A hydraulic hammer is a powerful tool designed to break up thick clay or soil filled with rocks, making it ideal for tough excavation jobs. It can even break through solid rock formations and is versatile enough to be used for indoor demolition projects, such as tearing down concrete walls or foundations. With its strength and precision, it’s a go-to piece of equipment for contractors handling challenging construction or demolition tasks. There’s no doubt that this tool is extremely useful, but that doesn’t mean every hydraulic hammer is the same. Hydraulic hammers come in three different types of classes. 

Types of Hydraulic Hammers

Small Class

Small-class hydraulic hammers are ideal for indoor renovation projects. They can also be used for digging fence posts and getting through concrete for small patch jobs. Small hydraulic hammers use less PSI but move more quickly than the other two classes. Small-class hydraulic hammers are quick and efficient when they’re being used on the right types of jobs.

Medium Class

Medium-class hydraulic hammers are the most common. The PSI in this class ranges from 2,000 – 3,000. This means it offers plenty of impact on the majority of projects but can still create contact with the ground more frequently. Landscaping boulders, large concrete jobs, and a variety of utility projects all use a medium-class hydraulic hammer. Medium-class hammers provide an impact almost as strong as a large-class while hitting the ground almost as often as a small-class hydraulic hammer can. That’s what makes medium-class truly the best of both worlds!

Large Class

Large-class hydraulic hammers should only be used for big jobs such as mining or excavation projects. You shouldn’t use a large-class hydraulic hammer without experience or supervision by someone with experience. With a powerful PSI of over 2300, the hammer comes down with a heavy force. Because the force is so hard, the hammer comes down fewer times per minute than small or medium hydraulic hammers do. The large-class hydraulic hammer attachments are very heavy and require a proper carrier for them to be used.

Choose Gorilla Hammers For All Your Hydraulic Hammer Needs

Understanding the differences between these three classes is essential to make sure you get the right hammer for your job. Hydraulic hammer rentals most commonly come in medium size because it’s the most versatile, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask if they have a small or large-class hydraulic hammer in stock for you to use. Before turning on your hydraulic hammer, consider each of the three courses and make sure you’re using the best one for the job at hand! To learn more about Gorilla Hammers and what we offer, please contact us at (888) 814 – 6745.