Tool review: Bosch 12v Max Lithium-ion drill
I used one of these to build the porch at hunting camp. I have used Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi and Craftsman battery electrics, and these didn’t just impress me for their size, they impressed me period.
The battery is hardly bigger than a D cell, the charger pounds the electrons into it in what seems like minutes, and I spent two days drilling 3/8″ holes and driving 3″ deck screws with it; it never slowed down or gave me any trouble, the batteries lasted longer than the 18v ones on my Makita, and the whole deal is not a whole hell of a lot bigger than a broomhandle mauser. Weighs less than that too.
Additionally, the one I was using had been in use some time, and the batteries had no signs of becoming wimpy, like the ones in my DeWalt or the ones in my Makita had eventually become.
No, it’s not Made in USA, so it doesn’t belong there- but many Bosch products are made here. One way or the nother, Highly reccomend. Had I not just recently purchased aRyobi (Whcih I do still like very much) I would be putting one of these into my shopping cart, for sure.
12 comments Og | Uncategorized
my main gripe with all my power drills is the eventual battery death at about the 1.5 year mark.
Now that I no longer work for a living, my favorite screw driver is my oooold Stanley 8″ (4″ swing) brace. I came from a time and place where 99% of tools were cordless.
I’ve got the older drill driver model and I like it a lot. Enough that I just picked up a Bosch bench top table saw (we’re really tight on space). I’m still saying out loud how great it is each time it finishes a cut. The way it goes back together for storage makes me wonder how many origami folders Bosch has locked up in the basement. Many of the details are genius.
I was always a DeWalt guy but have been disappointed by my last couple 12v drills. I may give their new 20v LiOn line a try after talking to the rep at a recent tool show, but Bosch is making a strong run at my next “big” drill purchase.
Probably as a combo pack with the new wave of impact drivers. Man can those things move screws.
I have three cordless drills: 2 Skills (12v & 18v) and a cheapo chinese one someone gave me, also 18v. They are OK for light duty work.
My go-to drill is a corded 3/8 variable speed reversible Black & Decker, the last one made with a metal gearcase. Yeah, cords are a PITA, but so are wimpy drills, and the B&D won’t stall, is geared low, and will easily push a 1 1/8″ spade bit through a green 4X4, over and over again. If you got your battery drills to even bore ONE of those holes, you’d be fortunate.
The solution for the cords in a no-electricity site is a Group 27 battery and an 800-watt inverter, the price for both being about the same as that LiON drill you borrowed, and then you can use the battery-inverter set for other things, too.
We didn’t have 1-1/8, but we did drill six 1-1/4″ holes through pressure treated 4×6 posts, the long way, on one charge of the little teeny battery.
I have a Fein 1/2″ chuck. I guess they don’t make them anymore or their website just sucks Germanic chrome nuts.
They came out with the first electric powered bench drill in 1897, and a flex-shaft drill in 1898 (Span-Am war baby!)- Thomas Edison sent them a letter of congratulations and a request for their catalog.
I have a 22 year old Craftsman drill and a really long extension cord :)
I’ve always liked Bosch hand power tools. Should also point out they’re available cheap and re-mfrd. at Bosch CPO.
M
I’ve got an 18V Ryobi impact driver I love to death. Never tried a Bosch.
I like my Ryobi 18v fine, too
But the bosch is like the blonde at the gas station with the nice dumper who surreptitiously grins at you when giving you your change.
Nice timing. My ryobi is on it’s last leg and I have been trying to decide on which one to replace it with. Have to check it out. Thanks
If you want a new electric cordless drill, it’s not going to be Made In America. NONE of the makers produce them here. The DeWalts may be made in Mexico, FesTool is made in Germany, the rest, to my knowledge, are all made in Asia. IIRC, Bosch builds their 12v in Malaysia, Makita is either Malaysia or Japan, Panasonic is (was?) Japan, some of the others are China, etc.
I do love me my 12v Boschs though. 1 Drill, 1 Impact Drive, 2 Drivers, and the Multi-tool. Luuuuuuv ’em. I may have gone with DeWalt had they not been dead last to get into the Lithium Ion market. I do very much like their 12v tools. Probably will go with them or Milwaukee for the 18v.