Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
There’s no question Hilti knows concrete, so when the product team set out to revamp its entire cordless system with Nuron technology, we were naturally curious about what that means for rotary hammers. Looking at the high end of the SDS-Plus range, one of the big challenges was to rethink the TE 30 class and design the Hilti Nuron TE 30-22 rotary hammer.
We’ll get into some of the specific benefits of Nuron technology in a minute. For now, let’s take a look at some of the performance and design implications.
Looking at Hilti’s cordless TE 30 options, the previous model (TE 30-A36) is part of the 36V battery system. Nuron moves away from the 36V battery with one-battery and two-battery options using its 22V batteries. You might assume the Nuron version of the TE 30 uses two batteries, but it’s actually a single-battery effort. Moving the TE 30 from 36V down to 22V? That’s pretty bold.
Even so, Hilti bumps up the power for the Nuron model, moving it to 2.8 ft-lbs and making it the hardest-hitting SDS-Plus rotary hammer in Hilti’s lineup—including corded models. While the full hammer drilling range is the same as the 36V TE 30-A36 (and corded TE 30), the optimal range moves up to 31/32-inch.
Compared to the TE 30-A36, there is a trade-off in speed. It drops from 850 RPM to 777.
Check out how the Nuron model compares to the corded and 36V TE 30 models:
There are many benefits to Hilti’s Nuron system, and you can read more about them in our deep dive here. For now, here’s a quick list of what you can expect:
Compared to the other cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammer in Hilti’s lineup, this is a beefy tool. It’s intended for heavy-duty applications and is at the top of the performance range, so that’s not a huge surprise.
From tip to tail it measures 16.25 inches and weighs 11.5 pounds with the recommended B 22-170 Nuron battery. It’s just 8.6 pounds as a bare tool—more than 2.5 pounds lighter than the 36V version.
As with most rotary hammers, the TE 30-22 has an adjustable forward grip that can rotate 360° around the chuck. However, the housing does limit the handle position when you’re using the depth rod and want to rotate the handle around to your right hand. Using these handles in tandem made it very easy to keep this rotary hammer stable while we drilled in our 4000 PSI concrete test block.
Due to its overall size and weight, this may not be the best choice for overhead applications. For that, you may want to consider the Hilti TE 6-22 which offers solid drilling performance while dropping a couple of pounds.
Hilti equipped the TE 30-22 with both their Active Torque Control (ATC) and Active Vibration Reduction (AVR) for added safety and comfort.
The ATC instantly stops rotation if it senses a bind-up while you’re drilling. Particularly with larger bits and drilling around rebar, it’s a feature that can save some serious discomfort or injury.
The AVR design adds advanced vibration control and makes a noticeable difference in fatigue over the course of a long day. As part of the system, the rear handle has a built-in vibration dampening zone between the handle and the tool body.
As we’re used to seeing from Hilti, both of these technologies are well-developed and among the best for their respective applications.
The Hilti TE 30-22 has a 3-mode dial to switch between rotation only mode, rotation with hammering mode, and chipping mode. There’s a fourth setting to adjust the angle of your chisel. Turn the dial on the left side of the tool body to match your application and you’re good to go.
While it’s not new, Hilti’s depth rod adjustment is one of the best thanks to an easy, quick process that doesn’t require you to loosen the handle. To adjust the depth rod, pull back on the red lever next to the side handle with one hand and use your other to set your target depth.
The Hilti Nuron TE 30-22 rotary hammer retails for $787 directly from Hilti. It comes with a depth rod, a 50ml tube of grease, and a hard shell carry case. Hilti backs this tool with a 20-year warranty.
Hilti has a fleet pricing program that puts this rotary hammer in your tool crib for $26.25 per month. In addition to the tool, the program also includes no-cost repairs and maintenance, loaner tools, and theft coverage.
Hilti had to make some trade-offs to keep the TE 6-22 running on just a single 22V Nuron battery. While it’s a little slower in speed, it actually gains a little bit of impact energy to compensate. Wrapping in Hilti’s excellent ergonomics and meaningful features, it’s one of the nicest cordless rotary hammers you can hope to use on the SDS-Plus bit platform.
Click here to explore the full Hilti Nuron lineup.
On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools. Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike (he's an Ironman), or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.
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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros