewalt?

I thought you were using the big dewalt rotary hammer?

I wouldn't buy a craftsman mine broke after a few sets.

Taximan's post was the one I was thinking of.

Thanks!

A lot of extra weight and expense. Use a regular drill with a fluted bit, (metal), not a spade bit. (wood)

Andy, that is the model I am thinking about. All my other cordless tools are Milwaukee, have had real good luck with them. The winter conditions are the reason I am purchasing one.