Kobalt 24V SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer KRH 124B-03

Kobalt 24V Platform Adds Rotary Hammer for Masonry Tasks

Users on the Kobalt 24V battery platform now have access to an SDS-Plus rotary hammer in addition to the 40+ tools already available. With 4 modes of operation, the cordless Kobalt KRH 124B-03 handles drilling through concrete block and brick quickly. The chisel-rotation mode is also handy for getting the best angle for light chipping work.

Another Rotary Hammer in the Family

Earlier in the year, we had the chance to test out a pile of cordless hammer drills in our Best Cordless Hammer Drill Shootout. The Kobalt 1/2″ 24V hammer drill performed really well, even against the higher-dollar brands.

Seeing the way the 1/2″ performed, it’s safe to say that we had some pretty high expectations for the Kobalt 24V SDS-Plus rotary hammer as we moved into our testing.

Key Features

The brushless motor on the Kobalt 24V rotary hammer cranks out 1.475 ft-lbs of impact energy. With its variable speed controls, it can produce between 0-1400 RPM and 0-4500 BPM. Four modes of operation allow you to switch between drilling, rotary hammer, a chisel rotation mode, and hammer only.

This tool also features a mechanical clutch to protect both the user from sudden bind-ups. Rather than wrenching your arm out of socket, the clutch kicks in and slips the gear. It’s a feature you really appreciate when you encounter the need for it.

In our testing, the clutch kicked in a tad early for my taste, but it didn’t stop the work from being done. It’s definitely a solid feature to help protect you in a bind-up.

The Kobalt KRH 124B-03 rotary hammer uses the expected SDS-Plus chuck, so it’s compatible with literally thousands of accessories on the market. It also features an integrated tool-free depth gauge.

We tested two different units of the same model and both had issues with the depth rod loosening from the vibration in rotary hammer mode.

The Kobalt 24V 7/8″ rotary hammer retails for $169 as a bare tool from your local Lowe’s. It also comes with a 5-year limited tool warranty.

What We Think

This level of SDS-Plus rotary hammer works well for mechanical and electrical Pros in particular, who frequently find themselves drilling block and brick for Tapcons. It tackles larger diameter holes much quicker than a simple hammer drill, so when you have more of this kind of work to do, a tool like this quickly pays for itself.

To test this, we ran the proven Kobalt KDH524B-03 hammer drill against this Kobalt SDS-Plus rotary hammer head-to-head just to show how much of a gain you really get. Using a 1/2-inch bit (the largest we’d recommend in a hammer drill) and drilling 4 inches into concrete block, the rotary hammer was twice as fast and much easier to control.

The chisel function is also very useful as a way to set the angle of the bit other than just vertical or horizontal. This feature, combined with a 3-inch chisel tip, made quick work of ripping up tile flooring. A 4Ah battery was able to last 1.5 hours of semi-continuous use. We noticed some heat build-up during that part of our testing, but it never shut down or got too hot to hold.

With Kobalt providing very reasonable pricing for its 24V lithium-ion batteries and chargers, getting onto this platform makes a lot of sense for those starting out in the trades or need an occasional use rotary hammer. For anyone else, it’s a great parallel platform with an ever-growing depth of truly useful cordless tools.

Kobalt 24V SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Specs

• Model: Kobalt KRH 124B-03
• Chuck: SDS-Plus (7/8″)
• BPM (max): 4500
• Speed: 1400 RPM
• Impact Energy: 1.475 ft-lbs
• Operation modes: Rotary hammer, hammer only, rotation only, and chisel
• Weight: 4.6 lbs
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 11.5 x 3.5 x 7.5 in.
• Warranty: 5-year limited
• Price: $169 at Lowe’s (bare tool)