Bauer SDS - Corded or Cordless?

[Bolson32]

Hi Guys,

I have an old plugin Bosch hammer drill that is about as useful as a regular drill when it comes to drilling concrete so I'm looking to upgrade to an SDS that I can also chisel with. I don't have any immediate massive needs so I'm considering just going with the cordless version so I can scoop some other 20v bauer tools that I would use intermittently, like the cut-out tool, jigsaw, etc.

The cost is about the same to get the plugin 10amp ~$80-$100 vs getting the 20v tool only. Essentially I'm looking to justify going with the 20v and want to be sure I won't be massively disappointed in it. Chiseling is going to be limited to cleaning up some openings in the old block foundation to our new basement addition, drilling some post bases, hanging some small tapcons into the new foundation wall for sump discharge, etc. Again, maybe need to drill 2 dozen holes total but I'm sick of fighting my old hammer drill.

Does anyone own the 20v Bauer SDS?

 

[rust in the eye]

" I don't have any immediate massive needs "
My $.02: Inexpensive cordless power tools accomplish some of their economy by skimping on batteries. Less oomph to begin with and shorter life has been my experience.
For something I'm not going to use often I'll rent or borrow rather than buy cheap stuff.

 

[mm08822]

I would not want to be limited by battery power or life using a large hammer drill. I would buy the corded. Will the batteries be dead when you go to use it 2 years later?

A small pistol drill is another story.

 

[f121]

I wouldn’t buy any battery system other than makita/dewalt/milwaukee, because I’m fairly sure I will be able to buy batteries for their tools in 5-10 years time. Definitely not a store brand like Bauer, because I don’t trust them to change battery compatibility on the next container load.

Regarding cordless vs corded sds, unless you want to run core bits, I’d go cordless everytime. I’ve been using a makita cordless sds for 7 years, it worked so well I gave away my smaller corded sds and just kept a massive one for core drilling and breaking concrete. I finally killed the battery sds, burnt it out with a 4” core bit which was dumb, and replaced it with the smaller makita battery sds which is noticeably less powerful but light enough I can use it left handed while hanging off a ladder.

 

[Bolson32]

" I don't have any immediate massive needs "
My $.02: Inexpensive cordless power tools accomplish some of their economy by skimping on batteries. Less oomph to begin with and shorter life has been my experience.
For something I'm not going to use often I'll rent or borrow rather than buy cheap stuff.

While this probably makes some fiscal sense, I've got small kids and sometimes the mood and time to do these things strikes without much notice. I'd rather not spend more time going to the rental shop than it's going to take me to drill a handful of holes.

I wouldn’t buy any battery system other than makita/dewalt/milwaukee, because I’m fairly sure I will be able to buy batteries for their tools in 5-10 years time. Definitely not a store brand like Bauer, because I don’t trust them to change battery compatibility on the next container load.

Regarding cordless vs corded sds, unless you want to run core bits, I’d go cordless everytime. I’ve been using a makita cordless sds for 7 years, it worked so well I gave away my smaller corded sds and just kept a massive one for core drilling and breaking concrete. I finally killed the battery sds, burnt it out with a 4” core bit which was dumb, and replaced it with the smaller makita battery sds which is noticeably less powerful but light enough I can use it left handed while hanging off a ladder.

Re: battery line... If I was already in those lines, be totally. But I'm a Ridgid guy and they find y make an SDS drill, I can buy half a dozen Bauers for the cost of the DeWalt.

The second part of your post is definitely what I was looking for. For whatever reason, I find it extra annoying to drag around cords and for what I'm doing a cordless just seems better. If I need to core drill something, I've got a guy for that or I could rent a bigger machine.

 

[drmarkr]

There are battery adapters going each way for almost every battery out there now.

I have the Bauer 12" fan, blower and 4.5" angle grinder at the shop at the track. They get fairly heavy use and the batteries (5amp) appear to last as long as the M12 and M18 I also have there and in my home shop. I've been pleasantly surprised by the Bauer tools, honestly.

 

[zendriver]

I have the corded Bauer

I'd purchase it for the chisel function I’d describe slightly better than “wimpy”. I could barely get it to chip good mortar. End up buying the demolition hammer which does get the job done.

It might be all right as a hammer drill, I have not needed to use the function yet.

Just my two in this case, it appears that you get what you pay for

Can’t imagine the cordless being any better

 

[goldtang]

I had a 1/2 AEG drill with hammer function it died trying to drill to many 10 mm holes in concrete
I have 3 battery platforms one has more than the other 2 , so 3 battery’s to choice from
I don’t want to go which is better happy with all 3
I spent a lot of time talking and researching SDS
I did speak to a plummer he only used corded SDS which he used to chase walls drill holes
in the end I came to the conclusion 99% of the time I will have mains power I ended up with a bosch SDS drill. That was 2 years ago happy so far, the one I have is GBH 2-26 DRE it is 240 volt OZ, USA will have a different number , on the down side I have drilled more holes for friends and family , up side drinks were appreciated

 

[drmarkr]

While this probably makes some fiscal sense, I've got small kids and sometimes the mood and time to do these things strikes without much notice. I'd rather not spend more time going to the rental shop than it's going to take me to drill a handful of holes.

Re: battery line... If I was already in those lines, be totally. But I'm a Ridgid guy and they find y make an SDS drill, I can buy half a dozen Bauers for the cost of the DeWalt.

The second part of your post is definitely what I was looking for. For whatever reason, I find it extra annoying to drag around cords and for what I'm doing a cordless just seems better. If I need to core drill something, I've got a guy for that or I could rent a bigger machine.

This would let you use your Ridgid batteries on that Bauer tool..... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCB22DNL?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[f121]

But I'm a Ridgid guy and they find y make an SDS drill, I can buy half a dozen Bauers for the cost of the DeWalt.

Never seen Ridgid (not a thing in the UK), or know how they compare to the Bauer, but I found this with a Google, might fit your existing batteries: https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/octane-brushless-18v-1-inch-sds-plus-rotary-hammer

For whatever reason, I find it extra annoying to drag around cords and for what I'm doing a cordless just seems better.

Likewise. Don’t know why, but not having to mess around with cords and extensions makes it much more likely I’ll start a job. I’m a huge fan of the cordless sds, my old one got SO much use (in the uk houses are built out of brick, concrete block and stone, so most jobs around the house involve a sds).

 

[Bolson32]

This would let you use your Ridgid batteries on that Bauer tool..... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCB22DNL?tag=atomicindus08-20

Okay, that's really helpful!

Never seen Ridgid (not a thing in the UK), or know how they compare to the Bauer, but I found this with a Google, might fit your existing batteries: https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/octane-brushless-18v-1-inch-sds-plus-rotary-hammer

I guess they do exist! That said, it's $270, I can buy 3 Bauers for that if I get that battery adapter.

 

[driftpin]

I bought a HFT Chicago Electric SDS-Max corded 120V demo hammer-drill and it paid for itself on the 1st job.



I also bought two HFT tools for it, one was the carbide bit set for SDS-Max, and the 2nd was the set of bits for demo work, narrow chisel, wide chisel, and conical pointed bits. The wide chisel got a lot of work, and when it eventually broke, after demo-ing two bathrooms down to the stud or block walls, I bought a Bosch replacement.

The tool has no issues doing the job, be sure that you keep the tool splines well-greased. If the grease becomes filled with concrete dust, clean the bit splines, and re-grease the bit. I also checked the grease vault in the tool whenever I used it, keeping it full helps to have it function properly.

 

[bcradio]

for a tool rarely used, I would go corded all day everyday. You will be able to put it on a shelf for 20 years and pull it out 20 years later to drill a hole. A corded can also be used continuous for big jobs (which sds can need to do, though usually sds max). Cordless would be nice also though after you had a corded. Could buy one of each and be less than rigid...

 

[brianh]

Back when I built my shop in 2010 I bought a HF Chicago Electric SDS hammer drill. It was corded it gets used and borrowed and is still going strong, if it was a battery system they would be shot and the style would have changed in a decade leaving me with a piece of junk.

I like cordless for convenience on tools I use every day. Not for a tool that sees occasional use.

 

[Bolson32]

for a tool rarely used, I would go corded all day everyday. You will be able to put it on a shelf for 20 years and pull it out 20 years later to drill a hole. A corded can also be used continuous for big jobs (which sds can need to do, though usually sds max). Cordless would be nice also though after you had a corded. Could buy one of each and be less than rigid...

Now this is the advice I need to hear! Buy both!

Honestly I'm looking at some other less used tools in the Bauer lineup that I don't have in ridgid/don't want to spend the money on in that line. Drywall cutout tool, jigsaw, grinder etc. So I was just going to use it as an excuse to get into the lineup.

I'm just a homeowner that does everything himself so I don't depend on these things for my livelihood and have made due without them for this long, but for $25 it would be nice to have a cordless rotozip. You get the idea.