Makita BHR240 18Volt Lithium-Ion 7/8-Inch SDS Cordless Rotary Hammer Kit

Rotary Hammer Drills vs. Standard Hammer Drills
There is a major difference between a standard hammer drill and a rotary hammer drill. A standard hammer-drill uses 2 grooved plates that rotate opposite of each other; when they slip and the grooves connect, a bang is heard, "hammering" the chuck in and out, allowing a carbide bit to go through masonry materials. This method generates quite a bit of noise and often requires hearing protection. A rotary hammer is extremely more efficient than a regular hammer drill, because it drives a piston that compresses an air pocket, that, in turn, pounds the chuck with measurable impact energy. There really is no question which is better and faster. Rotary hammer drills do the same job in far less time, with less noise and with less effort. For many applications, like drilling into tough materials like aged concrete, a rotary hammer is the only tool to use. Rotary hammers rock!

Makita Battery Charging System
This Makita tool also has the most advanced charging system available. Generically, it's called a "smart charging system." A computer chip inside the battery lets the charger know exactly how to optimally charge the battery, to completely charge each cell within the battery and for maximum battery life. Each battery is made up of smaller 1.2-volt cells. Often a battery will drain unevenly during normal use, at different rates within these internal cells. A normal charger will stop charging the battery when one cell reaches maximum capacity, not all of them. Once this happens once, it will continue to do so as long as you use the battery. What this means is your 18-volt battery is now a 16- or 17-volt battery and it can drop even lower. A "smart charger" will charge every cell independently until each cell is fully charged, so your 18 volt battery will remain 18 volts for its entire life. This charger has a fan in it and blows air through the battery to cool it down before charging so the battery can be charged right away, unlike other brands, where the charger waits until the battery cools, or even worse attempts to charge a hot battery pack and damages it or decreases the life of the battery. These Makita lithium-ion batteries will last 280% longer than standard batteries and can be charged over 1400 times, as opposed to the standard of 600 to 800 times, which alone can justify the higher price tag. These slide-in batteries are 3.0 amp-hr batteries; they will provide power to the tool longer than standard 2.0 amp-hr batteries. The higher the amp-hr rating, the longer the battery will last before it needs to be recharged. For light-duty applications, these batteries will last all day or even several days before recharging. I leave my charger at home when doing small jobs, because I know I don't need it. The charge stays in the battery without dissipating during non-use and there is so much power in these batteries, I know I'll have enough juice to complete a job. For heavy-duty applications, bring the charger with you just in case. -- Gabriel Shantara Ford

What's in the Box
Rotary hammer, battery, charger, carrying case