Guide to SDS Drills: SDS plus vs SDS max (2024)

FAQs

Guide to SDS Drills: SDS plus vs SDS max? ›

SDS Plus have a 10mm shank

The main difference between the two is that SDS drill bits feature 2 splines in the shank, whereas SDS plus drill bits feature an extra 2 splines to hold it in the chuck more securely.

The type of material you'll be drilling into will determine the type of SDS drill bit you need. If you're drilling into hard materials like concrete and stone, you'll need an SDS max drill bit. If you're drilling into softer materials like wood and plastic, an SDS plus drill bit will do the job.

SDS drills, also known as chisel or hammer drills, are a powerful type of hammer tool best suited to heavy-duty drilling applications. These specialist power tools can be used to drill through materials such as steel, brick, masonry, and concrete, making them handy tools for a range of tasks.

You should not use SDS bits in a standard drill. The chuck on a standard rotary or hammer drill is not designed for them. Standard bits can come loose, damage the drill and affect the quality of your work.

The Bosch EXPERT SDS MAX-8X and the EXPERT SDS PLUS-7X Hammer Drill Bit are examples of some of the best choice drill bits for drilling though concrete.

SDS Plus have a 10mm shank, while the SDS Max has an 18mm. This means that SDS Max bits have an increased capability for tougher masonry work, withstanding more torque and force. The SDS Plus range is shorter in length and is tailored to lighter duty work and smaller diameter holes.

A lighter drill such as an SDS Plus will be ideal for smaller DIY jobs - especially when drilling lighter materials. Mid-sized drills will get through tougher materials, with more power. To break through concrete and masonry, you will need a large drill such as an SDS Max, which uses larger drill bits.

What are the differences between SDS, SDS Plus, and SDS Max drills? The diameter of an SDS and SDS Plus shank is 10 millimeters. (The SDS Max is 18 millimeters. The SDS shank has the advantage of fitting into a simple spring-loaded chuck, so that bits are simply pushed into the chuck without tightening.

Spline bits have become much less common than SDS Plus or SDS Max. They are very similar in capacity and variety to the range available to SDS Max bits. The major difference is that chipping bits and drilling bits that are used for spline drive drills have different shanks as one is smooth and the other has splines.

What is the difference between SDS quick and SDS Max? ›

The SDS Max is larger with an 18 mm shank diameter, while the SDS Quick has a smaller 6 mm shank diameter.

SDS MAX is used on larger machines as it has a bigger tool holder so can withstand much more force being applied. The HEX bits are used on the largest breakers and will only be available as points or chisels in various sizes.

Conveniently, SDS Plus and SDS drills and bits are cross compatible. However, SDS Max drill bits require a chuck adaptor or converter to enable them to be used with your rotary hammer. Their significantly larger diameters mean that an SDS Max converter is needed in order to fit the bit to the drill.

SDS is simply the bit retention system — or how the bit is held in the drill. There is some debate as to what the "SDS" acronym stands for. The original German interpretation was "Steck-Dreh-Sitz" meaning Insert-Twist-Stay. As the bit evolved, it has come to be known as a Slotted Drive System or Slotted Drive Shaft.

Depending on the task, there is the most widespread format, SDS-plus with a diameter of approx. 10 mm for hammer drills < 5 kg and SDS-max for hammer drills > 5 kg with a diameter of approx. 18 mm.

SDS Max is designed for the heaviest masonry work, and is incompatible with SDS/SDS+ bits.

Universal drill bits SDS-plus

Universal drills are an alternative to classic hammer drills and replace them mainly when drilling into slippery or hard material (tiling, paving, etc.).

Spline bits have become much less common than SDS Plus or SDS Max. They are very similar in capacity and variety to the range available to SDS Max bits. The major difference is that chipping bits and drilling bits that are used for spline drive drills have different shanks as one is smooth and the other has splines.

SDS machines have a different type of chuck to what you'd find on a standard drill. This means they require purpose designed accessories, and normal drill bits can't be used unless you can find a suitable adaptor.