igor wrote:

I was given a box of some no-name hand tools by a well-meaning friend.
Among the tools is a no-name drill that is supposed to be both a regular
and hammer drill -- just press a button one way or the other. I've long
known of hammer drills but have never seen one in action. I cannot see a
difference between the two settings -- maybe just me. Does a hammer drill
sort of vibrate a little when drilling through masonry or is the hammering
really obvious? Do you actually have to be driling with real pressure
against masonry to detect the hammering? (Against wood it seemed little
more than the chuck being off-center.) I will have to do some drilling
into my brick wall in the spring, so a working version would be helpful.
Advice appreciated. TIA. -- Igor

If it's working, a bit on masnory or even hard wood will let you know...

Quite possibly the hammer action switch is bad or the gearing is just
shot if it's a cheapie....

Use a decent one in masonry and there's no way you'll try anything else
ever again...