When it comes to concrete Bosch is one of the frontrunners in this area. When you talk with anyone doing demolition work, they can tell you a story about their Bosch. Here’s one. When I worked during the Chicago flood, we had to go into the sub-basement of Marshall Fields and do a ton of demo work. At the time we used Bosch Rotary tools and we beat the heck out these tools. They were covered in dust, fell in the water and had tons of bricks fall on them. The one thing I remember is that no matter what we did with these tools, they just kept on pumping away and working. Nothing stopped them. So there is my story, so let’s jump into the Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer Review.
Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer Review Overview
For years the only option we had for Rotary Hammers was corded versions. Over the years battery technology has changed and now we have cordless rotary hammers. Cordless has many advantages but the one disadvantage it has is the run time compared to corded tools. However, with the Bosch Core battery and the way Bosch designed these tools, the runtime is top notch and will outlast you.
We found it amazing that a tool this small can pack so much energy into it, but produce so little feedback to the user’s hands and arms.
Today we are focusing on the Bosch GBH18V which is a 3/4″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer. The tool is compact which makes it perfect for those smaller areas. Don’t worry, the tool may be small but the power is all there.
Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer Review Features
While you can use any Bosch 18V Lithium battery on this tool, you will get the biggest kick from the Bosch 18V Core battery.
Bosch built this tool to tackle the toughest jobs. The rotary hammer packs 1.3 Ft-Lbs of impact energy and has a no-load speed rating of 0-5,850 bpm’s and a no-load spm of 0-1,800. The tool is compact and lightweight (5.7 lbs without battery).
The tool provides electronic motor protection to protect the motor from overheating.
The tool offers three modes of operation. Drilling, Chisel, Drilling & Hammering. Plus there is a vario setting to adjust the angle of your chisel bit.
The tool has a D-Handle shape design which makes it much more comfortable than a pistol grip. The rubber, textured grip helps with stability even when it gets dusty.
The large variable speed trigger is nice. Some will be able to use two fingers with this switch. We found it easy to keep a consistent speed when drilling.
The forward and reverse are located within easy access for your thumb and finger.
The back has a nice overhang so when using in various angles you can put your hand on there for added support.
The SDS chuck is tool free. Just insert your bit and when you want to remove, just pull back on the collar and you can pull out the bit.
The rotary hammer comes with a depth gauge and a side handle. We did find the side handle does get in the way when in a certain position. We found it difficult to change modes on the tool when the side handle was on the left side of the tool. We were having to move the side handle because the flange would get in the way.
Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer Review Performance
We took off my back room at my house and still had part of the foundation left over so what better place to try drilling and chipping? For the chipping, this tool doesn’t take a rest. I was able to chip away at the foundation with ease.
The vibration from the chipping was very little and while I shouldn’t have been surprised, I was surprised how little feedback I received from chipping. Sure, I could feel it in my hands but not nearly what I thought I would feel.
Drilling a hole with this rotary hammer felt like I was drilling into wood. As with chipping, I didn’t feel a ton of feedback in my hands and arms. Just another reason why Bosch is one of the frontrunners in the concrete arena.
Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer Review Final Thoughts
We always try to be objective but with the Bosch cordless rotary hammer, it was hard to find anything to complain about. Sure the side handle gets in the way when you try to change modes, but that is nothing to write home about.
The tool is powerful and compact which makes it perfect for even tight areas. We love how little vibration you feel. We found it amazing that a tool this small can pack so much energy into it, but produce so little feedback to the user’s hands and arms.
