A jackhammer is a portable drill powered by compressed air, fluid, or electricity used to break up concrete, rock, or other materials. It carries risks to the worker and should be used with care. Different types of jackhammers exist for various applications.
A jackhammer is typically a portable drill powered by compressed air, although other designs exist. It has two handles on one end and a chisel bit on the other that moves rapidly up and down to break up concrete, rock or other materials. The tool is connected to an air compressor via a pneumatic hose.
A portable jackhammer is only practical to use on a horizontal surface. Gravity serves both to hold the tool in place and to drive the bit into the surface. The jackhammer must be held at one end by a worker, who drives the drill onto the material to be crushed. It is not recommended to bring down, as this can lead to injury.
A jackhammer can also be hydraulic, powered by fluid rather than air. This type is much larger than the type described above and is usually attached to an excavator, a heavy earthmoving vehicle. This type of jackhammer can be used vertically in mining, as the opposite side of the cavern can provide an opposing force similar to that offered by gravity in horizontal applications.
A third type of jackhammer is smaller than the pneumatic type and powered by electricity. This tool can be rented and is most often used by amateurs for small scale projects.
Like many heavy construction tools, the jackhammer carries some risks to the worker who controls it and must be used with care. The pneumatic jackhammer is extremely loud, reaching 100 decibels at 2 meters (6.6 feet). Some models are equipped with a silencer, but the operator should still wear ear defenders to prevent tinnitus and other hearing damage. The rough vibration of the instrument poses a danger to the hands and wrists, sometimes leading to carpal tunnel syndrome or an acquired form of Raynaud’s disease known as white finger vibration.
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