Makita HM1213C: 1,500 W SDS max demolition hammer

Built for breaking

Makita lists hammer only operation, soft start, variable speed control and constant speed under load. Soft start stops the chisel skating when you begin, and variable speed lets you ease off on softer material such as plaster or tiles. Constant speed keeps the hitting rate steady when you lean into tough concrete.

The 1,500 W rating is the highest input power in our SDS max guide, although Makita does not state impact energy in the listing.

Vibration and chisel angles

Anti-vibration technology is listed, which matters on a breaker used for hours at a time. A one touch sliding chuck makes changing chisels quick. Twelve stage bit angle settings let you lock a flat chisel or tile chisel at the angle that suits the job, so you are not fighting the tool's orientation.

Servicing

An LED warning lamp tells you when the carbon brushes need replacing. That is useful on a tool that will wear through brushes over months of heavy use, because you can plan a service rather than have the tool stop on site. Double insulation is also listed.

Weight and handling

At a listed 10.8 kg, this is the heaviest tool in our guide. That weight is an advantage when breaking floors, because the tool does much of the pushing for you. It is not suited to working on walls above waist height for long, where the lighter Bosch GSH 5 is easier to manage.

The listing describes the tool as supplied in a carry case.

Breaker or combination hammer

If you also need to drill large holes, a combination hammer such as the Makita HR4013C or HiKOKI DH45MA does both jobs. If breaking is the main task, a dedicated demolition hammer like the HM1213C is more efficient at it.