Yesterday, we wrote about how a reader’s email exchange with Bosch customer service seemed to indicate that a PS42 brushless impact driver would soon be released.
Well, it’s official, the PS42 is on the way, and is expected to hit the market in June 2016. Check out this news we received from Bosch via Twitter!
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@ToolGuyd Pretty smart Stuart! Yes 12v brushless impacts are coming in June! PS42BN (driver) & PS82BN (wrench) You called it.
— Bosch Power Tools North America (@BoschToolsNA) February 9, 2016
In case you can’t see the embedded Tweet, here’s the juicy bit:
Yes 12V brushless impacts are coming in June! PS42BN (driver) & PS82BN (wrench).
That’s good news, as a lot of users have been waiting for these tools for quite some time.
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It has been more than two years since Bosch’s 12V Max brushless drill and driver, PS32 and PS22 respectively, were first released in the USA. At the time, there were several new 18V brushless tools as well – drills, an impact wrench, and a hybrid impact driver + wrench tool. But no 18V impact driver either.
It’s unclear as to why it took so long for these tools to be released. Maybe the price point just wasn’t low enough to ensure a fair number of sales?
It’ll be some time before we can confirm the specs Bosch has planned for the PS42 and PS82 impact tools, but for the time being, you can refer to the European specs if curious.
If nothing has changed, then the new Bosch PS42 impact driver and PS82 impact wrench will both have 2 electronic speed and torque setting modes.
More information will be available between now and June.
mike aka Fazzman
Alright!!,im looking forward to these.
Mike
Who cares brushless isn’t the answer better battery technology is the way a top notch brushed motor run almost as good as a brushless and some as good better batteries are the future
Stuart
Even if you’re on the “who cares about brushless” side of the fence, consider that these tools are probably smaller (as was true with the other brushless 12V class tools) and have 2 speed modes, a feature a lot of users, especially installers, really like.
david arcand
brushless = less heat and a smaller form factor for the same amount of power
Chris
Ah man…………I gave up on these coming to the states and bought the 12v 3/8 impact brushless wrench from UK. I can say I absolutely love it and it’s small size. Has been great removing the 12mm bolts on the car and putting together a tool cart so far. I wonder if there will be any changes to US version.
Andy
Yes!!!! I hope Amazon includes these impact tools in its special Bosch pricing for Father’s Day.
Jason
Looks like Bosch is going to have a bunch of new product this year. I hope their street dates are more accurate than they have been though. Some tools took quite awhile to make it to store shelves.
Martin
Brushless is more expensive but cheaper in the end, a brushed motor has brushes which last 50 to 250 hours depending on quality and use, can be replaced in the more expensive tools but with the compact tools the motor needs to be replaced. Brushless tools weakest link is probably the gearbox or the bearings as the motor itself can last up to 2500 hours without dificulty
Mike
The brushless motor will run longer but the electronic control part won’t last as long as the brushes on a brushed motor and that cost a lot more than brushes I’ll stick with my brushed motor they are more dependable
DJA
Agree completely.
Adam
I loved the feel of my 12v Boschs a few years ago, but they took FOREVER expanding the line. I was also bummed at the time that all i got were 1.5ah batteries, and within a couple weeks, every kit had 2ah batteries.
Bosch was one Christmas season too late to the party for me, wish it wasn’t so.
Bill
Note to Dewalt: Are you paying attention to this? I am!
Aaron
I talked with a DeWalt rep at Lowe’s 2 months ago and asked him directly about their 12v line; he told me they didn’t have anything new coming and that they’re focusing on the 20v lineup. I can understand why given that their 20v compact line is almost the same size as the Milwaukee 12v tools, but it still annoys me given how well-made their 12v fasteners are.
I’m just glad Bosch is going to be giving Milwaukee some form of competition in the US. Their brushed 12v selection is superior to Milwaukee’s brushed IMO and their brushless looks to follow suit.
Grady Bookout
Still not as good as a plug!
DJA
Apples and oranges. That’s not the question here.
Adam
Dont forget they have 2.5ah compact batteries out, or coming out soon to make this probably the most compact impact. The barrel of the grip of the Bosch 12v is just enough smaller to make it more enjoyable than the Milwaukee M12 counterparts.
Mark S.
Anyone know what the break-away torque is on the impact wrench? Can it rip slightly rusted lugs off a F-350 for example?
Chris
Mark S. The torque varies on impact wrench’s. For bosh I would go with Bosch Iwht180 or Bosch HTH181. Both of these have 500 ft ibs of torque and would zip off those rusted lug nuts without sweating. You could look at Milwaukee or Makita as well. I’m sure they have something comparable as well.
Toolfreak
I would guess the delay had a lot to do with getting rid of existing brushed inventory in the U.S. market first – see the recent clearance of the brushed 12V Max PS21 and PS41 plus the PS31 kits at Lowe’s, plus the clearance of the PS21’s on Amazon.
I picked up some new brushed 12V Max tools due to the low pricing, and couldn’t be happier. They are life changing in a lot of ways.
Given how long my PS20 has lasted, I figure they’ll last at least until the next generation of 12V Max brushless tools. It’ll be interesting to see what the compact tools will look like in about 6-8 years, if not sooner, depending how much better brushless motors get.
Stuart
What clearance? I’m still seeing the PS21, PS31, and PS41 and many retailers. There’s always promo pricing around the holidays – maybe what you saw are late clearances.
I very highly doubt that Bosch would replace these models with the brushless equivalents.
Why would Bosch not continue to sell brushed and brushless tools side by side? The brushed tools are sold at significantly lower price points.
Getting rid of the PSx1 tools might drive potential customers into competitors’ arms. If someone’s on the budget, would they buy the PS32 kit for $159, or the PS31 kit for $99 to $130? It’ll probably be $99 again soon once supplies are back up. If that PS31 isn’t an option, someone might look more towards the Milwaukee 2407 kit, which is often $99 to $130 as well, often with bonus tools.
Chris
The PS21 definitely has been cleared out of Lowes. I picked a brand new one with 2 2.0 ah batteries for $30 which got me into the 12v line. If it wasn’t for that deal I probably would have stayed out since I have plenty of bosch 18v tools. I have to say the FL12 was worth getting into the 12v line all on its own.
Sean
Any update on when the new 3/8″ 12volt impact wrench will be released? They originally said June. I haven’t heard or seen anything about it.
Matt
We’ve seen the better half of June. Where are these? My wallet is ready 🙂
Stuart
Good questions, I’ll try to find out more.
Matt
The PS82-02 & PS82-BN have been posted on the Bosch site, but remain to be seen at any online retailers.
Sean
Haven’t been able to find it for sale anywhere. It’s listed on the Bosch website but there is no link to buy it.