An excavator hammer here. This bad boy smashes through the hardest material you can find like nothing else—concrete, rock, whatever. Need to knock that out? No problem. Boom, you’re done. An excavator hammer can save you a lot of time, a lot of money, and a ton of headaches on your construction projects. Here’s how an excavator hammer works. Here’s why you need an excavator hammer.
An excavator hammer, or hydraulic breaker, is a powerful attachment that helps break up hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and rock. By utilizing the hydraulic power of the excavator, it delivers high-impact force to break materials quickly and efficiently. If you need faster, cost-effective demolition, an excavator hammer is the solution. Learn more about how it works and how to maintain it for optimal performance.
Let’s dive deeper into how an excavator hammer works and explore its applications in various industries.
What is an Excavator Hammer?
An excavator hammer can be a useful tool to help you get the job done. These special attachments can use high-impact force to efficiently break up materials such as concrete, asphalt, or rock. Unlike a traditional digging attachment, an excavator hammer is designed to break things up so you can remove them for your construction project.
Types of Excavator Hammers:
| Type of Excavator Hammer | Description | Best Used For |
| Hydraulic Excavator Hammer | Powered by the excavator’s hydraulic system. | Demolition, road repair, and breaking large stones. |
| Pneumatic Excavator Hammer | Operates using compressed air. | Certain specialized tasks in remote locations. |
There are two types of hammer: hydraulic and pneumatic. The most common hammer is hydraulic and is the first go-to for high-production construction. Pneumatic hammers are less common but can sometimes be used where a hydraulic system is not available, such as in some operations in underground mining areas or in remote locations.
Key Features of an Excavator Hammer:
| Feature | Description |
| Impact Force | The force generated by the hammer to break materials. |
| Hydraulic Power | The energy provided by the excavator’s hydraulic system. |
| Versatility | Can be used for a wide range of applications (demolition, quarrying, ). |
| Durability | Designed for heavy-duty work in challenging environments. |
The speed at which a hammer can break material makes it a huge part of construction and mining operations.
How Does an Excavator Hammer Work?
A hydraulic or pneumatic system powers a hammer. That system takes pressure and turns it into high-impact energy. Knowing how the system works allows you to troubleshoot and use the hammer to its full potential.
The Mechanism of Action:
| Step | Description |
| 1. Hydraulic Power | The excavator’s hydraulic system generates pressure that is transferred to the hammer. |
| 2. Piston Movement | This pressure moves the piston inside the hammer, which is responsible for delivering the blow. |
| 3. Impact Force | The piston strikes the material, transferring its energy to break it apart. |
| 4. Repetition | This process continues rapidly, delivering a steady, powerful impact to break larger sections. |
The hydraulic power comes right from the excavator’s system, which makes a hammer an incredibly efficient tool for high-production work. Depending on the size of the hammer, you’re talking about making an incredible amount of energy, which allows you to break huge hunks of material at once if you need to
Key Components of an Excavator Hammer:
| Component | Function |
| Hydraulic System | Provides the power to move the piston. |
| Piston | The striking element that delivers impact to the material. |
| Chisel or Tool Bit | The part of the hammer that actually contacts and breaks the material. |
| Accumulator | Stores and regulates pressure to control the impact speed and force. |
In a hydraulic excavator hammer, your hydraulic system provides the force to move the piston. When you hit material with the piston, you hit that material very hard because the piston moves with an incredibly high force. Using an accumulator in your system helps to smooth out and regulate the pressure so that your hammer doesn’t overheat or start losing its efficiency and power.
How to Maintain an Excavator Hammer
You need to maintain your excavator hammer to keep it working right and to keep from overtaxing and destroying it. Just like with a digging bucket, the proper care, maintenance, and operation of your hammer will
save you from some very expensive metal surgery down the line. Here are a few hints to maximize the life and performance of your excavator hammer:
Check Hydraulic Fluid Levels:
| Maintenance Task | Recommended Frequency | Reason for Maintenance |
| Hydraulic Fluid Check | Every 100 operating hours | Ensures the hydraulic system operates without overheating or failure. |
| Fluid Replacement | Every 500 operating hours | Prevents contamination, which can damage the hammer’s components. |
Check your hydraulic oil daily. You’re using the pressure from the excavator to operate the hammer. If you run out of hydraulic oil or the oil gets fouled up with dirt or water, you can’t make the hammer work properly.
Inspect Hammer Wear Parts:
| Part to Inspect | Signs of Wear | Maintenance Action |
| Piston | Cracks, excessive wear | Replace or repair depending on severity. |
| Chisels | Blunt, cracked, or worn edges | Regularly replace to maintain optimal impact force. |
| Seals and Bushings | Oil leaks or reduced performance | Replace seals to prevent hydraulic leaks. |
Proper maintenance will prevent the need for costly repairs and downtime for the hammer. If small problems are noticed and addressed early, then large issues can be avoided. For additional hydraulic hammer maintenance tips, see our previous post. For questions about hydraulic hammer maintenance or if you need a hydraulic hammer repair, please visit our contact page.
Grease Regularly:
| Component | Greasing Interval | Purpose |
| Main Hammer Housing | Every 8 hours of operation | Reduces friction and wear on moving parts. |
| Chisels and Piston | Every 50 hours of operation | Ensures smooth piston movement, preventing unnecessary wear. |
Greasing helps to keep your hydraulic hammer operating efficiently. Without grease, components can grind themselves to pieces and wear out extremely quickly. With lubrication, moving parts will last much longer. Remember, too much grease can be as bad than not enough. Do not over-grease your attachment.
Applications of Excavator Hammers
An excavator hammer can be used for a variety of applications. This powerful machine can help you get many jobs done quicker with less overall effort. Following are some of the many industries and tasks where a hydraulic hammer can be helpful.
Common Applications:
| Industry | Typical Application | Material | Hammer Size Needed |
| Construction | Demolition of buildings and structures | Concrete, brick, masonry | Medium to Large |
| Roadwork | Breaking asphalt or concrete for road repairs | Asphalt, reinforced concrete | Medium to Large |
| Mining | Breaking rocks and ores for extraction | Rock, ore | Large |
| Quarrying | Breaking large stones into smaller, manageable pieces | Stone, granite | Large |
In construction and demolition, excavator hammers are used for breaking up concrete foundations, concrete walls, and entire buildings. In mining and quarrying, they fracture rock formations to more easily handleable block perennial formations.
Why Use an Excavator Hammer for These Applications?
| Benefit | Description |
| Speed | Faster than manual labor or traditional demolition methods. |
| Cost-Efficiency | Requires less manpower and equipment, reducing project costs. |
| Precision | Controlled impact allows for accurate and targeted material breakage. |
Whether you’re breaking up asphalt on the road or smashing a building, the excavator hammer can save you hours of time and manual labor while delivering accurate, precision work and reducing personal risk.
Choosing the Right Excavator Hammer
Selecting the right excavator hammer makes all the difference in your results and in getting the most life out of your machine. There are many factors to consider when choosing the “right” hammer, such as what size of excavator you’re putting the hammer on, what you’re breaking, and the specific requirements of the jobs you do.
Factors to Consider:
| Factor | What to Look For | Why It Matters |
| Excavator Size | Match the hammer size to your excavator’s weight and power. | Ensures the hammer is not too powerful or too weak for the excavator, avoiding both underperformance and potential damage. |
| Impact Energy | Choose a hammer that delivers sufficient force to break tough materials but is not excessive. | Ensures the right amount of force is applied to materials, optimizing both speed and energy use. |
| Material Type | Select a hammer suited for the specific material (e.g., concrete, rock, asphalt). | Guarantees the hammer is effective and efficient for the materials you intend to break. |
| Work Type | Consider whether the job requires precise or heavy-duty work. | Choosing the wrong hammer could result in inefficient work or damage to surrounding structures. |
| Attachment Type | Decide between quick coupler or fixed installation. | Quick couplers allow for flexibility and faster switching between attachments, while fixed installations offer greater stability. |
Matching the size of the hammer to the power of the excavator and understanding what you are breaking means your hammer’s performance will be maximized, your job will be completed more efficiently and safely, and you will make more money. Properly matched equipment will help you get your work done faster, and you will spend less time maintaining your equipment.
How Excavator Hammers Are Attached to Excavators
Attaching a hammer to an excavator the right way will help you work safer and be more effective and productive. It also helps your equipment last as long as possible. There are two main ways to attach a hammer to an excavator: Either you mount it to a quick coupler and easily switch from one attachment to another, or you mount it to the end of the excavator’s arm. The best way to decide between the two is to ask yourself how much you change your attachments and what kind of work you do.
Attachment Methods:
| Attachment Type | Description | Benefits |
| Quick Coupler | A quick coupler allows for fast switching of attachments without needing to remove bolts. | Increases efficiency by reducing downtime, enabling fast attachment changes. |
| Fixed Installation | A fixed installation securely attaches the hammer to the excavator permanently. | More secure, with no risk of detachment, but less flexibility for switching attachments. |
| Pin-Type | Uses pins to attach the hammer to the excavator arm. | Provides flexibility while still offering a secure connection for medium to heavy work. |
| Hydraulic Quick Coupler | Integrates hydraulic control for easy switching of attachments. | Ideal for environments where several attachments are needed in rapid succession. |
Which method you choose in the end depends on how often you need to change your attachments, and how much flexibility you need in your work. Quick couplers allow you to quickly change from bucket to breaker to any other attachment you might need on your project. On the other hand, it’s more secure to mount your hammer to the end of your stick with no moving parts if you plan to run the hammer full time. Choosing the right attachment method will allow your hammer to perform safely and consistently at its best.
How to Maintain an Excavator Hammer
Doing regular maintenance on your excavator hammer is how you make that investment last as long as possible. Maintaining your equipment not only prolongs the life of your hammer, but it also keeps you safe and prevents expensive breakdowns and repairs. Here are the most common things you should consistently do to keep your hammer in top condition.
Maintenance Tasks:
| Task | Frequency | Purpose |
| Inspect Hydraulic Fluid | Every 100 hours of operation | Ensures the hydraulic system operates smoothly, preventing overheating or malfunctions. |
| Check Hammer Components | Every 200 hours of operation | Inspects pistons, chisels, and seals for damage or wear, preventing unexpected failures. |
| Grease Moving Parts | Every 50 operating hours | Reduces friction between moving parts, preventing premature wear and tear. |
| Check for Cracks and Wear | Every 100 hours of operation | Detects any structural issues early to prevent catastrophic damage. |
| Change Hydraulic Oil | Every 500 hours or annually | Keeps the hydraulic system clean and free from contaminants that could hinder performance. |
Inspect all hoses and connections to make sure they are not leaking or damaged. It’s also important to make sure the hammer is attached correctly. Operating the hammer when it is not properly attached can cause severe damage to both the hammer and the excavator. Many operators also like to inspect the bit or chisel to make sure it is in good condition and tightened down correctly. No one wants to be on the end of a chisel when it comes flying out of an excavator hammer.
Applications of Excavator Hammers
An excavator hammer is a very versatile tool and can be useful across many industries for many different tasks. They are used in demolition, road construction, mining – anywhere you want to break something into smaller pieces. Reviewing the types of projects you work on to see if you could benefit from adding an excavator hammer could make a huge difference in your productivity and job cost.
Common Applications:
| Industry | Application | Material Types | Hammer Size |
| Construction | Demolition of buildings, foundations, and infrastructure. | Concrete, brick, masonry | Medium to Large |
| Roadwork | Breaking asphalt and concrete for road repairs. | Asphalt, reinforced concrete | Medium to Large |
| Mining | Breaking rocks for extraction. | Rock, ore | Large |
| Quarrying | Breaking stone into smaller, more manageable pieces. | Stone, granite, limestone | Large |
Whether you are demolishing a building or breaking rock at a mine, an excavator hammer is a wonderful tool to help get the job done fast. Because it can work with multiple materials, they are also helpful in other industries like construction, roadwork, and mining.
Conclusion
An excavator hammer is a big deal when it comes to construction, demolition, and mining work. Understanding how to use it or support those who do, the parts and maintenance required, and the best applications for a hammer will make you the hero!
A little knowledge on the front end about how the hammer operates with the tool carrier, its parts, maintenance, and applications can make a big difference in how fast and well you complete your projects. Making the best hammer choice for the job and keeping it in peak condition will ensure a better bottom line on your job. If you treat your hammer well and pick the right one for your needs, an excavator hammer can help you break some of the nastiest stuff on earth!
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