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Powerhouse PHB-RH-40D SDS Max hammer review: demolition

Reviewed by Gabriel Manalo · Updated Aug 16, 2026 · How we review

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Quick verdict

Our Best for Demolition pick: 1800 W and 10 J through an SDS Max chuck, reaching 40 mm in concrete, for around ₱10,800.

At a glance

BrandPowerhouse
TypeRotary hammer
Price₱10,800 (as of Aug 16, 2026)
Owner rating5.0 ★ from 4 reviews
ShopPowerhouse Flagship Store
Units sold9

Specifications

Specs per Powerhouse Philippines published data for the PHB-RH-40D

TypeRotary hammer
ChuckSDS Max
Input power1800 W
Impact energy10 J
No-load speed0-950 rpm
Impact rate0-4200 bpm
Max drilling concrete40 mm
Max drilling steel13 mm
Max drilling wood40 mm
Input220 V, 60 Hz
IncludedBits, chisels, carrying case

Pros and cons

✓ Pros

  • 10 J of impact energy, the most powerful tool in this comparison by a clear margin
  • 1800 W and 40 mm concrete capacity make short work of breaking slabs and cutting chases
  • 950 rpm and 4200 bpm are high for an SDS Max tool, so it still drills rather than only breaks
  • Steel and wood capacities are published, which the rival SDS Max tool here does not do
  • Rated for 60 Hz, matching Philippine mains rather than a 50 Hz spec sheet

✗ Cons

  • SDS Max bits cost considerably more than SDS Plus and are harder to find outside major hardware chains
  • Far more hammer than a household needs, where 2.5 J and 26 mm covers almost every job
  • Weight is not published, though 1800 W SDS Max tools are heavy enough to need two hands at all times
  • No published impact-energy range, so it cannot be dialled back for light chiselling like some rivals

The Powerhouse PHB-RH-40D is our Best for Demolition pick: 1800 W and 10 J through an SDS Max chuck, reaching 40 mm in concrete, for around ₱10,800.

How much hammer is it?

1800 W, 10 J of impact energy, 0-950 rpm, 0-4200 bpm, drilling to 40 mm in concrete, 13 mm in steel, and 40 mm in wood.

Ten joules is a different category of tool. Where a 2.5 J hammer sets anchors and a 5.5 J hammer chases conduit, this breaks. Slabs, steps, and doorway openings in concrete walls are within its normal working range rather than at its limit.

The pleasant surprise is that it still drills. 950 rpm and 4200 bpm are high for an SDS Max tool, several of which barely turn at all. Powerhouse also publishes steel and wood capacities, which the other SDS Max hammer in this category does not.

The chuck decides your running costs

SDS Max uses an 18 mm shank rather than the 10 mm SDS Plus shank. That is what lets it transmit 10 J without destroying the bit, and it is also what makes the bits expensive.

Expect to pay several times the SDS Plus price per bit, and expect to hunt for them outside the big hardware chains. If your work is mostly holes rather than breaking, an SDS Plus tool at 5.5 J costs less to buy and much less to feed.

One thing Powerhouse does right: the tool is rated 220 V at 60 Hz, matching Philippine mains, rather than carrying a 50 Hz European spec sheet.

Is it sulit?

Around ₱10,800 as of August 16, 2026. Check the latest price on Shopee.

Against other SDS Max tools it looks strong: 10 J and 1800 W with published steel and wood capacities, from a brand with a Philippine flagship store behind it. Against the category as a whole, it is more than double the price of the tool most homes actually need.

Two gaps in the data sheet are worth noting. Powerhouse does not publish a weight, which on an SDS Max tool is the spec that decides whether you can work with it overhead. And there is no published impact-energy range, so unlike some rivals it cannot be dialled back for lighter chiselling.

Who should buy it

Buy this if you are demolishing concrete, not drilling it. For anyone hanging brackets and setting anchors, it is the wrong tool at three times the price. See how it ranks in our best rotary hammers in the Philippines roundup, or browse more on our Home Improvement page. Our rotary hammer buying guide explains the SDS Plus and SDS Max decision.

Alternatives to consider

The other SDS Max tool here, the Tolsen 88540, costs less and offers a variable 2 to 9 J range that can be dialled down for lighter chiselling, though it publishes fewer capacities. If 40 mm is more than you need, the Tolsen 88531 gives you 5.5 J and 32 mm on cheap SDS Plus bits for less than half the money.

Compare Powerhouse Rotary Hammer SDS Max 1800W with Case PHB-RH-40D

See how it stacks up against our top pick in the head-to-head INGCO RGH9028 Industrial SDS Plus Rotary Hammer 800W vs Powerhouse Rotary Hammer SDS Max 1800W with Case PHB-RH-40D, or browse the full rotary hammers comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can 10 J do that 5.5 J cannot?

Break rather than drill. At 10 J the tool lifts slabs, takes out concrete steps, and cuts wide chases without stalling. A 5.5 J SDS Plus tool will chip away at the same work but it is doing so at its limit, which is slow and hard on the machine.

Why do SDS Max bits cost so much more?

The shank is 18 mm rather than 10 mm and the bits are built to survive far heavier blows, so they use more steel and better carbide. Expect to pay several times the SDS Plus price, and expect fewer stockists outside the major hardware chains. Factor that into the purchase.

Is this too much tool for a house?

For nearly every household job, yes. A house needs 2.5 J and 26 mm. Buy this when you are demolishing: taking out a slab, removing steps, opening a doorway in a concrete wall. It is a contractor tool that happens to be affordable.

How heavy is it?

Powerhouse does not publish a weight for this model, which is a gap. Comparable 1800 W SDS Max hammers run from roughly 6 to 8 kg, and the other SDS Max tool in this category is 6.5 kg. Assume it needs two hands at all times and plan around that.

Still deciding?

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