High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A jackhammer is a pneumatic tool that combines a hammer directly with a chisel. It was invented by Charles Brady King. Hand-held jackhammers are typically powered by compressed air, but some use electric motors. Larger jackhammers, such as rig mounted hammers used on construction machinery, are usually hydraulically powered. They are usually used to break up rock, pavement, and concrete. In modern terminology, a "jackhammer" does not have the capacity to drill rock.