Drill or concrete breaker circa £200, advice needed.

[mart]

There is a lot of info here for me to digest. It is clear that the posters are speaking from experience. I feel that is the best type of advice. Thanks for all this. I feel sure I will have questions.

 

[AVI_8]

When we bought our house part of the kitchen floor was concreted, I thought I’d need to hire a heavy duty breaker but was surprised that my SDS made light work of getting through 2 inches of concrete when set to hammer.
To the OP you mentioned that it was only a few small jobs, if Your hammer drill is an SDS, put a breaker bar on it and give it a go, you‘re not going to break it, if it’s too thick you might need something heavier duty.

 

[Scalarocco]

I bought one of these from Toolstation yesterday to break up some concrete in my workshop floor. It did a reasonable job, far quicker than the progress I had been making with a bolster chisel and lump hammer!

 

[mart]

Do you want to drill and break or just break.

If you want to just break concrete then these are awesome. Broke out approximately 50sqm of 150mm reinforced concrete in my back garden and still going strong.

Error 410 | Screwfix

Thousands of products at low trade prices | FREE next day delivery available | 30 day money back guarantee on all orders.

www.screwfix.com

If you want the ability to break and drill you need an SDS or SDS max drill.
A big SDS is ok for breaking concrete SDS max is better but both are slower than the proper breaker. But can drill holes as well which the breaker can't.

Titan TTB571SDS 7.7kg Electric SDS Max Drill 230-240V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. The Titan TTB571SDS 230-240V Max drill delivers versatility and power, as well as excellent value for money. Featuring a variable impact rate and depth stop, this tool is suitable for a wide variety of different surfaces and comes with a selection of drill and...

www.screwfix.com

Realistically I only need to break concrete. Of the two machines linked to, the MacAlister seem to be a decent breaker, 1700w motor. I did feel a bit unsure about the non-replacable carbon brushes?? What is the fix when they ware down?

 

[Neilj]

How thick is the concrete you're trying to remove?
I've broken up a couple of concrete floors with one of the Titan Screwfix SDS units mentioned above and they work quite well. I wouldn't use one if you're talking 6" thick concrete though, you'd be there all day.

 

[CornishPete]

It depends on how thick the concrete is? The small 7ish kg "breakers" are good for hacking off render or chipping through small areas of concrete, dig out the odd fence post etc.. but they're just big drills really. If you've a big slab of 4 or 6" thick to break up you want one of the 16kg ones. I had a Macalister one I gave to my dad which was ok but got the Earbauer ebr1750 from/by Screwfix to replace it which is hands down better. I'm a builder and have used it extensively on many jobs. It's been reliable and goes through slabs with ease. I've even used it to break up a 15" strip foundation, I thought it would struggle and only gave it a go on the off chance fully expecting I'd have to hire something more heavy duty. There's nothing so far it hasn't done! It's £200 at the moment and will have saved 1000's hiring breakers at £50 a time. That is incredible value for the performance, which is only marginally lower than a hydraulic breaker, and it saves lugging a hydraulic pack about. It probably had a decent warranty too but it'll be way out of date by now. I really can't rate it highly enough!

Erbauer EBR1750 15kg Hex Shank Electric Breaker 220-240V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Versatile tool with anti-vibration technology, an electric brake and adjustable speed settings for maximum control. Chisel function: choose between pointed or flat chisels to suit the job at hand. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[mart]

What sort of size breaking are you doing? Will it all be with the tool pointing downwards? Or will some be horizontal and some upwards?

Electric breakers come in roughly four sizes: SDS plus, SDS max, approx 15kg (e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-msbr1700-a-16-2kg-hex-shank-electric-breaker-230v/623HV) and big (e.g. Hilti TE2000), equivalent to a road breaker.

To get any kind of meaningful advice, first select your size.

Good questions.
With the tool pointing downwards for sure.

I anticipate that a machine similar to the MacAlister will suffice. I do like a decent size motor in a tool. 2000w is a bit better than 1700, and a few quid extra would be worth it.

 

[Gareth J]

I bought one of these a few years ago;

Scheppach AB1900 16.5kg Hex Shank Electric Demolition Breaker 230V

Order online at Screwfix.com. Heavy duty demolition breaker which provides reliable durability for consistent results when breaking masonry and concrete. Soft-grip handle for comfort during extended use. Delivers 60J of impact energy with full metal gearing to protect all the inner components...

www.screwfix.com

Used it plenty and it's a valuable tool. Was about £160 at the time iirc.

Leaks a bit of oil now

 

[pedrobedro]

I hired a decent sized breaker for the weekend to take up a concrete path. I thought I'd have a go with it to see if it was up to the job and a couple of hours later I'd finished and had the Sunday off.

 

[mart]

How thick is the concrete you're trying to remove?
I've broken up a couple of concrete floors with one of the Titan Screwfix SDS units mentioned above and they work quite well. I wouldn't use one if you're talking 6" thick concrete though, you'd be there all day.

Thanks for that tip.
One job is trimming off some over-hanging concrete of up to maybe 4 or 5 " thick, maybe 3 meters long. Preferably in a roughly 'straightish' line is ideal. Does not have to be perfect, just tidier than the current jagged edge. I did try to drill a line of holes prior to the sledge hammer. I burnt the armature & field on my Makita hammer drill, lesson learnt.

Another job is to break up a small path area that floods when it rains heavy, from my back door to the grassed back garden. There exists above ground a 3" dia plastic pipe which is supposed to take the water to the front to soak away on soil. It has never worked, and I want to make some sort of soakaway where the rain falls/runs to. This is maybe 3 or 4" deep concrete, maybe just a few sq feet in area. It is worth me putting the time in, and the only cost the breaker. I will save up for the electric

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for that tip.
One job is trimming off some over-hanging concrete of up to maybe 4 or 5 " thick, maybe 3 meters long. Preferably in a roughly 'straightish' line is ideal. Does not have to be perfect, just tidier than the current jagged edge. I did try to drill a line of holes prior to the sledge hammer. I burnt the armature & field on my Makita hammer drill, lesson learnt.

Another job is to break up a small path area that floods when it rains heavy, from my back door to the grassed back garden. There exists above ground a 3" dia plastic pipe which is supposed to take the water to the front to soak away on soil. It has never worked, and I want to make some sort of soakaway where the rain falls/runs to. This is maybe 3 or 4" deep concrete, maybe just a few sq feet in area. It is worth me putting the time in, and the only cost the breaker. I will save up for the electric

It sounds like a 9in grinder and diamond wheel might be just as important as a breaker.

 

[Neilj]

It sounds like a 9in grinder and diamond wheel might be just as important as a breaker.

Agreed, especially for the first task where you want a reasonably straight edge. A breaker will just destroy everything and leave you with little lumps . You don't need to cut all the way through with the grinder, a couple of inches would do it and then use the breaker to split it along the cut

 

[mart]

Is it just a few small jobs then that’s it?

What about hiring one? I hired a Hilti TE75 after the crank broke on my exact same one. £40 a week.

I used to use mine about twice a year so at that hire price I might not even repair it as the bits are loads more than a few weeks hire.

I understand your logic.
Jobs/projects tend to take me quite a long time to complete. Although I have the time, I don't have the energy. I work at a snail's pace but I enjoy what I do. I would run up quite a bill in hire charges and get very little done. If I own the tool I can take my time, but thank you for the suggestion.

 

[jack-daniels]

Realistically I only need to break concrete. Of the two machines linked to, the MacAlister seem to be a decent breaker, 1700w motor. I did feel a bit unsure about the non-replacable carbon brushes?? What is the fix when they ware down?
View attachment 371395

I've got one these and they're a great bit of kit. I believe the brushes are replaceable.

There's a comment on a Screwfix review that says they are and this seems to confirm it.

 

[Kram]

Note that you should be using a P3 mask for doing any concrete particually with a grinderit is a must!

Chain drilling to weaken and and smashing can be a quick way of braking up stuff with under powered tools.

 

[Onoff]

Aldi currently have 1600 and 1900W jack hammers reduced. Both down to £79.99 each.

 

[mart]

It depends on how thick the concrete is? The small 7ish kg "breakers" are good for hacking off render or chipping through small areas of concrete, dig out the odd fence post etc.. but they're just big drills really. If you've a big slab of 4 or 6" thick to break up you want one of the 16kg ones. I had a Macalister one I gave to my dad which was ok but got the Earbauer ebr1750 from/by Screwfix to replace it which is hands down better. I'm a builder and have used it extensively on many jobs. It's been reliable and goes through slabs with ease. I've even used it to break up a 15" strip foundation, I thought it would struggle and only gave it a go on the off chance fully expecting I'd have to hire something more heavy duty. There's nothing so far it hasn't done! It's £200 at the moment and will have saved 1000's hiring breakers at £50 a time. That is incredible value for the performance, which is only marginally lower than a hydraulic breaker, and it saves lugging a hydraulic pack about. It probably had a decent warranty too but it'll be way out of date by now. I really can't rate it highly enough!

Erbauer EBR1750 15kg Hex Shank Electric Breaker 220-240V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Versatile tool with anti-vibration technology, an electric brake and adjustable speed settings for maximum control. Chisel function: choose between pointed or flat chisels to suit the job at hand. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

This is a good endorsement for the Erbauer ebr1750. However, having read the reviews on the Screw fix site it is a 'mix bag'.

I have to say that the consensus of opinion is that it is a 'beast of a tool'. Obviously this is the most important aspect.

It transpires from other reveiwers that it is not without niggles. One customer states that this 15kg tool weighs in at 46kg !!. Not sure what's going on there, unless someone is confused with Kilos & pounds??

 

[mart]

Apparenty, spare parts are not available for this tool, which is a unfortunate because I was nearly sold on this tool, even at my max.... 200 spondoolies.

But, it is still on my short list. A builder reports that the chuck releases the chisel when being used.

If I am to buy anything, I think I need to ignore the reveiws on Screwfix.

 

[MetalMonkey]

It sounds like a 9in grinder and diamond wheel might be just as important as a breaker.

I would even go so far as to say he should skip the 9inch and go straight for something like the evolution electric concrete saw. That will eat that job in no time and leave a nice straight cut. I have one and I rate it

 

[mart]

Aldi currently have 1600 and 1900W jack hammers reduced. Both down to £79.99 each.

I will do a search for them.