Customer Reviews

Bosch 32609 9.6-Volt Ni-Cad 3/8-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i research (almost) everything i buy and i compared this drill/driver with makita, dewalt, and black & decker. i felt that the bosch 32609 was the clear winner. it feels great in your hands and has outstanding balance. it is light (less than 3-1/2 lbs) and the smallest of the compact line of drill drivers from bosch. that's pretty impressive considering this has the highest torque rating (300 in./lbs) of any 9.6v cordelss drill/driver out there today. the 16-position clutch ensures that you can choose the correct torque level to your job while the keyless chuck makes replacing bits or drivers quick and easy. this package includes two batteries and a 1hour charger. for my use, i think this battery/charger setup will be more than sufficient.

all in all, i am very please with this tool that i'm actually looking for projects around the house!

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

I have several cordless drills of different voltages and brands, Panasonic, Porter cable, and Bosch. This great drill is light and yet powerful. It is great for hardware installation, cabinet assembly and general work. It is much handier than 1n 18 volt monster that still doesn't have the torque or speed of a corded drill. This is the one to get. The new technology suggestes the batteries should last much longer and this one comes with a 3 year warranty! Wow!

Cordless tool seem to have been hit with "voltage inflation" over the last decade. Ten years ago, a 9.6 Makita was the choice of the average builder looking for a lightweight drill for use on a ladder or in a tight space. Then came 12V drills, 14.4 volt drills, 18v drills, and even 24 volt drills. You could buy a 12 or 14.4 volt drill for as low as $49.95. Problem is that most of these cheap higher-voltage drills are garbage. But the uninformed consumer sees 14v, and think, hey, this must be better than 9.6 volts.

One of the great advantages of cordless tools is the freedom from dragging a power cord behind you. But too often neglected is the other great advantage- having a small, lightweight tool, and that's where drills like this 9.6 volt unit shine. Yet it's no lightweight when it come to performance. It delivers more torque and battery life than the typical budget 12 or 14 volt unit, and is more than adequate for just about any homeowner need. It might not be your first choice for driving 6" screws through landscaping timbers, but how many cordless drills can honestly do that?

This drill replaced a 9.6v DeWalt unit, which had a non-racheting, slightly wobbling chuck. I was tired of having to dig 1/8-inch pilot-hole bits out of my bookcase and furniture projects, after the DeWalt chuck failed to grip them. The Bosch really is a dream come true: light weight, good power, a racheting chuck with one-handed operation and no runout, and a soft rubber grip besides, all for the same price as the DeWalt (not to mention the Pro-Vantage extended warranty). I liked this drill so much, I eagerly purchased the Bosch 14.4 volt Compact Tough drill, for larger projects. You can't go wrong with this one!

With such an excellent product, my title describes this drill.
It's easily the best, with the added bonus of a spare battery, it's light, perfect for those single handed over-the-head jobs about the house. has a well designed handle grip, a reverse that does the job, no fiddling with a chuck key, quiet motor, a sturdy carrying box, and a holder for that screw bit drill.
Highly recommended.

I chose this drill because I wanted a little smaller drill than my Makita. Many times the Makita has been too large to use in a tight place. I will have to say that the Makita is one strong and reliable drill though.

I have found that the 9.6 volt Bosch has a lot of torque also. Just to try it out, I drove some 8# 1 1/2" screws in seasoned walnut without any pilot holes. It did it with ease. I think it will be a great addition to my shop.

I was surprised that the drill is made in Switzerland, the batteries in Poland, and the charger in China. But they make a nice set. I like the feel of the drill and newer style chuck. I think I'm going to be quite pleased with it and expect to get several years of use from it.

If you are looking for a well-made drill, I don't think you will be disappointed with this one.

Here's the secret -- those huge 18V batteries make a drill too heavy for most users, and it's NOT size that matters. It's TORQUE. This particular model has the same torque (turning force) of larger drills, and the battery life is more than adequate for everyone except drywall installers who use it all day long. Beware similar looking models, that may be cheaper, but have a fraction of the power of this baby. The ultimate test? My wife loves it! Of course it has keyless chuck, adjustable torque, reversible, extra battery, charger and case. A perfect homeowner tool.

I own 3 of these. I am older than I used to be, and the tool bag seems to get heavier on its own. We do a lot of small repair work, not heavy production jobs. So even though the drill speed isn't so high, it works just fine for our needs. And it is light (I also have a 19.6 P-C cordless in the truck for those rare occassions). The 12 volt might have been a better choice so that I could have bought and used the radio charger, but it is too late for than now. Also, in my hand it has the best feel of the competitive products, but that is pure personal preference.

Before purchasing this tool I researched a number of different manufactures and when you compare the battery amp hrs., the available clutch settings, the torque (in inch pounds) and the metal gears in the motor, there's only one choice. Bosch is a new brand for me. I've used cordless drills for 32 years now (yes, 32 years) but I've been reluctant to change brands until now. I'm glad I took the chance because this thing has quality written all over it. It's so comfortable it fits like a glove. Power to spare for a 9.6 volt model and a clever clutch chuck for one handed bit changes. The only complaint I have is the same problem with all my cordless drills, why don't they give some extra room in the case for spare bits? They used to! I carry a fair assortment of spade bits, vix bits and quick release bits... but not in the case, where they would be most handy. Bosch, Porter Cable, Dewalt are you listening? I would rate the drill 5 stars but the case is essential for work sites so I have to take that into account.

I bought this drill because I liked the design. The ergonomics are excellent and it feels like a quality unit. Unfortunately, it has not lived up to my expectations. The switch failed after less than a year, and Bosch kindly replaced the entire drill rather than repairing it. Now, however, the batteries are failing and they are just barely past their 18 month warranty limit, and of course a pair of new batteries cost nearly as much as the whole drill kit. I have a DeWalt 9.6v drill that's about seven or eight years old, and its original batteries are stronger than the Bosch's which are one-fifth as old. I understand that Bosch has bumped up the warranty on newer batteries to 2 years, but that's cold comfort to me.