Bosch 13618 18 Volt Brute Tough Hammerdrill

List Price: $482.00 Discount Price: $309.99

Features:

• Steel-reinforced collar enhances durability and protects tool
• Unibody power train maintains alignment between clutch, gearbox, and motor
• DuraShield housing is constructed to withstand real-world conditions
• Maximum torque: 475 inch/pounds
• 2-speed gearbox: high-speed mode generates 1,500 rpm and 18,000 beats per minute

Accessories:
Milwaukee 49-22-0130 Contractor's Kit 7 Bit 1-Inch to 2-9/16-Inch Selfeed Drill Bit Assortment with 5-1/2-Inch Extension and Plastic Carrying Case	Milwaukee 48-89-0050 29 Piece 1/16-Inch to 1/2-Inch Cobalt Twist Drill Bit Assortment in Metal Index	Milwaukee 48-89-0045 13 Piece 1/16-Inch to 1/4-Inch Cobalt Twist Drill Bit Assortment in Metal Index	Milwaukee 49-22-4066 13-Piece 4/6 Tooth Plumbers and Electricians Hole Saw Kit	DeWalt DW2551 6 Piece 1/16-Inch to 1/4-Inch Hex Shank Twist Drill Assortment

Customer Reviews:

Solid Machine--Build to last a Lifetime! [Posted on 2003-11-03]
Plently of power behind this drill. Based on Bosch's reputation alone is reason to get this drill.

not bad [Posted on 2004-07-30]
I am an electrician, and have generally used a makita 1/2" drill for all my frame drilling. I purchased the bosch 18v brute and have been doing a lot of reno's recently. Drill has enough torque to blow through several side by side 2xwhatever, but the torque settings occassionaly get nudged because they are close to where you grad the drill, same with the forward/reverse. Also a little wobble on the chuck, not sure if this was factory or developed since I used it, but it does concern me. And I have a new duplex coming up, and want to give the cordless a try to drill out the entire thing, more to come on that. I like the rubber grips, and after several uses the battery seems to hold for some decent workload. Havent given much of a run on the hammer drill with it, what I have done, it seems fine, just 3/16 and 1/4 stuff.

Lotsa Twistum [Posted on 2004-10-22]
I purchased this drill in the Multitool kit when ALL my tools went up in a fire. My old 12 Bosch drill was light, balanced, a joy to use. My initial impression of this piece was that it was going to be too heavy for enjoyable use. Then on my first project (a 13x35 foot deck) my newly unpacked corded drill gave up the ghost after a mere dozen screws. I fell back on this and it punched 15 pounds of 3.5 inch #9's without a whimper. Decent run time. The trigger is very responsive with good speed control. Plenty of torque. Used it as a nutdriver while assembling my new tablesaw and had to stop because it kept stripping the threads off the 5/16th inch bolts. The majority of my handheld tools are Bosch and I believe in them fervently.

So Far, So Good [Posted on 2005-07-28]
I am a dealer for Basement Systems, Inc of Seymour, CT. which means I spend the better part of the week in dirt crawlspaces, drilling into predominantly block walls, but occasionally, concrete footings. This tool gets dropped in the dirt, is used in high humidity areas, and generally worked hard. I had been using DeWalt 18V 1/2 inch hammer drills, but their triggers gave me problems. I also use a 24V Bosch, and so far, these drills have proven durable, powerful, and effective. A tool repairman in this area told me he rarely sees a Bosch tool, but fixes DeWalts often.

a great cordless hammerdrill/driver [Posted on 2005-11-25]
I have owned one of these for about 2.5 years and so far no serious complaints as this has been a consistently reliable tool. It has more than justified its high price with its solid performance--for most small masonry applications this drill has proven itself more than adequate. I have been in situations where I have had to really abuse this tool--drilling 1/2" holes in aged cement and while this tool couldn't keep up like a cordless it still hasn't died. Oh, and these 18v batteries will work in my 24v Bosch tools, but their 24v batteries will not work in this 18v drill.

The batteries leave something to be desired and the weight still feels excessive to me for 18v--I purchased the 18v instead of an 24v SDS because I don't have masonry applications that often and would like a full-size drill that could handle the infrequent times when I would have to drill brick or concrete, but still be light enough for general use. That said, I have the 24v jigsaw and circular saw from Bosch, and I'm not sure that it wouldn't have been a better idea for me to get the 24v hammerdrill for battery interchangeability. The 18v is still pretty heavy--the carabiner clip on the bottom of the drill's handle seems like a great idea until you actually try to use it and then find it pulling your pants down around your ankles. The drill feels solid and well-made--although on mine the clutch's inked on numbers as well as the BOSCH name painted in red on the side of the motor have basically scratched off entirely. The included side handle is nice and the case is surprisingly decent.

I'm generally happy with this purchase, but I'm not sure it is necessarily the best option out there. I have a Metabo 15.6v I like more for general use and for serious hammerdrills I wish I had probably went either with the 24v Bosch SDS or the comparable Hilti 24v, or even the 19.2v P/C's. If I was doing a lot of masonry drilling inevitably I would have to go with a corded anyway.

Click here for more details and discount information...