Bosch HDS181-02 18 Volt Compact Tough™ 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver

Purchased this Bosch 18 volt hammer drill from EBay back in July, it was the tool only and for $69.69 it was a heck of a deal.  I've used it several times since then. I live in south Florida, and the homes down here are made of concrete cinder block or solid concrete prefab walls. I installed a couple of hurricane shutters at my sister’s house and used 3 inch Tapcon concrete screws to secure the aluminum tracks to the cinder blocks. Even when I was drilling through solid poured concrete rebar reinforced beams; it was no problem for this tool. It had plenty of power to do the job. The keyless chuck works great securing the concrete drill bits. I got to tell you I love this tool. Heck I might not be using my corded Skil 1/2-in Hammer Drill Model #: 6445-02 as much as I use too, especially for smaller jobs.

It feels great in my medium sized hands, and doesn't weigh too much, and is very well balanced. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you already have a Bosch 18 volt set with batteries and the charger, you can add to your 18 volt collection by just buying the bare tool. It has an LED light at the base so you can see what your drilling into in low light.

It’s slightly longer, but not much about ¼ inch. Besides that the body and other features are basically the same. All in all it’s a great addition to my collection. Here is a side to side comparison of the Hammer drill next to my regular drill driver that I reviewed  back in June  Bosch CLPK232-181kit. 

The Tool Review Guy recommendation of BUY

Benefits:

•4-Pole Open Frame Motor – More power in a smaller size

•New ergonomic design – for outstanding comfort

•Durashield housing – constructed to withstand job site conditions

•Optional Flexible Power System (FPS™) Provides Choice of Max Run Time or Minimum Weight

•Ratcheting Single Sleeve ½ in. Chuck- For one handed bit changes

•LED Light- Great for dark or enclosed areas

•Soft-Grip Wrapped Housing - Fits comfortably in hand for extended working time

•Variable Speed Trigger- Provides maximum control

•Bosch Lithium-ion HC batteries - Provides up to 50% more run time, cold weather performance in -4 deg temps, and fuel gauge

•Bosch Advanced Lithium-ion Technology delivers optimized performance through Electronic Cell Protection (ECP™), Unique Pack Design which keeps the battery cooler, and Electronic Motor Protection (EMP™) which protects motor in heavy duty applications

Specifications:

HDS181-02 18 Volt Compact Tough™ 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver

Battery Chemistry Lithium Ion

Battery Voltage 18

Battery/Charger Fast Charger

Chuck Capacity 1/2" Key less Chuck

Chuck Size 1/2"

Clutch Settings 18+1

No Load BPM 0-27,000

No Load RPM 0-500 / 0-1,700

Torque (in. lbs.) 600

Weight 3.6 lbs.