So you are curious about Flex Rotary Hammer Plus Drill and want to know if it’s the right tool to add to your workshop or tool truck. I’ve been using it for a while, and here’s what you need to know before you buy it.
Top-Line Features of the Flex Rotary Hammer
- Outstanding power
- Great batteries for demanding work
- SDS bit holder PLUS 3-jaw chuck; two tools in one
- Beastly durable
It’s unfair to call this well-balanced, hyper durable tool “two tools in one.”
It’s really way more versatile than that.
Our Hands-On Test Findings
The Flex 1-inch rotary hammer and drill is a unique, go-to tool for me. While I use it to drill holes for concrete screws for wood to wood connections are also suitable for wood to concrete), say for bottom plates in a basement remodel or installing a security camera, loaded with a 2-inch spade iron, it is one of my main kitchen and bath demo tools.
Flex rotary hammer is great for demo.
I should also quickly add that that set-up is also awesome for removing trim. Get the spade started and it easily hobbles the nails or brads holding the trim and gets steel behind it without having to smash a bar a zillion times. It comes off in big pieces too.
For K&B demo, I’ve run this down the face of studs hobbling nails and wire mesh behind 75-year old wet bed tile, breaking up floor tile and getting modern tile and cement board off framing.
Designed for drilling into masonry.
I also used it drilling 3/4-inch holes in brick, block, and concrete for ½-inch lag shield assemblies and it motors through that. (Couple side notes: Blow out the hole with compressed air. And, for example, if Code wants you to use chemical adhesive and anchors, I always double up with lags and shields. Belt and suspenders, you know.)
Battery is dependable.
The 5.0 amp-hour batteries are just this side of magic. I have a growing set of issues with totally cordless sites and a few other things, but for a tool that I use only sometimes, but whenever I use it I go hard, the Flex battery platform–now improved with “stacked lithium”–is the best I’ve used.
Use the Flex rotary hammer as a cordless drill.
I love the idea of this tool doubling as a big a++ cordless drill. However, I don’t drill very many large or deep holes beyond what my impacts can handle. I can tell you the low end tor-Q-ee on this is full rumble. It easily sank 6-inch structural screws. It was not meant, however, for mixing joint compound. Not that it can’t handle it. Rather, there is a shut-off that keeps the bit from starting if there is resistance and there is no such thing as starting a mixer not already in the mud. Remove that feature and there’s yet another use for this awesome tool.
However, I just got a permit application back for a deck and they nixed using structural screws in some of the locations I always use them and called for ½-inch thru bolts. So, I’ll be dusting off the old ship auger bits and snapping on the 3-jawed ratcheting chuck forthwith.
It’s unfair to call this well-balanced, hyper durable tool “two tools in one.” It’s really way more versatile than that.
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