When you use a DTH Hammer, you probably think one about the bit type or the rock condition. But one thing many buyers overlook is air pressure. Yes, air pressure. It plays a big role in how well your DTH Hammer works. If the pressure is too low or too high for the setup, your drilling speed drops, and fuel is wasted. Not ideal, right?

Let’s break this down, even if you are new to the equipment.

What Is Air Pressure Matching?

Air pressure matching means selecting the right air pressure level for your DTH Hammer and the ground you’re drilling into. DTH Hammers can work under low, medium, or high air pressure, but that doesn’t mean one setup fits all jobs.

If you're drilling in soft soil or shallow holes, low pressure might be okay. But for deep holes in hard rock, like in quarry blasting or mining, you need more force—so medium or high-pressure systems perform better.

The trick is to match the pressure with both your DTH Hammer and DTH Bit, plus the hole size and rock hardness. If not, you might notice slow drilling, more wear on parts, or even hammer failure.

How Pressure Affects the Hammer

Air is what drives the piston inside the hammer. In products like the Kaiqiu DTH Hammer, the piston hits the bit directly to break rock. The hammer doesn’t have an inner cylinder, so fewer parts can fail, which is nice. But even with this improved design, if the air pressure is off, the piston won’t move properly.

Too little air? The hammer might “soft hit” and reduce power. Too much air? It creates heat and wastes energy. Worse, it can damage the bit or shorten the life of seals.

So when you match pressure right, the piston works at its ideal—giving steady, strong hits with good energy use.

Choosing the Right Compressor

Your compressor is not just a side tool—it’s a core part of your setup. If you have a powerful DTH Hammer but your air compressor can’t keep up, it’s like putting a race car engine in a bike. Doesn’t work.

For medium-depth work, a compressor between 15–25 bar may be enough. Deeper or hard rock drilling may need over 30 bar. But you don’t need to guess. When in doubt, ask your supplier for the hammer’s pressure range and match your air supply to that.

Also, make sure your air line and connectors are the right size. A bottleneck in the pipe can kill the pressure before it reaches the hammer.

Different Environments, Different Needs

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Shallow wells or soft ground: Low air pressure, smaller DTH Bit, light hammer.

Geothermal or construction piles: Medium air pressure, medium hammer.

Hard rock or quarry drilling: High air pressure, large DTH Bit, strong hammer.

The Kaiqiu DTH Hammer is designed to work across all these cases. Its structure helps reduce breakdowns, and because it doesn’t use a nylon valve tube, you avoid air loss or part failure from heat.

If you're trying to improve drilling speed, reduce downtime, and get more done with less fuel—start with air pressure. It's not something only engineers care about. Even if you’re just starting out or buying for a small team, understanding pressure matching will help you pick the right combo of compressor, DTH Hammer, and DTH Bit.

So next time before drilling, take a moment to ask: is your pressure right?