Thread: Swiss Knife Drill

guess it's up to me.....

Depending on your use, work or hobby the Bosch I have found to be good value for money in the last few years. I have quite a few items and they all perform well. I use mine for work and although some of them are showing signs of wear they are going strong. Well worth a look, I'm sure I will be buying more.

Thanks for the reply....hmmmm..yes...I have Bosch SCMS and it's a beautiful piece of gear.

I should just say hang it and go for the Bosch, but with a hand drill not being precision, it's hard to justify. As I say the Bosch is a lot of money for a hobby hand drill. But I do feel pretty sure I will fall off the perch still using the thing at hobby level!

I do know that even with a hand drill or even a grinder, the feel of a good machine is still there.

Oh, well. I guess it's up to me in truth! I do sound as if I am talking myself into it do I not?

Dear Nick,

Unfortunately, that DeWalt you've got your eyes on does not have a selectable-torque clutch; nor for that matter does it's big brother - the D21815...

The type of Clutch that they (and several other high-end brands and models of 2-speed "corded" Impact Drills) have, is instead an unchangeable single-trigger-setting clutch that is purely meant for safety purposes. The main scenario where such clutches would be triggered would be when drilling through thick steel with a largish bit at full pelt in low gear. If the bit "bites" on its way out (ie. towards the very end of the hole, when the steel is just becoming thin enough to start deforming a little under the pushing force that you are applying...), the sudden kickback can be very, very serious... I nearly did my knee in once when mine "bit" when drilling through some heavy cast-iron. Now, I always have my drill's clutch set at its maximum triggerable setting - no matter what sort of drilling I'm doing. If I need a little more "give" when screwdriving, I'll wind down the clutch. But when I've finished the job, I'll only increase the clutch up to the maximum torque setting again (rather than all the way up to the "direct drive" setting...)

The only 2-speed corded Drill I've ever seen that has a mechanical clutch was one that was sold by GMC in this country a few years back. I've got one, and they're quite gutsy and solidly built. But the only way you can get variable presettable torque in a corded Drill nowadays is electronically via a dial.

Bosch do two models with this feature: the "GSB 20-2 RET" and the "GSB 21-2 RCT"
and Metabo also do two models: the "SBE 850 Impulse" (not to be confused with the standard SBE 850...), and the "SBE 1100".

Out of them all, the Bosch "GSB 20-2 RET" is the most affordable, at the high $300 to $400 bracket. So Claw was giving you some Good Oil...

If this is too expensive for you, maybe you can get by with just the safety-clutch feature on a 2-speed drill? A Screwgun with adjustable torque and adjustable depth might be a better direction to head in than what you've got in mind. Makita do such an animal (the FS2700) for about $225 on a good day, and it has separate nosecaps for both phillips-head, and hex-head screwdriving (Most Screwguns are equipped for only one or the other, and most of them don't have adjustable torque - only adjustable depth - so the Makita's a "goodie"...)

Good Luck with it!
Batpig.

Thanks for all the info!

hmmm...I did wonder if that clutch on the Default was simply a safety as many of them have. But I asked somewhere (??) and was told it was adjustable. So thanks for the heads- up. I do not think I was quite happy it was adjustable.

My honking great Ryobi has seized on me a couple of times and scared me. It has just ripped out of my hand and nearly twisted my wrist off, so I really know where you are coming from.

Ahh....yes. It was the SBe850 Impulse I was thinking of, not the Bosch. When you are looking and looking it is easy to ...........

It looks like a sweet drill and Metabo are also pretty well-regarded. But I will check out the Bosch ones you mention.

hmmm. yeah that GSB 20-2 RET looks nice........ and justifiable.

I will check out specific screw units as well. I have been using the torque setting mainly to do Tek work on sheds etc, but a really good screw gun may open up more uses. Need to check the torque / depth thing. I have not looked into the depth feature.

Food for thought...chomp chomp....

Nick

And thanks some more.

Having looked at the Makita FS2700, I realise that I already own a perfectly serviceable and (probably too) powerful drill, a fine battery powered driver/small hole drill, and if I buy the FS2700 (which I have found for $199...a REALLY good day ) I am saving a heap over trying to start again with a single "super drill".

Excellent.

Nick

Just checked out the Toolstop website, and found some much better prices than you're quoting: Bosch GSB21-2RCT (1300w) for $292.96
Metabo SBE1100Plus (1100w) for $239.44
Metabo SBE900 Impulse (900w) for $204.65
Metabo UHE28 Multihammer (1000w) for $334.43

Of course, you'd have to add freight to these prices, eg. the latter (the heaviest) is about $68.35 freight.

All have clutches, the Metabo mechanical, and the Bosch has 2; a conventional mechanical and an electronic presettable torque sensitive cutout.

All are 2 speed hammers, with the UHE having interchangeable chucks for drilling/stirring and SDS hammering/chiselling. I personally have one, and have found it to be the most versatile drill I own.

The 1100w Metabo has a Futuro Top chuck, which is without a doubt the strongest, tightest holding, easiest to use and, if properly maintained, the longest lasting chuck on the market.

I've had an earlier version of the Bosch GSB20-2RET for over 25 years of extremely hard work. It had a conventional keyed chuck, which I prefer to those awful two handed keyless jobs for longevity and gripping power. Until I used the Futuro Top chucks.

Personally I believe that Metabo makes the best power drills (and grinders) available. They may not be the most technically advanced, like Bosch, but they are extremely ruggedly built and long lasting. Just ask any engineering shop or oil rigger which brand of tools they use.

I have no affiliation whatsoever with any particular company or organisation, and am merely offering my own opinions based on experience, as requested.

Originally Posted by Ratbag

Just checked out the Toolstop website, and found some much better prices than you're quoting: Bosch GSB21-2RCT (1300w) for $292.96
Metabo SBE1100Plus (1100w) for $239.44
Metabo SBE900 Impulse (900w) for $204.65
Metabo UHE28 Multihammer (1000w) for $334.43

Of course, you'd have to add freight to these prices, eg. the latter (the heaviest) is about $68.35 freight.

All have clutches, the Metabo mechanical, and the Bosch has 2; a conventional mechanical and an electronic presettable torque sensitive cutout.

All are 2 speed hammers, with the UHE having interchangeable chucks for drilling/stirring and SDS hammering/chiselling. I personally have one, and have found it to be the most versatile drill I own.

The 1100w Metabo has a Futuro Top chuck, which is without a doubt the strongest, tightest holding, easiest to use and, if properly maintained, the longest lasting chuck on the market.

I've had an earlier version of the Bosch GSB20-2RET for over 25 years of extremely hard work. It had a conventional keyed chuck, which I prefer to those awful two handed keyless jobs for longevity and gripping power. Until I used the Futuro Top chucks.

Personally I believe that Metabo makes the best power drills (and grinders) available. They may not be the most technically advanced, like Bosch, but they are extremely ruggedly built and long lasting. Just ask any engineering shop or oil rigger which brand of tools they use.

I have no affiliation whatsoever with any particular company or organisation, and am merely offering my own opinions based on experience, as requested.

\

Wow! My brain hurts after that lot!

OK. I will check all that out. Just have to decide which way to jump. Certainly good prices.

Nick

HEH! I bought this instead......no...........just another arrow to my bow.

Attachment 164372

Nick

From your first post I get the impression you are looking for a unit to drive roofing screws?

If this is the case...you need an impact driver, all the pro shed installers use them and so do I.

If you are looking for a screwdriver... the same applies, you don't need a clutch because you have infinite control when driving screws. I have found in the past even the best of clutched drills will not give consistent depth control in wood.

Cheers

John M

To ravna. I was really looking for a drill foremost and a screwdriver next. I do not do enough roof or wall work to justify a separate driver at the moment.

To clarify in case anybody follows this thread. According to Metabo, the Metabo drills mentioned previously are not torque controlled, but speed controlled, by the Variatronics Full Wave or whatever they call it. That makes them useful as drills/hammer drills, but less so for setting screws. It's a pity because Metabo are really the cream of the crop for quality and longevity.