Bosch 18v core tools

[shockwave]

I know a lot of you swear by Milwaukee m18 which I have for shop use

But I have been quite impressed with Bosch 18v core I love the freak 2 impact I just wish more would adopt this style chuck with 1/4 bit/1/2 square and there new 1/2 high torque is close to my m18 fuel high torque and I prefer the star lock system on multi tool

But I would like to hear other’s thoughts as I have been impressed with these at the home and side work I do

 

[dnschmidt]

Nothing whatsoever wrong with Bosch. Just don't seem to have the marketing savvy of Milwaukee or DeWalt. My biggest concern would be replacement battery availability. You can get a Milwaukee or DeWalt battery at any hardware store on a Sunday when it will undoubtedly **** the bed. Bosch not so much.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I have the 18 volt Bosch that I originally started purchasing 13 years ago. Liked it so much that I have 4 drills all the same model. Have what I believe is all the tools that are 18 v driven. They have been great. True about purchasing batteries. I have at least 6 batteries so have never been at a loss. In 13+ years I have replaced one charger and one drill motor. 2 batteries could use a rebuild. So not bad for the length of time I have used them.

 

[dffay]

Bosch is totally solid. I can only assume it’s the marketing branch that slipped their job. They do everything I’ve asked of them in their work.....plenty of torque, recip saw cutting power, etc. And I’ve had the batteries rebuilt for both 18v and 14.4. I have nothing to worry about with them.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I got the hammer drill / freak driver set a few months back.
I was just in it so I'd have a low-strength impact. Nice set.
The charger choked when a few days old, but I got a new one in the mail from Bosch.
If I knew then what I know now, I'd get the Bosch set over the Milwaukee, for the 1/2" square drive.

 

[Trapps]

I've been a Bosch fan for a couple of decades based on ownership of a made in Switzerland Hammer Drill and a 1587AVS Jig Saw. Both are still in regular use. My first dive into the 18V world was a gen 1 Freak. Awesome tool! I've now gone pretty deep in the Bosch 18V pool, to the point of importing a European market track saw. No regrets on any of the purchases. I do admit the ranges offered by Red, Teal, Yellow (and others) leaves me wishing for more, but I have everything I need, and most of what I want.

I have a decent assortment of tailed Bosch tools too, but I'm a diehard convert to the cordless environment now - they simply perform great and bring massive convenience. I have toyed with adding a second platform (Red or Teal) for a few items I can't get in the Blue flavor, but not been serious about it.

The latest in m y stable is a hand-crushing torque monster GSB18V-755C. Much like a performance car or motorcycle, this thing has an excellent power to weight ratio. It gets the job done on a 2.0Ah, runs long on a Core 4.0Ah, and is a monster with a Core 6.3Ah (but no longer light weight).

If you've got the basics covered, check out the GOP18V-28N Multi Tool , it is so smooth (soft start helps) and so powerful. It reminds me of an old Juki or sailrite sewing machine. Note that it runs Starlock Plus blades so consider that if you do take the plunge...

I have a mix of batteries of varying age and Ah, so I'm never without juice. The backwards, and claimed, forward compatibility is also a nice change of pace. I've used many of the tools back to back with their Red & Teal counterparts, and my opinion is that certain tools just feel better than others, but I wouldn't say one brand is significantly better or worse than the others mentioned. That horse died eons ago here on Garage Journal, and is still often beaten.

In general, I would characterize the Bosch 18V line as a Premium product, but not a Super Premium - Festool, Mafell, Fein. I can't comment on warranty support as I've never needed to use it with cordless or tailed.

I can, based on a fair margin of personal use, highly recommend Bosch 18V.

 

[bwringer]

I have a Bosch 1/4 impact and drill, and they're fantastic.

But the tool line overall is very weak and very limited.

The most notable gap for me is a legitimate 1/2" drive impact. The Freak is far too weak; it's just the same 1/4" mechanism with a 1/2" nose on it. I don't understand how this is useful.

 

[Trapps]

I have a Bosch 1/4 impact and drill, and they're fantastic.

But the tool line overall is very weak and very limited.

The most notable gap for me is a legitimate 1/2" drive impact. The Freak is far too weak; it's just the same 1/4" mechanism with a 1/2" nose on it. I don't understand how this is useful.

Bosch has a few choices for a 1/2" drive impact:

The 221 Ft/Lb: https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/cordless-impact-wrenches-gds18v-221b25-203432-p/

The 500 ft/Lb: https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/cordless-impact-wrenches-hth181b-39919-p/

The 740 ft/Lb: https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/cordless-impact-wrenches-gds18v-740n-209780-p/

 

[neophyte]

Bosch used to be considered one of the top quality “Industrial” brands.
This was based on the Swiss Scintilla brand which was part of Bosch, and the US made Bosch tools division, which Bosch acquired when it purchased the older Stanley Power Tools brand.
Bosch also had/has German tool production.
Bosch also owned Skil.

About 10 or 15 years ago, Bosch decided to change their business model, and started focussing more on “consumer” grade tools, and also started switching more production to Asia( although they had had production of some stuff done in Malaysia for a while by that point)
Bosch sort of disappeared from the “Industrial” tool sector in the USA amongst professional users as other companies like Metabo, Fein, and Festool sort of took their place.

Bosch seems to be focussing back on the professional tool market from what I’ve seen.
Unfortunately, some of the specialty tools Bosch was known for still seem to be manufactured, but Not for the US market, which isn’t so bad for cordless tools, but which is an issue with corded tools.

 

[M6erfan]

I like every Bosch 12v/18v tool I own. But I did branch out to Milwaukee a couple years ago, mainly because 'big red' has more automotive shop type tools than Bosch, who seems more focussed on the homeowner/contractor mkt.

 

[Torque Test Channel]

We'll be investing quite a stack of cash to be able to test their new Profactor high torque coming out.
What I don't get is their GBA18V80 8ah battery. Was 8.0 Core 18V now it called their 8ah Profactor battery, same part number and everything. It appears only the new 12Ah profactor pack is new, but new stickers on the GBA18V80.

Also the Profactor high torque says works with: 8ah and 12ah batteries and that's it. Which means we HAVE to pick up the 8ah. Now if it came with one that's one thing, but you buy it separate. Seems kind of skeezy.

 

[Forgottonia]

I think highly of Bosch, although I don't own any battery powered Bosch tools. One of my favorite tools is my Bosch compound miter saw. Bought it nearly 20 years ago and used it a ton.

 

[lardy1]

I have Bosch impact and drill and I like them a lot. No regrets. I probably wouldn't recommend them for auto related however as they don't seem to even be attempting to seriously compete in that arena. But for woodworking and home stuff, I'm very pleased.

 

[clientgraphics]

I know a lot of you swear by Milwaukee m18 which I have for shop use

But I have been quite impressed with Bosch 18v core I love the freak 2 impact I just wish more would adopt this style chuck with 1/4 bit/1/2 square and there new 1/2 high torque is close to my m18 fuel high torque and I prefer the star lock system on multi tool

But I would like to hear other’s thoughts as I have been impressed with these at the home and side work I do

I have the Freak, sawzall, circular saw and radio. I have 3 of the 4.0Ah batteries and have had zero problems or complaints. If you can catch a deal on a tool with free battery and charger then it seems like a win win.

I keep kicking myself for not getting the Bosch Bulldog SDS with battery for $149 last year.

 

[jonshonda]

I am a Bosch corded tool fan, but they no longer have me as a cordless customer. Mostly because of their serious lack of variety. I did have Bosch cordless, but when I needed a new drill and was shopping, the Milwaukee "numbers" were much better then Bosch. I can say that I think that the Bosch was better overall quality though.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have the Freak, sawzall, circular saw and radio. I have 3 of the 4.0Ah batteries and have had zero problems or complaints. If you can catch a deal on a tool with free battery and charger then it seems like a win win.

I keep kicking myself for not getting the Bosch Bulldog SDS with battery for $149 last year.

Lowe's won't have the volume of markdowns / "deals" HD has on the red tools. But, I got the Freak / Hammer drill combo set with two 4.0, bag and charger for $209, instead of $349 in ~March at Lowe's. Temporary markdown, not applicable online.