Bosch PSB 18VE2 - 18V Cordless Hammer Drill

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* 1 x Bosch PSB18VE2 Cordless Hammer Drill
* 2 x rechargeable NiCD (nickel) 18 volt batteries
* 1 x 1 hour quick charger
* 1 x carry case
* Softgrip handle and attachable side grip handle
* Up to 8mm screw diameter, 13mm in steel, 28mm in wood and 14mm in masonary

==** IN CONCLUSION…==

As I said earlier this is one of many cordless drills I have in my workshop, _(why one person ...
...on the shelf), but this Bosch has lasted me quite some time and has never failed me one little bit in all the abuse I have given it.

Although this drill is a nice tool to have at your side, giving you the capabilities of drilling through many materials, it is the actual drill bits which do a lot of the work for you, but having the right drill to ’spin’ those bits through is a big help and this Bosch is certainly the right drill at ... more

I am the proud owner of several DIY tools, from your basic claw hammer to an industrial circular saw, (which, when I use it, still manages to scare the hell out of me sometimes).
Anyway, the biggest boon in the Do It Yourself world has got to be the cordless/ battery powered power tool collection, such as saws, sanders, planes and especially the good old cordless power drill, with a vast range of power options.
I do own a few of these type of drills, even a JML Dual Drill, which is a true genius in itself, and a few others of different power ratings, including the rather fine Bosch PSB 18VE2, which this review is going to be about.

It claims to be the ultimate cordless combi drill which will bore through materials such as wood, masonry and even steel, (of course this depends on the actual drill bit), whilst still be capable of being used as a powerful, yet controllable screwdriver.
Giving a two speed high performance and a 5 torque setting , which allows you to control the power for more precise positioning, plus a ‘hammer drill option which is aided by the attachable side handle for that little extra stability whilst drilling. And with it weighing in at just under 2 and a half kilos it’s quite easy to hold for good periods of time.

The trigger itself acts like a power accelerator, ranging from a gentle touch for pilot holes, to full squeeze of the trigger, giving you full power for that fast drilling.

And, to top it all, it comes with the standard 21st century invention, the good old Keyless chuck with Auto-Lock, which saves searching for that elusive chuck key which no-one can ever remember where they left it. ** What you get in the package…

• 1 x Bosch PSB18VE2 Cordless Hammer Drill
• 2 x rechargeable NiCD (nickel) 18 volt batteries
• 1 x 1 hour quick charger
• 1 x carry case
• Softgrip handle and attachable side grip handle
• Up to 8mm screw diameter, 13mm in steel, 28mm in wood and 14mm in masonary

** IN CONCLUSION…

As I said earlier this is one of many cordless drills I have in my workshop, (why one person needs so many even I don’t know so please don’t ask, I just seem to collect them as I go through life).
Anyway, this little green gem is one of my favourites and most used at the moment for its shear power and easy handling. It is pretty lightweight for what it can achieve and the power performance is second to none for its various capabilities.
It looks quite pretty, if you like green and black, with a dash of red, and the torque settings and hammer option button are easy to use, giving you excellent control during use.
The detachable handle really helps when drilling through stubborn material, such as stone or brick, with the Hammer option giving that extra kick.
The trigger gives great control with the speed, allowing you to start slowly, making a pilot hole maybe, before squeezing the trigger more when you need to for that actually drilling through almost any material.
As for using it as a cordless screwdriver, well, what a gift the speed control trigger is, combined with the 5 torque setting you should be able to get that shelf up on the wall without splitting that perfectly cut piece of wood.

The battery changing process takes a matter of seconds, with the pressing of two red catches being the hardest part, it’s as easy as changing your socks.
The life of a fully charged battery varies depending on what job your doing, drilling or screwing, but I tend to find that I can give the drill a lot of abuse between charges.
The one hour charge is so useful, plus, with this package you’re actual getting two batteries so whilst one is charging you can get on with the job in hand, technically, giving you none stop action until the work is done.
I know there are many many more powerful drills on the market, in fact I own a very pricey 28 volt Dewalt cordless hammer drill which I only use on very special occasions, (Why I spent nearly £250 on something I use about as often as a politician tells the truth I will never know… but hey, it looks pretty sat on the shelf), but this Bosch has lasted me quite some time and has never failed me one little bit in all the abuse I have given it.

Although this drill is a nice tool to have at your side, giving you the capabilities of drilling through many materials, it is the actual drill bits which do a lot of the work for you, but having the right drill to ’spin’ those bits through is a big help and this Bosch is certainly the right drill at the right price.

In all, it is a handy little drill with a good weight to handle, especially for those trickier jobs, and with a name like Bosch you know you can’t go wrong. So if you’re a budding DIYer, or even in the trade and need a fairly cheap yet very handy cordless drill, then get hold of this little green moulded work of art, it should set you back around the £80,00 mark from the likes of Amazon,(although its full price is nearer the £160 mark)

 

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