Customer Reviews

Bosch 33618 Brute Tough 18-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Drill/Driver

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Currently, I have in my arsenal of cordless drills two 14.4v Makita's, an 18V DeWalt, and this Bosch 'Brute' 18V. I also use (and heartily recommend) cordless impact drivers, but that's the subject of another review. Suffice to say, when one simply opts for one or two drills daily; I go for either the Makita 14.4v (if I've got a ton of things to drill and want the reduced weight) or for all around use, the Bosch. I don't think any manufacturer is offering what Bosch brings to the table on this drill. Notable items (from a professional contractor's perspective) are:

>Unbelievable run time from the batteries. Bosch really pegged it on these batteries. 2.4 amp hours, one of the largest in their class. Only Panasonic has longer amp hours, but have you tried to get parts/service on a Panasonic?

>Thoughtful, well-engineered ergonomics. Bosch is the ONLY manufacturer I know of that includes a clip (similar to a carabiner) on the back of the drill that allows you to clip into a belt hook. Other drills, notably drywall guns have these in their corded models, but only Bosch is including it in their general cordless line. Also, the drill has a very, VERY nice rubber grip set. Unlike DeWalt's, which is a harder rubber (or Makita that doesn't include it for some reason), Bosch's rubber is 'tacky' and gives a good impression that you won't lose your grip. Nice touch: They even apply this 'tacky' rubber to the trigger; that's sweet.

>Warranty. Bosch sure understands the pros needs here. 3 year on the drill; you can elect in those times to either send it in for service if it needs it, and they'll guarantee a 5 day turn-around, or you can swap it for another one. The battery guarantee is, I think, industry leading. For 12 months they'll swap it out, for the next 6 months they'll let you have a battery at 50% discount. Nice touches.

>Case. I guess I'm going to have to face that we're not going to get metal cases from anybody, anymore, but Bosch has one of the best plastic ones I've seen. Ample room for two batteries, the drill, the charger, etc. it also includes a smaller, separate storage case for loose items, and has an area of 'rows' that allow insertion of drivers and accessories (very similar to what Dremel offers in their small cases). Get this: real metal latches, too!

>Torque. Good golly, Miss Molly. This drill is on the cusp of offering impact driver spec's!!!! 500 inch pounds of torque; my old DeWalt 18V was 350; this thing is aptly named 'Brute'! Want a real seat-of-the-pants description of the torque? Put this drill in one hand and pull the trigger; you can feel it move sideways, due to the torque. Not badly, not scary, not unsafe by any stretch. All drills to it to some extent, but the big Bosch is NOTICEABLE in your hands. Very torquey, very strong.

>Impact resistance. I saved the best for last, especially if you're a pro. This Bosch offers UNBELIEVABLE protection from common falls. In fact, Bosch regularly demonstrates the tool falling from 40-45 feet at home stores; I caught one in Salisbury, NC and was blown away. You can even check out Bosch's website (www.boschtools.com) and see an actual movie of it being dropped. I have yet to see ANY other manufacturer have that type faith in their product. Drops happen, it's a fact of life. Nice to see a manufacturer designing tool integrity into the product and not keeping their fingers crossed that it might not happen. Overall, this single feature to me is worth the price of admission to professional-grade Bosch tools.

Cons: With all of that glowing prose, you might think I'm a Bosch rep. I'm not. The drill, in my opinion, DOES have two drawbacks, though they're slight. First of all, it isn't small nor lightweight. You will know you're carring around a big, powerful piece of equipment. Second: Bosch, for some engineering reason I'm sure, keeps the top speed of this drill to 1,300 rpms. That is, overall, a good, generic speed. But occasionally, I DO want an ability to spike up to around 1,700 (or faster). My five year old DeWalt 18V is just SO much faster. This is probably more of a personal opinion that job-site necessity, but I do try to uncover any of the nuances of a tool in my reviews, so I had to bring it to the forefront.

VERY, VERY Highly recommended. One of the best tools I use daily. Will withstand a tremendous amount of abuse and it's got a superlative warranty.

The first thing I did with my new 18v Bosch drill was to accidentally drop it 6' onto a concrete floor - didn't seem to affect it as it seems to be designed for the occasionally careless user.

Review:

1. The chuck is an engineering marvel. You can remove and insert a bit, and tighten it, in practically no time at all - with only one hand on the chuck. I.e., hold the tool with your left hand (or left foot!) and unscrew the chuck with your right hand (about a half turn is all it takes). Insert the new bit and tighten the chuck. (You can perform this operation with just one hand; just laying the drill on a flat surface or holding it between your legs.) Other drills have one-handed chucks, but the Bosch drive shaft has no play and no wobble, and works flawlessly. Many keyless drills have dual-ring chucks, the ones that require two hands to work. When the bit slips, those chuck designs are nearly impossible to get REALLY tight. Tight is no problem for this tool. I also own a DeWalt half-inch electric drill that requires you to hold a button down to tighten/loosen the chuck. That works OK, but on this Bosch drill, the drive shaft locks when the motor is off, so that button isn't necessary. It really is ingenious.

2. Massive torque. If you're used to a 14.4v, 15.6v or even other 18v models, keep your eye on screws you're driving. This beast keeps driving until the trigger is released. I've snapped screws due to the high torque this tool has, when the clutch setting was on maximum torque. A well-designed quick-attach handle is included - it's only necessary for high-torque applications. It can be set to any point within 360 degrees in a few seconds, and it stays put until you unscrew/release the handle.

3. Speed. Low speed is fine, and high speed (1300 rpm) is OK most of the time - but, occasionally, I'd like it to be a tad faster. Of course, Bosch gets more torque through lower RPMs. Besides, for the types of large hole cuts and other things owners would be doing with a tool this powerful, the 1300-rpm maximum does make sense. The trigger's control of speed is flawless and when you release the trigger, the drill stops quickly.

4. Battery run-time. These batteries last a long time before needing a recharge, and they recharge is under an hour. I've never run down a battery prior to the other battery finishing its charge cycle - so there's no down time on this score.

5. Balance, comfort, and other ergonomics are perfect, at least for me (I have big hands). Very comfortable handle - no sharp places. It's not uncommon for me to dislike tools because of ill-conceived handles, triggers that pinch your finger, sharp corners, too small, etc. This tool feels just right in my hand. It also comes with a quick-detach hook for attaching a strap or hook - nice touch.

6. Weight & size. Other than price, the only downside to this tool is, it is about 1/3 heavier and larger than 14.4v or 15.6v drills - e.g., it's too heavy for my wife to use comfortably. (Of course, it's much more powerful, holds half inch bits, battery run-time is better, and it has that ingenious chuck.) In any case, I usually keep two cordless drills handy on jobs: the Brute and a 15.6v Panasonic drill for more delicate/small-hole drilling, for cramped locations where the Brute won't fit, or when working overhead extensively. The other reason for having two tools, in spite of how incredibly easy it is to change bits on the Bosch, is, to avoid having to change bits/drills as often.

7. The gears are made of steel. That's important to me because my Porter Cable 14.4v drill stripped its weak nylon gears after a couple of years, long before the batteries wore out. P/C doesn't sell just that $3 gear of course - you had to buy an entire "gear box", as they call it. $60. Heck with that. No more P/C nylon-geared drills for me. (One Brute reviewer said his gears "stripped out, i. e. the motor was turning but not the chuck" - my guess is he had the speed selector set between high and low.)

8. Nice plastic case, with a mini-case for bits. Everything fits, and it even has decent metal clasps. Well done.

9. Has the best warranty I've seen for such tools (and the battery), but somehow I doubt if I'll ever need it.

In summary, if it's not too heavy for you to use comfortably, this is a terrific choice.

Choosing a new Cordless drill when the 12 year old Makita 9.6v gave up the ghost was a tough decision. How it lasted that long I don't know. Based on the projects at hand, I made the decision to step up to an 18v 1/2 drive drill. I don't use my tools to make a living, but I use them every night. I am currently redoing a boat and renovating my house. I always believe you get what you pay for. I was considering another Makita and went to Home Depot to look at an 18v. I was unimpressed. It seemed cheap compared to my old 9.6v. I did not like that spring loaded button on the top that switches betwen drive and drill. It looked like something that would break or get clogged by sawdust and grit. I also considered the Panasonic 15.6v. I chose the Bosch because of the ratings they got here and by Consumer Reports. I made the right decision. This drill takes everything you throw at it and then some. With this drill, its the little things that make a difference. For example, the charger flashes while charging and stops when finished charging. You can see this across your shop or worksite. Like other manufacturers, Bosch claims their brushes are replaceable. They show you how, and you don't have to take the whole drill apart. The torque adjustment knob is metal, the chuck is solid and easy to adjust one handed. This drill is no lightweight, but I find it more balanced than the 9.6v stick Makita. If you need an 18v drill - seek no further!

I am a licensed home improvement contractor in business for over 15 years. I buy a new cordless drill about every year. I have owned Makita, Porter-Cable, Milwaukee, and DeWalt from 12 volt to 19.2 volt. This Bosch drill far surpasses any in the same 18v category. This drill has 500 in lbs of torque, much more than any in this group. I have dropped this drill 8' to concrete and it still works fine. RPM's don't concern me as much as torque. I did not buy this drill from Amazon due to the fact it was not available about 6 mos. ago when I bought this. The price is about $60.00 less than the DeWalt 18v and I think the DeWalt is highly over rated in the drill category. Milwaukee is my second choice. Battery costs are not a concern to me because I can not justify buying two new batteries in a year. Just replace the drill and sell the old one.

Awesome tool, time piece precision. The automotive industry used the term NVH for noise vibration and harshness. If this drill was a car it would be a lexus. It cuts through studs with a boring bit easier than my corded Bosch 1005 drill. I think that Bosch makes the some of the best power tools out there. Hopefully this tool will live up to the hype of practically being "unbreakable" as I am replacing a 13.2V bosch that landed one to many times on the chuck. Bosch also improved the battery release mechanism compared to the older models. Get the 18 volt only if you are a contractor or serious DIYer; the 14.4 should be good enough for anyone - you save [money] and 1/2 lb too.

I purchased this drill/driver kit for my husband who is really rough on tools. True to form, he drove over it with his truck, but you would never know, it's still kick'in and going strong!!

This drill is unbelievably durable and performs like a dream.
This tool quickly became his favorite. I too use it around the house so it gets plently of use between the two of us.

An important benefit(especially if your tough on tools like my husband) is that Bosch offers the industry's best service and support program call Provantage. A 3-year cordless tool protection plan and an 18-month battery life guarantee, no other company and I mean NO OTHER COMPANY offers an 18-month guarantee for battery life!

If you're in the market for a drill/driver kit, look no further, you wont find anything better because this is the best!

This drill is my favorite. It so smooth and refined that it makes drilling or screwing easy and fun. The great thing about this drill is that it is just one of the most durable drill on the market. I've purchased the 18 volt Dewalt drill and it unfortunately pales to the Bosch drill. Take for example, I accidentally dropped my drill from the top of my 8 foot step ladder onto a concrete foundation and it still worked just like new. My Dewalt on the otherhand is another story. I left my Dewalt drill on my toolbox which couldn't have been more than a foot high. My dog accidentally knocked it off and it cracked at the base where the battery is inserted. I couldn't believe it. A $200.00 drill that was supposedly heavy duty obviously was not the case. Like most professionals, I'm busy so I didn't bother trying to get it fixed but just made a point about not purchasing Dewalt products anymore. As for my future purchases, my first choice is Bosch.

This drill is a good work horse of a drill. I have purchased 6 of these for my company in the last 2 years for use in light construction applications. Although there have been a few failures, the Bosch drill has been a better overall performer than DeWalt or Makita. But what sets the Bosch product apart from the rest of the pack is the warranty. A three year warranty comes with each Brute Tough Drill. I rate the warranty and customer service as excellent.

Low and behold Bosch wasn't lying, I dropped my drill from about 15' up on a boom-truck. It landed right on the chuck, broke the bit, but nothing else.

Ok. This is my "big drill" now. I haven't had it long, but I just like the heck out of it. Compared to my older model Makita 18 volt, the clutch is a little better - stops on a dime. Now the Makita isn't a bad drill by any means. Both the Bosch and the Makita will drill and drive just about anything you can throw at them. I just like the feel, the fit and finish, and the clutch of the Bosch a little better. The handle of the Bosch is larger than some so if you have small hands, you'll want to use the side handle as well. You probably would want to anyway. This drill has loads of torque.