PE Product Tester, Jeff Jones, puts the new Bosch GSR 12V-15 ‘Flexi Click’ drill through its paces.
Once I found out that there was the possibility to trial the Bosch GSR 12V-15 ‘Flexi Click’ drill for PE I was very keen] to have a go with the product as I’ve been looking for a new drill to replace my similar (ageing) unit that I’ve carried in my tool box for a number of years and has now come to the end of its useful life.
My first impressions of this new unit from Bosch were that it felt very comfortable to hold and use as well as being extremely compact, without losing any of that Bosch quality feel. I was also drawn to the LED light on the drill, which is a great addition and very useful when working in dark corners.
One of the beauties of the unit is its versatility. The GFA 3-jaw chuck, GHX hex bit holder, GWA right angle adapter and GEA off-centre hex bit holder work together to make this a truly multi-functional product. The corner attachment and off set are very useful and the fact you can swap out for a 10mm capacity chuck means that the drill can really be classed as a ‘one stop shop’ for small to medium sized tasks. The batteries are also excellent and will last you a very long time.
In terms of its use, one of the commercial projects that the drill really proved its worth on was the installation of 70 lights on an exhibition stand. Using the angle attachment, I was able to fix the lighting up without having to disassemble any of the individual lights, which saved a considerable amount of time. The light fittings also had to have a drill hole into the structure to take a self-tapping screw. The space that the drill hole had to go into was tight and awkward, but I was able to overcome this by using the angle attachment and drill chuck attachment together.
That’s just one example of the type of job that can become infinitely easier through the use of a multi-task drill like this and, with all the various attachments available, the operator can create a versatile solution to the majority of tasks that they’ll face on a daily basis.
If I was to suggest a couple of improvements then reducing the size of the battery charger would be welcome as I carry this drill in my toolbox and feel that the charger should also be small enough to do so as well, especially if the battery goes flat on-site. A ratchet chuck/mechanism that holds the drill bit much more securely would also be a welcome addition.
That said, I’ve had a great experience with using the Flexi Click drill and have found it to be a very versatile piece of kit that will prove useful in so many different scenarios, especially when working in tight/awkward spaces. There are some nice features that are unique to Bosch and I’d highly recommend it to fellow professionals if they’re in the market for a new unit of this kind.
