Demolition and Hammers

A petrol breaker has a built-in two-stroke engine of around 2 kW and is fully self-contained — no mains, compressor or power pack needed, so it suits the field and trenches. A hydraulic breaker has no drive of its own: a separate power pack feeds it oil at 100–160 bar with a flow of 18–30 l/min. The hydraulic version runs quieter, vibrates less and lasts longer under continuous work, though the whole set is heavier. Both types deliver 40–70 J at 1,000–1,600 blows per minute.

For work in the field with no mains, the best choice is a Wacker Neuson petrol breaker — a single 25–32 kg machine, ready once fuelled. For long, quieter work with a steady supply, pick an Altrad Belle hydraulic set: a breaker plus a power pack with an 18–30 l/min flow. An electric SDS-MAX hammer (1.5–2 kW, 5–15 kg) suits indoor chiselling and smaller floors near a 230 V socket, delivering 10–25 J against the 40–70 J of a petrol or hydraulic tool.

A hydraulic power pack is the power source for a hydraulic breaker, which has no engine of its own. It drives an oil pump with a petrol or electric motor and delivers oil at 100–160 bar with a flow of 18–30 l/min through a pair of hoses to the tool. One Altrad Belle power pack can run several tools — breakers, drills, pumps — once flow and pressure are matched to each tool's product-page rating.

Breaking thick concrete and reinforced concrete over 20 cm calls for a breaker of 60–70 J and 28–32 kg — a petrol Wacker Neuson or a heavy hydraulic Altrad Belle with a moil point. Screeds and floors of 8–20 cm are broken by a 20–28 kg breaker delivering 45–60 J with a flat chisel. Asphalt is cut with a wide cutter (e.g. the Wacker Neuson asphalt cutter for the BH 55/65) that lifts the surface rather than crushing it. For clay and soil, use 355–380 mm spades with a 125 x 200 or 140 x 230 mm blade.

A professional hand-held demolition hammer weighs from 15 to 32 kg: petrol Wacker Neuson BH 55/65 models fall in the 25–32 kg band, while hydraulic Altrad Belle units run 15–30 kg. Single-blow energy is usually 40–70 J at 1,000–1,600 blows per minute. The product of these two values sets the breaking speed — the higher the energy and frequency, the thicker the concrete you break. An electric SDS-MAX hammer, by contrast, delivers just 10–25 J at 5–15 kg.

Wacker Neuson specialises in petrol breakers — the BH series (BH 55, BH 65) are self-contained tools with a two-stroke engine of around 2 kW and a weight of 25–32 kg, ready with no mains or compressor. Altrad Belle supplies hydraulic solutions: breakers and power packs with an 18–30 l/min flow and 100–160 bar pressure, plus accessories — points, chisels, spades and MBS04/MBS05 rubber mallets. The choice comes down to drive: petrol for the field, hydraulic for a steady supply.

Demolition hammers take tips seated in a hexagonal 32 x 160 mm shank: a moil point for point breaking of concrete and rock, a flat chisel for screeds and plaster, an asphalt cutter for cutting and lifting surfaces, and 355–380 mm spades with a 125 x 200 or 140 x 230 mm blade for clay and soil. The tip's shank must match the breaker's chuck — our range includes Altrad Belle and Wacker Neuson accessories for the BH 55/65 and the hydraulic breakers.

A Wacker Neuson petrol breaker is fully self-contained — it has its own two-stroke engine of around 2 kW and needs neither a hydraulic power pack, nor a compressor, nor mains power. Simply top it up with a fuel-oil mix and it is ready. Separate power is needed by two other types: a hydraulic breaker requires a power pack (oil at 100–160 bar, 18–30 l/min), and a pneumatic breaker needs a compressor typically rated at 2,000–4,000 l/min and 6–7 bar. This autonomy is why petrol breakers dominate field and road work.

The thickness and grade of the material set the impact energy you need. For thin screeds and plaster of 3–8 cm a breaker of 30–45 J and 10–20 kg is enough. Floors and concrete of 8–20 cm are broken by a 45–60 J tool weighing 20–28 kg. Thick reinforced concrete over 20 cm and foundations call for the heaviest breakers of 60–70 J and 28–32 kg with a moil point. Too light a breaker bounces off and overheats; weight and energy should rise with the material thickness.

Prices for professional breakers start at a few thousand zloty for a petrol breaker, while a hydraulic set (breaker plus power pack) costs more because it covers two machines. Renting usually costs 80–200 PLN per day, so at just 20–40 working days a year the purchase pays for itself against constant hiring. Contractors who work regularly are better off buying — immediate availability, no deposits, and their own matched accessories. Current prices for Wacker Neuson and Altrad Belle models are shown on the product pages.