Over in Europe, Bosch has come out with a new FlexiClick 18V cordless multi-head drill/driver system. Model numbers are Bosch GSR 18 V-EC FC2 Professional and GSR 18 V-LI FC2 Professional.
I know what you might be thinking, and you’re right – the EC indicates that there will be a brushless base handle.
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There are also 14.4V brushless and brushed motor versions, but the 18V screwdriver bases have a higher chance of making it to the USA market. Right now there hasn’t been any word about a USA release.
I don’t like to speculate, but I really hope that the Bosch FlexiClick product family will be released in the USA, and soon.
The FlexiClick system consists of compact 18V cordless screwdriver base handles with all of the features you would expect to see, such as a 1/4″ hex bit holder with quick release, an adjustable clutch, and LED worklight. But at the front, there is also a connection point for several types of attachment heads.
Also, all of the attachments can be rotated and locked into different positions, although you will see most benefit in doing so with the offset screwdriver and right angle drill attachments.
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There are 16 different positions around a full 360° range. What’s especially nice about this is that you can rotate and lock each attachment into a new position without first having to remove it from the tool.
We have seen similar technology on an older Black & Decker drill, Festool’s CXS compact drill system, a limited-edition Milwaukee M12 4-in-1 drill/driver, and an AEG 4-in-1 interchangeable drill/driver attachment system.
Attachments
There are 4 new FlexiClick tools and attachments included in Bosch’s Click & Work product family, plus 1 more that’s built into cordless screwdriver. So that’s where Bosch’s 5-in-1 functionality claims come from.
- 1/4″ hex screwdriver (built-in)
- 1/2″ drill chuck
- 1/4″ hex offset screwdriver
- 1/2″ right angle drill chuck
- SDS-Plus rotary hammer
There’s no indication that there will be 12V FlexiClick tools as well, but there’s definitely the potential for this. Perhaps, if Bosch does come out with a 12V base handle, it will work with all of the same attachments.
It is also unclear as to whether the brushed and brushless models are being released to all markets.
Bosch FlexiClick Screwdriver
The 18V drill/driver can of course be used as a screwdriver. It’s rare to see 18V screwdrivers these days, but they’re definitely still useful for low and medium torque fastening applications. You get better control and repeatability than with an impact driver, and the adjustable clutch helps to prevent over-torquing.
The compact length can also be helpful for working in tight but not ultra-tight spaces, compared to using a drill or the Flexi-Click drill adapter.
Bosch FlexiClick Drill Chuck Attachment
And with the drill attachment, it looks like an ordinary drill/driver, perhaps only a tiny bit longer.
Bosch FlexiClick Offset Screwdriver Attachment
There’s also an offset screwdriver attachment that provides access for when you need to drive fasteners in tight corners.
This attachment can be rotated and locked into different positions, providing flexibility for working in tight spots.
Bosch FlexiClick Right Angle Drill Chuck Adapter
The right angle drill chuck allows you to drill holes and drive fasteners in places where the driver or driver with drill chuck just cannot fit.
Bosch FlexiClick Rotary Hammer Attachment
It doesn’t look to be available separately yet, but there will be an SDS-Plus rotary hammer attachment added to the lineup. That’s right – this is not a hammer drill chuck – it’s an SDS rotary hammer attachment. It comes with a removable auxiliary handle with adjustable depth stopper.
Pricing
There will be several purchasing options available. Right now, it looks like the FlexiClick screwdriver base handles will only be bundled with the 1/2″ drill chuck. Additional attachments can be purchased separately.
119 GBP ($180 USD) for the bare kit, 309 GBP ($466 USD) for the kit which comes with a charger and (2) 4.0Ah batteries. Both kits come with an L-Boxx and L-Boxx inlays.
The drill, offset screwdriver, and right angle drill attachments are available for 47 GPB ($70 USD) separately. That the drill attachment is available separately indicates that there might soon be a bare no-attachment option as well.
Technical Specs & Additional Features
- Brushless version max torque: 50 Nm (hard), 31 Nm (soft)
- No-load speeds of 0-500 and 0-1700 RPM
- 18 + 1 adjustable clutch
- 1/2″ drill chuck has “auto-locking” sleeve
- LED worklight
- Motor brake
- Belt clip
- Screwdriver can drive up to 826 screws (6 x 60mm in softwood) with 4.0Ah battery
Attachments: 1/2″ drill chuck (GFA FC2), offset screwdriver (GEA FC2), right angle drill chuck (GWA FC2), SDS-Plus rotary hammer adapter (GHA FC2)
Here are a couple of non-English videos showcasing the new Bosch FlexiClick system:
http://youtu.be/K2mpO0xpSxM
You’re a little interested, maybe even excited by now, right? Well, I sure am.
Todd H.
Oh that’s sweet! I’d like to try that bad boy out. Lot’s of options in hard to reach corners. Nice!
Garrick
Just checking the prices.
Is £119 for just the bare tool (and L-boxx), or does that include the attachments, but not the batteries and charger. £309 sounds like a lot more for just the batteries and charger. That would be $284 for just those.
I would assume, as with most tools, they will be lower priced when or if they reach North America.
Stuart
I’ve added Bosch’s pricing table into the post. For the price you get the screwdriver base unit and a drill attachment.
ChrisK1970
Wow! To think my new Bosch IDH182 can have a brother like my Festool T15+3 and CXS!
cody
The tool looks great! The only problem that I think users will run into with this tool is the chucks have a twist lock mechanism unlike festool. Why could this be a problem? Because if the user has gloves on and is trying to adjust the clutch settings they might accidently unlock the chuck.
cody
Stuart check out the new hilti SF 10W-A18 cordless drill it has 1,062 inch pounds and 2,100 rmps. There’s two videos of it on hilti’s YouTube channel.
Dominic van Lievenoogen
Almost as strong as Makita’s then
Joe
Other than the hammer drill option,Festool did this 15 plus years ago.
BikerDad
So what? Stuart indicates in his article that Festool, B&D and others have already gone down this path. He’s not saying that this some wondrous new invention, the very first of its kind, etc, etc.
BikerDad
Meh. I understand the attraction as a gadget. I understand the attraction of a flexible system. And I’m still “meh”. IF they packaged it as the “base handle” with the right hand and offset attachments, then I might be interested. I’m not interested if I have to buy a configuration I don’t want (I have a purpose built drill/driver) AND then shell out extra to get the attachments that may be useful for me. I have zero interest in a 18v driver. I have a purpose built hammer drill/driver. If I needed a highly flexible 18v system that took up a minimum of space, I’d look at this. If I needed a hammer drill/driver, a right angle driver, and a offset driver, for casual use and money were tight, I’d be more inclined to buy three Ryobi/B&D/Skil tools rather than one of these contraptions.
Chris Fyfe
If they get it right , could be a game changer . I think that for something with restricted acces in mind , the14.4 version would be really cool .
Chris
mp
If only they’d make a non-gimmick brushless impact driver (IDH182 doesn’t count).
John S
I am surprised so many people are against this design. The CXS is incredibly popular among those who own it. I imagine this is well designed and the people who choose to buy it will be quite happy with it.
BikerDad
Donning my Festool nerd needling attire:
I imagine most of the enthusiasm for the CSX is because nobody else other than the near bottom tier brands makes anything like it. The exclusivity, as well as the butter knife attachment (pardon me, could you hand me the Grey Poupon?), are the draw. That and it saves them from trying to figure out where to put 3 more Systainers.
/needle off.
Peter
I would like to have that, good that I am going to Germany soon.
Josh
I’m curious about the SDS hammer attachment. My understanding was that hammer drills just don’t have the hammering power for more than tiny holes; it’s hard to see how this drill would.
huuh
Like the article says, it’s a pneumatic rotary hammer, not hammer drill. Since Bosch invented that tool category I’m pretty confident in their abilities. Even the tiny Milwaukee M12 rotary hammer has plenty of power compared to any hammer drill.
Toolfreak
It’s a sad day when Bosch is copying something that Black & Decker is doing.
Wow.
Guess the Bosch R&D department ran out of ideas.
HenRun
I have the Bosch Flexiclick 18V.
It is a well built machine and it runs nicely with minimum bit wobble.
One complaint I have is the grip – it is not as ergonomic as Bosch other drills, say for instance the 18V Impact or some of the other drills like Hitachi, Panasonic, Makita and Festool T-grip and many others out there.
Take a look at picture number three. It depicts the Flexiclick _WITH_ the better and more ergonomic grip. Other pictures are with the mediocre grip. The grip is even worse if you wear gloves and pretty much regardless of hand size people tend to like the slimmer grip, gloves or no gloves.
I ordered the Bosch 18V FC2 (was there ever a FC1 ???) and was surprised that the grip was worse than all my other Bosch products. Why Bosch, why? One Bosch rep here in Sweden said that all the 18V products will migrate to the slimmer grip. I wonder why they would release a new product with the older style. Rushing it to the market? Poor ergonomics due to the grip takes my rating down from four solid stars to only three stars. Another star was deducted due to the angle (drill) chuck. Better with a Festool/Milwaukee angle chuck with a bit holder, shorter and more versatile as you can always add the drill chuck if needed.
FlexiClick = Great concept, poorly executed.
HenRun
In tight spaces a angle bit chuck is shorter. Bosch version is always longer than the competing brands solutions when you need to drive screws in tight spaces. You need to factor in the length of the screw on top of the angle chuck itself. But, all Bosch have to do is make another elbow/angle chuck, with the same excellent bit holder as they have on the FlexiClick machine. That would make for an awesome angle attachment. I accept a new FC3 machine with the slimmer grip as a reward for pointing out the obvious flaws in a promising concept. 🙂
Tjorven
I got it too! Used thed drill for about 5 months now, with no problems at all. I can see your problem with the angle, but i have’nt runned into any problems yet, and I’ve seen pictures of a ” flat angle” with almost a hidden bit-holder. The handle is very individual, as with all drills. The new 18V drills that will be released in january, will be like the driver you mentioned.
The FC1 isn’t in the market yet. That will be a 10,8/12V, without the sds-hammer, but with the new angle. As with the FC2 you can rotate the angle 16 times, after mounting it on the machine.
I will try to get some pictures for Stuart of theses products.
Ooah hela natten;)
Charles
Need to know where to get one?
Alex Andri Jónsson
What I’m most afraid of is that dirt will get to the click system while using the impact driver and then your going to have problems locking /unlocking each part or worse the dirt will set in to the parts and then you’d need to buy a new one and that might be expensive in the long run?
But then again if that would happen bosch could easy make a click system lid to protect the main lock on the drill