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Bosch IDH182 18v Impact wrench/driver

cheechi

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Triad, NC
..the Bosch IDH182 hybrid impact driver/wrench. It seems like the Bosch has some compromises I wouldn't care for.

I just took all the relevant posts from another thread and copied them here. Tried to keep the conversation as intact as possible while still being relevant. Rather than add more Bosch info to the Milwaukee thread I'm going to continue here. Nobody on this website has OCD right?

That Bosch Hybrid is a handy design and sometimes think I would like to have seen a Milwaukee wrench with such a feature. Nobody else does it so must be Bosch patent? IMO if there is any "compromising" to be found with the tool I would say it would that the max torque rating is a bit low for a direct comparison to "some" 1/2" sq. anvil drive compact wrenches but is still right in line with most all of the 18v impact 1/4' hex drivers on the market. And 3 power modes are great to have. And I have seen enough videos that prove many impact drivers can do wheel lugnut removal in different situations
Here is one of the reviews I read that made me think this wasn't for me.

https://www.hingmy.com/site/article.php?Bosch-IDH182-Review

My main concern was when he said it needed an adapter for "short bits". But I see later he qualified that by saying bits 1" or shorter. That's not a concern for me. If I can use 2" or longer power groove bits I'm fine with that.

He also mentions some issues with the compression ring retention. In this review he only seems to be comparing it to the tradeoffs of a pin retention system but in another review I feel like the author specifically said he felt the compression ring on this Bosch wasn't as good as similar retention systems on other cordless impact wrenches. Unfortunately I cannot find that review.

So I would appreciate your comments on socket retention and also what the author says about the trigger and having the same torque in all three speeds.

I understand needing the 1/2" anvil so there's enough meat around the 1/4" hex receiver and then not really having the power of a 1/2" impact. Only I can figure out if that will work for me.

Otherwise, he darn near describes me as the ideal user. I seem to switch between hex bits and socket adapters with my driver quite often but don't do a lot of heavy automotive work. It would be nice if it would remove lugs on our side by side but not as much of a concern if it won't remove lugs from our Tundra.
Well I will just weigh in quickly on this

IMO best I can tell most people don't often use short bits directly in the chuck. and I assume we are simply talking 1 inch bits with a small line on them here. I personally do use some that way to countersink sheetrock screws using my 2462 impact driver but pretty much is the only time. Other than that one application I always use a bit holder or 2" or longer bits.

Pin retention on a driver like this I would prefer the ring for fast and easy tool less socket changes over a pin style. Locking style pins are the norm for overhead use and most mechanics probably wouldn't want one. You have to insert something like small screwdriver. needle nose plier point or even a piece of metal rod to depress the pin enough to remove the socket. I have a ball pin retention half inch impact, Milwaukee's 2665B its a modified pin more tapered at the end and supposedly tool less removal but with most impact sockets I find have to manually release it unless I want to fight it with long enough IMO PITA. Maybe hog rings can vary in tightness of fit I really couldn't say, all of mine seem to be the same.

Triggers feel is kind of relative and you really will have try it to know for sure. I could say the some of my current Milwaukee's don't have as fine a trigger finesse as some of my older Makita tools but overall it really doesn't bother me and unless the tool is VS only having the different electronic RPM/torque modes should help compensate for a certain lack of fine gradual ramp up IMO

Now as for the torque question the Bosch website does shows different torque/rpm/bpm for each mode and I'm believing most all of these electronic switched tools all operate in same way sans mechanical gear reduction like a drill? And if someone knows more about that hopefully they will say.

Torque 0-1,650 / 0-900 / 0-400
RPM 0-2,800 / 0-2,000 / 0-1,300
BPM 0-3,200 / 0-2,600 / 0-1,100

Obviously it is a fairly expensive setup so could understand apprehension from a review where they seemingly find fault. I read the whole piece it was a good overall review but felt some of the critcism of it was simply nitpicking. I don't think there is perfect tool each has ups and downs
I've only put one socket on mine so far. There was nothing thrilling to report, it just worked.

The M12 (fuel and non fluel) you can just put the bit into the driver. With both my Bosch 18v (IDS181 I think, and this) you need to pull the ring in order to seat the bit. I mean it's not a big deal but messes with my muscle memory.

I have found so far driving screws, even 6" ledger lok I have found max power is too much. I have basically kept it on lowest power since. lowest power gives you pretty great trigger control. not like an air wrench but it's not an on/off either.
COP Tool also included the Bosch Socket Ready Impact in a recent comparison review both written and video It is fairly recent less than 6 months old but this is the first time I became aware of it. Maybe it's been seen by some others already but just thought I share it


http://www.coptool.com/brushless-18...-2016-bosch-vs-dewalt-vs-makita-vs-milwaukee/
An employer provided one of these impact drills and I did like the combo chuck feature. The tool did seem underpowered compared to the 18V Fuel Milwaukee 1/4 hex impact drills.
I hadn't seen that. Thanks for posting.

From the short video shots it looked like they only tested tightening power. I would've been curious to see loosening tested as well.

Otherwise, it appears all three of the other brushless drivers are more powerful than the Bosch, even when compared with an adapter. And they'd also be shorter with an adapter and socket vs the Bosch with just a socket.

So unless the Bosch has some serious power biased towards breaking bolts it seems like the only advantage is not having to keep track of and breaking adapters.

It is getting the point that some of these impact drivers are so powerful that they will often break 1/4 hex socket adapters and snap screws off when they start to bind up.

Have to wonder if with all the latest torque increases for tools of this nature have they reached their peak :headscrat



Overall Bosch does have great tools though and some cool features other don't have like their wireless charging system
I hadn't seen that. Thanks for posting.

From the short video shots it looked like they only tested tightening power. I would've been curious to see loosening tested as well.

Otherwise, it appears all three of the other brushless drivers are more powerful than the Bosch, even when compared with an adapter. And they'd also be shorter with an adapter and socket vs the Bosch with just a socket.

So unless the Bosch has some serious power biased towards breaking bolts it seems like the only advantage is not having to keep track of and breaking adapters.

It is getting the point that some of these impact drivers are so powerful that they will often break 1/4 hex socket adapters and snap screws off when they start to bind up.

Have to wonder if with all the latest torque increases for tools of this nature have they reached their peak :headscrat



Overall Bosch does have great tools though and some cool features other don't have like their wireless charging system

The Bosch impact wrench/driver doesn't like the Dewalt bit holders with the sliding sleeve, or the 1/4" nut driver. In both cases they are just too short to really lock the notch, so they either get stuck or sit loose. Seem fine with the Milwaukee impact bits I have or dewalt 2" bits.

so I compared the 2453-20 Milwaukee Fuel, the Bosch 25618, and the IDH182. While the first two have less than an inch depth (both about 0.8") the IDH182 has almost 1/4" more depth at 1.071" due to the anvil and ring. They probably designed the anvil to be the same depth and then with the addition of the ring it's just too deep for some inserts to grab and lock. Couldn't really capture it great in a photo but I tried.

In the case of this Dewalt 1/4" nut driver it has a thicker part under the body (about 0.29" compared to the 1/4" shafts at about 0.245") that catches in the ring and sometimes comes off like normal and other times I have to pull it off with a vice grip.

So basically I will try to use mine with my Milwaukee impact bits instead of my Dewalt impact bits as those are the two I had available to try.

Regarding the 'bit holder' for these drivers; Milwaukee one has a nasty habit of grabbing the 1" insert bit and not letting it go when you want to change bits, while the Dewalt is kind of the opposite it will let go of the bit and leave it in a screw head somewhat often.
 

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stercorarius

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I had one before it was stolen. It made a great impact wrench. It seemed to be higher frequency, lower impact energy. My big issue was that the hog ring wasn't a regular hog ring like most impact wrenches, it was more like a spring clip. I was going to throw a hog ring for my DeWalt on it and see if it helped because the socket came off with just about zero resistance. I never got around to it before someone in need of a fix decided it was theirs. Great tool though. I was a big fan of the form, ergonomics and lighting. The only hinderince on the impact driver was with short but drivers not going in deep enough to lock and the fact that you couldn't just push a bit in, you had to pull the ring out and then press it in.

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Voi

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I just took all the relevant posts from another thread and copied them here. Tried to keep the conversation as intact as possible while still being relevant. Rather than add more Bosch info to the Milwaukee thread I'm going to continue here. Nobody on this website has OCD right?

You did a good job of summarizing the thread derailment I started. Thanks for doing that.

Subscribed for further comments.
 

DFB

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Sep 7, 2016
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Southern VT/Western Mass
Well that's interesting to learn the anvil lock ring on the IDH182 is slightly different than what is on some other sq. drive impact wrenches.

And I can relate about Milwaukee bit holders being hard to release the bits. I have actually had use pliers on occasion to grip a bit enough to pull it free. I cant really remember what my sliding dewalt bit holder was like it been a while now (was in my Makita drill when it was stolen)

As a side note with 1/4 shank nutdriver bits I have some Tekton brand ones and several will not lock correctly when inserted in different Milwaukee impact drivers I own and obviously then they would never fit in the IDH182, So it seems then with a tool like the Bosch Hybrid the operator really needs to take a careful look on the shank length of certain 1/4" accessories when considering a purchase.

On certain Milwaukee impact drivers you do have lift the retaining collar to insert a bit also. I think its only the Fuels that have push insert.
 
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cheechi

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This was also a way that I was testing out a new SD card after one of mine died in the least good timing on vacation. So I took more photos than necessary. Have some more.
 

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ahrold

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Joined
Feb 9, 2017
Messages
3
I had one before it was stolen. It made a great impact wrench. It seemed to be higher frequency, lower impact energy. My big issue was that the hog ring wasn't a regular hog ring like most impact wrenches, it was more like a spring clip. I was going to throw a hog ring for my DeWalt on it and see if it helped because the socket came off with just about zero resistance. I never got around to it before someone in need of a fix decided it was theirs. Great tool though. I was a big fan of the form, ergonomics and lighting. The only hinderince on the impact driver was with short but drivers not going in deep enough to lock and the fact that you couldn't just push a bit in, you had to pull the ring out and then press it in.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Sorry to hear about the unlawful change in ownership! I'm finding the same thing with mine - the lighting is good and it's very ergonomic - but definitely more frequency with less impact. Also interesting idea to switch out for a regular hog ring, I'll have to look into that..

Have you picked up a replacement since? I grabbed my Bosch after reading through this list but once it bites the dust I'll probably go back to Dewalt..

http://shedheads.net/2017/02/03/best-cordless-impact-wrench/
 

stercorarius

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Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
220
Location
Eastern Washington
Sorry to hear about the unlawful change in ownership! I'm finding the same thing with mine - the lighting is good and it's very ergonomic - but definitely more frequency with less impact. Also interesting idea to switch out for a regular hog ring, I'll have to look into that..

Have you picked up a replacement since? I grabbed my Bosch after reading through this list but once it bites the dust I'll probably go back to Dewalt..

http://shedheads.net/2017/02/03/best-cordless-impact-wrench/
I'll probably go with a Milwaukee compact M18 one. I had the one-key version and really liked it. I'm using an M12 fuel impact driver right now. Really like it for the price. I got phased out of my role in construction over a year ago and so I only run self tappers really now. When I get back to a full size I'll either repurchase a TD170 as that thing was a beast, or go to Metabo as those were my favorite cordless tools and a Makita battery would be unnecessary just for an impact driver. I used to have eight Lihd Metabo batteries. I'll miss those. Bosch just doesn't have enough to offer in either impact wrenches or brush less grinders for me to go back to them.

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