Our air hammers are design for HDD, and are based upon the pneumatic down-the-hole (DTH) hammers. They differ as they have a designed and built in bent housing, allow you to steer and protect your sonde. It works by using compressed air delivered through the drill string to drive a piston in a rapid percussive cycle. Each blow is delivered directly to the drill bit face at the cutting point, meaning the energy isn’t lost travelling through the drill rods. The spent air is then exhausted through the annulus, helping to clear cuttings from the borehole. The result is aggressive penetration in rock formations where rotary drilling alone would be slow or ineffective

We supply Pioneer One air hammer systems in 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, and 5-inch body configurations. The pilot hole cuts 1-2” larger than the hammer size. Hammers ize selection is driven by your borehole diameter, available compressor output (CFM/pressure), and rig thrust capacity. The 3″ CR suits small-mid HDD rigs on confined crossings; the 4″ CR handles mid-range work; the 5″ CR is suited to larger rigs tackling heavy rock formations. Contact our team with your rig specs and formation type and we’ll confirm the right match.

Yes — the air hammer system requires minimal water during operation and produces virtually no drilling fluid contamination at the cutting face. Because the percussive mechanism uses compressed air rather than mud-driven torque, there is also significantly less cleanup involved. This makes it well suited to sensitive sites, urban crossings, or locations with water table restrictions.

Our air hammer systems are designed to integrate with standard HDD rigs, but you do need a compatible compressor delivering sufficient CFM and pressure for the hammer size. We offer suitable air compressor units and also supply the full range of complementary tooling including Air Hammer Reamers for borehole enlargement after the pilot bore. Talk to us about your rig before ordering — we’ll confirm compatibility and advise on compressor requirements.

We supply a complete air hammer ecosystem including: replacement bits (button bits), Air Hammer Reamers for back-reaming passes, and wear components for on-site maintenance. Because the tool operates in highly abrasive hard rock conditions, having the right bit and reamer combination makes a significant difference to penetration rate and tool life. We can bundle compatible accessories with your hammer order.