The Auto Hammer is Back! Can Modern Technology Improve the Concept?
Hammering nails takes tons of practice in order to become efficient. Most everyone who uses tools knows the pain of a bruised thumb after a hammer miscalculation! Luckily, Skil’s new 12V Auto Hammer can ease some pain points for homeowners and DIYers on nail-heavy projects, especially in areas where swinging a hammer is difficult. I’ll show you how Skil has improved on the auto hammer blueprint and help you determine if it’s the best option for your needs.
Skil PWRCore 12 Auto Hammer Performance
- Model: Skil AH6552A-11
- Max hammering rate: 4200 IPM
- Drive capacity: 3.5 inches
- Brushless motor
The Skil AH6552A-11 Auto Hammer features a brushless motor that drives nails up to 3.5 inches in length. If you’re new to this type of tool, it’s made to simplify hammering in hard-to-reach areas with little to no hammering clearance, like under cabinetry.
To start, place your nail on your work surface, line up the tool’s collet to the nail head, and press into the nail as you pull the trigger. The auto hammer’s impact rate of 4200 IPM quickly sets your nail into your workpiece.
It’s worth noting that this tool’s impact against a nail is loud! Make sure you wear proper ear protection while you’re working.
Skil PWRCore 12 Auto Hammer Design
- Length: 9.2 inches
- Weight: 1.9 pounds
- Magnetic sleeve
- 3-position adjustable head
- LED work light
- Lock-off switch
- Includes belt clip
Compared to first-generation auto hammers, Skil’s version makes several design upgrades. One of the most important is this tool’s 3-position adjustable head that lets you work at 0°, 45°, or 90°. This gives you a good amount of versatility for a variety of hammering applications.
Other convenience features include an LED work light for visibility in low-light areas and a trigger lock-off switch for added safety. A magnetic collet also holds your nails in place to enable one-handed starting.
Using the Skil 12V Auto Hammer
Using this tool is a different ball game compared to a traditional hammer. It doesn’t require you to be as consistently accurate, however, it still takes practice to use it effectively.
Since you can choose the angle you’d like to work in, you can set it to 0° to nail straight up or down, which is ideal for overhead nailing tasks. At 45°, it’s more reminiscent of a pistol-grip tool, which could make things easier for those who are acclimated to drills and impact drivers in their normal projects.
It’s rated for nails up to 3.5 inches in length, but we did have some trouble sinking those larger nails flush with our work surface. It did make quick work of sinking smaller nails, and it was also much easier to use one-handed with smaller nails.
Skil USB-C Charging Battery
Recently, Skil has been including batteries that recharge via a USB-C cable with some of its tool kits. While that may not sound like a huge deal, this design comes with quite a few benefits. For one, you don’t need a dedicated charger for your battery—just plug it into the included USB-C cable (or any USB-C cable you have on hand).
Skil originally offered this technology in its 20V line only. Now that they’re bringing it to PWRCore 12 batteries, it gives homeowners and DIYers an easy way to keep their batteries charged without hassle.
Additionally, you can use the USB-C charging port as a mini portable power bank. If your mobile device is running low on juice, simply connect it to the Skil PWRCore 12 battery to keep it topped up.
Skil PWRCore 12 Auto Hammer Price
This auto hammer retails for $79 and you can find it at at Walmart or on Amazon. It includes a USB-C rechargeable 12V 2.0Ah battery and charging cable. Skil backs your purchase with a 5-year warranty.
If you’d like, there’s also a kit that includes a normal battery and PWR Jump charger, which retails for $119. This tool has the same specs, but the battery does not include the USB-C charging capabilities.
Should You Buy It?
Just like with a normal hammer, the Skil PWRCore 12 Auto Hammer takes some practice to use efficiently. While some members of our team were not fans of this type of tool when they first came to market in the early 2010s, Skil seems to improved upon the formula in several ways. This tool’s brushless motor and updated design details go a long way to make using it a more enjoyable experience.
If you’re a homeowner or DIYer who has a lot of nails to drive in hard-to-reach areas or you just don’t like using a traditional hammer, this auto hammer could help you finish your projects more efficiently. Just make sure to wear adequate ear protection!
