Replies

1. 
   tedd | Oct 30, 2000 09:03pm | #1

   *
   I just bought first Bosch tool - a 1/2" drive, 14V cordless drill. I used a makita for years and was using a panasonic and dewalt recently before I purchased the Bosch. The Bosch and Panasonic are about par with each other. The Panasonic seems to have more power (speed). The Boach has great balance and good grip, exceptional torque, long lasting batteries, tough and sturdy, battery pack fits very tight. I used the Bosch all day many times, driving thousands of screws (even over my head) - the Makita tired me out, the Bosch doesn't. The Makita comes in second and the DeWalt is sub-standard.

1. 
   The_Tennis_Court_Builder_...on_t | Oct 30, 2000 09:18pm | #2

   *Tedd Just started thinkin....Panasonic chop box....Table saw....Wow!near the stream,aj

1. 
   tom_charles | Oct 30, 2000 09:52pm | #3

   *Todd: You mentioned you just bought that 1/2" Bosh? I hope you do better with it than my partner did. His wasn't a year old when the variable speed became single speed. I don't think we work our tools much carder than anyone else, but maybe Bosh needs to install a heavier duty trigger switch. I must also disagree with you concerning Dealt's cordless drills. I have used every major brand of cordless drill and found Dealt to be the best of the bunch. In Bosh's favor, I will say that their jigsaw is the best I've ever used and their Bulldog hammer drill is outstanding too. Bosh tools are also fairly priced.

1. 
   tom_charles | Oct 30, 2000 09:57pm | #4

   *Hey what happened to my spelling? I didn't reply to Todd, I replied to Tedd. And typed "Bosch" not bosh.And what in the world happened to DeWalt? I'll never use the spelling check again!

1. 
   tom_charles | Oct 30, 2000 10:00pm | #5

   *Tedd: You mentioned you just bought that 1/2" Bosch? I hope you do better with it than my partner did. His wasn't a year old when the variable speed became single speed. I don't think we work our tools much harder than anyone else, but maybe Bosh needs to install a heavier duty trigger switch. I must also disagree with you concerning DeWalt's cordless drills. I have used every major brand of cordless drill and found DeWalt to be the best of the bunch. In Bosch's favor, I will say that their jigsaw is the best I've ever used and their Bulldog hammer drill is outstanding too. Bosch tools are also fairly priced.

2. 
   Mr._Pita | Oct 30, 2000 10:02pm | #6

   *Well, since we get the occasional to frequent editor from Fine Home building in here, you'd think NH would be concerned. But the truth is the spell checker SUCKS. None of us uses it any more, if we can avoid it. Things like brand names - Dealt, Bosh, Makuta, Hilt, Hibachi all get screwed up unrecognizable. And don't think of using acronyms like IA, BOW, WTF, etc.---OK, That's what it looks like AFTER spell check. This is the BEFORE:Well, since we get the occasional to frequent editor from Fine Homebuilding in here, you'd think FH would be concerned. But the truth is the spell checker SUCKS. None of us uses it anymore, if we can avoid it. Things like brand names - DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, Hilti, Hitachi all get screwed up unrecognizably. And don't think of using acronyms like TIA, BTW, WTF, etc.

3. 
   tom_charles | Oct 30, 2000 10:44pm | #7

   *Tedd, I hope you do better with that 1/2" Bosch than my partner did. The VSR switch wasn't a year old when it became a ssf(single speed forward) switch. We don't work our tools harder than most, I think Bosch needs to install a heavier duty switch on their cordless drills.In fairness to Bosch their jigsaw is the best I've ever used. I disagree with you concerning DeWalt's drills being substandard. I've used every major brand and, it's only my opinion, but DeWalt cordless drills are the very best. Their batteries are the best, the drills have more power than others(forget stats I'm talking the real world) and they last a long, long time. I'm still using the same 14.4 cordless hammer drill that I bought almost 3 years ago. I don't have a single complaint.

4. 
   Ron_Budgell | Oct 30, 2000 10:44pm | #8

   *I owned an 8" Bosch circ saw some years ago. When I bought it, it was the only 8" saw I could find and I needed it because I was building 2 wooden tanks 40 feet in diameter out of 2 5/8" x 5 1/2" stock. The saw was made for hands other than mine (probably for hands other than human ones) and I knew it the first time I picked it up. The handle was made at an angle that bent my wrist at just exactly the position to cause maximum discomfort and minimum efficiency. I hated that thing. Fortunately, it went up in smoke because its bearings wore out when it was barely two years old and I kept pushing it while the armature was grinding against the field winding until I knew it was dead. I have never heard of a saw other than this one wearing out the bearing at the brush end of the motor first - the blade end, sure.It would be no comfort to me to be told I could have claimed on the warranty. My 2 centsRon

5. 
   allen_schell | Oct 30, 2000 10:52pm | #9

   *I guess I have mixed feelings.... bosch jig saw--incredible! Bosch power saw-- trash city!

6. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 30, 2000 10:55pm | #10

   *They are absolutely at the top of my list; I've had something or other from everyone but Hitachi and Panasonic, and overall I think Bosch is the most consistently high quality manufacturer around. All the manufacturers have something they are the best at, and some dogs in their line, but I've never been let down by any of the Bosch stuff I've had.

7. 
   Barry_Miller | Oct 30, 2000 11:12pm | #11

   *Now that it's Skil-Bosch, I've noted that some of their tools are identical but for the brand markings and color. An example is the Bosch circular saw and the anniversary Skil circular saw I bought a couple of years ago. Absolutely identical, though the Bosch was a few bucks more. Leads one to wonder which of the two got the most benefit from the merger.

8. 
   Frank_"Mad_Dog"_Maglin | Oct 31, 2000 01:30am | #12

   *I have a Bosch laminate trimmer with all the different bases and I'm quite pleased with it.I also have the Bosch Mitre Finder and believe they are the only manufacturer of this type of tool. Can't speak high enough about this tool.The one thing from Bosch that I try not to buy is their router bits. I have in the past purchased several of their bits and have found that on three occasions with three different Bosch bits the retaining bolt that holds the guide bearing in place would come loose and the bearing would go flying off damageing the work being routed. This happened once with a brand new bit first time out of the package. Other than this, I think their tools are of good quality.

9. 
   kcoyner_ | Oct 31, 2000 02:51am | #13

   *I own a 4" belt sander which I have been very pleased with as well as a jig saw. I had a 3 1/4 hp plunge router that I sold. It was a great router but it lent itself more to shop work. I know a couple of guy's who have the 10" slide cp miter saw. I don't like it much but they both have been happy with it.

10. 
    George_Abramshe | Oct 31, 2000 03:10am | #14

    *Ya know Frank that even though I started this thread I must agree with you about the router bits. There are other brands that I feel more comfortable with, but like Adrian I have to say that they just seem to come up with outstanding tools.

11. 
    pat_white | Oct 31, 2000 04:52am | #15

    *I have a Bosch D grip jig saw .4500 I believe. I've had it for ten years of great service. Cuts like a hot damn. Pat

12. 
    Joel_Greer | Oct 31, 2000 04:59am | #16

    *Funny you should ask. I just bought a Bosch jigsaw today. Cuts like crazy, but I'm not too thrilled about changing blades. That could be a little easier.

13. 
    L._Siders | Oct 31, 2000 07:31am | #17

    *Bosch is a good tool. Especially the jig saw. I like P-C routers though. I think most all tool are pretty good if you get the better models

14. 
    James_DuHamel | Oct 31, 2000 09:09am | #18

    *I've burned up a few Bosch 1/2" hammer drills in my day. The newer line really sucks. I like their laminate trimmer, and their metal cutting nibbler shears, but I have not been too impressed with their OVERALL line. Like every brand name, some of the tools are great, while others are junk. Forums like this keep me posted as to what tools work well and which ones don't. Thanks for the info.James

15. 
    ArcWood_ | Oct 31, 2000 12:17pm | #19

    *I have one of Bosch's first orbital jigs saws and it still runs like a sewing machine. I think the world of their new fixed base routers. The 1617EVS with maple handles is sweet. The D-handle 1618 is bulletproof.

16. 
    Joe_Fusco_ | Oct 31, 2000 01:11pm | #20

    *George,

    I too have toasted a 1/2" Bosch hammer drill once or twice, but it was a good drill while it lasted. I really like my Bosch router and both my jig saws, one "D" handle and a barrel grip.I have used their bits in the past and found them to be really quite good. Maybe you and Frank just happened to get a "defective" one, once or twice. There was a time when they were the only bits I'd buy. I thought they were that good. . .

    View Image © 1999-2000"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich W. Nietzsche

17. 
    Brian_Gale | Oct 31, 2000 03:43pm | #21

    *Have a Bosch 14.4 V cordless drill for home use. Has excellent balance in the hand, good power, good run time. Funny how when you get the ergonomics and balance in the hand done right you don't need all the rubber grip surfaces that wear out and peel off like other cordless drills. Use the thing almost every day and no problems after 2 years...

18. 
    Ron_Budgell | Nov 01, 2000 12:25am | #22

    *How could I ever fgorget about the 1/2" hammer drill?. Bought one for a company I ran about 15 years ago. It just outlasted the warranty. One of my partners at present had one for about 4 years. It worked well for six months. I have to agree about the jig saw, though. It's a fine tool. Another of my partners just bought one. It was the same price as anybody else's high end saw and they threw in 150 blades.

19. 
    Skip_Keith | Nov 01, 2000 07:39am | #23

    *I have a Bosch jigsaw and a Bulldog hammer drill and think they are both as good any. Dewalt seems to be to much money for average stuff. Makita makes bulletproof tools and Milwaukee is the way to go in a drill or screwgun. I still have some very old Sears Craftman tools that won't die but could not tell you who built them except that I heard that Singer did a lot of their early stuff. For what it's worth. Skip

20. 
    teo_ | Nov 01, 2000 07:39am | #24

    *RECALL!You who may own Bosch drills may want to contact the company because there is a recall going on now. It has to do with the VSR drill. That's all I know: I don't own a Bosch drill so I didn't pay much attention to it.

21. 
    Skip_Keith | Nov 01, 2000 07:40am | #25

    *I have a Bosch jigsaw and a Bulldog hammer drill and think they are both as good any. Dewalt seems to be to much money for average stuff. Makita makes bulletproof tools and Milwaukee is the way to go in a drill or screwgun. I still have some very old Sears Craftman tools that won't die but could not tell you who built them except that I heard that Singer did a lot of their early stuff. For what it's worth. Skip

2. 
   George_Abramshe | Nov 01, 2000 07:40am | #26

   *
   Over the years I've owned , used , and replaced , more tools then I care to remember. About 12 yrs. ago I bought my first of 5 Bosch jigsaws. Since then I've been slowly replacing things with other Bosch tools and have found them exceptional in every way. The fella's at the local Woodworkers Wharehouse call me 'Boschman' and can't wait for me to come in when they introduce a new line of tools. Anyone else notice that all their stuff is exceptional?