DeWalt 1-9/16" Spline Combination Hammer Kit

First impressions and setup

I put this DeWalt combo hammer to work on a mix of rebar doweling, anchor installs, and some light surface removal on a commercial retrofit. Out of the kit box, the tool feels purposeful without being unwieldy. At about 14 lb and 18.6 inches long, it’s solid but still maneuverable for overhead and ladder work. The 360° side handle locks down firmly and gives enough leverage to keep the bit tracking straight, and the rear-handle orientation helps on downward drilling where you can brace your body weight behind the tool.

The interface is straightforward: a mode selector for drilling, hammer drilling, and chipping; a variable trigger; and a keyless spline chuck. There’s no fiddly setup or special procedure—insert a spline bit, twist to lock, set your mode, and go. The 9-foot cord is long enough for most interior runs, though I still kept an extension nearby to avoid tugging at awkward angles.

Power and drilling performance

In hammer-drill mode, the tool shows its sweet spot with anchor holes from 1/2 to 1 inch. The 12 A motor and 8.0 J (EPTA) impact energy combine with a high 3,300 bpm rate to keep the bit chipping steadily without bogging. DeWalt tuned this model for rebar doweling and large-diameter mechanical anchors, and that shows in how cleanly it clears dust and how rarely it stalls when the bit is sharp and the feed pressure is right.

I used it for through-holes up to 1-3/4 inch—within its stated capacity—and it held pace well in cured, rebar-laced slab. It’s not the fastest tool I’ve used in this class, but it’s consistent, and consistency matters more when you’re hopping hole to hole. With core bits up to 4 inches, it’s a capable cutter for pass-throughs in block and softer concrete, though you’ll want to let the tool’s own weight do the work and avoid leaning into it.

The no-load speed tops out at 490 rpm, which is typical for a torque-focused rotary hammer of this size. On stickier aggregate or when the bit encounters rebar, the factory-set clutch and overload protection earn their keep. I had one bind-up crossing a tie bar; the clutch slipped cleanly, the handle didn’t wrench my wrist, and I was back drilling after backing the bit out and repositioning. That safety margin is worth its weight, especially in awkward positions.

Chipping and light demo

Switching to chipping mode, the tool is best suited for ceiling, upper- and mid-wall removal, and light to medium demo tasks. Think tile removal, knocking keys for patching, cutting shallow chases, or trimming around door and window openings. At 8 J, it’s not a breaker class machine; it excels at controlled removal, not heavy bust-out. The compact form and balanced rear handle make overhead chipping less punishing than heavier hammers, and the vibration felt through the rubberized grips is manageable over a few hours.

Ergonomics and vibration

DeWalt does a good job with balance here. The rear handle lines your forearm behind the bit, and the side handle gives you the torque control you need for larger diameters. There’s no dedicated active vibration control system on this model, but the rubber grip surfaces help take the edge off. After a morning of anchor drilling, I felt normal fatigue from handling a 14 lb tool—not the tingling you get from overly buzzy mechanisms. For all-day crews, you might still prefer a heavier-duty hammer with full vibration isolation, but as a main anchor tool it’s comfortable enough to live with.

Noise is what you’d expect for a 12 A corded rotary hammer: hearing protection is mandatory, and I’d pair it with a dust shroud and vac to keep silica exposure down.

Dust management

This hammer is compatible with DeWalt’s DWH050K drilling dust-extraction system. I paired it with a HEPA vac and got clean holes with minimal blowout, even drilling overhead. If you’ve been on jobsites where dust control is enforced (and more are, rightly), having a purpose-built shroud that mates to the tool is a big advantage over improvised tape-and-vac setups.

Spline drive, bit compatibility, and practical trade-offs

The keyless spline chuck locks bits positively with strong engagement. Torque transfer is excellent, and bit slip wasn’t an issue. The trade-off is ecosystem: SDS‑Max is more common on today’s jobsites, with broader bit availability and more interchangeable accessories. Spline bits are still out there, but your local supply house might not have the same wall of options. If your crew is already invested in SDS‑Max, adding a spline tool creates parallel inventories. If you’re starting fresh or your shop already runs spline, this is a non-issue.

For occasional drilling in steel or wood, the tool lists 1/2-inch capacities. You’ll need the appropriate adapter and bit, and the lack of a Jacobs-style chuck means it’s a convenience feature rather than a primary use case. I treated it that way: fine for a few holes in embedded steel, not the tool I’d reach for to frame out or fab.

Controls and usability

The mode selector is positive and easy to read. Trigger modulation is smooth enough to start holes without walking, and I never missed a speed dial given the rotary hammer’s intended tasks. The kit case is basic but sturdy, with room for a few bits and the side handle. I like the 360° handle sweep—it made it easy to set a comfortable angle drilling close to corners or when bracing off a column.

A note on cord management: nine feet is good, but if you’re moving around a large slab, a lightweight 25-foot extension reduces the temptation to tug the tool mid-hole. Strain relief on the tool feels adequate, and the cord sheathing handled cold-morning stiffness without kinking.

Performance versus newer alternatives

In the 1-9/16-inch class, some newer SDS‑Max models advertise higher impact energy and active vibration control, often at higher cost and sometimes higher weight. This DeWalt sits as a dependable, lighter-feeling workhorse: 8 J is enough for the anchor and dowel sizes most crews run daily, and the high bpm keeps the bit chattering through aggregate efficiently. If you need maximum single-hit force for heavy chiseling or oversized core starts, you’ll want to step up. If your day is 5/8- to 1-inch holes with pockets of chipping, the balance of power and weight here makes sense.

Reliability and safety

The factory-set clutch and overload protection are the standout safety features. Bind-ups are unavoidable in existing concrete; how a tool behaves in those moments determines whether you lose time or skin. This one disengages predictably and lets you reset without drama. The overall build feels jobsite-appropriate—the housing, selector, and handle interfaces never hinted at flex, and the chuck mechanism stayed tight even after frequent bit changes.

What I like

• Balanced power for anchor drilling and rebar doweling
• Predictable clutch and motor protection during bind-ups
• Manageable 14 lb weight with comfortable rear-handle ergonomics
• Spline chuck’s solid bit engagement and no-key convenience
• Simple compatibility with a dedicated dust-extraction shroud

What I’d change

• Spline ecosystem limits bit selection compared to SDS‑Max
• No active vibration control for all-day chipping comfort
• Cord could be longer; plan on an extension for large areas

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt combo hammer for contractors and facilities teams who spend most of their time drilling 1/2- to 1-3/4-inch holes in concrete and need a reliable chipping mode for light demo. It hits a practical balance of weight, control, and power; the clutch and overload protection make it safer in real-world conditions; and dust-shroud compatibility is a plus on compliance-driven jobs. If your shop is standardized on SDS‑Max or you’re chasing maximum impact energy and advanced vibration isolation, look to a newer SDS‑Max model in the same size class. For everyday doweling, anchor installs, and controlled chipping, this tool is a solid, sensible choice.