Over at Ohio Power Tool, they have a great deal on this Metabo 12V PowerMaxx BS12 Q cordless drill/driver installation 3-in-1 kit. Sorry, I know that’s a mouthful.
Basically, this is Metabo’s 12V-class multi-head cordless drill/driver. It features a built-in 1/4″ hex bit chuck and comes with two attachments – a standard drill chuck (10mm or ~3/8″), and a right angle adapter.
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The 3-in-1 nature means that you get a cordless screwdriver, a cordless drill, and a cordless right angle drill/driver, all in one.
Key Features & Specs
- Metabo 12V battery system
- Max Torque
- 150 in-lbs soft torque
- 354 in-lbs hard torque
- 0-360/0-1400 RPM max speed
- Kitted with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, belt hook, hard tool case
Price: $79
OPT has free shipping on select items over $99 (such as Metabo and Milwaukee power tools). If I were to order just this item, the least expensive shipping would be ~$10. Shipping rates may vary.
Is this a good deal? The same kit, model 601037620, seems to be priced between $99 and $160. Ohio Power Tool is the only retailer that has it in stock right now, and so it’s hard to get a feel for the kit’s regular pricing.
Ohio Power Tool doesn’t have any “was” or “list” pricing on their website – which is a great no-BS approach by the way – which doesn’t help with the context.
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However, consider what you get here – a Metabo multi-head cordless drill/driver kit for $79.
Yes, there are a lot of modular multi-head x-in-1 cordless drill/drivers on the market today. (See Also: New Dewalt Xtreme 5-in-1 Cordless Drill/Driver). However, this Metabo kit is very aggressively priced and is the most affordable among its peer group of pro-grade tool brands.
I have used Metabo’s older 18V model, and it was fantastic.
Even the Bosch brushed motor FlexiClick/Chameleon is currently $149 on Amazon and elsewhere. At $79, this Metabo kit is almost half the price.
You only get two attachments here, but you can still use 1/4″ hex bits without any attachments. Meaning, you get a 1/4″ hex screwdriver bit chuck, but not a quick-change chuck. The Metabo also doesn’t come with an offset head attachment.
You can buy additional tool head attachments if you want such functionality, as Metabo offers them separately.
There are pros and cons to this approach. On one hand, you get the two attachments most users will want. On the other hand, if you want the other attachments, you need to source them separately. However, you’re not compelled to buy too many attachments that you might not need or want.
Looking quickly online, the offset head sells for ~$54-$60, and the quick-change bit holder sells for ~$60-65 and is backordered at a lot of places right now.
So, I would say maybe consider this kit if you just want the drill and right angle adapter, and perhaps look at other brands’ offerings if you want additional attachments. I say this because if you do want additional attachments, you’ll end up spending about the same when all is said and done.
For comparison, Dewalt’s Xtreme multi-head drill/driver is priced at $179 (shipping from Acme Tools, available for preorder via Tool Nut). You get the two types of heads missing from this Metabo kit, and the Dewalt also has a brushless motor. In the absence of any claims, I presume the Metabo has a brushed motor.
All this is to say that, if you want a cordless drill/screwdriver with right angle head attachment for under $100, it’s going to be hard to beat this deal. If you want more than this kit offers, be prepared to spend a lot more.
Clay
The Brushless Flexiclick/Chameleon is also $150
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084Q4143Y/
lava
THAT is a good deal.
fred
FYI – no surprise – the drill is made in China. But Metabo batteries come packaged saying “Hungary” – which seems a bit odd.
fred
I should have added that some Metabo batterise list Vietnam as the COO
rob
Tons of European battery packs get outsourced to a factory in Hungary or Poland for whatever reason. And the chargers get made in Vietnam.
Jim Felt
There’s only one reason. “Cost”.
W00dy
Think this is a great deal. I have the predecessor paid 139 for and think it was worth that price. Would pay it again today. And it’s powerful I enough that I don’t use my bigger 18 v much anymore.
I really like the smaller form factor ofthese small drills for ‘everyday’ use.
Tip, do buy a bit holder to use with the quick change system. Swapping between the drill chuck and a bit holder makes me not always carry 2 drills when I don’t want to carry over to much gear.
GM
Don’t forget to add shipping which is only free on orders of $99 or more at Ohio Power Tool. Same kit sold by OPT at Amazon is $99.00 to get “free” shipping. Then you have to add the Offset Adapter, which is my most used attachment, at $53 and the thing costs more the the Brushless Bosch Flexiclick.
Stuart
I mentioned this in the post under the first purchase link.
I saw it on Amazon, but buying from OPT direct still saves you $10 when comparing the “shipped” pricing.
I also discussed the cost of additional attachments beyond what you get here.
$79 or $89 with shipping if you don’t buy more than $99 in eligible products to get free shipping, is still considerably lower than $149 for Bosch. Personally, I prefer slide-style batteries over Bosch’s style, as they allow for a slimmer and more comfortable hand grip.
Not everyone needs or wants the offset head.
Personally, if I’m spending a lot more than $100, I’d skip the Bosch and go for the new Dewalt.
The step up from $149 to $179 is less than $79 (or $89 shipped by itself) to $149.
I also wouldn’t buy the Bosch right now at all, as it’s all but guaranteed to be discounted for the holidays again.
fred
My gripe with the Bosch is that the drill chuck seems not stay attached and drop off too easily.
The best price that I see for the eccentric head is at ToolsPlus $49.99 with shipping included – but you may need to add tax. Its $45.99 at Toolbarn – but costs $8 to ship.
https://www.toolsplus.com/metabo-627234000.html
Noah
This is off topic, but does anyone know where to buy the chuck adapter for the 12v flexiclick?I lost mine and I can’t find anywhere that sells it separately.
MM
I added a second 90-degree adapter to my M12 installation driver. I googled the model number of the tool and “parts”, several websites had exploded views of the tool and listings for all the individual parts. I then googled the part number directly once I found it, and it turned out that people on Ebay had them cheaper than the various parts vendors did. Perhaps something like that might work for you?
fred
If I understand what you want – Its part #1600A005HS
https://www.partswarehouse.com/Bosch-Driver-Attachment-BSH-1600A005HS-p/bsh-1600a005hs.htm
Noah
It’s actually the ratcheting chuck attachment. I’ll have to look through their website. Thanks!
lava
“My gripe with the Bosch is that the drill chuck seems not stay attached and drop off too easily.”
Yours may be broken. The jacobs chuck locks on with the identical mechanism as the other chucks, and when rotated to fully engage mine all stay securely. Be aware – some may accidentally rotate the locking ring while adjusting the torque ring on the Bosch.
GM
Don’t buy your comment about the offset head. If you don’t need the offset head, or likewise the right angle head, then you don’t need this tool. Everybody reading this forum already has a drill and a driver or maybe a few of each. As shown here, that’s all this tool offers and it’s not even brushless. It’s the attachments that aren’t included with this one that give any multi-head drill/driver its utility on the job.
Stuart
You do get the right angle head with this kit.
Not everyone needs or wants an offset head. Not everyone can budget double the money for a kit that comes with attachments they might not need or want.
If you want the whole shebang, other options offer better value at the same higher pricing it would take to fully equip the Metabo drill/driver. I did say this in the post.
Here are the top 3 options right now:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-xtreme-cordless-drill-driver-dcd703f1/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/new-milwaukee-m12-fuel-cordless-installation-drill-driver/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084Q4143Y/?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=toolguyd-20
Readers’ needs and wants vary. I have been asked about less expensive multi-head drill/driver options. Here is one, albeit with some tradeoffs that I sought to fully explain.
lava
“Personally, I prefer slide-style batteries over Bosch’s style, as they allow for a slimmer and more comfortable hand grip.”
I think the wide popularity of M12 drills and impacts reveals this as a marginal concern – most people do not mind, or deal with the grip.
Personally I find the Bosch to be the best in this class, best in size, best in compact attachments, and very good pricing for a full kit. Ruling it out because of the grip will only serve a few well.
Paul
As an alternative to the metabo bit holder, the festool centrotec bit holder will fit this and is a better buy in my opinion. The festool drill chucks also fit, but the right angle/eccentric does not. I use a 12v makita brushless myself that’s been modded with the front end of this metabo, and I use the metabo right angle and offset chuck, but the festool centrotec for driving. It’s my favourite drill
MoogleMan3
Hard pass. Though I have the milwaukee, if buying today, I’d be all over that dewalt.
Stuart
That’s fair. So would I, but this kit is half the price. I’ve also had good experiences with Metabo drills and drivers before.
So, I figured I’d cover the deal in case it helped anyone. Some potential users might not have the budget for the Dewalt or Milwaukee tools, and others might not need everything that those all-in-one kits come with.
MoogleMan3
Yeah, it’s definitely a nice kit for the asking price.
IronWood
I didn’t even realize Metabo has a 12v line. Not sure if that’s my fault or Metabo’s…
fred
BTW another place to price compare Metabo are welding supply houses. For our fabrication business – we were probably more familiar with the brand as a source of grinders and polishers competing with Fein. Companies like Bakers were one supplier:
https://bakersgas.com/collections/metabo?page=2&view=view-48&grid_list=grid-view
IronWood
Our welders at work are about split between Metabo and DeWalt grinders with a couple Makitas for variety. I have a Metabo at home that’ll probably outlive me. Very good tools. Just hadn’t seen their 12v line before.
fred
When I sold up and retired – we still had many pneumatic tools -mostly Dotco and Cleco (with some Hutchkins, CP and IR too) – plus corded Fein and Metabo. We had not then transitioned to much in the way of cordless tools – except for some Makita tools used for maintenance tasks. We even used pneumatic and corded electric (eg. Hios) tools at our assembly benches.
It was a different story in the plumbing and GC/Remodeling businesses in which I had an interest. There, we were heavily dependent on Makita and Milwaukee cordless.
lava
They actually have two 12v lines. Slide pack format that they sell in the US, and in the EU handle batteries (like M12 & Bosch).
lava
They call the handle style batteries “push-in” vs “slide-in”
https://www.metabo.com/com/en/tools/battery-pack-systems/12-volt-class-push-in/cordless-drill-screwdriver/powermaxx-bs-quick-basic-600156500-cordless-drill-screwdriver.html
If your hands are big enough this style grip is fine.
fred
Some of our installers felt that the Bosch slide in style handles were more ergonomic and/or fit their hands better than the Milwaukee M12. I never did any measuring. But my wife says that my M12 tools are too chunky for her hands – and likes Makita slide in 12V tools better. For my fat fingers – both styles seem OK. That’s why I advise folks to see if they can put the tool in their hands before committing – a proposition that is sometimes easier said than done when internet shopping
GM
My problem with the M12 is not the thickness of the grip but the shape. Something about the shape of the handle pushes my hand upward into the reversing switch and I inadvertently move the position of the switch during use. I don’t have this problem with the Bosch. Never used the Makita 12v. My favorite, and most used, installation drill/driver is the Bosch 18v Flexiclick. Most comfortable grip for me, by far.
lava
Bosch 12v and M12 have the triangular shape of the 3-cell push-in battery in revers orientation. Bosch has the flat facing forward and the corner facing rear, while M12 has the corner facing forward and the flat to the rear. Also the shape is different with the corners more pronounced on the M12 and more rounded on the Bosch, and overall the Bosch having noticeably less bulk. The Bosch feels smaller in my hand, but the M12 is not problematic to me. Since there are so many that tolerate the M12, I would expect the Bosch to have less objections to the grip.
Jaycob P.
I bought the 18 volt version when it was on sale and its been solid so far and become my go to drill. The Metabo stuff gets overlooked since the focus more on the metal working industry, but its pretty good.
Nathan
having to buy the other 2 attachments extra makes it less attractive – but nice to see options.
lava
Be aware this is Metabo’s brushed version of their 12v multi-head driver. They do make a brushed version which is the PowerMaxx BS12 BL Q.
For comparison this brushed model has similar power to Bosch’s brushed Flexi-Click. 150inlbs vs 145. If you want to add the missing chucks, the Bosch will be a better deal.
By comparison the Bosch brushless, Milwaukee Fuel, and new DeWalt all put out around 300 inlbs – about twice as powerful. The Hilti is similar.
I mention this because the brushless Metabo puts out about 395 inlbs of torque, the most powerful offering in this 12v multi chuck drill class. The body of the drill is also smaller than this brushed version by a non-trivial amount adding to its utility for installation work in tight quarters.
lava
actually I confused the soft and hard torque values – this Metabo actually has a very high torque value for a brushed 12v, but still not as much as the brushless PowerMaxx BS12 BL Q.
But still, after adding $100 for the other two chucks it feels like less of a good deal for a brushed drill. FYI Acme Tools is offering $15 off the DeWalt 5in1 today (promo code DEWALTFEST), means you can get that for $164 – with all the chucks, and brushless. Them’s warrentyless eBay prices right there, for a great drill full kit.
Oleg K
“I’ve used metabo before ” is not an answer on whether it’s good or not, it’s like saying that one should buy a used 1989 Mercedes because you might have driven this years maybach and it 2as fantastic. Metabo’s brushless tools are great, even though they’re way overpriced, however, there is a reason why this tool is cheap l: it’s cheap! Heavy, low torque, cumbersome, one can only buy it knowing he or she is getting an outdated tool that not even Metabo sells anymore, you can’t even find it on their website! This isn’t a drill, by the way, it’s a screwdriver. I’d just pay the difference and get a much more superior Milwaukee m12 model, as good as Metabo is, as a brand, this isn’t an example of a tool that will improve their reputation.