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I can get maybe two holes drilled before the battery goes flat.Folks, these things cost $80 to $90 EACH. I've owned the Bosch Combo Kit (5 tools instead of 6) for three years. And the flashlight worked as well as any $2 Radio Shack special.The recip saw was practically useless. They may be cheap and 'light' duty, but they DO work.
I could see a handfull of these batteries lasting maybe 6 months, then be forced to pay several hundred dollars to replace them.These tools will find their way to Craigslist, and I'm slowly building a Dewalt collection. Their batteries seem to be somewhat better, and their tools are MUCH better.I'm also keeping my B&D tools FOREVER. There is absolutely NO excuse for this.I shudder to think what would happen if I was a contractor and needed these tools to pay the rent. quality.
Oh, and it's made in Mexico, the same as B&D, Dewalt, and so on.The jigsaw was slightly better.Meanwhile, I still put the Black & Decker tools to much more use, unless I need a good drill.Of course, you need batteries to run these tools, and Bosch gives you two.And those don't last. So obviously, the Bosch batteries must be made to last a bit longer, right.Nope.If the Bosch batteries were $20 or even $40, I wouldn't have a problem, but at this price premium, for the same (or less). These will be the LAST Bosch tools of any kind I'll buy.The reason I bought this kit was I wanted more Heavy Duty tools to replace my cheapo Black & Decker kit, which cost $200 as opposed to the $500 I paid for the Bosch kit.The Bosch drill was, indeed, much better than the B&D, and the circular saw was, at times, more useful, due to the larger blade. B&D batteries cost $35, and I've found them for $40 for a 2-pack.
I've also treated them like babies, and I've taken GREAT care of the batteries.The first one died after two years, and the second is almost dead now. Just getting the blade seated was a project by itself, and once you get it going without shooting a blade across the yard, it jitters and bounces so violently it breaks blades and makes a big mess. Which is the main reason I'm shooing you away from Bosch.These tools got VERY light usage over the three years I've owned them.
Well I'm boosting a bit almost forever. Bosch has a 3 Year PROVANTAGE TOOL PROTECTION PLAN. Awesome set of tools, what can I say I've used various other tools, but they don't compare to this set. My Son-in-law had this particular set and used it in his construction field for more than five years and has since found other employment,and has not "replaced" a battery yet, thats pretty awesome.When I recieved this particular set I did have two tools that did not work.They ran for a second or two and just smoked and died.Please do not send them back to Amazon.com. Call the phone number as directed in the package you buy, and follow their instructions to send defects back to Bosch.They have been so helpful in the replacement of a new tools.If you do it according to their instructions it won't cost you a penny. I have used the saber saw for a whole day and didn't charge the battery for it. It seems like they run forever.
I really like the drill, and am amazed at how it seems to be more powerful than my DeWalt. The saws are great, and the reciprocating saw is very helpful for clearing some brush and small tree limbs. I bought this set as a "Christmas present" to myself. I'm not a contractor, but I have been impressed with these tools as I've done some work around the house this winter.
And the cordless circular saw is amazing. Out of a whole day's use, I had to charge both batteries about half way through the day, but with the short charge time, I was back up in a half hour (just enough time for lunch).
I could live without the flashlight, but hey I took it camping a couple weeks ago and it served its purpose. The cordless jigsaw is awesome too, and the planar, well it works great, but honestly I haven't done much planing yet (just tried it out on a couple boards).
This is the third cordless drill/driver I have owned. I built a retaining wall in the back yard and a huge deck on top of the garage, and the drill and circular saw worked flawlessly.
My only complaint on the flashlight would be that when standing flat on the battery, the light can't be rotated to point down toward the work surface, but only to the side and up.I think this set is definitely worth the investment - I look forward to many years of enjoyment. The last two were DeWalts and while not bad at all, the construction here seems much more solid.
My poor corded Skil will probably not see much more use in the future.
Let me start by saying these are the best tools I have ever owned. The recipricating saw is the best I have seen. The jig saw is top of the line with all the different speeds it can handle anything from aggressive cuts in plywood to precision non maring cuts in laminent. This is a plus for those tight spots and when you are using the dust bag.
I have used the warranty once I broke the foot plate on the jigsaw (my fault I was abusing the tool) I called the warranty number and they sent me a new footplate the next day. The batteries do infact charge in 30 minutes and last nearly twice as long as my Craftsman 19.2 volt stuff. When I called to register for the warranty the phone was answered on the first ring by an English speaking lady (No overseas call center) who was very knowledgeable about her products. They didn't even ask how I did it. The whole thing was done in 3 minutes. The drill has so much power that you have to set the clutch on about 7 or it is very easy to drive a screw so deep you snap the head off.
I would have to say the most impressive feature of these tools is the customer service. I would recomend these tools to anyone. The planer is a full size planer that you can adjust witch side the wood chips come out of. At first I was concerned that the circular saw might be a little under powered (It is a nearly full sized circular saw with an 18 volt battery) But the first time I used it I was amazed by the power.
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