While I was writing up today’s post about the Bosch 12V Max screwdriver and impact driver deal of the day, I quickly checked to see what the separate screwdriver and impact driver kits were selling for. What I found was great pricing on Bosch’s PS21 screwdriver kit.
For $80, you get the cordless screwdriver, a charger, a carrying case, and (2) Li-ion batteries. The photo shows that at least one and presumably both of the battery packs are Bosch’s newer 2.0Ah battery packs. That makes this an even better deal.
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The description doesn’t mention the size of the batteries, but when I checked Bosch Tools’ product page for the PS21 kit, they show the same image with a 2.0Ah battery pack’s label facing forward.
This is Bosch’s second-generation pocket driver, and while not brushless like the newer PS22 ($149 via Amazon), the PS 21 isn’t no slouch. It’s a very capable and great quality cordless screwdriver, and also still reasonably compact.
Last year, right before Christmas, the brushless PS22 went on sale for $124 and was eligible for an additional $25 discount, making the final price $99. I’d say there’s a 50:50 chance that we’ll see a similar deal again this year. And if not, there will probably still be a $20 or $25 off $100+ discount. Even so, I don’t think we’re ever going to see the brushless screwdriver kit discounted to $80.
I can’t tell you for sure when this kit went on sale for $80, or how long this price will last. According to online price trackers, this kit was discounted to $80 late last month, and this is the lowest it’s been for almost 2 years. It was briefly priced at $79 back in December of 2013.
Based on past history and reasonably guessing, I’d say that the $80 price for this kit won’t last long. But, if you miss out on this sale, it *might* be eligible for whatever holiday promo discount Bosch is cooking up with Amazon and other online retailers this year.
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BikerDad
it’s a good deal, but…
I wish that the manufacturers would kill these things. I get that these are “less intimidating” than a proper drill, but a cordless drill/driver is so MUCH more useful. I have one of these, and one of the previous model, and gave away a third. I would look at this as paying $11 for a driver and getting the batteries and charger.
John
It may be true that a full drill has more functionality but that’s not what these power screw drivers are for. Imagine interior car installations, electrical, computer work which requires a much lighter touch (even lighter with finely tuned clutch / on some electric clutch than a nut busting full on drill. Not to mention the reduced size where you can’t fit a full on drill into. Consider overhead as well holding that big drill all day.
We rack servers all day and wince at having seen idiots using a big 20 volt Dewalt drill installing a motherboard or card. So PLEASE don’t kill these off as they are incredibly well suited for what their designed to do.
scottthetech
Ditto what John said. These are far more common in the tech and industrial world. They are based off Bosch’s production drills for manufacturing environments. Having a standard adjustable chuck would provide more functionality in terms of drill bits, but hardly more useful. I’ve owned several of the earlier PS20 models and they can drive a 3″ screw through subfloor (1″AC) into stud . This model, the PS21, is quite a bit more powerful.
Mike
What you’re saying is true, but that’s not what these types of screwdrivers are. These are full fledged drills with a 1/4″ quick change collet instead of a standard chuck. The motor and gearbox are no more gentle and the clutch is no more sensitive. You’ll strip out threads as easily with this as with a drill.
3.6-4.0V cordless drivers are still around for tasks that require a little finesse.
John
Note I didn’t say to use this for installing motherboards and though I don’t recommend it, you likely could turning the clutch all the way down (this one has 20 settings) and the speed to lowest selector which in this p-21 is 0-350 rpm (max of 350). Being trigger variable you can easily do 1/4 of that rpm without overrun and being lighter and the proximity to the barrel bit length you have much better feedback to feel when to stop before stripping. Much more control/slower than a larger drill.
Ideally you wouldn’t use any powered driver interior computer server work. Generally that torque rating is about 27 in-lb of torque for internal parts. I also mentioned “idiots” using 20 volt full on drills doing such work.
What I was referring to was about industrial datacenter server installations where we are racking servers. Auto interior work and other contracted work which requires, yes better finesse, than a full 18-20 volt but also much more so than a home black and decker screw driver. I would not try to use a 4 volt setting rack bolts fasteners or mounts. The clearance in those racks are tight as well.
All in all I’m just trying to illustrate the need for this tool and that its not “worthless” to be killed off.
BikerDad
To be clear, I think that the 12v Drill/Driver is the proper replacement for this, NOT an 18v unit. I get the advantage that the smaller size of the 12v units brings, and recognize that there are even times when this driver’s smaller size relative to the drill/driver is an advantage.
As a COMPLEMENT for a drill/driver, these are great, for exactly the reasons others have noted. You can have the drill set up for drilling, and this set up for driving. That’s exactly how I do drawer slide installations and other small screw work. (I’m really, really big on pre-drilling.)
As a sole stand-alone? Not for me. Of course, for some reason I have an irrational dislike for 1/4″ hex shank drill bits. Probably because they’re a lousy value.
Still, as Stuart notes, folks buy ’em so the tool companies will keep making ’em. Since I don’t have a few score billion dollars kickin’ it under the mattress to buy Bosch, I suppose I’ll just have to grumble quietly in the corner about it. Most of my grumble is that they’re putting R&D resources into these rather than into a 12v brushless impact driver. grumble. mutter. grrr. mutter. grumble. (Pay no attention to the crank in the corner, he’ll be quiet once he has lunch.)
Toolfreak
I thought these were a joke before I got one, and figured all I would ever need was a cordless drill.
Turned out all the comments on how great and useful these drivers are were true.
The only thing they aren’t good for is higher-speed drilling, but that’s what a drill is for.
It’s true that a drill might be more versatile, since you can use regular drill bits and not just hex-shank bits, but having a drill AND a driver is the best of both worlds, so you can have a drill bit in your drill and a driver bit in your driver and not have to keep changing bits on one tool. Big time saver and makes jobs less tedious.
Stuart
Cordless screwdrivers are still around because there’s still user demand for them, plain and simple.
Toolfreak
These are also $80 at some Lowe’s locations, and coupons work as well. Just be aware that a LOT of Lowe’s stores seem to have the older kits with the BAT412 batteries, not the newer BAT414 2.0Ah ones.
I finally picked one of these up to add to my PS20. It’s going to be quite a luxury having two drivers PLUS a seperate impact driver and plenty of batteries for everything.
ktash
Looks like they are back in stock. No L-Boxx though.