Here’s a sneak peek at Bosch’s newest 18V Compact Tough drill driver and hammer drill driver. From the looks of it, the tools have been blasted with a shrink-ray, and the overall geometries were shifted slightly for a more upright and hopefully better balanced feel. It’s hard to tell from photos, but the drill drivers look downright compact – more so than ever before.
Bosch DDS180 & DDS181 18V Compact Tough Drill Driver
The new 1/2″ drill driver features a 7″ head length, high performance 4-pole motor, slim grip for less hand fatigue, 18+1 clutch settings, 2-speed gearbox, and electronic cell protection (ECP) that helps lead to longer battery durability.
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The standard kit includes a charger and two 1.3Ah SlimPack batteries that can be fully charged in 30 minutes. Other configurations include higher capacity FatPack batteries or FatPack-SlimPack battery combos.
Max torque is a whopping 600 in-lbs and no-load speeds are 0-500 and 0-1700 RPM.
Check prices or buy it now via Amazon
(A list of the various kit configurations can be found below.)
Bosch HDS180 & HDS181 18V Compact Tough Hammer Drill Driver
In addition to the design features introduced with the DDS181 drill driver, the HDS181 offers a hammer drill setting for drilling holes in concrete and other masonry materials. The hammer mode adds just 1/2″ to the length of the tool!
As with the drill driver, the hammer drill exerts a whopping 600 in-lbs of max torque, and has a 0-500 and 0-1700 RPM gearbox. The hammer setting strikes at 0-25 or 500 BPM depending on the speed setting.
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As with the DDS181, the HDS181 and HDS180 are available in a number of different battery configurations depending on your power needs.
Check prices or buy it now via Amazon
Kit Configurations:
| Bosch Gen 2 18V Brute Tough and Compact Tough Drills | |
| (DDS,HDS) 180-01 | (2) FatPack Regular Batteries |
| (DDS,HDS) 180-02 | (2) SlimPack Regular Batteries |
| (DDS,HDS) 180-03 | (1) FatPack (1) SlimPack Regular Batteries |
| (DDS,HDS,DDH,HDH) 181-01 | (2) FatPack High Capacity Batteries |
| (DDS,HDS) 181-02 | (2) SlimPack High Capacity Batteries |
| (DDS,HDS) 181-03 | (1) FatPack and (1) SlimPack High Capacity Batteries |
Both tools have just hit the market and should be available at Bosch distributors shortly. They will also be available as bare-tool add-ons.
Bosch
Head on over to http://www.BoschBestBuilt.com to check out all the specs on these new drills and how they compare to the competition!
Alex M.
Hey, Bosch – these look great, they really do, but what do the prospects look like for adding some new tools to the 12V line? I look at Milwaukee’s M12 line and I weep, for as a Bosch fan, I feel a bit hosed.
Jerrick
+1 Alex
Stuart
There are quite a few new 12V Max tools on the way, most notably the PS11 RA pivoting head drill, an inspection camera (PS90), and pocket reciprocating saw (PS60).
I imagine that the most popular 12V max tools are of the drilling and driving variety, a range Bosch covers well with the PS21, PS31, and PS41 tools. Following these, I would say that a compact cutting tool is the next most popular tool type.
For Bosch to bring additional compact cordless tools to market, they’re going to need to be sure that they can take a bite of the available market. That’s pretty much the only thing I think is holding them back.
This is also the type of question that we’re not going to be able to get any answers to.
Alex M.
I have the Bosch impact driver, drill, and non-impact driver, and you are absolutely correct, the tool type I’m after is “cutting” – the ability to make a few cuts without unfurling a full-on recip or jig saw would be lovely, and it seems as though we are indeed getting precisely that – which is awesome, and I will be picking it up for sure.
I must admit that I also lust after the M12 porta-power gizmo – slot in a battery and you get a USB power port and a cigarette lighter power port. Genius.
Stuart
The cordless oscillating multi-tool (PS50) has been out for a while, but it’s not quite the same thing. I’m also eager for 12V tool manufacturers to come out with more mini circular saws for trim and light duty work.
Milwaukee definitely has a great design team that keeps cranking out useful accessories such as the M12 Power Port. I’ve heard good things about it via word of mouth, but its reviews on Amazon are somewhat half and half.
Jerrick
The new mini-recip is well received, and I would grab a Power Port-type product.
I’d also love to see a Bosch rotary tool similar to the one that Milwaukee recently released. I’d much rather buy that, get an extra battery (or two), than buy a Dremel.
Stuart
The thing is, since Dremel is a Bosch company, Bosch probably won’t ever want to release a competing rotary tool product. A die grinder on the other hand…
Jerrick
True, but Bosch offers a 12v oscillating multitool as a direct competitor to Dremel’s offering. Ah well, I can wish . . . .
Stuart
Yes, and no. Bosch’s cordless version came out first, as did Dremel’s corded version. Only recently did both brands complete their lineup with both corded and cordless versions. The Bosch seems to be designed more for pro usage, the Dremel more for home use. Both tools are still great quality. There’s also a price difference in their respective accessories, maintaining the home/hobby vs pro separation.
In terms of the rotary tools, though, Dremel is so established that it’s going to be difficult for anyone to get a foothold in the market. And from what I’ve seen, there’s not much more than can be done to make a beefier rotary tool. If one needs more power or features, they would generally to go with a die grinder or flex shaft tool or even a different tool type (e.g. angle grinder, etc).
bk
Bosch 12v Max
Dremel 12v Max.
I bought the Dremel 8200 thinking it was also “12 volt max” and compatible with my 12 volt max Bosch tools. But no.
Same Company
+
Same battery technology, Incompatible plastic “clip”
= Design Fail.
Frankly. It pissed me off.
It seems childish and petty. Obviously decided by a naive marketeer or bean counter, rather than a true user.
If you want 12v max to succeed. Leverage your brands as a “standard”. Don’t make them incompatible. Especially when your 12v line is behind in offerings. Furthermore, this top level decision loses opportunities to Milwaukee.
I own an M12 kit with Hackzall and I love it. I wished Bosch would have it and now they do! Great! Now a rotary tool (or make the dremel 12v batteries Bosch compatible), Mini circular Saw (makita-like) please!
oh, and tighter chucks with true single hand operation. 😉
I almost went full m12 when I saw their line up of tools. Ditching my Dremel 8200 and PS-50. But, I love my PS-21 and PS41 too much and I go to them 9/10 times instead of my m12 Impact and Drill. The only think I like better on the m12 drills are the chucks.
I also have the M12 Powerports and they work great. Especially with an XC battery. But if all you need is USB charging, then a Brunton or true USB pack is better.
FYI, you can charge your Dremel 12v max Batteries in a Bosch 12v max Charger.
Stuart
You’re right-on – it is extremely frustrating that Bosch and Dremel 12V Max batteries are physically incompatible. I haven’t asked, but this could be because of slightly internal (chemical or electrical) differences. Or maybe it was a strict marketing decision, who knows.
I also agree with how Bosch needs to get into the game with a circular saw. A rotary tool not so much because then they would also have to come out with accessories, making them a competitor to their sister Dremel brand. But then again, Dewalt just launched a whole line of hand tools when Stanley, Bostitch, Proto, & Blackhawk hand tools were already on the market.
Right now it’s hard to tell who has an edge in the 12v market. Bosch seems to have the most power and wins on size, Milwaukee wins on versatility and breadth, Dewalt wins on comfort, ergonomics and features, and Craftsman is winning on affordability. There are a few other contenders as well (Porter Cable, Hitachi, etc), but they’re not really at the same level of competition just yet. Porter Cable is sort of wedged in next to Craftsman and Milwaukee in terms of affordability and sheer power. Great tools, by the way.
I don’t think we’ll ever really see a standard 12V Max interface or battery – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as it keeps innovation and R&D going.