Bosch vs Bosch Professional?

Ok was looking at Circular saws today.

Ended up going with the Bosch Professional GKS 190 (Decided on over the standard Bosch and the Makita).

I've noticed there are a few other tools in Bosch's range that have botht he standard (green coloured tools) and the Professional (which come in a box with red and white striping)..

I'm wondering whether there's that much difference between the two? Or is the "Professional" tag just a gimmick?

(NB have kept the receipt so if someone says I've made a huge mistake I will take it back :) ).

i cant talk about the bosch saw but i have bought two 4 inch green bosch angle grinders PW 1000 $68 each and they do every thing i ask of them .the type of work they do is cutting galvanised roofing iron,grinding a bad weld out on light gauge pipe or angle iron and wire brushing .the harder work is done with a 9 inch makita. there a saying horses for courses and for what i do with them i think there ok. lloyd.:U

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Originally Posted by Starmage

I'm wondering whether there's that much difference between the two? Or is the "Professional" tag just a gimmick?

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Nope. A goodish bit of difference in tolerances, parts, and features. Many tradies use Bosch Blue (or anyway, not green) and would soon switch if they didn't do the job.

That said, depends on how much use you plan to make of them. For weekend warriors, the home handyman version is often OK. :)

[It is well to keep in mind that certain companies make certain tools better than others. Bosch makes a very nice jigsaw indeed, probably their best product. Triton makes a great router (or they did do). Makita make nice drill/drivers. And so on.]

I own a Bosh green hammer drill that had been chucked out 10 odd years ago from work. Didn't work was the reason it found its way into the bin and a replacement was ordered. I rescued the old drill and had the sparkies look at it. All that was wrong was a loose wire in the trigger mech, needless to say the old drill is here with me at haome and still going after all these years.

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Originally Posted by Bluegum

I own a Bosh green hammer drill that had been chucked out 10 odd years ago from work. Didn't work was the reason it found its way into the bin and a replacement was ordered. I rescued the old drill and had the sparkies look at it. All that was wrong was a loose wire in the trigger mech, needless to say the old drill is here with me at haome and still going after all these years.

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Sweet :)
Have been happy witht he Bosch's I've had in the past though I hadn't bought anything in the hand tool department until recently. Though I've seen a few green ones in various locations.

I've forgotten the model number of the green one I bought the Professional one over so I can't do a side by side comparison anymore (I did look at the box and this one at least has a spare blade in it).

Should suit my purposes fine but as someone who has a severe vision impairment safety was my main concern.

I have a few Bosch green tools that are at least 10 years old. They are made in Switzerland and are excellent quality. Still going strong after use of (ab)use.

Some time since then Bosch began manufaturing the green tools in Asia and there is a difference between them and the blue. I'd be interested to know where the blue tools are made these days?

This probably doesn't help much, but when people say 'Bosch green are great' they may be talking about older models.

My old Makita 100mm angle grinder sounds like its on its last legs ,It was purchased in 1983 and has been used for a myriad of jobs , cutting steel , grinding steel , cutting pavers with a diamond wheel attached and wire brushing dirt and rust from angle iron.
I have replaced all the bearings twice over the years and it just got a new set of brushes about a month ago.
I have decided that I might buy a new one ,I looked at the Makita $139.00 at M10 , the bosch green ,(cant remember the price 99.00 I think )and the bosch professional blue on special for $89.00 with a carry case ,pair of saftey glasses and 10 grinding discs.
Still undecided , the bosch blue is 650 watt ,the green is 750watt (I think) and the Makita is (850 or 950 w).
Then I see an Icon brand down on the bottom shelf for 39.00 750 watt and all the same features as the bosch blue and including variable speed .
I'm so confused I dont know what to buy.

Probably lash out and get another Makita.

Kev.

For what it's worth:

I've always been a "bosh man". I don't know if they are the best, and makita seem to have a bigger share of the woodwork/building industry but in metal work it's probably neck and neck. I'm a mechanic by trade and I don't like treating my tools with kid gloves. When the work is on I bog in. I've got a green angle grinder and it's ok. I've got a blue drill and it's unkillable. The chuck is just about dead but the rest of it is going fine. It'll be getting a new chuck in due course. There is a very big difference between the green and blue ranges and probably more so now. They seem to have pushed the green down market to compete and the new stuff looks pretty poor to my eye.

I've always been suspicious of complex tools. I worry there is more to go wrong on the job. I know a lot of people who swear by makita. My only makita is a planer and it's very good. Some of their grinders sit in the hand well. So for what it's worth I think those two ranges, bosh blue and makita, are good safe bets. You'll see an awful lot of tradies in all specialities using those two and much less of everything else.

If you want cheap well I've had acceptable service from a range of stuff, ozito, gmc, xu1, supercheap stuff...it's not the same as real tools but if it's a one off or whatever you can get service out of any of it.

I think a bosh blue saw is a good investment. Probably a life long tool.