I have almost every Bosch 12V tool and I love their lower weight yet study quality and their affordability and rarely had to step up to 20V tools to get the job done. Btw the entire set fits nice and snug inside the dewalt tough system medium toolbox. Colleagues take stacks of toolboxes with them for all their tools and I just take 3 boxes. One for my nail gun, one for my hand tools and one for the rest of my powertools and it is hillerious to see us unpack the vans with how much space they need and how much space I need.
@@Utuber-x44maybe it differs from place to place where you live? I live in the Netherlands and Bosch is a European brand of of origin so maybe the prices for me are relatively lower then yours?
Nice video, I really like Bosch tools, I own a few rotary hammers, the newer ones are cordless but the larger ones are corded, very big, and made in Germany. Most of the 18v cordless tools are made in Malaesya but not all of them. Just some of them are made in Romania, in Cluj Napoca to be more precise. I live in Romania, but most of the tools I have are made in Germany. My oldest tool from Bosch is a rotary hammer from 1986, it has been properly maintained and it works very well to this day.
Awesome. I never made it to Romania but I used to work for some folks at Bosch (they were a vendor to VW when I was a QA engineer) and I always wanted to visit.
Love my Bosch stuff. Just built my house with all 18v stuff and just got a close out deal on the little 12v drill set for around the house. My only complaint is I wish Bosch had all the specialty tools that the others have like you mentioned.
Bosch specializes in woodworking and they hand a few tools nobody else has in that area. I’d like to see few more, but most of the extra Milwaukee tools like crimped, pipe tools, cable cutters, pipe inspectors, etc cost $5000+ and you’ll be using your companies tools/batteries anyway.
True I wish that also and to be fair, theya re starting to do that. Just go to their UK & Germany, websites and you would see their large array of the cordless tools. I have all of them so far and more just released last month, with a just released new 18V Tabless Battery Technology with lot of power, but most importantly lots more runtime that i am mostly concerned about. It is great. More New tools going to be announced and released by May this year again, then In September this year too. Every year, Bosch releases new tools in January, May, September. Much respect. I Love Bosch.
Big fan of the 12V Bosch stuff too. Ergonomic, handy, light, reliable, and powerful enough for most home jobs. I have the screwdriver, drill/driver and rotary tool.
Currently studying to become an electrician. Compared to Milwaukee Bosch is lighter and shorter. For me that´s the thing, getting rid of potential obstacles and giving less strain swinging it around. Milwaukee does feel more substantial and almost indestructible, so I understand that appeal too. To each their own. I see this being a bit like bikes. The lighter the bike, the higher the center of balance. Personally I´d prefer steel body bikes for that reason. And because I learned to ride on one. My first aluminium body felt flimsy and shaky to ride, but I´ve gotten used to it.
I agree completely with your assessment of the Bosch 12V range. I have three drills, two impact drivers, and the 3/8" impact wrench. Having a combo of different drills and drivers immediately to hand is a great way to work, IMHO. Got them on Father's Day specials for similar money. Love them for their combination of good power / compactness / comfortable ergonomics in a home / DIY setup. I also have their small LCD light with multiple mounting options, which is a beauty. Don't know why, but the multi-head version was never available in Australia, as far as I know. I think they're overlooked and dismissed as under-powered toys. Not so. Knowledgeable and accurate review IMHO. Best regards
I started with the bosch two drill pack as well, they are compact yet powerful. Bosch is smart to do sale on this set to have people get hooked into their ecosystem. I will get more of these as I see more sale.
You're right about the Milwaukee installation drill/driver suck because of the handle that they copied from Festool. I'm invested in Milwaukee and got the installation drill myself, then later discovered the Bosch version. I sold the Milwaukee and kept the Bosch.
Bosch 12V is solid. Have a used and abused drill from 2017 thats still alive somehow. Motor smoked more than once from overloading it. Also left it on a roof over night and it rained. Still alive but the motor is about dead now. A new one is 16,50€ + shipping here. I love Bosch for that. You can actually repair their tools. Same is true for Makita, ive switched to Makita 18V now because its a more versatile platform and I needed some garden tools and Makita 18V looked really good and is not disappointing me at all. I have one of their lawn mowers and hedge trimmers. High quality for the price, build by engineers not accountants, spare parts are cheap and available. The main advantage of Makita 18V is more power. A standard 18V Makita battery can deliver around 40 amps of discharge current which is 720W at 18V. Also most cheap off brand chinese tools are made for Makita batterys which is great for DIYers. Im never going to put enough hours on the tool to justify the genuine Makita. Got an angle grinder, impact, drill, mini chainsaw off Amazon and Aliexpress. All brushless and good enough for me. Still need a couple other tools since my dads handmedowns were cheap n cheerful hardware store brand tools when he bought them 10 years ago and they are all crap. Im thinking ill go corded instead of cordless since Id have to go with Makita since no wayin hell im paying for another battery ecosystem and corded tools have more power and ultimately last longer.
I love the Bosch 12v drill driver. Has the function of a drill with a 1/4 chuck. I prefer to not have the rattle if the impact if I don't need it but I also don't like a typical drill chuck. This tool solves that. 2 cents from a 25 year plumber.
That’s true. Most of the time I feel like I have good control with the “hammer blows” of the impact, but I do know what you mean and for some applications, you’re totally right.
Bosch has allround great tools to be fair. When I started contracting jobs, I bought an 18v Milwaukee combipack including a hammerdrill, driver, multitool, circular saw, flashlight and an anglegrinder. Apart from the drill and driver the other tools are not performing as I fancied them doing. So now I’m considering selling the ones I don’t fancy as much and buying some other tools. O and before I forget the sawzall also great powertool from milwaukee
I got the same drill/driver combo before Milwaukee came out with their 12v line and haven't regretted it in the slightest. My most used tool, after the drill/driver, is probably the 12v circular saw. It takes 2 cuts to go through a 2" board (2x4, 2x6, etc), but it's incredibly compact and convenient, and a speed square gets you to a clean cut by flipping to the other side to finish. Looking at time, I spend more on measuring than cutting anyway, even if it's two passes. Just make sure the lip of the speed square isn't too big so that there's clearance for the motor. Another thing to keep in mind is that Dremel is owned by Bosch, so getting the 12v oscillating and rotary tools gets you into all the Dremel accessories with the same battery as your other tools. Recently a friend, knowing I have lots of the Bosch 12v world, got me the worklights and I've already used them so many times I regret not getting them sooner. I don't really like the Makita 12v, since they didn't figure out the biggest benefit to 12v tools is how compact and convenient it makes the tools to carry. I might have considered Milwaukee if they had come out first, particularly since Bosch doesn't always market their full 12v lineup in the US, but I've been happy with the Bosch 12v line so I'm not going to double up on two similar battery systems. Plus, you can always go to Amazon UK or
Agree with you on Bosch - very popular where I live. I have a preference for Metabo and recently bought their 12V impact driver and impact wrench and they are my go-to pair for 90% of my drilling/driving needs. Lighter, more compact and easier to maneuver in tight spaces. I only reach for my 18V Metabo options for hammer drilling into brick walls when I need something with a little more power. Ryobi is seen as a mid-tier player in my country, but they have a good range and after-sales service, so a bit like the Toyota of power tools. You did not mention Hilti - another high-quality brand. Dewalt make a solid range, and I think Black & Decker have done a good job positioning Dewalt as a little more premium. Their new 18V gear is almost as small as other brands 12V drivers. I recently found an even more compact option for ligh-duty home DIY in the form of the Fanttik L1 Pro cordless screwdriver. What sets it apart from other 'little' drivers is the variable speed trigger. Cheers!
@@divergentus oh nice! My wife lived there for six weeks and my former boss was from there. Would like to visit there someday! Close to the VW factory by chance?
@@35andRetired I've been to the VW plant in Kariega (Uitenhage) when I was selling data capture systems years ago. I live in Johannesburg some 1,000km away.
I'm a hobbyist woodworker. My first cordless power tool is 12v Bosch drill, followed by it's impact driver, and then I tried Dewalt 18v line. The Dewalt handle is much more comfortable than the beefy handle of 12v Bosch. I have small hands, I'd rather have heavier and bigger tools than the uncomfortable ones. But I still keep the 12v bosch rotary tool, you should check it out. I'm also planning to add Bosch 12v trim router to my arsenal.
Good point regarding brand adherence. It seems like every reputable brand has hits and misses (in addition to their original breakthrough product). If you're willing to deal with extra cost and hassle of multiple battery systems you can maximize on each particular tool (perhaps not worth it for most DIYers). As far as 12v, having used Bosch and DeWalt, if you know 12v is enough for the task they're very convenient but IMO the power deficit from 18v can still be significant in some cases.
The Bosch 12v is a nice suite for finish carpenters and cabinetry installers - 12v jigsaw you have there, the 12v router great for easing edges, 12v planer great for scribing. Milwaukee is slowly copying them right now. You should treat yourself to some of the Bosch brushless drivers - amazing jump in performance and even smaller drill body. AND you should treat yourself to a ChukRak for your FlexiClick multi chuck drill, and get one for your Dad for his M12 multi chuck drill too. 😆
yeappp im a pilot hole dude as well! love my bosch 12v series for carpentry ( used my set for around 5 years )). its just easy to work with for home projects and fixing stuff at home. Currently im using makita 18v and bosch 12v. its mainly for the batteries thats why im married to this 2 based on the battery voltage. great video buddy! Oh ya! if you get the chance, my favourite tool so far on the bosch 12v series is the small circular saw. thats just a great tool for fast cuts on plywood!
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm from Europe but started on the Bosch 12v stuff in the exact same way as you. I was looking at Milwaukee, mostly because they have such a wide selection. Was going to use it for mostly homeowner type projects. But I ran into a Bosch drill+battery+ various drills and bits set for 90 euro on Amazon. Decided not worth spending triple that on the red stuff here in Europe, which gets pricy. Been happy with it ever since. Lovely little tools. I also own Makita and 18v Bosch alongside it. Benefit of 18V Bosch is the Ampshare* where they and s bunch of other tool brands share their 18v battery platform. Mostly specialty Brands but Fein (Inventor of Oscillating multitools and current producer of the best ones imo) is one of them. I definitely subscribe to buying brands their strengths. Between Makita and 18v amp share* brands I'm covered for almost everything, certainly you got heaps of choice.
I like your philosophy and agree that the Bosch blue pro gear is right up there quality wise. Regarding Ryobi I've had a 18V drill for 12 years or so used domestically to maintain my properties and its been good as gold. However I have replaced under warranty the charger and battery on my parents Ryobi mower and am not overly impressed with the One+ garden maintenance gear they had, and overall would rate their One+ gear as DIY quality. I'll stick with my Stihl Combi petrol gear for that. Myself, rather than going down the battery route and ending up with a pile of expensive failed batteries and obsolete skins have decided just to carry on with mains powered tools from the quality manufacturers (Skil, Hitachi/Hikoki, Bosch blue being my preferred, and 2 stroke petrol gear for the other stuff rather than battery too) which have and will serve me for decades, just with a little inconvenience of having to use extension cords. Oh, and much less risk of burning down my house with less Li-Ion around. Enjoy your vids and philosophy- me too retired well early.
As a bosch nut, i kind of envy the american market, i bought a new bosch freak gdx 18v, for like 90 dollars on the american amazon site.. still had to pay for a lot of shipping but i think its like 270 dollars or something here in eu.... it was a black friday deal though...
I hear ya. I lived in Germany for 3 years and was always surprised to see German made stuff cheaper in USA...I suppose it has something to do with the competitive market here...where in the EU are you?
@@35andRetired In the UK, all power tools are significantly more expensive. The Bosch 12v twin set you have two of - combi drill, impact driver, charger, 2x2ah batteries and soft carry bag - is currently on offer at £149.99 ($197) That's as cheap as I've ever seen it. Usual best price is around £170 ($223).
People act like I'm doing them a favor when I give them my old Dewalt stuff - It's way too heavy when compared to the bosch 12v. Milwaukee M12 has a deeper line of tools and I have a bunch of them too, but the bosch is by far the lightest I've found and the lineup is deep enough to justify the battery collection. If you're going to find fault with the M12 it's the batteries are really hard to remove - like almost requires channel locks - lol Dewalt has a 12v line and it's good too, but again, the weight difference between it and Bosch 12v is dramatic.
You should buy a never version of those drills - Bosch GSR 12v-35. Same thing but brushless. Massive increase in speed an power, especially with 3ah batteries.
@@35andRetiredThere is a big difference. As what he said, more power and speed, runtime too. This coming me, a professional lifelong Bosch user and fan, for over 23 years, it is true what he said.
brushless vs brushed makes a lot of sense if you're a carpenter of some sort, I heard people burn through these motors, but for not so often it's more about what you like, if you've got a brushed one and it works for you, there's no need for an upgrade, I changed my brushed drill for a brushless because I got into a new battery platform and got one with a hammer drill function, but I was very happy with the previous one, gave it to my brother
Good video. We are similar in our tool approach. The cost of the tool vs the battery is unreal, but the competition thing has them doing crazy stuff. I just got the Makita 40V Max XGT hammer driver drill/impact driver kit for $469 with an extra battery for a total of three batteries, a charger the drill and impact driver. If I would have bought the drill with two batteries and charger it would have been $499: $30 less for an extra battery AND the impact driver made a lot of sense to me.
The biggest problem with Cordless tools are the battery ecosystem itself. It ties you down to a manufacturer. In my country that also limits the tools you can buy. Bosch is relatively big here and have some local manufacturing here. They have now something called "Amp Share" which is a eco system of mostly European manufacturers who have a battery sharing alliance on the 18V eco system. Another problem is very country specific for me, the price. I can only buy just one tool in the bosch kit for 100 dollars. Yes I get the charger with 2 batteries, but tool prices are 3 upto 4 times higher especially for the cordless variants. Doesnt make sense to buy cordless in my country. That said my Bosch experience is also good. The Chinese are filling up the VFM space here with products at 1/4th price. Even you break a tool and throw it away you still are better off on the balance sheet. Just buy two for easy replacement!
I get batteries from eBay, they may not be Bosch but you can get 3 for the price of one. I’ve had them for about 4 years and they’re still going strong.
@@35andRetirednot noticed any difference at all. I can’t tell which battery is in unless I look at the bottom. Give them a try, for the cost they’re worth a go. For £10-£13 a battery you can’t really go wrong. My thinking that if I buy a 4ah battery and it works as a 3ah then I’m not fussed for the price.
I'm not picky with Corded power tools but with Batt systems you you have to stick to one brand and Bosch is what my father started with so I've been sticking with that.
I like your thoughts. I ordered a 12v Flex kit driver. $140 on Amazon with 2 batteries (July 2024). As sson as I saw it I knew they would be handy. I challenge you to kill my blue 20 year old Ryobi 20v drills and impacts. I don't think its possible! Yes, the circular saws suck but everything else takes a beating and keeps going. 20 year old disposable tools... Have even let people borrow them occasionally (always a no no for other tools!).
Great video and appreciate all the insights. Just got started on the 12v Bosch line for work (painter/fixer/drywall) and was hoping it was good choice . What was I doing with my life before this? SO much extra weight for no reason. Always choose the best (lightest hopefully) for the job. Appreciating the extra space in my vehicle and work areas.
I just like Bosch because they are like the smallest of the 12-volt drill/driver. Now if they could only restyle the grips like the ones with Dewalt. 😁
Good tips. However, these days, I would personally prefer buying brushless tools, especially if you want the tools to last many years like you say you do. The reason you can get great deals on these older brushed products is simply because they are technologically inferior to brushless tools, for which there is much greater demand. The brushed variants are often discontinued products that stores pretty much just to want to get rid of to free storage space.
Thanks! Fair points! Personally still have a lot of faith in brushed motors. They’ve been around for forever and my father has examples which still work after 40+ years. And…when they fail it’s often only $10 for new brushes. Brushless are nearly non serviceable so I guess we’ll all see in 20-30 years how the durability really is. But…fair points as I said!
Indeed, high-quality brushed tools can serve you well for a long time, too, especially when you handle them with care. Brushless ones, on the other hand, have greater efficiency; I recently bought a GSR 12V-35 FC with 3Ah batteries and they seem to last absurdly long. But yeah, cost-efficiency and longevity wise, only time will tell, like you said.
Just a side note on tools made in Romania, lots of car components for American, German, French and Italian cars are made in Romania - the entire country is filled with automotive factories and research centers from the likes of Continental Automotive, Bosch, etc.
It is hard to find some good info on the 3/8“ drive Bosch 12v impact wrench. Did you ever try to remove lug nuts with it and if you did how did it do? I am asking this, because I am thinking about getting an impact driver sized impact. And I am trying to figure out if I want to choose hex or 3/8“. For tight spaces and such I have a GSR 12v-35 FC (the adapter one). So that is not an issue. Peak power for hex is also not too important for me. But all I can find is varying results. Seen it 2 times remove normal car lug nuts easy, and even remove 205 Nm / 150 ft lbs on clean fasteners. Then again I saw a test where it could not even remove 90 ft lbs. I know that with impacting there can be big losses when the set up is not ideal, nothing out of the ordinary there. But I also want to try to collect as much info as I can too.
I got on Bosch 18V because bosch workers can buy battery's in my country for 70% off and sell them for half price. We also run makita 12v beacuse they cheap, me and my friend usually run 3 drills and 2 impacts so we dont have to change bits all the time.
Sing it brother. About the capitalism and taking advantage. I love multi platform. And I love how much I put into Bosch 12v.... I have enough issues being over 6ft4in I want my damn tools small Bosch 12v go to all the time. My 12v Bosch impacts competition is the triple hammer metabo multi with a 5ah
Sorry about that. It’s handy, that’s for sure. But for light duty applications and if you use it for awhile, it seems to get too hot and need a break, although that might just be mine.
I gave up on Bosch 12v line years ago. I started with the drill because it was so compact. It has its uses even now, but the batteries don't hold charge very good, and the chuck does some funny stuff. They took too long to expand. I'm moving to the Dewalt X12 line.
Would you recommend Flexiclick 12v or screwdriver? I need something to do it all, something light, compact, less drilling needed - planning on buying masonary bit in 1/4" if I go with screwdriver to still be able to make a hole in a concrete - nothing big just like for hanger's and such
I think the Flexiclick is worth the extra money, but it depends on who you are. If you dont mind running screws in on an angle in the corner of a cabinet and it look poorly done, you probably wont appreciate the precision that comes with the attachments of the flexiclick. If you are like me and a bit anal retentive and appreciate a well placed and well run screw, you will really appreciate the versatility of the attachments.
Hey! Well, it depends on the torque spec for your lug nuts but in general for most cars and trucks, I would not count on the impact being powerful enough to do it. Plus, unless you are regularly charging the batteries, which seems like it would be a bit of a pain to do and keep stored in the trunk of a car, the torque would be even lower as the batteries slowly drain and discharge...
The first battery powered drill was still Makita also being the first rechargeable tool in 1969. Maybe Black and Decker did but I didn't find any proof of it. Maybe since it wasn't for public sales?
@@jasonnelson6624 Black & decker did it with NASA because they need a cordless tool to work I space so that's the reason why they were first and other brands made it available for commercial market later on.
Milwaukee is obsessed with power, Bosch is obsessed with powerful enough while being ergonomic. Take something as simple as batteries. Bosch created the 12v battery in handle design before Milwaukee ripped it off. But to get around patents, they reversed the batteries. Bosch puts the wider two batteries next to the trigger and the narrow part next to base of the thumb/finger because it’s more ergonomic. Power is another thing. If I’m using my 12v drill overhead all day, being 10-20% lighter makes a massive difference. They both perform about the same for normal screws and if you’re driving 8 inch lag bolts, you reaching for an 18v impact anyway.
Nice comment and although I would not have thought of all that myself, I can see what you mean, since my day has the Milwaukee and I have used it several times. I agree on the 18v part for sure!
Sorry but I never fell in love with a band because of an Innovation except for AMD. ( Advanced Micro Devices ) Only furniture people love Ryobi. I use WORX, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch and Porter Cable using 12v and 20v batteries. Every brand has it strengths and weaknesses. Your needs may not suite everyone else's needs.
There are situations in particular jobs where you need to use a tool continuously for most of the day and you don’t wanna wait on anything to recharge.
I'd say learn making batteries and buy the pcb+case sets. You can even make a better battery than the manufacturers since the technology in cells has moved forward.
@@35andRetired yeah the pcb+case for a Bosch 12v battery is around $5 then you have a choice of 18650 cells: F-1L, 25R, VTC5A, Lii-LT28A, MH1, MJ1, VTC6, HG2, 31S, NCR18650GA, VTC4 You can build a 2.5ah-3.5ah depending on what amperage and cost efficiency you're looking for but an example would be the F-1L pulling a maximum continuous discharge of 15amps while giving you a 3.3ah pack for roughly $6 dollars for 3 cells to make the 12 volts. Or the Lii-LT28A at 35amps and 2.8ah but having a -40 degree celcius tolerance over the usual -20°c of most lithium cells. This costs $9-10 for 3 cells. When a usual bosch 3ah battery is around $50, building a 3.3ah or 3.5ah for $12 seems like a steal to me. If you're interested in further research I've actually spent over 100 hours studying the lithium cells market and have a comprehensive spreadsheet comparing all 18650, 21700, 26650, 26700 cells and so on
I reckon for 12v tools Bosch did the great job for its purpose. 12v tools meant to be light and compact. if need power, simply 18v and 40v. why 12v? because it's compact and light. bulky and heavy 12v tools are just non-sense.
I have almost every Bosch 12V tool and I love their lower weight yet study quality and their affordability and rarely had to step up to 20V tools to get the job done. Btw the entire set fits nice and snug inside the dewalt tough system medium toolbox. Colleagues take stacks of toolboxes with them for all their tools and I just take 3 boxes. One for my nail gun, one for my hand tools and one for the rest of my powertools and it is hillerious to see us unpack the vans with how much space they need and how much space I need.
That’s a good tip. Thanks!
Idk about affordability though, I found they are quite pricey.
@@Utuber-x44maybe it differs from place to place where you live? I live in the Netherlands and Bosch is a European brand of of origin so maybe the prices for me are relatively lower then yours?
Nice video, I really like Bosch tools, I own a few rotary hammers, the newer ones are cordless but the larger ones are corded, very big, and made in Germany. Most of the 18v cordless tools are made in Malaesya but not all of them. Just some of them are made in Romania, in Cluj Napoca to be more precise. I live in Romania, but most of the tools I have are made in Germany.
My oldest tool from Bosch is a rotary hammer from 1986, it has been properly maintained and it works very well to this day.
Awesome. I never made it to Romania but I used to work for some folks at Bosch (they were a vendor to VW when I was a QA engineer) and I always wanted to visit.
Love my Bosch stuff. Just built my house with all 18v stuff and just got a close out deal on the little 12v drill set for around the house. My only complaint is I wish Bosch had all the specialty tools that the others have like you mentioned.
Indeed! Ratchet, come on Bosch!
Bosch specializes in woodworking and they hand a few tools nobody else has in that area.
I’d like to see few more, but most of the extra Milwaukee tools like crimped, pipe tools, cable cutters, pipe inspectors, etc cost $5000+ and you’ll be using your companies tools/batteries anyway.
True I wish that also and to be fair, theya re starting to do that. Just go to their UK & Germany, websites and you would see their large array of the cordless tools. I have all of them so far and more just released last month, with a just released new 18V Tabless Battery Technology with lot of power, but most importantly lots more runtime that i am mostly concerned about. It is great. More New tools going to be announced and released by May this year again, then In September this year too. Every year, Bosch releases new tools in January, May, September. Much respect. I Love Bosch.
You might wanna take a look at what you can find in the AMP-Share alliance. Not Bosch, but they take the same batteries, so that is not too bad.
I've been using the Bosch 12v line for cabinet building and installs and the smaller size and weight is perfect for me.
Nice. yeah, even for someone who still has their muscles at 36, I appreciate the weight...even more so for my dad and others of age....
Big fan of the 12V Bosch stuff too. Ergonomic, handy, light, reliable, and powerful enough for most home jobs. I have the screwdriver, drill/driver and rotary tool.
👍👍👍
Currently studying to become an electrician. Compared to Milwaukee Bosch is lighter and shorter. For me that´s the thing, getting rid of potential obstacles and giving less strain swinging it around. Milwaukee does feel more substantial and almost indestructible, so I understand that appeal too. To each their own.
I see this being a bit like bikes. The lighter the bike, the higher the center of balance. Personally I´d prefer steel body bikes for that reason. And because I learned to ride on one. My first aluminium body felt flimsy and shaky to ride, but I´ve gotten used to it.
@@meomarte great point
I agree completely with your assessment of the Bosch 12V range. I have three drills, two impact drivers, and the 3/8" impact wrench. Having a combo of different drills and drivers immediately to hand is a great way to work, IMHO. Got them on Father's Day specials for similar money. Love them for their combination of good power / compactness / comfortable ergonomics in a home / DIY setup. I also have their small LCD light with multiple mounting options, which is a beauty. Don't know why, but the multi-head version was never available in Australia, as far as I know.
I think they're overlooked and dismissed as under-powered toys. Not so.
Knowledgeable and accurate review IMHO.
Best regards
Thanks Stephen!! Greetings to Australia!!!!!
I started with the bosch two drill pack as well, they are compact yet powerful. Bosch is smart to do sale on this set to have people get hooked into their ecosystem. I will get more of these as I see more sale.
Great plan!
You're right about the Milwaukee installation drill/driver suck because of the handle that they copied from Festool. I'm invested in Milwaukee and got the installation drill myself, then later discovered the Bosch version. I sold the Milwaukee and kept the Bosch.
Hmm..interesting! I suppose there are not too many folks who have owned both. Thanks for your helpful comments!
Thumbs Up from me 👍 I love Bosch especially the 12v range.
👍
Bosch 12V is solid. Have a used and abused drill from 2017 thats still alive somehow. Motor smoked more than once from overloading it. Also left it on a roof over night and it rained.
Still alive but the motor is about dead now.
A new one is 16,50€ + shipping here. I love Bosch for that. You can actually repair their tools.
Same is true for Makita, ive switched to Makita 18V now because its a more versatile platform and I needed some garden tools and Makita 18V looked really good and is not disappointing me at all. I have one of their lawn mowers and hedge trimmers. High quality for the price, build by engineers not accountants, spare parts are cheap and available.
The main advantage of Makita 18V is more power. A standard 18V Makita battery can deliver around 40 amps of discharge current which is 720W at 18V.
Also most cheap off brand chinese tools are made for Makita batterys which is great for DIYers.
Im never going to put enough hours on the tool to justify the genuine Makita.
Got an angle grinder, impact, drill, mini chainsaw off Amazon and Aliexpress. All brushless and good enough for me.
Still need a couple other tools since my dads handmedowns were cheap n cheerful hardware store brand tools when he bought them 10 years ago and they are all crap.
Im thinking ill go corded instead of cordless since Id have to go with Makita since no wayin hell im paying for another battery ecosystem and corded tools have more power and ultimately last longer.
Good info and insight. Thanks for sharing!!
I love the Bosch 12v drill driver. Has the function of a drill with a 1/4 chuck. I prefer to not have the rattle if the impact if I don't need it but I also don't like a typical drill chuck. This tool solves that. 2 cents from a 25 year plumber.
That’s true. Most of the time I feel like I have good control with the “hammer blows” of the impact, but I do know what you mean and for some applications, you’re totally right.
Bosch has allround great tools to be fair. When I started contracting jobs, I bought an 18v Milwaukee combipack including a hammerdrill, driver, multitool, circular saw, flashlight and an anglegrinder. Apart from the drill and driver the other tools are not performing as I fancied them doing. So now I’m considering selling the ones I don’t fancy as much and buying some other tools. O and before I forget the sawzall also great powertool from milwaukee
Right on
I got the same drill/driver combo before Milwaukee came out with their 12v line and haven't regretted it in the slightest.
My most used tool, after the drill/driver, is probably the 12v circular saw. It takes 2 cuts to go through a 2" board (2x4, 2x6, etc), but it's incredibly compact and convenient, and a speed square gets you to a clean cut by flipping to the other side to finish. Looking at time, I spend more on measuring than cutting anyway, even if it's two passes. Just make sure the lip of the speed square isn't too big so that there's clearance for the motor.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Dremel is owned by Bosch, so getting the 12v oscillating and rotary tools gets you into all the Dremel accessories with the same battery as your other tools.
Recently a friend, knowing I have lots of the Bosch 12v world, got me the worklights and I've already used them so many times I regret not getting them sooner.
I don't really like the Makita 12v, since they didn't figure out the biggest benefit to 12v tools is how compact and convenient it makes the tools to carry. I might have considered Milwaukee if they had come out first, particularly since Bosch doesn't always market their full 12v lineup in the US, but I've been happy with the Bosch 12v line so I'm not going to double up on two similar battery systems. Plus, you can always go to Amazon UK or
That is a great tip! I didn't know about Dremel!
I have the same bosch tools and they are amazing, ive taken them to jobs sites for medium work and they work just as much as my 18v tools
Awesome!
My family bought Bosch refrigerator 20 years ago and it still works well today ❤
That's great!
Agree with you on Bosch - very popular where I live. I have a preference for Metabo and recently bought their 12V impact driver and impact wrench and they are my go-to pair for 90% of my drilling/driving needs. Lighter, more compact and easier to maneuver in tight spaces. I only reach for my 18V Metabo options for hammer drilling into brick walls when I need something with a little more power. Ryobi is seen as a mid-tier player in my country, but they have a good range and after-sales service, so a bit like the Toyota of power tools. You did not mention Hilti - another high-quality brand. Dewalt make a solid range, and I think Black & Decker have done a good job positioning Dewalt as a little more premium. Their new 18V gear is almost as small as other brands 12V drivers. I recently found an even more compact option for ligh-duty home DIY in the form of the Fanttik L1 Pro cordless screwdriver. What sets it apart from other 'little' drivers is the variable speed trigger. Cheers!
Thanks for the feedback! What country? Great Britain or Australia?
@@35andRetired Somewhere between the two...South Africa.
@@divergentus oh nice! My wife lived there for six weeks and my former boss was from there. Would like to visit there someday! Close to the VW factory by chance?
@@35andRetired I've been to the VW plant in Kariega (Uitenhage) when I was selling data capture systems years ago. I live in Johannesburg some 1,000km away.
I'm a hobbyist woodworker.
My first cordless power tool is 12v Bosch drill, followed by it's impact driver, and then I tried Dewalt 18v line. The Dewalt handle is much more comfortable than the beefy handle of 12v Bosch. I have small hands, I'd rather have heavier and bigger tools than the uncomfortable ones.
But I still keep the 12v bosch rotary tool, you should check it out. I'm also planning to add Bosch 12v trim router to my arsenal.
yep, fair points! Ergonomics are always a compromise!
Good point regarding brand adherence. It seems like every reputable brand has hits and misses (in addition to their original breakthrough product). If you're willing to deal with extra cost and hassle of multiple battery systems you can maximize on each particular tool (perhaps not worth it for most DIYers).
As far as 12v, having used Bosch and DeWalt, if you know 12v is enough for the task they're very convenient but IMO the power deficit from 18v can still be significant in some cases.
I think you’re right…you have to know the task at hand to know if 12 is enough. Agreed!
The Bosch 12v is a nice suite for finish carpenters and cabinetry installers - 12v jigsaw you have there, the 12v router great for easing edges, 12v planer great for scribing. Milwaukee is slowly copying them right now. You should treat yourself to some of the Bosch brushless drivers - amazing jump in performance and even smaller drill body. AND you should treat yourself to a ChukRak for your FlexiClick multi chuck drill, and get one for your Dad for his M12 multi chuck drill too. 😆
Good info! Thanks. Did you invent/design the ChukRak yourself?
@@35andRetired Yes - been working on it since I got my own multi-chuck drill.
yeappp im a pilot hole dude as well! love my bosch 12v series for carpentry ( used my set for around 5 years )). its just easy to work with for home projects and fixing stuff at home. Currently im using makita 18v and bosch 12v. its mainly for the batteries thats why im married to this 2 based on the battery voltage. great video buddy! Oh ya! if you get the chance, my favourite tool so far on the bosch 12v series is the small circular saw. thats just a great tool for fast cuts on plywood!
Oh really? Cool. I’ve always “felt” like mini circular saws were a bit gimmicky but I’d be happy to be wrong 😂
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I'm from Europe but started on the Bosch 12v stuff in the exact same way as you. I was looking at Milwaukee, mostly because they have such a wide selection. Was going to use it for mostly homeowner type projects. But I ran into a Bosch drill+battery+ various drills and bits set for 90 euro on Amazon. Decided not worth spending triple that on the red stuff here in Europe, which gets pricy. Been happy with it ever since. Lovely little tools.
I also own Makita and 18v Bosch alongside it. Benefit of 18V Bosch is the Ampshare* where they and s bunch of other tool brands share their 18v battery platform. Mostly specialty Brands but Fein (Inventor of Oscillating multitools and current producer of the best ones imo) is one of them. I definitely subscribe to buying brands their strengths. Between Makita and 18v amp share* brands I'm covered for almost everything, certainly you got heaps of choice.
Where are you in Europe? I lived in Germany for three years and miss it often
I live in the Netherlands. So not too far from Germany. Germany is great too, come there often for holiday or daytrips. @@35andRetired
You are talking about Ampshare! Another Bosch Strong user. Much REsepct. Shout out to you!
@@dellusionportland8867you are right, got confused with the 2.
I corrected it, thanks.
I like your philosophy and agree that the Bosch blue pro gear is right up there quality wise. Regarding Ryobi I've had a 18V drill for 12 years or so used domestically to maintain my properties and its been good as gold. However I have replaced under warranty the charger and battery on my parents Ryobi mower and am not overly impressed with the One+ garden maintenance gear they had, and overall would rate their One+ gear as DIY quality. I'll stick with my Stihl Combi petrol gear for that.
Myself, rather than going down the battery route and ending up with a pile of expensive failed batteries and obsolete skins have decided just to carry on with mains powered tools from the quality manufacturers (Skil, Hitachi/Hikoki, Bosch blue being my preferred, and 2 stroke petrol gear for the other stuff rather than battery too) which have and will serve me for decades, just with a little inconvenience of having to use extension cords. Oh, and much less risk of burning down my house with less Li-Ion around. Enjoy your vids and philosophy- me too retired well early.
Thanks for the comments and feedback! Awesome on early retirement!
As a bosch nut, i kind of envy the american market, i bought a new bosch freak gdx 18v, for like 90 dollars on the american amazon site.. still had to pay for a lot of shipping but i think its like 270 dollars or something here in eu.... it was a black friday deal though...
I hear ya. I lived in Germany for 3 years and was always surprised to see German made stuff cheaper in USA...I suppose it has something to do with the competitive market here...where in the EU are you?
@@35andRetired Maybe it has something to do with their publicly-funded healthcare? 🤔
@@35andRetired
In the UK, all power tools are significantly more expensive. The Bosch 12v twin set you have two of - combi drill, impact driver, charger, 2x2ah batteries and soft carry bag - is currently on offer at £149.99 ($197) That's as cheap as I've ever seen it. Usual best price is around £170 ($223).
People act like I'm doing them a favor when I give them my old Dewalt stuff - It's way too heavy when compared to the bosch 12v. Milwaukee M12 has a deeper line of tools and I have a bunch of them too, but the bosch is by far the lightest I've found and the lineup is deep enough to justify the battery collection. If you're going to find fault with the M12 it's the batteries are really hard to remove - like almost requires channel locks - lol
Dewalt has a 12v line and it's good too, but again, the weight difference between it and Bosch 12v is dramatic.
yeah my dad has the milwaukee. I like their selection, but I like the feel adn quality of the Bosch a bit better.
You should buy a never version of those drills - Bosch GSR 12v-35. Same thing but brushless. Massive increase in speed an power, especially with 3ah batteries.
Hmm. I know about those but the rated torque was barely different to the brushed models. Can you really tell a big difference?
@@35andRetiredThere is a big difference. As what he said, more power and speed, runtime too. This coming me, a professional lifelong Bosch user and fan, for over 23 years, it is true what he said.
brushless vs brushed makes a lot of sense if you're a carpenter of some sort, I heard people burn through these motors, but for not so often it's more about what you like, if you've got a brushed one and it works for you, there's no need for an upgrade, I changed my brushed drill for a brushless because I got into a new battery platform and got one with a hammer drill function, but I was very happy with the previous one, gave it to my brother
Good video. We are similar in our tool approach. The cost of the tool vs the battery is unreal, but the competition thing has them doing crazy stuff. I just got the Makita 40V Max XGT hammer driver drill/impact driver kit for $469 with an extra battery for a total of three batteries, a charger the drill and impact driver. If I would have bought the drill with two batteries and charger it would have been $499: $30 less for an extra battery AND the impact driver made a lot of sense to me.
Sounds like you made the right move!
The biggest problem with Cordless tools are the battery ecosystem itself. It ties you down to a manufacturer. In my country that also limits the tools you can buy. Bosch is relatively big here and have some local manufacturing here. They have now something called "Amp Share" which is a eco system of mostly European manufacturers who have a battery sharing alliance on the 18V eco system. Another problem is very country specific for me, the price. I can only buy just one tool in the bosch kit for 100 dollars. Yes I get the charger with 2 batteries, but tool prices are 3 upto 4 times higher especially for the cordless variants. Doesnt make sense to buy cordless in my country. That said my Bosch experience is also good. The Chinese are filling up the VFM space here with products at 1/4th price. Even you break a tool and throw it away you still are better off on the balance sheet. Just buy two for easy replacement!
Good points!
I get batteries from eBay, they may not be Bosch but you can get 3 for the price of one. I’ve had them for about 4 years and they’re still going strong.
That’s good feedback. Have you noticed a difference in how long the batteries last compared to original ones
@@35andRetirednot noticed any difference at all. I can’t tell which battery is in unless I look at the bottom. Give them a try, for the cost they’re worth a go. For £10-£13 a battery you can’t really go wrong. My thinking that if I buy a 4ah battery and it works as a 3ah then I’m not fussed for the price.
I'm not picky with Corded power tools but with Batt systems you you have to stick to one brand and Bosch is what my father started with so I've been sticking with that.
Exactly.
I like your thoughts. I ordered a 12v Flex kit driver. $140 on Amazon with 2 batteries (July 2024). As sson as I saw it I knew they would be handy.
I challenge you to kill my blue 20 year old Ryobi 20v drills and impacts. I don't think its possible! Yes, the circular saws suck but everything else takes a beating and keeps going. 20 year old disposable tools... Have even let people borrow them occasionally (always a no no for other tools!).
That’s a good deal!!
The old ryobi stuff seemed pretty solid and there is a place for all the brands I think. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Great video and appreciate all the insights. Just got started on the 12v Bosch line for work (painter/fixer/drywall) and was hoping it was good choice . What was I doing with my life before this? SO much extra weight for no reason. Always choose the best (lightest hopefully) for the job. Appreciating the extra space in my vehicle and work areas.
haha. "what was I doing"...so true after using 18v stuff for years!
It just blew my mind why snap on is called snap on.
🤯
I just like Bosch because they are like the smallest of the 12-volt drill/driver. Now if they could only restyle the grips like the ones with Dewalt. 😁
true!
Good tips. However, these days, I would personally prefer buying brushless tools, especially if you want the tools to last many years like you say you do.
The reason you can get great deals on these older brushed products is simply because they are technologically inferior to brushless tools, for which there is much greater demand. The brushed variants are often discontinued products that stores pretty much just to want to get rid of to free storage space.
Thanks! Fair points!
Personally still have a lot of faith in brushed motors. They’ve been around for forever and my father has examples which still work after 40+ years. And…when they fail it’s often only $10 for new brushes. Brushless are nearly non serviceable so I guess we’ll all see in 20-30 years how the durability really is. But…fair points as I said!
Indeed, high-quality brushed tools can serve you well for a long time, too, especially when you handle them with care. Brushless ones, on the other hand, have greater efficiency; I recently bought a GSR 12V-35 FC with 3Ah batteries and they seem to last absurdly long. But yeah, cost-efficiency and longevity wise, only time will tell, like you said.
Good video sir. I will buy a 12v Bosch cordless drill then.
:)
Just a side note on tools made in Romania, lots of car components for American, German, French and Italian cars are made in Romania - the entire country is filled with automotive factories and research centers from the likes of Continental Automotive, Bosch, etc.
Yep! When I was working at VW I worked with many vendors in Romania. They seem to make some good stuff!
It is hard to find some good info on the 3/8“ drive Bosch 12v impact wrench. Did you ever try to remove lug nuts with it and if you did how did it do?
I am asking this, because I am thinking about getting an impact driver sized impact. And I am trying to figure out if I want to choose hex or 3/8“. For tight spaces and such I have a GSR 12v-35 FC (the adapter one). So that is not an issue. Peak power for hex is also not too important for me. But all I can find is varying results. Seen it 2 times remove normal car lug nuts easy, and even remove 205 Nm / 150 ft lbs on clean fasteners. Then again I saw a test where it could not even remove 90 ft lbs. I know that with impacting there can be big losses when the set up is not ideal, nothing out of the ordinary there. But I also want to try to collect as much info as I can too.
I just uploaded a new video, just for you! Check it out. Hopefully it answers your questions
@ Thank you so much. I had to immediately jump on it as soon as you told me. It did. It more than answered my questions. Thank you!
I've been thinking about getting the brushless impact for around the house stuff/a spare (I own dewalt tools for work)
I have 18v Milwaukee but my wrists and forearms appreciate the lighter stuff
I got on Bosch 18V because bosch workers can buy battery's in my country for 70% off and sell them for half price.
We also run makita 12v beacuse they cheap, me and my friend usually run 3 drills and 2 impacts so we dont have to change bits all the time.
Yes! It’ll spoil you but it sure is nice
Sing it brother. About the capitalism and taking advantage. I love multi platform. And I love how much I put into Bosch 12v.... I have enough issues being over 6ft4in I want my damn tools small Bosch 12v go to all the time. My 12v Bosch impacts competition is the triple hammer metabo multi with a 5ah
Love it!
I wish you had said more about the recip saw.
Sorry about that.
It’s handy, that’s for sure. But for light duty applications and if you use it for awhile, it seems to get too hot and need a break, although that might just be mine.
I gave up on Bosch 12v line years ago. I started with the drill because it was so compact. It has its uses even now, but the batteries don't hold charge very good, and the chuck does some funny stuff. They took too long to expand. I'm moving to the Dewalt X12 line.
Hmm. Good to know. I haven’t had any complaints with batteries yet but I’ll keep an eye out
Check out the Bosch PS11-102 right angle drill / driver
I will!
It seems that you do not have Bosch 12V mini grinder and sander. They arr all great tools!
That's true, I don't own those (yet). Will keep an eye open!
I’m definitely spoiled as far as the amount of drills and impacts I own. Lmao. I love not having to change bits a million times during a project.
It’s hard to go back once you’ve experienced what you described! Haha
Flex created the first angle grinder , not Metabo
Oh ok, I might have had that wrong. Thanks!
Would you recommend Flexiclick 12v or screwdriver?
I need something to do it all, something light, compact, less drilling needed - planning on buying masonary bit in 1/4" if I go with screwdriver to still be able to make a hole in a concrete - nothing big just like for hanger's and such
I think the Flexiclick is worth the extra money, but it depends on who you are. If you dont mind running screws in on an angle in the corner of a cabinet and it look poorly done, you probably wont appreciate the precision that comes with the attachments of the flexiclick. If you are like me and a bit anal retentive and appreciate a well placed and well run screw, you will really appreciate the versatility of the attachments.
"Don't get married to a brand" - wise words, I wish more people would follow.
Thanks! I think we'd get along you and I based on your two comments :)
@@35andRetired Hah; my garage is filled with a rainbow of tool colors. As you said: leverage Capitalism, and get the best version of each tool.
@@FryChicken Exactly!!
Makita grinders are beasts.
I feel the same! I own 3
@@35andRetired i know you were like makita,makita,makita and i was like this guy knows haha. The corded big boy is so hard to even get it to bog down.
Can the 12v impact wrench unmount bolts on tires? Plan to get one just for the car when i get a flat tire.
Hey! Well, it depends on the torque spec for your lug nuts but in general for most cars and trucks, I would not count on the impact being powerful enough to do it. Plus, unless you are regularly charging the batteries, which seems like it would be a bit of a pain to do and keep stored in the trunk of a car, the torque would be even lower as the batteries slowly drain and discharge...
First battery power tool was invented by black & decker in 1961 it was use by nasa to work on space staty👍. But good video
Awesome. That explains what put black & decker “on the map”. Thanks for the information!!
The first battery powered drill was still Makita also being the first rechargeable tool in 1969. Maybe Black and Decker did but I didn't find any proof of it. Maybe since it wasn't for public sales?
@@jasonnelson6624 Black & decker did it with NASA because they need a cordless tool to work I space so that's the reason why they were first and other brands made it available for commercial market later on.
Milwaukee is obsessed with power, Bosch is obsessed with powerful enough while being ergonomic.
Take something as simple as batteries. Bosch created the 12v battery in handle design before Milwaukee ripped it off. But to get around patents, they reversed the batteries.
Bosch puts the wider two batteries next to the trigger and the narrow part next to base of the thumb/finger because it’s more ergonomic.
Power is another thing. If I’m using my 12v drill overhead all day, being 10-20% lighter makes a massive difference. They both perform about the same for normal screws and if you’re driving 8 inch lag bolts, you reaching for an 18v impact anyway.
Nice comment and although I would not have thought of all that myself, I can see what you mean, since my day has the Milwaukee and I have used it several times. I agree on the 18v part for sure!
How they are so cheap in USA, ??? in Europe it’s double price
I’m not sure…but I think Bosch struggles to compete here since Makita, Milwaukee, and Dewalt have a big presence here
I found them for 200 dollar not 100 dollars!
Sorry but I never fell in love with a band because of an Innovation except for AMD. ( Advanced Micro Devices )
Only furniture people love Ryobi.
I use WORX, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch and Porter Cable using 12v and 20v batteries.
Every brand has it strengths and weaknesses. Your needs may not suite everyone else's needs.
Yeah, I didn’t fall in love either. I own one from almost all the companies. But some are better than others I’d say…
Why wouldn’t you just go cordless with everything ?
There are situations in particular jobs where you need to use a tool continuously for most of the day and you don’t wanna wait on anything to recharge.
Have you tried the milwaukee m12 fuel hammer drill and impact drive.
My dad owns it. He is a fan but I prefer the Bosch…🤷♂️
@35andretired I have a question: Why did you choose Bosch 12 volt tool and not milwaukee m12 fuel tools?
@@leonardolimon8371 mostly because of a big sale on Amazon. But my dad mows owns the Milwaukee 12v stuff and having tried both, I prefer the Bosch…
@@35andRetired because it's cost less money and good price?
@@leonardolimon8371 that was the original motivation but I think the quality and performance is equivalent to Milwaukee.
It’s hard not to marry to a brand unless you’re comfortable with multiple battery platforms 😢
Well for the battery stuff that’s true
The 12v bosch is more comfortable to use than the milwaukee 12v drivers and impacts
I feel the same!
nice video but flex invented the angle grinder not metabo maybe im wrong but i believe it was flex
Hmm. Seems you’re right. I thought I had read years ago it was metabo. Thanks for the comment!
Bosch invented the jigsaw allso
It was flex.
I'd say learn making batteries and buy the pcb+case sets. You can even make a better battery than the manufacturers since the technology in cells has moved forward.
wow, really? Hadn't heard of that before!
@@35andRetired yeah the pcb+case for a Bosch 12v battery is around $5 then you have a choice of 18650 cells: F-1L, 25R, VTC5A, Lii-LT28A, MH1, MJ1, VTC6, HG2, 31S, NCR18650GA, VTC4
You can build a 2.5ah-3.5ah depending on what amperage and cost efficiency you're looking for but an example would be the F-1L pulling a maximum continuous discharge of 15amps while giving you a 3.3ah pack for roughly $6 dollars for 3 cells to make the 12 volts.
Or the Lii-LT28A at 35amps and 2.8ah but having a -40 degree celcius tolerance over the usual -20°c of most lithium cells. This costs $9-10 for 3 cells.
When a usual bosch 3ah battery is around $50, building a 3.3ah or 3.5ah for $12 seems like a steal to me.
If you're interested in further research I've actually spent over 100 hours studying the lithium cells market and have a comprehensive spreadsheet comparing all 18650, 21700, 26650, 26700 cells and so on
I reckon for 12v tools Bosch did the great job for its purpose. 12v tools meant to be light and compact. if need power, simply 18v and 40v. why 12v? because it's compact and light. bulky and heavy 12v tools are just non-sense.
Agreed!
For real please God let Bosch make an electric ratchet gahhh
I know it! I feel the same!
Batteries and chargers are the sticking point.........too many chargers and batteries for each different brand
Indeed!
I’m not married to any brand
Good man. It wouldn’t be marriage anyway, it would be slavery
thia and that and this and that with no model names.
It was meant to be an overall review. Be sure to give it a thumbs down if you didn't like it!