Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer Smooths out Tough Jobs

There’s no denying the power of SDS-Max rotary hammers over SDS-Plus. But the thought of manhandling the weight of a 2″ rotary hammer all day just isn’t that appealing. To see what kind of performance you can expect on the lighter side of SDS-Max, we put the Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer to work tearing out tile and drilling. This corded power tool really puts out the work.

Pros

Small footprint a lightweight for an SDS-Max rotary hammer
Excellent vibration control
Lock on variable speed trigger
Variable speed dial
Competitive pricing

Cons

No major drawbacks

Recommendation

With fantastic performance and competitive pricing in its class, there’s not much to complain about on the Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer. As a member of the smaller end of the SDS-Max rotary hammer group, it’s a great choice when you have a lot of drilling or chipping ahead of you on the light to medium side. It’s not a replacement for a demo hammer, of course, but we got a whole lot of tile removed in a lot less time than we expected using it.

Performance

Basic Stats

The Bosch 11264EVS puts out 6.5 ft-lbs of impact energy with its 13-amp motor. Looking at those two numbers without some context may seem a little underwhelming, but we’ll dig deeper.

At 15.2 pounds, it’s on the lighter side of SDS-Max rotary hammers. Add in Bosch’s vibration control and you have a hammer that’s comfortable enough to use for all-day jobs. The only question is whether it has the capacity and power for the job at hand.

Impressions from the Field

We had a couple of different tile jobs going on and the first step was to take out the old stuff. There are plenty of options, but we paired this Bosch combination hammer with an SDS-Max scraper.

“Combination” hammer? In a very brief nutshell, this is a combination hammer because it combines the functions of drilling and chipping. It’s okay if you want to call it a rotary hammer—you won’t hurt its feelings.

One of our guys (name withheld to protect his manhood) said,

“Tearing out tile isn’t supped to be this easy! I’m like a 12-year old at a Bieber concert right now This tool is like the Wushi Finger Hold of tools. The only hard part is cleaning up.”

~~PTR Reviewer, Chris Wagoner~~ Anonymous PTR Reviewer

While we strive to be more on the objective side with our testing, a few minutes with the Bosch 11264EVS is all you need to share in his excitement. Although, I’m a little disturbed that he knows what it feels like to be a 12-year old at a Justin Beiber concert.

On another tile job, it was very evident that the smaller footprint and lighter weight make it much easier to maneuver in tight areas. Additionally, the tool’s vibration control is fantastic and Tom Gaige notes he didn’t have any issues with hand numbness during extended use.

It’s no slouch in drilling, either. You’re looking at drilling holes up to 1-5/8″ in diameter (4-1/8″ with a core bit). It drills through concrete like butter. It’s not just fast, it’s also super smooth.

Maintenance Cycle

In general, most rotary hammers don’t need much more than a little grease from time to time. But there are some things every rotary hammer needs beyond that. To keep your Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer running its best, keep your eyes on these intervals to schedule maintenance at a Bosch service center:

Service reminder light blinks: ~8 hours left on the carbon brushes
Lubricate gears every brush change
Check brushes every 2 to 6 months, depending on use level
Replace bearings every 300–4o0 hours of use (~every other brush change)

Did you know? All rotary hammers require a warm up and break in period. It takes 15–90 seconds for a hammer to warm up, depending on the temperature. New rotary hammers take up to 5 hours of break-in time before reaching their full performance potential.

Key Features

Turbo Power

Drilling is so easy with the Bosch 11264EVS that it’s hard to imagine it’s holding anything back. However, kick it into hammering/chipping mode and it brings 20% more power to the table.

Vibration Control

Bosch really nails the vibration control aspects of this hammer. Part of that equation is their electro-pneumatic impact system. Using a combination of the electricity available and a pneumatic mechanism, this reduces the vibration while maximizing the impact force.

Trigger Lock

The variable speed trigger is long enough to use with three fingers, so fatigue isn’t a huge issue. Continue pulling it back until it snaps into place and you’re in the lock on position. Just hit the bottom trigger below it to release.

Additional Features

Constant Response Circuitry gives you a soft start and maintains speed under load
12-position Vario-Lock positioning to adjust chisel angle
Two modes: hammering and hammer with rotation (no rotation only)
Variable speed dial gives you more control in chipping and precision starts
Internal slip clutch stops rotation if a bit binds and overloads the tool

Price

Currently, the Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer runs $522.00 online. Here’s where similar models land:

Bosch 11264EVS: $522.00
Makita HR4013C: $593.48
Metabo HPT (Hitachi) DH40MEY: $619.00
Hilti TE 60-AVR: $1059

There are less expensive models running around from these brands and others, but you have to give up vibration control to get it.

The Bottom Line

Bosch 11264EVS SDS-Max Combination Hammer Specifications

Model: Bosch 11264evs
Motor: 120V, 13.0-amp
Impact Rate 1,700–2,900 BPM
No Load Speed: 170–340 RPM
Impact Energy: 6.5 Ft./Lbs.
Max. Hole Diameter in Concrete: 1-5/8″
Max. Hole Diameter in Concrete-Core Bit: 4-1/8″
Chuck: SDS-Max
Height: 10.5″
Length: 19.25″
Width: 4.0″
Weight: 15.2 lbs
Includes: 360° Auxilliary Side Handle, Carrying Case
Warranty: 1 year limited
Price: $522.00

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