Intro
There comes a point in many renovation and construction projects where a standard rotary hammer simply is not enough. When you need to break up a concrete path, demolish a brick wall, remove a stubborn tile floor bonded with decades-old cement, or chase deep channels for electrical conduit in solid masonry, you need a tool built for destruction rather than precision. A heavy-duty demolition hammer in the 1,600-watt class, delivering 9 joules of impact energy through an SDS-max chuck, sits in a different league from the compact SDS-plus hammers used for drilling anchor holes. These are the tools that rental yards stock for weekend demolition jobs and that contractors reach for when a project timeline depends on breaking through reinforced concrete quickly. They are heavy, powerful, and single-minded — and for the right task, nothing else will do the job in a reasonable time.
Generalities
Powerplus is a European brand that produces power tools and workshop equipment aimed at the DIY and semi-professional market, with manufacturing based in Belgium. Their POWX1179 is a corded demolition hammer built around the SDS-max tool interface — the larger, heavier-duty cousin of the SDS-plus system, designed for bits and chisels with 18-millimetre shanks that can survive the punishing forces of 9-joule impacts. When evaluating a demolition hammer, the key figures are the impact energy in joules (higher means faster breaking and the ability to tackle harder materials), the blow rate (more blows per minute means faster progress on continuous breaking), and the weight of the tool (heavier tools transmit more energy into the workpiece but are more tiring to use). Accessories matter too — a demolition hammer needs chisels and points, and including them in the kit saves an immediate additional purchase.
This review covers the Powerplus POWX1179 — a 1,600-watt corded SDS-max demolition hammer delivering 9 joules of impact energy at 3,800 blows per minute, with a rotational speed of 630 revolutions per minute for drilling. It includes three SDS-max accessories, a storage case, and an auxiliary handle. We assess the raw breaking power in concrete and masonry, the build quality of this Belgian-made tool, the ergonomics of managing a 9.2-kilogram machine, and whether the approximately £133 price represents exceptional value given the power on offer.
Description
The POWX1179 is powered by a 1,600-watt motor driving an SDS-max hammer mechanism that delivers 9 joules of impact energy per blow at a rate of 3,800 blows per minute. To put that in perspective: a typical SDS-plus rotary hammer like the Bosch GBH 2-26 delivers 2.7 joules — the Powerplus hits with more than three times the force per blow, and at a higher blow rate. This is the difference between spending an afternoon chipping away at a concrete footing and breaking it up in under an hour. The rotational speed is 630 revolutions per minute for the drilling mode, which uses the 18-millimetre SDS-max drill bit included in the kit. The tool operates in multiple modes: rotary hammer drilling for large-diameter holes in concrete and masonry, hammer-only for chiselling and demolition, and a chisel rotation feature that lets you adjust the angle of the flat chisel without repositioning the tool.
The SDS-max chuck is a robust, tool-free interface that accepts bits and chisels with the 18-millimetre SDS-max shank standard. Unlike the smaller SDS-plus system, SDS-max tools are designed for the extreme forces of demolition work — the shank cross-section is significantly larger and the locking mechanism more substantial. The aluminium gear housing dissipates heat from the hammer mechanism during extended use, and the 230-volt, 12-amp motor draws serious current — ensure your circuit and extension lead are appropriately rated. The auxiliary handle wraps around the front of the body and can be adjusted to suit the user's grip preference and the working angle. At 9.2 kilograms, this is not a tool you use one-handed or overhead — it is a two-handed machine that relies on its own weight to press the chisel into the work, with the user primarily guiding and stabilising rather than pushing down.
Operating a 9-joule demolition hammer is a physical experience. The tool does the work — you position the chisel, apply moderate downward pressure, and let the hammer mechanism break the material. The vibration, while substantial, is managed by the mass of the tool and the auxiliary handle damping. Anti-vibration gloves are recommended for extended sessions. The chisel rotation feature is genuinely useful: when using the flat chisel to remove floor tiles, you can rotate the chisel angle with a twist of the control without removing the tool from the work, so you can attack tiles from the most effective angle as you work across a floor. The pointed chisel is for starting holes in concrete and breaking up reinforced sections where a flat chisel would skate across the surface. The 18 by 320 millimetre drill bit handles large-diameter holes for service penetrations, anchor bolts, and fixing points.
The kit includes three SDS-max accessories: a flat chisel measuring 24 by 350 millimetres for tile removal, rendering, and general breaking; a pointed chisel at 320 millimetres for starting holes and concentrated breaking in tough concrete; and an 18 by 320-millimetre drill bit for large-diameter holes. A tube of grease is included for lubricating the SDS-max shanks — this is essential maintenance that extends the life of both the chuck and the accessories. Three plastic storage tubes protect the accessories when not in use. The carrying case is a blow-moulded plastic box that holds the tool, all accessories, and the manual. The auxiliary handle comes pre-assembled to the tool. A chuck key is included for any service adjustments.
At 9.2 kilograms and measuring 46.5 × 10 × 26.5 centimetres, the POWX1179 is a substantial piece of equipment that demands dedicated storage space. It carries a 4.8 out of 5 star rating from 7 customer reviews — a small sample size but consistently positive. The tool ranks at position 325 in the Hammer Drills category and 245,816 overall in DIY & Tools on Amazon UK, reflecting its niche position as a specialist demolition tool rather than a general-purpose drill. At approximately £133 including the three SDS-max accessories and case, the price-to-power ratio is extraordinary — 9 joules of impact energy for this money undercuts comparable machines from major brands by hundreds of pounds. For a homeowner facing a one-off demolition project, it is cheaper than hiring a machine for a week. For a tradesperson, it is an affordable entry into SDS-max tooling.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 9 joules of impact energy at 3,800 blows per minute delivers genuine demolition power — breaks concrete paths, brick walls, and tiled floors at a rate that compact SDS-plus hammers cannot match.
- SDS-max tool interface is the professional standard for heavy demolition — accepts the full range of SDS-max chisels, points, and large-diameter drill bits from any manufacturer.
- Includes three SDS-max accessories (flat chisel, pointed chisel, and 18-millimetre drill bit) plus a storage case and grease — ready to start breaking concrete straight out of the box.
- Chisel rotation feature lets you adjust the flat chisel angle without removing the tool from the work — speeds up tile removal by letting you attack from the most effective angle as you move across a floor.
- At approximately £133 including accessories and case, the price-to-power ratio is exceptional — comparable machines from premium brands cost two to three times as much for similar impact energy.
- Belgian-made with aluminium gear housing — European manufacturing and robust materials suggest better longevity than budget imports at a similar power level.
- 1,600-watt motor provides consistent power without the battery anxiety of cordless tools — suitable for all-day demolition work as long as mains power is available.
Cons
- At 9.2 kilograms, the weight is significant — this is strictly a two-handed floor-level tool; overhead work and one-handed operation are not realistic or safe.
- Only 7 customer reviews — the 4.8-star average is promising but too small a sample to draw firm conclusions about long-term reliability, parts availability, or consistency between units.
- No variable speed or impact energy control — the tool delivers full power at all times, which can make precise work like chasing channels for conduit harder to control than with a lighter rotary hammer.
- The 1,600-watt motor draws significant current — ensure your circuit and extension lead are rated for at least 13 amps, and avoid running other high-draw tools on the same circuit.
- SDS-max accessories are more expensive than SDS-plus equivalents — replacing worn chisels and drill bits costs more, and the selection of SDS-max tooling is smaller than for SDS-plus.
Use cases
The Powerplus POWX1179 is built for heavy demolition and breaking work — concrete removal, brick wall demolition, tile floor stripping, and large-diameter drilling in masonry — where 9 joules of impact energy turns days of manual labour into hours of machine-assisted progress.
Concrete Path, Patio, and Foundation Breaking
Break up concrete garden paths, small patios, shed bases, and fence-post footings without hiring a pneumatic breaker and compressor. The 9-joule impact energy and pointed chisel crack through 100 to 150-millimetre-thick unreinforced concrete slabs efficiently, turning a weekend demolition job into an achievable DIY project.
Tile Floor and Wall Tile Removal
Strip ceramic, porcelain, and quarry tile floors — including tiles bedded on thick cement mortar — using the flat chisel and chisel rotation feature. The wide 24-millimetre chisel gets under tiles and lifts them cleanly, and the ability to rotate the chisel angle on the fly means you can work across a floor systematically without stopping to reposition the tool.
Brick and Block Wall Demolition
Take down internal brick and block walls during renovation projects — faster, cleaner, and with less collateral damage than a sledgehammer. The flat chisel splits mortar joints efficiently, and the hammer mechanism does the work so you do not exhaust yourself swinging a heavy hammer for hours.
Chasing Channels for Electrical and Plumbing
Chase deep channels in brick and block walls for electrical conduit, pipe runs, and back boxes using the pointed chisel or a dedicated SDS-max channel chisel (available separately). The chisel rotation keeps the flat edge aligned with the channel direction, producing straighter, neater chases than would be possible with a smaller rotary hammer.
Large-Diameter Drilling for Services and Fixings
Drill holes from 18 to 40 millimetres in diameter through concrete and masonry walls for waste pipes, extractor fan ducts, structural anchors, and heavy-duty fixing bolts. The included 18-millimetre SDS-max drill bit handles the most common sizes, and the 630 RPM drilling speed combined with 9 joules of impact makes fast progress through dense concrete and hard brick.