Gary Fisher drills down into the pros and cons of the Bosch GDR 18V-200 C Professional Impact Driver and ProCORE batteries.
My first impression was how the drill is surprisingly small and compact. I immediately thought of an upcoming job I have, and how this drill would work wonders for getting into the cupboard areas – I wasn’t wrong.
However, it didn’t come in its own carry case. This isn’t really an issue, as it now stays in my own tool kit, and it can fit into one of my spare plastic boxes when it’s not required on site.
For a small-sized drill, it certainly has some kick to it. Once you pull the trigger, the torque power is evident. It comes with an LED for those less illuminated areas, such as in tight cupboard spaces.
Bosch Professional drills always seem to feel ‘just right’ when it comes to the handle – it’s comfortable and I had no aches or pains after continued use. As with most drills on the market, the motor is brushless, so it requires less maintenance and is longer lasting.
One other feature which I have not seen on other drills to date is that it has Bluetooth technology built in, allowing you to check the status of the drill through the Bosch Toolboxs App. This is the future, and I think youngsters will be all over this on their mobiles.
The drill comes without the battery and charger unit, but I was lucky to have the chance to trial the new range of ProCORE18V batteries as well. As I use other Bosch Professional battery-powered tools, I also had the charging unit to hand.
It is becoming more and more evident that, once you take a liking to a certain brand of tool manufacturer, you lose the need to keep purchasing chargers or other batteries. Hence, renewing or replacing tools – due to some undesirable who has walked off with them – is now much easier and, crucially, more affordable.
The battery I was given was the ProCORE18V 4Ah and, once it had full charge; I had no need to charge it again. It’s easy to know when you need to charge due to the easy-to-see LED panel.
The technology behind the new battery range is superb – we shouldn’t need countless amounts of batteries when one is all we need. It’s a case of ‘out with the old, in with the new’.
As it is smaller than other drills in my kit, I feel this drill is going to get plenty of use. It is easier to carry around, even if it’s not always in its carry case.
For more information, visit: https://www.bosch.co.uk/
