Bosch cordless drill comparison

Tedious Bore

2 cordless combi drills from same brand both with positive reviews.
One is clearly the better more expensive one, and even though the first one might be perfectly good for my general DIY needs, I'm wondering whether maybe I should spend that bit extra on having the better one long term?

I'm new to this stuff, so any helpful pointers on how the more expensive drill might prove superior to the cheaper one would be much appreciated

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L3XK06C/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item

Vs

http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-gsb18-2-li-plus-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill.html

oinkely

I have the first one you listed there. It's great. Two batteries and plenty of power, light enough that you don't get a pain using it for extended periods and quick enough at driving screws.

Alun

I have the second one you mentioned, and it's fantastic. I actually got mine in Woodies and they still had it in there for €150, so slightly cheaper than Screwfix) on special offer the last time I was in. It comes in a big sturdy case, with two batteries, plus a set of Bosch wood and metal drills and 2 sets of Bosch bits.

fred funk }{

One is a DIY drill and the other is for professionals so it'll generally be better built and more robust.

The high horse brigade

Green Bosch is DIY, blue Bosch is professional. It really depends on how much with you intend to do with it. The blue will be tougher and better built but will cost a lot more

foxy farmer

Green Bosch light DIY use.
Blue Bosch heavy trades use.
The blue stuff would have better performance better torque when driving screws and better batteries. My old blue 14.4v drill would drive home screws that the green 18v one failed to finish.
That said the green stuff is quite reliable and the brand is good.

Alun

I bought the blue Bosch one I mentioned above to replace an old green Bosch where the motor had died after only 5 or 6 years of occasional use. The new one has a much more solid, well made feel to it, and is much more powerful. OK, it's twice as expensive, but still not a lot in the grand scheme of things and will hopefully last at least twice as long.

peasant

The other question is...what do you intend on doing with it?

I do very light DIY only and recently bought myself some (blue)Bosch kit in 10.8 (12)V
Nice and light and small to work with yet surprisingly powerful.
I chose 12V because it suits my needs and is much more comfortable to work with than 18V...less bulk, less weight

They have recently brought out their new brushless range so you can get great deals on the older brushed motor gear (which still is good enough for normal DIY)

I got the drill together with some bit and drill sets and a 4AH and 2AH battery for 110 quid and an additional impact driver (for those bigger screws) without battery for another 50.

So now I have two machines for pre-drilling and screwing down in one go without having to change bits around.

Very happy with both and the big batteries last fairly long and charge quickly
(1.5AH as in your links isn't all that big a battery..you'd want at least two of them for larger jobs..use one, charge the other)

Here's what I got (obviously not from screwfix)
http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gsr-10-8-2-lin-10-8v-li-ion-cordless-drill-driver-bare/72589
http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gdr-10-8-lin-10-8v-li-ion-cordless-impact-driver-bare/83286

I deliberately did not get a hammer drill.
If I ever need to drill big holes in masonry I'll rent an SDS drill

EDIT:
On the other hand, if at some point in the future you might be thinking about getting cordless saws, grinders and the like, you better stick with 18V as 12V is too dinky for those kind of jobs.

In any case I'd go with the blue version though...it's just quality

Tedious Bore

Hi thanks for all the informative replies here guys, very helpful!

peasant wrote: »

The other question is...what do you intend on doing with it?

I decided I'd get a cordless combi drill for general DIY bits and pieces (which the green Bosch is probably grand for) but also want to start doing a bit of woodwork and prefer not to be replacing and upgrading again soon if it's not hugely more expensive.

Tempted to go with the green one because I do think it's a capable drill for my initial needs and it's certainly priced well at 75£, but think I'm going to go with the blue one so I'll know I won't be able to blame my tools when tackling something more serious down the line!

Tedious Bore

Alun wrote: »

I have the second one you mentioned, and it's fantastic. I actually got mine in Woodies and they still had it in there for €150, so slightly cheaper than Screwfix) on special offer the last time I was in. It comes in a big sturdy case, with two batteries, plus a set of Bosch wood and metal drills and 2 sets of Bosch bits.

Hi Alun, do you mean the drill you bought in Woodies included wood and metal drill-bits? What were the 2 sets of Bosch bits or were some of these things bought separate?

This was the only link on their site that I thought might be it, but there's no pic and it's very light on info......
http://www.woodies.ie/bosch-18v-li-ion-pro-combi-drill-plus-1123930
Going by the limited info on that page, I think it's actually a similar looking but different drill to the one I linked above.
Possibly it's this one.... http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-gsr-18-2-li-plus-professional-18v-2-0ah-li-ion-cordless-drill-driver.html
as opposed to this first blue one I linked.... http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-gsb18-2-li-plus-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill.html
Not sure though

Tedious Bore

And if anyone has any recommendations on basic drill bit set to go with a blue Bosch cordless drill then I'm all ears

Currently weighing up this one but might be a bit OTT seeing as I don't even know what half of them yokes are for! :rolleyes:
http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-drilling-screwdriving-set-103-pieces.html

Alun

Tedious Bore wrote: »

Hi Alun, do you mean the drill you bought in Woodies included wood and metal drill-bits? What were the 2 sets of Bosch bits or were some of these things bought separate?

Yes, they were all included "free" in the box. One set of 7 wood bits 3mm - 10mm, one set of 7 metal bits 2mm - 8mm, and two slightly different sets of 24 screwdriver bits, philips, pozi, torx, hex and straight, all Bosch.

This was the only link on their site that I thought might be it, but there's no pic and it's very light on info......
http://www.woodies.ie/bosch-18v-li-ion-pro-combi-drill-plus-1123930
Going by the limited info on that page, I think it's actually a similar looking but different drill to the one I linked above.
Possibly it's this one.... http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-gsr-18-2-li-plus-professional-18v-2-0ah-li-ion-cordless-drill-driver.html
as opposed to this first blue one I linked.... http://www.ie.screwfix.com/bosch-gsb18-2-li-plus-18v-1-5ah-li-ion-cordless-combi-drill.html
Not sure though

Yes, it's the GSB18-2-Li Plus2.0Ah version not the 1.5Ah one, but that can only be a good thing If you go to Woodies, in mine at least, there was a big pile of them in their blue boxes by the entrance, so separate from the main display area for the power tools.

Here's some photos ...

Tedious Bore

Thanks so much for those pics man, makes all the difference. Yeah that set looks great!
Can you tell me which branch of Woodies you got that in please and was it recently?

Alun

Tedious Bore wrote: »

Thanks so much for those pics man, makes all the difference. Yeah that set looks great!
Can you tell me which branch of Woodies you got that in please and was it recently?

It was in the Bray branch, just before Christmas, but I'm sure I've seen them in there more recently too. They must have got in a job lot of them from somewhere.

jack of all

I also have the "blue" bosch drill; I don't have it that long so it hasn't really been put to the test yet but my limited experience of it so far has been very positive. The built-in light is very handy and the lithium batteries have a charge indicator which is, again, very useful. I remember my first cordless drill purchase, a Dewalt 12v, back in 1998- it cost £250 sterling- a lot of money back then! This drill looks likes good value at around €150, especially if you have the work for it. If you have the money go for the blue Bosch over the green, you can register their blue/ pro tools online for an extended warranty.

Tedious Bore

Yep I'm sold on a blue one now. Still think the green one on Amazon is a very good deal depending on people's needs, but I'm hoping to use it more frequently than just casual DIY and maybe some heavier work, so happy enough to pay the extra.

Looks like you got a great deal there Alun. I rang around a few Woodies there today and that deal including drill bits is finished now. I'll just go with same drill and buy some bits separately I guess

Thanks everyone for all the helpful input on this!

Alun

Tedious Bore wrote: »

Looks like you got a great deal there Alun. I rang around a few Woodies there today and that deal including drill bits is finished now. I'll just go with same drill and buy some bits separately I guess.

I was just in Woodies and they had a big pile of them there, but no indication of whether the drill bits were included, and all the boxes were sealed shut. I vaguely remember there being some advertising on the box regarding the drill bits, but can't be sure. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll be in there anyway Anyway, either way, it's a great drill, you won't be disappointed.

Tedious Bore

Yeah I phoned Bray, Naas rd, Sandyford and Tallaght but they all said it was a short run thing a few months back and not expecting that bundle in again

Anyone any thoughts on a basic set like this one just for starting out with that drill? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002UHKARY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Alun

That looks like a fairly complete set.