DeWalt 60V MAX Brushless Cordless 1-3/4 in SDS Max Combination Rotary Hammer (Tool Only)

Why I reached for this hammer

On a retrofit job earlier this year, I needed to punch a run of 1-inch anchors across a block wall and follow with a couple of dry cores for new conduit. Normally, that means dragging out a corded SDS‑Max and playing extension‑cord hopscotch around a crowded slab. Instead, I grabbed DeWalt’s 60V SDS‑Max hammer and worked the whole span without hunting for power. That day set the tone for how I think about this tool: it puts real SDS‑Max muscle into a cordless package, and it’s built to do serial horizontal drilling and moderate coring without drama.

Build, form factor, and controls

This is a midweight SDS‑Max combination hammer—15.4 lbs bare—with a 1-3/4 in chuck size. The footprint (about 23 in long and 13.5 in tall) gives you good leverage on the wall, and the side handle provides a long arc for control. The brushless motor and German‑engineered mechanism feel tight and efficient, with little slop in the bit interface. Fit and finish are what I expect from DeWalt’s upper‑tier concrete tools: clean housing lines, robust selector detents, and a side handle that doesn’t creep.

The 7‑position speed dial is the quiet hero here. Paired with a broad 190–380 RPM range and 1450–2900 BPM, it lets you match bit size and material without over‑revving smaller holes or glazing a chisel. I routinely park it mid‑range for 3/4–1 in anchor work and drop down a couple of clicks for controlled chipping. Trigger modulation is predictable, and the soft acceleration feels consistent even as the pack drains, thanks to the constant‑speed electronics.

Mode switching is straightforward: hammer drill for holes, hammer‑only for chipping and bushing. The selector is positive and the tool restarts in the last used mode—handy when you’re moving between holes and cleanup.

Power and drilling performance

Rated at 10.5 joules of impact energy, this hammer lives in the sweet spot for heavy anchoring and mid‑size dry coring. In reinforced 4,000 PSI concrete, it holds speed under load better than many cordless options I’ve used and runs with the urgency of a good corded midweight. You notice the constant‑speed electronics most when a hole starts to bind or when the bit breaks aggregate—the hammer keeps striking with authority instead of bogging down and heating the bit.

For everyday concrete drilling:
- Recommended diameter sweet spot is 5/8–1‑1/4 in. That tracks with my experience; it’s fast and controllable in that range.
- Oversized work is fair game. It will drive big SDS‑Max bits above that range in short bursts, but you’ll earn your keep.
- Dry coring to 4 in is supported. Stay patient, use proper shrouds, and let the electronics keep things moving. It’s not a coring rig, but it does the job on utility penetrations without hauling another tool.

Chipping performance is equally solid. In hammer‑only mode, the mass helps the tool do the work; you can feather scaling passes on masonry or lean into light demolition around penetrations. With the dial turned down, a wide chisel stays controllable and doesn’t skate.

Vibration, safety, and user protection

DeWalt’s SHOCKS active vibration control is effective. It won’t turn an SDS‑Max into an SDS‑Plus, but it noticeably tames handle buzz over long strings of holes. After a half‑day of horizontal drilling, my hands felt fresher than expected for a tool in this class.

E‑CLUTCH, the anti‑rotation system, earns its keep the first time you kiss rebar. I had one abrupt catch on a 1 in bit; the clutch reacted quickly and the tool stopped turning instead of twisting my wrist. It’s not just comfort—it’s injury prevention.

The side handle locks securely and gives you plenty of leverage for alignment. With its length and weight, it’s not the first hammer I’d choose for extensive overhead work; the balance is acceptable, but gravity is still gravity. For wall drilling, the mass and length work in your favor.

Dust management and ecosystem

A standout feature is the integrated Wireless Tool Control, which lets the hammer remotely trigger compatible dust extractors like DeWalt’s DCV585. Press the pairing button on both tools and the vac kicks on and off with the trigger—not just more pleasant to use, but helpful for staying on the right side of dust regs. There’s no built‑in shroud or telescoping system, so plan on external attachments sized for SDS‑Max and core drilling.

If you’re in a shop or fleet environment, the “Tag Ready” port integrates with Tool Connect for asset tracking. It’s not something I need on every job, but foremen will appreciate knowing where the expensive hammer is at day’s end.

Batteries, runtime, and charging

It’s tool‑only, so you’ll need DeWalt’s 60V FlexVolt packs. My guidance:
- Use at least a 9.0Ah FlexVolt for drilling and chipping; a 12.0Ah pack balances runtime with a slight weight penalty that actually steadies the tool on the wall.
- Plan for pack swaps during serial drilling. SDS‑Max hammers pull real current; keeping two high‑capacity packs cycling on a fast charger keeps productivity up.
- Cold and hot weather affect runtime. Store packs warm in winter and let them cool between heavy runs in summer.

The electronics do a good job maintaining strike energy as voltage sags, so performance drop‑off is gradual rather than sudden. If you’re moving from a corded mindset, the lack of a tether is liberating, especially on scattered hole layouts and cores far from power.

What could be better

• No case in the box. For a heavy SDS‑Max and a set of large bits, a robust case or at least a bag would go a long way. As it stands, plan to budget for storage.
• Weight overhead. This is midweight by SDS‑Max standards, but anyone spending hours above shoulder height will want a lighter SDS‑Plus for that specific work.
• Not a complete dust solution. Wireless control is excellent, but you still need to piece together shrouds and a compatible extractor for best OSHA‑compliant results.

How it stacks up

Compared with corded midweights I’ve used, this hammer sits close in speed and impact for 5/8–1‑1/4 in holes, and it keeps pace well enough in 3–4 in dry coring that I don’t miss the cord. Against other cordless SDS‑Max options, it’s competitive on impact energy, better than average on vibration control, and ahead on the convenience of Wireless Tool Control. If you live in DeWalt’s 60V ecosystem already, it’s an easy fit. If you’re platform‑agnostic, the performance and feature set are strong enough to be on your shortlist.

Use cases and setup tips

• Anchors and through‑holes: Run the dial mid‑range, let the bit cut, and don’t crowd the tool. The constant‑speed electronics reward steady feed pressure.
• Rebar encounters: Keep E‑CLUTCH in mind and don’t fight the stop—back out, reposition, or switch to a rebar cutter.
• Chipping and bushing: Drop the speed, choose a wide chisel, and let the mass do the work. The reduced vibration is noticeable here.
• Dry coring up to 4 in: Use proper shrouds, start square and slow, and let the hammering establish the cut before increasing speed. Wireless vac control keeps dust corralled.

Warranty and service

DeWalt backs the tool with a 3‑year limited warranty, 1‑year free service, and 90‑day satisfaction guarantee. Service access is generally good in most regions, and that matters for a tool that can become a daily driver on concrete crews.

Recommendation

I recommend this 60V SDS‑Max hammer to contractors and serious tradespeople who do regular heavy anchoring, moderate chipping, and occasional dry coring and want the freedom of a cordless setup without sacrificing real SDS‑Max performance. It delivers strong impact energy, maintains speed under load, keeps vibration in check, and integrates cleanly with dust extraction. The lack of an included case is a miss, and it’s not the right tool for overhead‑heavy days or light anchor work better suited to SDS‑Plus. But for serial horizontal drilling and mid‑size coring where cords slow you down, this hammer earns its keep. If you’re already on DeWalt’s 60V platform—or you’ve been waiting for a cordless SDS‑Max that feels like the corded tools you trust—it’s a smart, productivity‑focused buy.