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When working on construction sites or in your workshop, you sometimes have a need to break down cement or metal. Breaking down these two materials is not an easy task, but it can be done with a specific tool. That tool is an air hammer.
An air hammer is something like a mini jack hammer; a handheld tool which makes use of chisels and which moves back and forth at rapid rates. It can be used to chisel down cement and metal pieces so that they’re smooth and even. Looking to buy an air hammer? If so, this guide has everything you need to make the correct purchase.
Compare the Top Ten Best Air Hammers of 2020
| Picture | Name | Brand | BPM | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Chicago Pneumatic CP717 Super Duty Air Hammer | Chicago | 1800 | $$$$ |
 | 2. Astro Pneumatic Tool 4980 0.498" Shank Super Duty Air Hammer/Riveter | Astro | 1800 | $$$$ |
 | 3. AIRCAT 5100-A-T Stroke Low Vibration Composite Air Hammer | Aircat | 3000 | $$$ |
 | 4. Ingersoll Rand 121Q Super Duty Air Hammer | Ingersoll | 3000 | $$$ |
 | 5. Sunex SX243 Hd 250-Mm Long Barrel Air Hammer | Sunex | 2200 | $$$ |
 | 6. Kobalt Air Hammer | Kobalt | 4500 | $$ |
 | 7. Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer 114GQC | Ingersoll | 3500 | $$ |
 | 8. PowRyte Basic Medium Stroke Air Hammer | PowRyte | 3500 | $ |
 | 9. DEWALT DWMT70785 Air Chisel Hammer | DeWalt | 2600 | $$ |
 | 10. PowRyte Elite Composite Short Stroke Air Hammer | PowRyte | 5000 | $$ |
| Picture | Name | Brand | BPM | Price |
Guide: What to Consider When Choosing an Air Hammer
Contents
On the surface, most air hammers appear to be about the same. However, there are several things which separate one air hammer from another. In order to pick the right air hammer for you, you’ve got to take all of these things into consideration. They include the hammer’s construction quality, its ease of use, its power, and any chisels that might come with it.
Construction
Air hammers are typically made out of a number of materials, including plastic, aluminum, and steel. The key thing to look for is that the barrel of your air hammer is made out of steel. As long as it is, it should be able to take quite a bit of abuse, and last for a number of years. It’s also wise to make sure that the hammer is easy to hold.
Chisels
Whereas some air hammers come packaged alone, others come packaged with an array of different chisels. Chisels can possess a number of different shapes, from flat shapes, to round shapes, and more. It’s nice to buy a hammer with chisels included because they allow you to get started immediately.
Ease of Use
Some air hammers are a little difficult to adjust and operate, necessitating that you hit a variety of different buttons and latches. Others can be easily manipulated for seamless adjustments. You’d be wise to purchase an air hammer which doesn’t require any external tools in order to operate.
Power
When considering an air hammer’s power, you’d be best served by looking at its BPM, or blows per minute. This figure notes how many times a chisel connects with its target material in a given minute. While it’s not the end-all, be-all figure for determining power, it gives you a pretty good idea as to the power capabilities of an air hammer.
Reviews: The Top Air Hammers On The Market
1. Chicago Pneumatic CP717 Super Duty Air Hammer
If you’re looking for the absolute best air hammer on the market today, you might consider the Chicago Pneumatic CP717 Super Duty Air Hammer. Though it’s on the expensive side, it offers both exceptional power and speed.
It’s made out of both stainless and hardened steel, making it not only durable, but very effective. At 1,800 blows per minute, it’s not the fastest air hammer around, but hits cement and metal with such impact that it has no problem chipping them away in no time.
Weighing in at around 4.75 pounds, this hammer is very easy to hold and control. Its hose measures in at ⅜ of an inch, allowing it to connect to the vast majority of pressure hoses. All in all, this is a terrific air hammer. Its only true drawback is its price.
Key Features
- Made out of stainless and hardened steel
- Weighs in at around 4.75 pounds
- Provides around 1,800 blows per minute
- Spring loaded chisel attachment allows for easy adjustment
2. Astro Pneumatic Tool 0.498″ Shank Super Duty Air Hammer
Another expensive, but very effective air hammer is this one from Astro. It’s made out of both hardened and stainless steel, giving it both durability and power. With a hose attachment of ¼ of an inch, it attaches to most pressure tanks.
This hammer, like the Chicago air hammer reviewed above, moves at 1,800 blows per minute. Again, while it’s not the fastest air hammer around, it’s still exceedingly powerful. It has no trouble making it through cement and metal.
It’s equipped with a spring-loaded attachment mechanism, allowing it to be adjusted without any tools. Possessing an ergonomic handle, it’s very easy to grip and control. All in all, this is a terrific air hammer.
Key Features
- Moves at speeds of 1,800 blows per minute
- Made out of stainless and hardened steel
- Equipped with an ergonomic handle
- On the expensive side compared to other air hammers
3. AIRCAT 5100-A-T Stroke Low Vibration Composite Air Hammer
Perhaps the best air hammer for the money is this one from AIRCAT. The 4100-A-T Stroke offers not only fantastic construction quality, but top-shelf functionality as well. And the best part is that it’s only about a third of the price of the two hammers reviewed above.
This hammer is made out of a combination of plastic and hardened steel, with the gear casing made out of plastic, and the barrel made out of steel. Moving at speeds of up to 3,000 blows per minute, it doesn’t move at quite the same speeds as some hammers, but breaks down cement and metal with the best of ‘em.
It’s extremely lightweight, weighing in at only 3.3 pounds. This allows you to handle and control it with great ease. It comes with a 2-year warranty, showing that AIRCAT stands behind the quality of their products. If you’re looking for the best air hammer at a reasonable price, this is a great option.
Key Features
- Offers tons of functionality for its price
- Equipped with a very ergonomic handle
- Weighs in at just 3.3 pounds for easy handle
- Capable of moving at speeds of up to 3,000 blows per minute
4. Ingersoll Rand 121Q Super Duty Air Hammer
Another solid mid-level air hammer is this one from Ingersoll Rand. This hammer is available for a fairly reasonable price compared to other high-end models, and still offers quite a bit in the ways of construction quality and overall performance.
It operates at 3,000 blows per minute; a respectable number when compared to others. What really gives it its power is its hardened steel barrel which helps its chisels to blast through cement and metal.
Equipped with a spring-loaded attachment mechanism, it can adjust chisels without the use of external tools. All in all, this is a terrific air hammer for an affordable price. There’s no real reason not to give it consideration.
Key Features
- Moves at speeds of up to 3,000 blows per minute
- Made out of a combination of hardened and stainless steel
- Weighs in at around 3.5 pounds
- Spring-loaded mechanism allows for easy chisel adjustment
5. Sunex SX243 Hd 250-Mm Long Barrel Air Hammer
Next up on our list is the Sunex SX243 Hd 250-MM Barrel Air Hammer. This air hammer is available for a mid-level price and offers quite a bit in the ways of power and speed.
It’s equipped with an ergonomic handle which allows for ultimate grip and control at all times. The body of this air hammer is made out of heavy-duty aluminum alloy, making it as durable as mechanically possible.
At its peak, this air hammer offers 2,200 BPM. While that’s not as many as some air hammers, it’s still a very respectable number. Its barrel is made out of steel, giving it terrific durability. All in all, this is a very solid air hammer for a fairly reasonable price.
Key Features
- Offers up to 2,200 BPM of power
- Equipped with hand-shaped, ergonomic handle for maximum control
- Barrel is made out of heavy-duty steel, giving it max durability
- Built-in attachment knob allows for easy adjustment
6. Kobalt Air Hammer
If you’re looking for a very solid budget air hammer, you might consider this one from Kobalt. This hammer doesn’t provide quite the power of higher-end models, but will still get the job done with decent consistency.
It comes with 4 different sized chisels, all of which can be switched in and out with just the press of a button. Its barrel is made out of hardened steel, giving it tremendous durability, and allowing it to last over years and years of use.
At its max, it can provide up to 4,500 blows per minute; a very respectable number, especially for its price. This air hammer attaches to a minimum hose size of ⅜ of an inch, accommodating most hoses. All in all, this is a very solid budget air hammer.
Key Features
- Barrel is made out of durable and tough hardened steel
- Offers a fantastic 4,500 blows per minute
- Comes with 4 different sized chisels
- Available for a very reasonable price
7. Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer 114GQC
Another excellent budget air hammer is this one from Ingersoll. Available for around the same price as the Kobalt above, it offers much of the same in the ways of power and overall functionality.
This air hammer supplies 3,500 blows per minute, giving it good, but not great power capabilities. However, it is still powerful enough to accommodate the vast majority of chiseling tasks.
It comes with 3 different shaped chisels, allowing you to hit cement and metal from different angles and with different impacts. Each chisel can be inserted into the air hammer with the simple press of a button. All in all, this is a very solid budget product.
Key Features
- Offers upwards of 3,500 blows per minute
- Equipped with an ergonomic plastic handle
- Equipped with a durable and heavy-duty steel barrel
- Available for a very reasonable price
8. PowRyte Basic Medium Stroke Air Hammer
Next up on our list of best air hammer is the PowRyte Basic Medium Stroke Air Hammer. This air hammer is extremely affordable, coming at a general pittance. It’s arguably the best air hammer for a budget on the market today.
It comes with 4 different chisels, all of which offer something a little different in the ways of shape and function. The hammer itself moves at speeds of up to 3,500 blows per minute, making it relatively quick compared to most air hammers. It offers average power overall, but is pretty powerful for its price.
It’s made out of both plastic and hardened steel, giving it good, but not great durability. All in all, this is a terrific budget air hammer. If you’re looking for a nice air hammer to have on hand for sporadic occasions, it would be a great choice for you.
Key Features
- Affordable as they come
- Offers up to 3,500 blows per minute
- Made out of a combination of plastic and hardened steel
- Comes with 4 differently shaped chisels
9. DEWALT DWMT70785 Air Chisel Hammer
The next air hammer on our list is a little more expensive than the PowRyte reviewed above, and offers much of the same in the ways of overall performance and functionality. The DeWalt DWMT70785 is a great option for those who just need something on hand for rare occasions where they must break down cement or metal.
This air hammer combine steel, rubber, and plastic to give itself fairly solid and functional construction quality overall. It’s ergonomic, durable, and capable of getting the job done in a timely manner. At its max, it moves at speeds of 2,600 blows per minute.
The air inlet on this air hammer measures in at ¼ of an inch, making it compatible with many different pressure tanks. Coming with 4 different sized chisels, it is ready to go straight out of the box. All in all, this is yet another terrific budget air hammer.
Key Features
- Comes with 4 different sized chisels
- Rubber handle makes it easy to handle and control
- Offers up to 2,600 blows per minute
- Hardened steel barrel has no trouble breaking through cement or metal
10. PowRyte Elite Composite Short Stroke Air Hammer
We round out our list with another air hammer from PowRyte; this time with the PowRyte Elite Composite Short Stroke Air Hammer. This air hammer is designed more for speed than power, capable of moving at speeds of up to 5,000 blows per minute.
It’s an exceptionally ergonomic air hammer, equipped with a rubber exterior which can be easily gripped and controlled. Its barrel, of course, is made out of hardened steel, providing it with both power and durability.
There are 4 chisels included with this air hammer, each of which offers its own specific benefits and drawbacks. With a spring-loaded adjustment mechanism, it allows for seamless chisel transfers. All in all, this is a solid air hammer for small, sporadic tasks around the house.
Key Features
- Rubber exterior makes it easy to handle and control
- Offers a remarkable 5,000 blows per minute
- Comes with 4 different sized chisels
- Extremely lightweight and compact