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New Bosch 12V Max Cordless Brushless Angle Grinder is Teeny Tiny!

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Bosch 12V Max Angle Grinder

A couple of months ago, we talked a little about Bosch’s 12V brushless cordless angle grinder, but there was very little official information available at that time.

We’ve just learned a lot more about the new 12V Max brushless grinder, thanks to Bosch’s European announcements. Bosch USA has not yet indicated any plans to bring this to the USA.

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The new Bosch GWS 10,8-76 V-EC is said to be the world’s first 10.8 volt angle grinder for professionals, and we believe this to be true.

As a reminder, 12V Max and 10.8V are the same thing. 12V Max is used in North America marketing, 10.8V everywhere else.

The new mini Bosch brushless angle grinder works with a 76 mm cutting disc (3-inches), and has a maximum cutting depth of 16 mm (~0.63″).

Bosch says that its new small powerhouse grinder can be used anywhere, such as tight spaces or hard-to-reach areas. Indeed, it looks really compact, and might be the smallest Bosch 12V tool ever.

The disc is attached to the tool vertically, rather than horizontally as with 18V and corded grinders, and Bosch says this provides an ergonomic advantage, due to how the grinder can be used with precision and control.

Bosch even goes so far to say that this can replace other tools, such as hand saws.

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The brushless motor provides high power efficiency, and is also said to be maintenance-free. Additional features include the blade guard, and an electronic brake that can stop a cutting disc in less than one second.

Bosch will offer a range of accessories for the new grinder, including:

  • Metal cutting disc
  • Multi-material cutting disc
  • Diamond cutting disc

Specifications

  • 19,500 RPM no-load speed
  • M5 spindle diameter
  • 76 mm wheel diameter
  • 10 mm arbor hole
  • 160 mm grip circumference (6.3″)
  • Weighs 900 g (~1.98 lbs) with 2.5Ah battery

(Have you ever seen a manufacturer mention grip circumference before?)

ETA: Feb 2016 (Europe)
Price: 239 euros, excl. VAT, for the 2x 2.5Ah battery kit

First Thoughts

The new brushless angle grinder, which really seems to be more of a cut-off tool to me, looks to be a great addition to the Bosch 12V Max (10.8V) lineup.

It’s built with a brushless motor, making this Bosch’s first-ever non-drill/driver brushless 12V-class tool, and it’s also their first-ever 12V-class grinder or cut-off tool.

There’s at least one DIYer brand that has made 12V-class angle grinders in the past, which is why Bosch specifically mentions this as being the world’s first professional use 12V Max/10.8V angle grinder.

But… don’t start saving your pennies just yet. Who knows if or when Bosch will bring their new compact brushless angle grinder to the USA. There are several other cordless tools that we have yet to see here, and might never see here, such as their brushless impact drivers, 18V FlexiClick modular drill, and their 12V circular saw and rotary tool.

If this is destined for release in North America, maybe the USA model will have a 3/8″ arbor size. 3″ cut-off wheels with 3/8″ arbors are readily available through industrial suppliers, but those are abrasive wheels, whereas the Bosch grinder is shown with steel abrasive-bonded wheels.

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46 Comments

  1. Glad to see Bosch offering more 12v brushless tools! Now, if only we could get these tools to the US…

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  2. Man I can see a ton of uses for that in machine and fabrication shops easily. I want one,bring it to the US please Bosch.

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  3. When will this tool be in the U S A Need one right now .

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    • No guarantee it will be,will have to see if they announce it for us in future.

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  4. no worries guys, milwaukee will copy that machine soonest than bosh will deliver it into US market LOL

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  6. Power wood carvers will want a couple of these if King Arthur’s Tools brings out 76mm cutters. Maybe Toolguyd will need to start listing Amazon UK tool deals.

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  8. Kinda odd that the production images look pretty much the same as the working prototypes, figured they’d modify it to look less like a sideways drill with a thumb switch.

    Glad to see it’s brushless, though would like to see all the brushless tools get the same front/back rubber grip, not the back-only rubber grip like the brushless PS22/PS32.

    Still want the circular saw, too.

    These smaller tools are VERY handy and let you do work in spots that larger tools can’t get to, or do tighter and more precise work that full-size tools are too large and clunky for.

    Unfortunately, I don’t think Bosch can get the approval or safety certifications or whatever it needs to market and sell these particular tools in the U.S., which is slightly bizarre as the rest of the world has stricter standards on a lot of things, including marketing the tools as 10.8V and not “12V Max”, not sure why the hardware wouldn’t be ok.

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    • I have,a couple of Bosch tools that came with 10.8 volt batteries. When I started seeing what looked like like the same battery, marked 12 volts, I called them. They explained that when fully charged, the 10.8 volt battery tops out at around 12 volts. They said that their US competitors were marketing tools with the same number of lithium battery cells as 12 volts, that appeared to be using a higher voltage battery, when ,in fact, they were not. To prevent losing sales, based on a falasy, they started marketing the same 10.8 volt battery as 12 volts. I did not know until just now that they are still 10.8 volts, elsewhere.

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  9. Would LOVE this with 1/4″ collet ala right angle die grinder. It’s got the RPM’s, 19.5k!! Er but I want a Milwaukee version.

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    • I agree. What is up with the serious lack of die grinders out there? Even the corded ones are scarce at the big box stores. In fact, I don’t remember ever seeing one.

      With a die grinder, you can easily transform it into a cut off tool. Although an angle grinder specifically designed for discs might be safer and more practical overall for discs, at least a die grinder gives you the versatility to use bits!

      I own that latest, newest Rotozip, which includes a goofy attachment for using discs (and at a right angle), so buying a dedicated die grinder is not on the top of my priority list. Plus I own 3 rotary tools. However, I’d still like a nice Makita or Bosch die grinder (but it would have to have variable speed if I’m paying full price.)

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    • As compact as possible is very important because these are 10.8 / 12V Cordless power tools.

      Their cordless drill “12V” with battery is light

      Reply

  11. While not side mounted drive, this is really what the Milwaukee M12 Variable Speed Polisher 2438-20 should have been. Instead they put a proprietary M9 x 0.75 collet which fits absolutely nothing. Would it have killed them to instead put a 1/4 inch which would allow it to use just about everything out there? The included collet at least works with 3 inch roloc disks, but your “locked” into only using these disks outside of the polisher mount. However, as mentioned if they had put a 1/4 this could have done just about all the sanding and buffing needs at High 0 – 8,300 rpm / Low 0 – 2,800 rpm without having to bust out a full on single speed angle grinder.

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  12. Looks like someone needs to take a trip to Europe . )) 20k RPM from 12v tool is impressive! I wish Milwaukee would make their m12 2438 polisher that fast.

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  13. Can these be imported? Like if I buy it there can I use it here?

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    • As long as the seller ships to the US, yes. You just need to find a UK seller that will ship it here (not too hard). The UK tool and battery will work with the US tool and battery in Bosch’s 12v line. There is 0 difference.

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    • The only difference I see is the charger using different volts (~230 EU and ~110 USA). If you already have a charger then there should be no problems.

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  14. Anyone have a source for buying from the UK.

    We really need a edit post function

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  15. Gee just what I need, another rotozip type of tool that is neither a dremel or a small angle grinder but something in between with special wheels to try and find and another hole to stuf it in and forget.

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  16. I just want the 12v Brushless drywall screwdriver! It is so expensive to ship over and Toolstop.uk is out of them. For the price of the bare tool I could buy the DeWalt 20v brushless kit.

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  17. “I cannot understand why some of these tools just aren’t available here.”

    Just an FYI in case you had not noticed, the 2.5Ah 12V battery is available in North America now, BAT415, it’s available on amazon.com for $50.

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  18. I have a makita that uses a stick battery, I have modded these batteries from 6v to 12v and they all work in those tools. Point being makita had a cordless pro angle grinder long ago.

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  19. I bought the GWS 12V-76 from Amazon.de It arrived today. It’s so small and powerful that it will definitely be the go-to-tool of choice for burglars and CIA toss artists. It works great and the size is perfect for house and garage jobs. It carries the Bosch price-tag though.

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    • Probably not, or at least they haven’t expressed interest in the automotive tool market.

      Reply

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