Anyone have problems with Bosch Tools?
I have purchased three Bosch tools in the last six months. A hand planer, a 14 volt drill and the Powerbox (OK, thats more a toy, but hey, what the heck)
The planer has worked fine although I use it only on occasion. The drill and power box are used almost every day.
The drill has already dropped parts (a screw came out from inside the chuck and I can’t get it back in and the clip that holds the extra screw bit fell out) and it now spits sparks on occasion. Also, since the screw came out, the chuck does not hold bits well.
As far as the Powerbox goes, the radio reception STINKS! I can’t even get a station that is broadcast from my town less than five miles away. They obviously found this to be a problem because in later models they have added a detachable antenna (although I hear the reception on the newer models can still be described as poor). Also, insulating covers for the GFI outlets have fallen off.
I purchased Bosch tools on their reputation for a superior product. I have been very dissapointed.
Has anyone else had similar problems with Bosch? Their customer service seems very willing to help, but if the tools themselves are poor, they will just be replacing a poor tool with another poor tool.
I’d like to hear what you all have experienced.
Brian….Bayview Renovations
Replies
brian.. we have the later modelof the boom box with the external antenna.. reception seems fine
i have an old (15 years ? ) barrel body jig saw. i sent back to bosch for a faulty blade retention.. they fixed that and put a new cord on too.. for the bubble
i'd take the service dept. up on their offer to help.. bet you get a good working tool.. they really are trying to be the tool company for the pros.. let them earn it
i've always had really good luck with bosch- and i sure hope that doesn't change because i just did some serious damage to my mastercard with amazon's tool sale this past week, and it's all stuff in blue boxes...
m
If you use a small diameter drill bit it is possible for the shank tip of the drill bit to seat itself into the head of the hex head screw in the center of the chuck.
When this happens and the bit is turned it can begin to loosen that screw. Then later on sometime because it lost it's initial tightness, the screw will continue to loosen and eventually fall out.
I don't know if the manu has corrected this in yours or later models yet. I just replaced the screw and am careful not to bed the small drill bits deep into the chuck. A case supporting the use of hex drive bits I guess.
I found the extra screw bit holder deal kinda useless from the getgo as I felt the bits never fit real secure in that holder anyhow. Thus I wasn't ever comfortable using it.
I always have had good success with Bosch's service. If you have trouble getting that screw back in the chuck then send it in. I'd think they would take good care of you. If not, make sure to report back here.
We'll get some attention for you.
be ready to kick Bosch's azz if needed
Mostly a Bosch kinda guy, I'm thinking that the chuck needs to be seated first for the screw to do it's job. Take the screw out and see if you can loosen the chuck, to do this it's the reverse direction of what you think. Then reset the chuck all the way down on the threads. Then you can replace the screw, and tighten or if you like a little lock tite or my favorite a dab of construction adhesive. Holds real good and seems to break free when you need to.
Always had good experiences with Bosch. Now in the process of switching all my cordless stuff over. Very few problems ever and they always took care of it.Greg Werner- Werner Building & Remodeling
Huntingdon PA
I have both the 14.4 brute and 14.4. well the 14.4 seems to have a open style vent on it. It was like 3 revolutions new and I'm drilling some Plaster or some thing and some chips of it falls into the little fan exhust hole and Stopppppppppp wow that was weird, so I shake it a little and white chips of ? fall out. I though it was like the ceramic housing of the brushes. OH well drop ship pick up and boom new drill- 4days or so. It was just the crud that locked it up. But the brute has a finer screen or ? over that hole that won't let junk in.
Bummer. I love Bosch myself. Never been one to be "brand loyal", I just try to buy the best tool available no matter who the company is. That being said, if I had to pick the Top Dog of tool companies right now, it'd be Bosch hands down, no question.
I too think that the reception on the Powerbox is lousy and I'm just outside of Boston, one of the largest radio markets in the US. The Milwaukee has less features, costs less, and is a real screamer. My bust.... I fell for the flashy appearance rather than waiting for the tool reviews to come out. But it does charge the batteries for my Brute 18V drill/driver which has been a true performer for two years or so now. Lots of drops and getting banged around.... still top notch.
Am positively in love with my three year old Bosch wormdrive.....still as perfect as it was the day it came out of box after three years of daily framing abuse. Have three Bosch CS20 sidewinders for the fellas.... not perfect, but as good as it gets for a sidewinder dedicated to framing. I keep a Milwaukee Tilt-loc on the truck for the finish and finesse stuff.... another great saw, but the table will bend if left in the mix for too long.
Long story short.... Mike Smith nailed it. Let Bosch do their job and make it right by you. Even if you're still not happy it would be your loss to rule out the Bosch name from future purchases. You must remember to never buy any tool based solely on a brand name. You've got to do the research and make sure its a 'best fit' for what you intend to use it for.
IMO Bosch has engineering rather than QC problems.Their service department partially makes up for this.
I agree with Clay.....the chuck screw is REVERSED THREADS
regards
OK, thanks. Now you're causing me to worry!
My less-than-two-years-old PC 333 ROS froze up on me in the midst of a table top project. I scampered out to Lowes and bought a Bosch variable speed ROS to get me through (no more PC for me after that one froze up).
I figured it _might_ be brushes on the PC but it sure wasn't. The bottom bearing (a "made in china" item) that serves as a pillow block was frozen solid and wouldn't allow the motor shaft to move, much less spin. I laid a large set of channel locks on the bearing and gave a hefty twist to the motor shaft. It broke the freeze-up inside the bearing. Lots of WD 40 and some air tool oil later, the bearing was spinning freely. I reassembled the unit and ZOOM! It works like a champ. One thing about that bearing that sort of hurts is that the complete inside of the sander was quite clean! (I blow it out during and after each use.) I just "know" it's going to freeze up again and likely before I use up all of that 5-hole paper I have!
After reading all of these posts, I'm beginning to wonder if I should keep the Bosch ROS or take it back while I can.
Any Thoughts??
-- Steve
Enjoy life & do well by it;
http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/
I have 3 Bosch ROSs and although the first one is running ragged these days, I wouldn't trade them in. The 6" is about hosed, tho. Been lusting after the new 6 incher Bosch came out with recently...
I never met a tool I didn't like!
I know that this is a bosh thread so i will get to that
for RO sanders there is only one in the 6" .... rotax by festool, once you go rotax you never go back.
now on the the bosch... I have the T.S. and like it much, started sheading hardware after about 2 - 3 months. Figured it was no big deal, just replaced the ancillary stuff that vibrated off.... then something went afoul with the fence. a little plastic thing broke and fence alignment became hit or miss ( had to measure across front an back to insure square), figured i would get it fixed eventually
then something went south with the motor, not brushes, not switch but when you turn it on it immediately trips what ever it is pluged into. I suspect armature windings have thrown off solder and are now shorting on sometning.
this saw has not seen continual abuse or even use... It is one of three that I have. The dewalt is hell to look at and has taken one hell of a thrashing but still continues to work as well as the old delta contractor saw ( well that one dose not even count).
so off to the service center with this one and I don't think i will be picking up another bosch t.s., now their jigsaws are the bomb and i also love their worm saw but the ts is just not up to expectations.
james
WOW! That's the first bad review I've heard of that TS. Maybe you got a lemon? Regardless.... bummer dude.
Ya, puts me on red alert as a possible buyer.
well its like i said, i liked the saw... I picked it up when i was running more than one job and that saw came to the job that i was on so i know that it was not getting abused ( it was generally used for finish carpentry ), i think the hardiest thing i asked of it was to turn a 6" dado stack about 7/8" thick.... did that a few times with it but it did not seem to mind.
the stuff that came off was ancillary like the bolts for the outfeed support and I really cant tell you how the fence got damaged, probably in transit something fell against it or something like that... i noticed it when i was getting redy to rip something and it did not line up with the throat plate, so i checked and sure enough it was missing some part of the plastic doohickie on the back. Never cared much for the fence on that saw after the rack and pinion of the dewalt or the easy movement of the bismer fence on the contractors saw.
the motor thing is really the thing that upsets me, I ( and my help when i was not looking ) have totally abused the yellow saw and it keeps churning on and on just like any other ts i have owned but this one just gave up, I hope the repair bill is not prohibitive.
having said that ( again ) I would not hesitate to buy another bosch product ( I have many ) but think if i have to pick up another ts it probably will be somehting different, well maybe.... hard to say cuz i really do not like the dewalt ( couldn't tell you why but i dont... may have something to do with the blade only running down to about 3/8 )
oh well, I say give them a try and i wouldn't let my tale of woe stop you from getting the 4000, It did have the least ammount of runout of the portable saws i checked.
james
Bummer.
FWIW, I've got the Rigid jobsite tablesaw and cart. I bought it reconditioned 3 years ago for $379. It's been a fantastic saw but doesn't see daily use....more like monthly. But it has seen some abuse with ripping wet 2X PT with no effect. Been a good performer all around with no down time thus far. Worth a look-see.
I may check out the ridgid if the repair bill for the bosch is too high.
james
james- by pass the local repair yard and call Bosch direct about the problem.
I'm thinking they should cover their product.
rez
I thought about that but this saw is probably 2 years old.... I guess an e mail couldn't hurt anything.
james
that saw has been redone at least 6 times since...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Call the toll free number and talk to a customer service rep direct. Unless you really beat that thing or dropped it a bunch of times you deserve a dignified response.
Just reread your post and there definitely is something due for the motor. Lightweight use and stuff freaking out after 2 or 3 months isn't normal.
Please keep us updated. I for one am really interested in this development as it affects an upcoming purchase.
Edited 12/29/2004 9:28 am ET by rez
I've had the Ridgid for about 4 years now and it has been a real good saw - does occasionally blow a breaker though
Love the stand - would get that stand for any saw
Quit it man you're scaring me. I just bought a Bosch TS. It replaced my Ryobi TS.
msa,
I'm sure the bosh will be leaps above your ryobi in quality and customer service.
james
Had (still have, in my junk pile) a Bosch belt sander that was a piece of excrement.