Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
Hello everyone, I need all your opinions please. I am going to purchase a new combi drill in a few weeks and want some advice / feedback. The 2 drills that I am looking at are the bosch 18v GSB-EC brushless drill and the milwaukee M18ONEPD 18V Fuel brushless One Key drill.
I would like to buy more power tools in the future and versatility would be nice but no big deal. I don’t mind buying a different brand. Please give me your thoughts on these 2 drills. I don’t know a lot about milwaukee stuff so looking forward to hearing from you all.
Think the Milwaukee would be the way to go. they have a huge line of tools and bare tools when you have batteries laying around. that would save a little money down the road.. That’s what I would do if I was looking at those two brands
I’d say Milwaukee because of their lineup but I’m not sure about distribution in Ireland. I know Milwaukee has the killer 12V Milwaukee M12 4-in-1 Drill Driver Kit in Europe (Part number: BDDXKIT-202C)…that alone, when starting growing my tool collection, I’m going with Milwaukee. Festool, Fein and Metabo are the only ones with that style kit(but much more expensive), I believe. It is 12v, brushed but it’s a drill/driver a screwdriver and a right angle drill/driver (forth is an offset screwdriver) in one.
In the US, I think I’d go with Milwaukee or Makita if I were to start over. I’m pretty damn happy with Milwaukee. I really only lust after Festool, Metabo and Hilti tools over Milwaukee. I don’t really know what Bosch has that is EU only or what isn’t available for either brand in EU.
Milwaukee has more tool options with more features but if you are looking for reliability then Bosch is the better option. Not sure if Makita is available in the uk but might be a good option to look into.
I would say Milwaukee. Simply because of ther huge 18volt and 12volt lineup. If you were looking to extend your range further Milwaukee would be the way to go. The one key system is good and if you work around alot of people it is a good tracking device they are stil trying to work on it and progress on it but its a start. Hope you have gained some helpfull information cheers,
willy
Agree with everyone above, I would go with Milwaukee. They have so many more options with their two different lineups compared to Bosch.
Are you only limited to those two brands?
What sort of work do you mainly do?
I personally think the cost of the One-Key unit may not be warranted for a starter. But it’s certainly the better drill of the two in performance. For longevity … possibly the Bosch?
dwain wrote:
2 hours ago, dwain said:Are you only limited to those two brands?
What sort of work do you mainly do?
I personally think the cost of the One-Key unit may not be warranted for a starter. But it’s certainly the better drill of the two in performance. For longevity … possibly the Bosch?
I work mainly on home improvements and lots of odd jobs. The reason I thought of bosch is because my father has had a Bosch professional drill for years and he has put it through its paces. Also the main reason I picked the milwaukee drill is because of the tool line up. The one key system doesn’t bother me. If I could get the normal 18v fuel I would if I decided to go with milwaukee.
Welcome aboard and have you not considered dewalt. Although i dont own the latest models myself they are getting great reviews here and elsewhere. Secondly look to the UK and save yourself a fortune. Only time i have bought on home soil is my mitresaw amd tablesaw just because of shipping charges
Turner85 wrote:
6 minutes ago, Turner85 said:Welcome aboard and have you not considered dewalt. Although i dont own the latest models myself they are getting great reviews here and elsewhere. Secondly look to the UK and save yourself a fortune. Only time i have bought on home soil is my mitresaw amd tablesaw just because of shipping charges
Hi Turner. Yes I have also looked at dewalt. The bosch is coming in at 210 euro and the milwaukee and dewalt are around the 260 price tag. I’m consider all feedback. I just picked two brands one of which I have an idea of and the other is a large collection of tools.
I agree with you. I will be buying tools from the uk or eBay or even Amazon as they are so much cheaper online then local or national shops.
Right now I am thinking the bosch drill because it is 60 euro cheaper. For diy and odd jobs this to me sounds the better option. Which drill would last over the years? Let me know about your drills guys. What is your go to combi drill?
I’ve had Bosch tools and still have a couple of 12v tools in my shop. They make decent tools for professional and home work your can’t go wrong with them. My main line shop tools are Festool but I have a lot of Dewalt and Makita tools in the shop. I would say you can’t go wrong with any of these tool lineups. I have tried many times to keep just one tool lineup in the cordless arena but have finally given up. For CORDLESS tools…
Festool T18, CXS, TXS and the HKC55 as well as the Syslite.
Dewalt 20v hammer, 3 speed impact, 60vgrinder 60v circular and a hedge trimmer and blower.
Makita 18v subcompact impact, brushless barrel grip jigsaw, sander, grinder and a chain saw.
Bosch 12v flashlight and two jackets.
That Dewalt hammer and impact are game changers for framing and heavy duty use. My small Makita collection is amazing. My Festool are absolutely choice but really $$$$.
Regardless…Dewalt, Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita etc etc etc you can’t go wrong.
TheBlueSmartie wrote:
4 hours ago, TheBlueSmartie said:Right now I am thinking the bosch drill because it is 60 euro cheaper. For diy and odd jobs this to me sounds the better option. Which drill would last over the years? Let me know about your drills guys. What is your go to combi drill?
My combi is the dewalt dcd795, have it close to 3 years. Never let me down yet although im thinking of upgrading to its big brother for drilling out locks in solid doors. My reason for going with dewalt was brooks building providers are registered repair centre. So i can drop them off and pick up without having to worry about postage etc.
TheBlueSmartie wrote:
4 hours ago, TheBlueSmartie said:Hi Turner. Yes I have also looked at dewalt. The bosch is coming in at 210 euro and the milwaukee and dewalt are around the 260 price tag. I’m consider all feedback. I just picked two brands one of which I have an idea of and the other is a large collection of tools.
I agree with you. I will be buying tools from the uk or eBay or even Amazon as they are so much cheaper online then local or national shops.
Nows a great time aswell with the exchange rates
TheBlueSmartie wrote:
4 hours ago, TheBlueSmartie said:Right now I am thinking the bosch drill because it is 60 euro cheaper. For diy and odd jobs this to me sounds the better option. Which drill would last over the years? Let me know about your drills guys. What is your go to combi drill?
Bosch really is a great brand, they’re slow to market but when they release something it’s done well. The problem is that the big expense is batteries, you really don’t want to go into multiple brands…so your savings might be eaten up if you need something Bosch doesn’t make. Milwaukee’s lineup is insane, great lighting options which is soo appealing when you’re under a cabinet or working into the evening.
@TheBlueSmartie, this is sort of a loaded question, as we can give you advice (lots varying) on drills all day long. I guess to me I would consider what other tools are going to make your life easier down the road. If you just need a drill, I think the Bosch is a fine choice. Their tools work great, they last, performance, etc. However, I think you get pigeon holed potentially if you decide to go with Bosch as your #1 lineup. As I said, their tools are fine, but I think you will be limited in your cordless options if you decide to go that route.
@BMack37 – Note – we posted at the same time and the advice, while different, is getting to the same point.
FrosBros82 wrote:
25 minutes ago, FrosBros82 said:@TheBlueSmartie, this is sort of a loaded question, as we can give you advice (lots varying) on drills all day long. I guess to me I would consider what other tools are going to make your life easier down the road. If you just need a drill, I think the Bosch is a fine choice. Their tools work great, they last, performance, etc. However, I think you get pigeon holed potentially if you decide to go with Bosch as your #1 lineup. As I said, their tools are fine, but I think you will be limited in your cordless options if you decide to go that route.
@BMack37 – Note – we posted at the same time and the advice, while different, is getting to the same point.
The bosch is a reasonable price. In terms of what other tools I would use in the future I would say things like sanders and multi tools. Maybe even an impact driver. Does anyone have experience with the bosch 1 for all tools? The green tools with the same battery for all.
Also I should point out the milwaukee drill set I was looking at doesn’t come with a case. What drill set doesn’t come with a bag or case these days..
@TheBlueSmartie, Sanders, for the most part are still corded, so you buying the drill won’t have any implications on that. Multi tools on the other hand are a valuable cordless tool that most of the big players produce… (not sure on Bosch?). Then obviously an impact driver you can get with any brand that you decide to go with.
What is the dewalt equivalent of the bosch or the milwaukee brushless combi drill?
@TheBlueSmartie DCD996P2?
I HATE the Dewalt transmission. Switching gears is a pain because sometimes(nearly all of the time) it won’t go from 3 to 2 so you have to bump the trigger. Then it will go from 3 to 1 and then you switch it to 2… Milwaukee never has had that problem changing gears. Dewalt has had that problem for a while and has never fixed it.
Cordless sanders aren’t really necessary in my opinion…Bosch sanders are top notch, definitely better than Milwaukee but again, both will do a great job. Bosch also has much better jig saws, Milwaukee’s jig saws are quite dated.
@bmac32 See I never knew dewalt had these problems. Everyone swears by them and they are very common here in Ireland. Why is nobody in favour of cordless sanders?
I personally like Dewalt’s hammer drill more than Milwuakee’s. I don’t see the transmission sticking as a big problem. Mine has stuck once since I’ve owned it… Milwaukee drills feel like that have more wobble in them to me, but it could just be the ones I’ve tried. I’ve never used Bosch’s but if it’s anything like the rest of their tools, it’s probably good.
All three brands have a cordless multitool. I like the Dewalt, but from what I understand it is inferior to Bosch’s starlock multitools. MIlwaukee’s is apparently very out of date.
Honestly, you aren’t going to go wrong no matter which of these options you pick. I don’t know if in-store demos are a thing in Ireland, but that might be the best way to make your choice.
TheBlueSmartie wrote:
53 minutes ago, TheBlueSmartie said:@bmac32 See I never knew dewalt had these problems. Everyone swears by them and they are very common here in Ireland. Why is nobody in favour of cordless sanders?
Belt sanders are power hungry, you’re normally close to power when using them and you’ll probably want to use dust extraction so you’d have a hose anyway. ROS and finish sanders aren’t power hungry and really don’t need the external dust extraction but I’ve honestly never used them and wished it was cordless, it would add weight and become bigger and less balanced.
BMack37 wrote:
9 minutes ago, BMack37 said:
Belt sanders are power hungry, you’re normally close to power when using them and you’ll probably want to use dust extraction so you’d have a hose anyway. ROS and finish sanders aren’t power hungry and really don’t need the external dust extraction but I’ve honestly never used them and wished it was cordless, it would add weight and become bigger and less balanced.
Yeah I think cordless sanders need a smaller battery like 1.5 or 2.0 to keep them balanced. I’d say a cordless sander would be easier to use on the lighter jobs.
Here is the two options I am currently thinking —> https://www.milwaukeepowertools.co.uk/milwaukee-m18blpd-401c
and http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Bosch-18v-GSB18V-EC-Brushless-Combi-Hammer-Drill-GSB18VEC-Metal-Chuck-1-x4-0ah/311873399851?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649.. Let me know what ya think. The Milwaukee is a small bit more but if it’s worth it then I don’t mind.
@TheBlueSmartie if those are your two options and you are just asking advice on those two tools, I would probably go with the Bosch. I guess I assumed you were talking about the Fuel Milwaukee before, so now that I have seen the photos that would be my advice.
@FrosBros82 Is there much of a jump in performance from the brushless m18 milwaukee to the fuel version?
@TheBlueSmartie More than double the torque and 200 or so on the RPM. The regular brushless isn’t a bad drill, but it’s not designed to get beat up, if that makes sense. It’s a step below their fuel line, in terms of being a professional level tool. Not to say that it can’t be used in that capacity, but the likelihood of it breaking or not being up to the application or standards are probably greater. @BMack37 might be able to give you a little better insight than I can. I own the fuel, I am speaking on specs and what my rep said.
FrosBros82 wrote:
1 hour ago, FrosBros82 said:@TheBlueSmartie More than double the torque and 200 or so on the RPM. The regular brushless isn’t a bad drill, but it’s not designed to get beat up, if that makes sense. It’s a step below their fuel line, in terms of being a professional level tool. Not to say that it can’t be used in that capacity, but the likelihood of it breaking or not being up to the application or standards are probably greater. @BMack37 might be able to give you a little better insight than I can. I own the fuel, I am speaking on specs and what my rep said.
For diy and other less heavy duty work would the milwaukee be up to it? I mean that fuel is heavy duty work. For a good drill for home use would the non fuel version be a better choice?
@TheBlueSmartie Yeah it would be fine for home use. It would be up to any task you would have, I think.
I’d recommend getting brushless and get a hammer drill if you have any cinder block. You’re probably going to have it for a while, might as well get the newest tech(brushless, lithium). For MOST stuff the m12 brushed drill will get the job done…and it’s nice to use something lighter weight. BUT at some point, you’re going to want more power and that’s where the Fuel comes in. Honestly, the One Key Fuel is awfully large for basic home owner stuff. It’s not a drill you’d really want to be under a cabinet with, it’s also pretty loud in comparison…especially compared to the old (and probably more familiar) brushed NiCad drills. I wouldn’t count out the m12 lineup, I’ve used several old corded drills that aren’t as powerful as the the m12 Fuel and the price should drop after the Gen 2 comes out.
I can do some comparison pics, I have the full-sized Fuel hammer and non-hammer drills, the compact m18 drill, the m12 Fuel hammer drill and the m12 brushed drill.
For the record, Dewalt’s chuck is definitely better than Milwaukee’s chuck.
For a DIY’er, I’d recommend going for a compact kit. Brushed or brushless.
With a couple of slim batteries, the price is MUCH cheaper and will be fine 99.9% of the time.
This kit for instance, is quite a nice drill – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-M18BPDKIT-Compact-Combi-Batteries/dp/B071NV5BXV/ref=sr_1_5?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1501047941&sr=1-5&keywords=drill+18v
Dwain makes sense !
kornomaniac wrote:
6 hours ago, kornomaniac said:Dwain makes sense !
That’s scary! Now I know I need a cup of coffee ?
dwain wrote:
10 hours ago, dwain said:For a DIY’er, I’d recommend going for a compact kit. Brushed or brushless.
With a couple of slim batteries, the price is MUCH cheaper and will be fine 99.9% of the time.
This kit for instance, is quite a nice drill – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milwaukee-M18BPDKIT-Compact-Combi-Batteries/dp/B071NV5BXV/ref=sr_1_5?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1501047941&sr=1-5&keywords=drill+18v
I got by with the US version of that kit for a couple years. I still use the drill sometimes because of the size but the chuck is starting to mess up and it’s getting worse. Really, the One Key drill is f-ing huge and heavy. You’d definitely want to get larger batteries when expanding past this, outside of the small lights and this drill/impact driver those batteries aren’t very useful.
Here’s the comparison…it doesn’t really do it justice, there’s a big difference in using or just holding them. The girth is hard to capture, I took a bunch of pics but this is the only one you can really see the difference.
[External image (i.imgur.com), not copied]
Obviously their are different levels of diyers but I have a 6 tool m18 fuel set at home (why I don’t know) and 99.9% of the time I still use a m12 brushed drill. It just seems like for things around the house like assembling furniture, hanging pictures and curtain rods the smaller lighter tool fits the bill best.
He can later buy a kit with larger batteries IF he wants a grinder / circ saw etc. But the truth is that most normal people (I don’t include any forum members in that category) just stick with a drill, and maybe an impact driver.
TheBlueSmartie wrote:
On 25/07/2017 at 0:20 AM, TheBlueSmartie said:What is the dewalt equivalent of the bosch or the milwaukee brushless combi drill?
Perhaps the compact DCD796. I just bought this drill a few weeks back and it’s great for DIY. Tons of power/speed and probably the most comfortable grip of all drills. Smaller and lighter than the Milwaukee.
See
Don’t trust those guys! 😉
dwain wrote:
37 minutes ago, dwain said:Don’t trust those guys! 😉
Yeah, those guys down under cannot be trusted! They are a criminalist colony for Pete sake!!!
It’s actually quite funny really. England turns an inhabited continent into a criminal colony (mostly destroying the historic inhabitants in the process).
Couple hundred years later, that ‘colony’ outranks it in livable…ness.
https://www.infoplease.com/world/political-statistics/most-livable-countries-2013
dwain wrote:
12 hours ago, dwain said:It’s actually quite funny really. England turns an inhabited continent into a criminal colony (mostly destroying the historic inhabitants in the process).
Couple hundred years later, that ‘colony’ outranks it in livable…ness.
https://www.infoplease.com/world/political-statistics/most-livable-countries-2013
England is great at taking inhabited land and mostly destroying the inhabitants, and then making that land more livable than England. Exhibit B: Canada
jkeating3 wrote:
1 hour ago, jkeating3 said:England is great at taking inhabited land and mostly destroying the inhabitants, and then making that land more livable than England. Exhibit B: Canada
Example C: America! lol
In the case of much of the continent on Africa, they only did the first half of their M.O.
Hong Kong, doing a lot better in the past 10-15 years, 20 years since the transfer of sovereignty.
Lol we gone way off topic. @BMack37what’s your most go to tool?
Well that took longer than usual guys, how did you stay on topic for so long? Lol
I have Milwaukee simply for their large selection of tools they have for my trade.
I have used Bosch and like them too, nothing wrong with either brand.