Bosch PS40-2AH 10.8V Impact Driver w/Holster

by Bosch

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Amazon.com Product Description

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Most manufacturers seem to be using lithium-ion battery technology to create lighter versions of existing cordless tools, or high-voltage tools that would have been too heavy for use with older battery technologies. Bosch however, seems to have also used the opportunities presented by lithium ion to dream up tools that have never even existed. Last year, they scored big hits with the PS-20 Pocket Driver and I-driver, which redefined ideas about drills and screwdrivers at the same time.

This year, they've extended that out-of-the-box thinking to impact drivers, with the Litheon "Impactor", and it is another jaw-dropper.

Impact drivers are smaller and lighter than cordless drills, but because they have a simple hammering function and are geared specifically to spin fast, they produce about three times the torque of a drill. This means an impact driver will put in screws, bolts, and other fasteners much faster than a drill would (especially in sheet metal). They can drill holes, too. What they won't do is drill holes bigger than 1/2 inch, but they'll handle just about any job a homeowner or contractor would do around the house.

In size and feel, the Impactor is very much like the Pocket Driver. It's small and light enough to fit into a drawer. Hitched to your belt, you could carry it around all day and barely notice the weight, although it looks so cool, you're definitely going to want to keep taking it out. With the three LED lights on the front, Bosch has not only made sure this thing doubles practically as a spare flashlight, they've really solidified the space-age ray gun look, making the Impactor pretty hard not to pull it out just to play with. With the hammer action on top of the respectable 10.8 volts of power however, this can do even more than the Pocket Driver could. We used it to drive screws through sheet metal and 3/8-inch bolts into pine. It wasn't as fast as 14.4- or 18-volt models, but it got the job done well enough to make this a truly all-purpose tool

The lithium ion batteries also have the advantage of staying charged when they are not used, which makes them great for tools that get left in drawers for long periods of time between uses. --Tod Harrick

From the Manufacturer

Delivers 60% more torque than an 18-volt drill/driver and fits in the palm of your hand.

Integrated 3-LED worklight.

About Bosch Litheon
Bosch continues to push the boundaries of cordless at both ends of the voltage spectrum with Litheon, the industry’s most advanced lithium-ion battery technology, professionals will continue to benefit from innovative, powerful, long-lasting and comfortable tools, such as the new 10.8-volt Impactor.

About the PS40-2 Impactor
The innovative new ultra-compact 10.8-volt Litheon Impactor Fastening Driver (PS40-2) is the world’s smallest and most lightweight impact driver. It delivers 60% more torque than an 18-volt drill/driver, but at 6-inches tall by 6-1/2-inches long and 2.2 lbs, it is less than half the size of an 18-volt NiCad impact driver. A high-performance Bosch motor and all-metal gears produce 1,800 RPM and 3,000 BPM and turn the powerful hammer and anvil system to deliver 800 in-lbs. of torque. For a full range of professional fastening applications, including self-tapping screws, nuts and bolts, lag bolts up to 5/16-inches and more, the PS40-2 is sized to fit in any tool belt pouch or pocket and be productive all day long.

Loaded with Features
A bright 3-LED work light specially positioned in the nose of the tool effectively illuminates any work area. A hex quick-change chuck allows for instant changes from drill to driver bits. A sensitive variable speed trigger offers optimal control over speed for varying applications, while the tool’s superior ergonomic design, which includes soft-grip, adds to user comfort over long periods of time.

Bosch PROVANTAGE Warranty
Like all Bosch cordless tools, the new Impactor is also covered under the industry’s most reliable tool protection plan, PROVANTAGE™. Registering is absolutely free, affords users two-years of battery replacements in the event of a failure, one-year tool replacement and eligibility for additional special promotions.

What’s In The Box: Bosch Litheon 10.8-volt Impactor (PS40-2) Fastening Driver, two (2) 10.8-volt Litheon batteries, 10.8-volt 30-minute battery charger

From the Manufacturer

Includes: tool, (1) carrying case, (2) 12 volt batteries, (1) 30-minute charger, (2) 1.5" drive bits

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000PI4896
• Item model number: PS40-2A OLD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,292 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Noisy Cricket, June 3, 2007

By 

palealien "I'm not bad, I 'm just drawn that way" (Butte Creek Canyon, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bosch PS40-2AH 10.8V Impact Driver w/Holster (Tools & Home Improvement)

Length:: 1:11 Mins

UPDATE: As of August 2008 or so, (I don't know the exact date) I noticed Bosch must have had a focus group that decided "10.8 Volts" was not manly enough, and now this Litheon line of tools has been re-branded "12 Volt". I thought it was pretty funny. The battery and chargers are the same, they just used decided to use the peak voltage instead of the nominal running.

UPDATE PART TWO: After aver a year's heavy use of all three of my 10.8 devices, the batteries appear to be pooping out. I recently built a 14' X 20' stud wall and used the PS-20 to sheet it off, and I was surprised how much the battery life had shortened.
***
Anyway...

To give this drill the same name as that surprising device in "Men In Black is entirely appropriate. If you remember the movie you'll understand.

Five stars for being a truly superb and well made tool. If you even think you might need it, buy one. I was wondering if I could utilize an impact driver having gotten along fine up until this point without, but the design and the specs and the engineering conspired with my tool lust to make that a moot point. And the performance, despite being yes, noisy, is amazing for a driver this diminutive.

And suddenly I began to remember situations where a tool like this would have saved the day. As usual, my review is too long, all you need to know is in the first two lines so if you don't want to read the melodrama, close this page and just go buy one.. Oh, and just because I write favorable reviews here does not make me as one writer put it, "an Amazon cheerleader." I hate buying equipment online, truth be told. But this forum is indispensable to me.

I accidentally discovered this thing while looking around for something else at toolmonger dot com.. Unlike the PS20 and the I-Driver, I was not waiting months for the release, in this case it was a coupla weeks. So today I read it is already in stores. I grab my Lowes gift card and head for Big Blue. And there it was, $199.99. With a free holster thrown in! I was a little bit taken aback by the price, now that I have bought into this battery format you'd think I would not hesitate. I circled warily, and combed the store checking out a few other items while I tried to justify the expense to myself before being drawn inevitably back to the display.

I was out the door with it five minutes later. Now, if you have read my other reviews you'll know I am pretty impressed by the 10.2 volt concept even if the I-Driver was a little disappointing. I still admire the compact design and potential of the system and it seemed the new PS-40 Impactor would be just the right unit to put things back in perspective. I love the PS 20 but it does run out of gas a little more quickly than I would like, and it is pretty pathetic at drilling larger holes. Yes, I know, as someone here pointed out, that's why it's called a driver, not a drill. I get it. The I-Driver almost ended up on eBay, until I discovered it is simply unbeatable for a toolbag-sized device that can punch a 1 inch spade bit through the narrowest of joists. Go figure

First impressions: Nice case, 2 batteries and charger, 2 bits. This package came with a nice little holster as well. The unit is just as expected for a big bro to the PS20, but not so big as to be noticeably bulkier. The I-Driver is too large for my hand, but not the Impactor. As many will point out, the annular LED's in the snout are way cool, and sure to make the PS-20's wall-eyed single beam even more harder to take. The chuck seems tighter and less likely to show any runout, if anyone wants to put a dial indicator on and go for a comparison let me know.

I really had to wonder why I was buying an impact driver anyway, and was reminded of this immediately when I fired it up. The battery was hot right out of the box, and I first ran a 3" deck screw into the nearest available 2X4.

It's a noisy little [...], I should have expected as much. Driving a screw is- different. Seems slower, but as soon as I ran a side by side it narrowly beat or tied the PS20 every time. The way the impact action works seems to keep re-setting the bit into the screw head and there was no tendency to cam-out. I was hoping it would have a way to be set for impact or drill, but it's always on.

At this point, I am not sure the PS40 will be as useful as I imagined, but it definitely has a surprising amount of power. And noise, did I mention that?

And a new discovery: contrary to common belief, the LiIon cell does not run at 100% until death, it seems I was using less than a fresh battery. When I snapped in a hot one the performance increased dramatically. I tested it side by side with the PS20 on screws holding in the treads of some stairs I built, and the results were startling. I will have to make video and post it somewhere. Look for this on YouTube, maybe. (Aha!- I see Toolmonger beat me to it. Driving a 5/8 lag bolt into an undrilled 2X4- ? This is cruel. I hardly think of a situation where this would become necessary. Anyway. If you have 4 minutes to spare and an urgent need to do something there is no conceivable reason to attempt, go for it. But, the noisy little [...] did it. I did in fact shoot a side-by-side race of this driver with the PS20, it's in YouTube, but even spelling out the address didn't slip by the Amazonians. Do a search, it's there. Not surprisingly, the PS40 dusted its little brother.

UPDATE: Now with Amazon's help I can upload the vid.


Drilling was about the same, as far as speed goes, I don't really think that using an impact driver to make holes is the most polite way to do it, but this is all bench testing, my impressions of the I-Driver were much revised after I put it to work. Consider this review a work in progress.

Then, "ca-ching": I put a ¼ " hex adapter in the PS20, and a 1/2 " socket and put it to work on a 3/8" lag bolt holding down a shop vise. It gave a little "urk" noise and stopped. Next the Impactor; it backed it out in 15 seconds and I swear if it could have smiled it would have. And running it in, I had no doubt it could have snapped the head. This time the noise was appropriate for the task. In less than 5 minutes I found something it was good at, uniquely qualified even. I am still not sure it's worth [...] at this point, apart from loving the system so much. This time I will evaluate it intensely before the return period expires, and I will be updating this review as I learn more about it.

Finally, the LED's: Extra points to Bosch for paying attention. The annular 3 LED array is great, even though I finally got used to the Cyclops in the PS20, this is what it should have been in the first place. Plus, if you put the direction selector in the "lock" position, squeezing the trigger gives you a cool little pistol grip Bond flashlight, although I was having fun doing it by just pulling the trigger far enough to make the light come on along with that spooky weird hi-freq noise. It still creates a cone of shadow around the work more than on it, but I whenever I use a tool without a light it seems like something is missing.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nearly Perfect, July 16, 2007

By 

K. Smith "Ken of Cambridge" (Cambridge, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch PS40-2AH 10.8V Impact Driver w/Holster (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've had the PS40 for over a month now and find it to be an excellent driver - nearly perfect.

At first I was put off by the noise of the impact mechanism, but after drilling hundreds of deck screws I came to appreciate the tremendous amount of torque available. More torque is usually a good thing, but in a standard drill/driver excessive torque can be bad as it requires more work, is less precise, or possibly dangerous if the tool, say, twists you off a ladder. The PS40 doesn't have this problem, in fact, it requires less effort to drive the same fastener as a standard driver or drill. I found myself backing off on the downward pressure to the fastener - much less force is necessary to keep the bit engaged. In particular this is a boon for those situations where you can't get a good and strong angle, such as working overhead or where the screw is hidden from view. With the PS40, if you can get the bit in the fastener that's probably enough to get the job done.

The impact noise is loud but not "hurt your ears" loud. If you're using it inside it may annoy others in the house, be forewarned.

The size, grip, weight, balance, and battery life are all excellent. It really does feel like a phaser, that is, if the phaser actually existed.

As the description warns, the PS40 cannot be used as a drill (I tried). So you'll still need another tool for that. The PS40 will replace my Porter Cable 14.4 cordless drill and is a third the size and weight. I'll reserve the drill for pilot holes (its batteries are failing anyway).

For lighter duty driver applications, I would think the non-impact PS20 would be ideal (though I've not tried it). Given that the 20 retails for just over $100 (for the 2 battery & charger kit) I'm considering buying one to compliment the 40. If they ever sell just the PS20 driver alone I will definitely buy one.

The PS40-2A kit differs from the PS40-2 in that they throw in a belt holster. I wouldn't pay extra for it.

I strongly recommended the PS40 for mid to high torque applications, such as deck building, drywall hanging, and framing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest impact driver for the size!!, August 7, 2007

By 

D. Schubert "dopakrev" (Corvallis, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bosch PS40-2AH 10.8V Impact Driver w/Holster (Tools & Home Improvement)

Powerful, lightweight, typical Bosch quality. The three LEDs are great for seeing what you're doing (especially with older eyes!) and the lithium ion batteries get you through the work without quitting. Best tool in my bag!!