DeWalt 29 lbs. SDS MAX Demolition Hammer Kit

I brought this DeWalt SDS‑Max hammer onto a job where we had to lift tile and open up a 6-inch slab for conduit runs, and it ended up doing most of the heavy lifting without fuss. It’s a 29‑pound, corded demolition hammer that sits in the sweet spot between a lighter chipping hammer and a full‑on street breaker. If you need a tool that you can move around a site and still lean into serious concrete, this is a confident choice.

Build and design

At 29.3 pounds (13.3 kg), the tool feels substantial but manageable. The balance is good; the center of gravity sits right where your hands naturally fall, so you can guide the bit without fighting the weight. The primary handle is broad and planted, with a side handle that actually holds its position under torque—something not all demo hammers get right.

The SDS‑Max tool holder is a strong call for this class. Quick bit changes are painless and secure, and SDS‑Max bits are widely available. For demolition work, I rotated between a 3‑inch scaling chisel, a 1‑1/2‑inch wide chisel, and a pointed bit. If you’re coming from the 1‑1/8‑inch hex breaker world, you’ll lose a little raw mass in the bits, but the convenience and availability of SDS‑Max accessories make up for it on most building-trade jobs.

Fit and finish are typical DeWalt: sturdy housings, tight tolerances, and a cord strain relief that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. It’s also Tool Connect Tag Ready, which means there’s a dedicated recess for a tracking tag if you manage fleet tools.

Power and performance

On paper, you’re getting 1600 W from a 15‑amp motor, 1620 blows per minute, and 24 joules of impact energy (EPTA). In practice, those numbers translate to fast material removal on thinset and tile, decisive breakout cuts on 4–6 inch slab, and steady progress in higher‑PSI concrete where lesser hammers tend to bog down. The motor maintains speed under load, which keeps the bit biting rather than skipping. I could feather the bit and keep work moving even when I hit denser aggregate pockets.

• Tile and thinset removal: With a wide chisel, the high BPM makes it feel almost like a powered scraper. It shears material cleanly without pulverizing the substrate more than necessary.
• Slab opening: Using a point to start and a narrow chisel to steer, I opened trenches in a 6‑inch garage slab comfortably. The hammer isn’t a 60‑pound breaker—don’t expect one‑hit crater-making—but it steadily pops out chunks without drama.
• Footings and curb: On thick, high‑strength footings, I reached the limits of what 24 J can do efficiently. It’ll do it if you have time, but this is where a 35‑ to 60‑pound breaker outpaces it.

The tool runs on a standard 120V, 15‑amp circuit, which is convenient in commercial interiors. Use a 12‑gauge extension cord for longer runs; it keeps the motor happier and maintains impact consistency.

Vibration and user comfort

DeWalt’s Active Vibration Control helps, and the rated hand/arm vibration of 8.8 m/s² feels believable in the hands. Over a few hours of chipping, fatigue was there (this is a 29‑pound hammer, after all), but I didn’t get the buzzy hand numbness I associate with older breakers. The handles isolate the strikes well, and the mechanism sounds tight—no rattly echo that suggests energy is getting lost between the bit and housing.

If you regularly do overhead chipping, this isn’t the tool; the weight becomes punishing above shoulder height. For floor work and horizontal wall work, the ergonomics are solid, and the tool feels planted rather than unwieldy.

Dust and noise

Demo generates dust, and no vacuum will catch everything during concrete breaking. That said, this hammer is dust-solution compatible, and pairing it with a shroud and a high-CFM extractor kept thinset work surprisingly clean. During cracking and spalling, expect airborne fines; plan for containment regardless.

Noise is significant. The rated sound pressure is 91 dB(A) at the ear, rising to 101 dB(A) sound power. Translation: wear hearing protection, and communicate that expectation to anyone working nearby. With muffs on, the tonal character is less grating than some high-pitched hammers I own, but it’s still a demolition hammer—it’s not quiet.

Controls and features

Everything here is simple and jobsite-focused:

• Single-mode demolition operation—no rotational drilling mode or multi-speed adjustments to fuss with.
• On/off switch with a basic lock-on. I don’t miss additional modes on a tool like this; simplicity is uptime.
• SDS‑Max chuck locks confidently, releases cleanly, and doesn’t bind when hot (a small but meaningful detail on long chipping runs).
• Tag-ready pocket for a tracking puck, helpful for shops and facilities teams.

One note: the kit is barebones in a good way. You get the hammer and a protective case. Bits are not included, so plan that into your purchase or job prep.

Reliability and service

The hammer mechanism is German‑engineered, and the tool feels like it. Impact energy is consistent as the day wears on, without the spongy feel some hammers develop as grease thins and seals warm. After a couple of long days, there was no excess play at the chuck and no oil weeping from the front end. It carries DeWalt’s 3‑year limited warranty with a 1‑year free service period and 90‑day satisfaction guarantee. Service centers are easy to find, which is a consideration if this becomes a fleet tool.

Where it fits in the lineup

Think of this as a midweight demolition hammer optimized for building trades:

• Compared with a 12–15 lb chipping hammer: massively faster on slab openings and heavier tile removal, but too heavy for extended overhead and delicate chase work.
• Compared with a 35–60 lb breaker: more portable, easier to maneuver indoors, and SDS‑Max bits make quick changes painless. It won’t match a big breaker’s outright speed in thick, reinforced concrete.
• Compared with cordless options: the cord is a limitation, but you get sustained, non‑thermal‑limited performance that’s hard for battery platforms to match in an all‑day demolition scenario.

Limitations

• Weight: manageable on the floor, punishing overhead.
• Single-speed/impact profile: fine for demolition, but there’s no dial to soften blows for more fragile substrates.
• Case size: protective but bulky. If you’re already juggling vacs and shrouds, the footprint adds up.
• Bits not included: plan for SDS‑Max chisels and points on day one.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth noting so you pick the right tool for your workflow.

Practical tips from use

• Use a 12‑gauge extension cord at 50–100 feet to avoid voltage drop.
• Keep a tube of SDS‑Max bit grease in the case; reapply during long runs to minimize heat and wear at the shank.
• Rotate bits often. A sharp edge or point preserves the tool’s impact energy, especially in high‑PSI or aggregate-heavy concrete.
• Pair with a high‑CFM dust extractor and a compatible shroud when doing tile/thinset removal. It keeps the site cleaner and your lungs happier.

The bottom line

This DeWalt SDS‑Max hammer hits the mark as a dependable, midweight demolition tool. It maintains speed under load, has genuinely useful vibration control, and leverages the versatility of SDS‑Max bits to cover a wide swath of building-trade demolition tasks. It’s not the most powerful breaker you can buy, and it’s not the lightest chipping hammer either—but if you need one tool to cover floor demo, trench opening, and heavy tile removal without bogging down, it’s right where it should be.

Recommendation: I recommend it to general contractors, electricians, facilities teams, and tile crews who need reliable, all‑day performance in concrete and masonry with the convenience of SDS‑Max. It’s a particularly good fit if you work indoors on 120V power and value a balance of impact energy, control, and manageable weight. If your primary work is breaking thick footings, bridge deck, or roadway, step up to a heavier breaker. For everything else in the building trades, this is a smart, durable choice.