For my first review I thought it only right to review the first tool I ever bought, and yes, it’s still going and used on every project, but that’s Bosch for you. On my first renovation I bought what I truly believe everyone should have in the house; a cordless combi drill. I don’t mean an SDS, unless you need the chisel function, but a drill with a hammer function for general use. I chose the Bosch GSB 18-2-LI Professional Combi Drill. My reasoning behind the choice was at the time I believed it important it came with a carry case (surprisingly something as simple as that can make life so much easier in the long run) and Bosch was a well-known brand that I had heard was reliable and built to last. 9 years later, it’s still going strong and the original battery is still working perfectly to! The only repair it has needed is the plug replacing on the battery charger because it was stood on and the prongs on the plug snapped, so no fault of Bosch.
Let’s begin with what came in the box. Within the carry case was the combi drill, one 18v Li-ion battery, a charger, a double headed screwdriver bit and the instructions. So, everything you need. The drill has 2 speed settings, a drill only and a hammer drill setting and an 15-point torque setting for screwing. The trigger is pressure sensitive meaning the harder you squeeze, the faster the drill goes. There are also the forward and reverse settings which includes neutral meaning the drill can basically be locked and won’t turn even if the trigger is pressed. There is the handy light that is activated when the trigger is pressed and a little holder for the double headed screwdriver bit at the back. Finally, the drill had a little metal clip for attaching to a tool belt making it easy to use on sites and in the home.
Using the drill has never been a problem for me, really there isn’t much you can do wrong. The chuck is keyless meaning you turn it with your hand to open and close the jaws and lock bits into position. It has a really strong grip and rarely slips even in the hardest of materials. I’ve drilled through concrete, brick, wood, tiles, plastic and even glass and have never had any problems. Recently I have noticed the grip on the drill bits is a little looser than it used to be but after 9 years of regular use I would say that’s good going. My only negative I would say is the opening in the chuck isn’t as wide as newer drills meaning some larger drill bits simply won’t fit in the chuck. The largest bit I can fit into my original Bosch combi drill is 10mm whereas my newer one can hold up to 13mm (yes, I love the Bosch combi drill so much a bought a second one a few years later). The difference doesn’t seem much but occasionally a 12mm bit comes in handy.
The battery has also done me proud. After 9 years it still full charges within a couple of hours and will usually last an entire project without another charge. I do use the older 2.0Amp battery for my Cordless Bosch Orbital Sander as it is smaller and lighter than the 5.0Amp that came with my second drill, and using the sander non-stop it will last for well over an hour giving you plenty of usage time before having to stop while the battery charges (if you only have one battery that is).
The drill itself is easy to use, it’s not too heavy and as a woman I find it easy to grip and can hold it aloft for an extended period. It really is surprising how the vast majority of power tools are designed to suit men and therefore are uncomfortable or awkward for women to use. Simply put, on average a man’s hand is larger than a woman’s and they are able to hold heavier weights (not being sexist, I said on average and it is biologically true), so a lot of power tools and tools in general are designed for larger hand spans and stronger wrists. There are some drills on the market that I find clumpy to hold; the trigger doesn’t fit correctly in my grasp and my fingers feel over extended, and aren’t balanced correctly meaning the want to tip forward in your grasp and you need to use your wrist to constantly put it up. I never have these problems with Bosch Combi drills. They fit within your palm and the trigger is positioned to allow easy pressure control. I can also activate the reverse/forward control button using the same hand that is holding it without overstretching or the drill becoming loose in my grasp. It is just a lovely tool to use.
The body itself is sturdy and well-built. The plastic housing hasn’t cracked or even chipped and it has had some knocks over the years. I try to take care of my tools, but accidents do happen and knowing my drill will survive a bump or 50 is extremely reassuring. It has even been dropped 3m from a ladder onto a concrete floor and you’d never be able to tell other than a small scratch to the side! It’s been used in the dead of winter and scorching summer days and just works. It has been exposed to some rain and never even slowed down (sometime you just need to get something done) but I would never leave a power tool in the rain for extended periods and never submerse it in water, that’s just silly. I dried it off of course as soon as I was done because if you take care of your tools, your tools will take care of you.
Overall, after 9 years of use (and occasionally abuse) the Bosch Combi Drill is still one of my favourite and most reliable tools. It is ideal for DIYers and Professionals alike and is an asset to anyone’s tool shed. To still be going as strong as it is after 9 years is a testament to the quality and build of Bosch tools. Honestly, I just can’t fault it.