Power Tools Reviews and Prices

Constructed to withstand the most calling for job site conditions, this kit is very compact and light with professional grade performance tools. It will include one 18 volt cordless lithium ion compact tough 1/2 inch drill driver (DDS181), one 18 volt cordless lithium ion affect driver (25618), two 18 volt 1.5 Ah HC lithium ion SlimPack batteries, one 18 volt 30 minute lithium ion charger, and one carrying case.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars A Video Review of The Bosch 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit, October 30, 2011
By Charles Evans “Call me Kevin” (North Carolina) See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Bosch CLPK232 181 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)
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The Bosch 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit gives everything that you could want in a rechargeable drill/impact combo.

High quality build The construction looks and feels hard. The drill features steel gearing and looks to have a hard interior clutch. It’s tough to comment on dependability of a tool inside the 1st five years of ownership. My expectation is that the Bosch was built to last.

Fast charge battery it takes 30 minutes or less to completely charge the battery.

Display on the battery to show how much charge remains. This is a pretty cool feature, and one that if used properly will assist extend battery life,

Fast comment on lithium batteries. Don’t run the batteries totally down, and in fact, stop using the and recharge the battery once you begin to notice the charge to wane. As well, don’t leave the battery on the charger for expanded amounts of time.. it takes 30 minutes to charge the battery, so plan to take off the battery after 30 minutes.

Battery life is listed at six hours which is quite good for the 1.5Ah battery.

The drill/driver is variable settings (high/low) and the in general speed may be dialed in for the correct speed.

The “Impactor” affect feels good in your hand well balance. It offers lots of power and is a perfect tool for driving in screws. On small jobs and decking type jobs I switched from a cordless drill to a affect some years ago, and it was a choice that I never looked back from.

LED the affect has a light that shoots straight down the screw head, but for many reason the drill/driver has a n LED that shines up from the battery pack. See the video. I’m not sure why Bosch decided to do this.

Nice thick canvas carrying case.

Easy to install a new screw bit with just one hand.

Lots of power if you have never used a 18V tool you be shocked at how far the technology has come along

A couple of other considerations,

Unlike the Makita LCT300W 18 Volt Compact Lithium Ion Cordless 3 Piece Combo Kit the Bosch set doesn’t have (at least at the time of this review) a range of extra tools like saws, grinders, blowers, and such. Not a big deal if you need this mainly for the drill and affect, but it isn’t quite as expandable.

Does not seem like the batteries are quite as widely available as the Makitas.

Final verdict A well built drill/driver and affect set. While it may not be quite as expandable as the Makita set, but for a vast most of construction sites this will never be an issue. This is combo set that you may purchase with confidence.

5 Stars

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars it is the little things., October 30, 2011
By D. Matheny (Austin, TX) See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Bosch CLPK232 181 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)
Buyer review from the Vine™ Program () Well, I have to admit that I am hard on cordless drills, though I am not really sure why since I am just a DIY’er and I take good care of my tools. I used to treat cordless drills as an nearly disposable item I could just use it for six months to a year , then purchase a substitute when it broke.

After some years, I decided to move up from Ryobi and Black & Decker to a better quality brand in hopes that it could last a bit longer. I tried Ridgid, with not much better results than the last brands, and also burned out a DeWalt cordless drill in less than a year.

I discovered the Milwaukee M18 Tools, which has given me a hard set of cordless tools that I just can not seem to break. I have had them for almost three years of pretty heavy use. The reason for that brief history is to demonstrate that I tend to judge these tools usually depending on long term reliability; and, also to demonstrate that my benchmark for dependability is now the Milwaukee M18 tools.

At this point, I have been using the Bosch combo for about two weeks while I have been completing the last phases of my new workshop. This is the stage where cordless drills and drivers see heavy use since I have been building shelves, benches, installing wall systems, etc.

Now that I have had a couple of weeks, here are the things I like about the Bosch drill & affect driver:

1) The ergonomics of this set are totally amazing! The grips are comfy and the drill angle is perfect for reaching strange angles (a certain improvement over the Milwaukee for me). Both tools are just a bit more compact than the Milwaukee tools I am used to.

2) I was firstly cynical that the 1.5 amp batteries could hold up to heavy use but they have done very well. I am not sure why, but the battery life from these 1.5 amp batteries is pretty alike to what I am to get from the much bulkier three amp Milwaukee batteries. I guess it is possible that the older batteries just are not what they used to be and that I just had not noticed the steady performance decrease.

3) The power of these tools has easily lived up to anything I have needed.

4) The charger is excellent and completely charges the batteries in a reasonable time.

5) though it looks to be more of a regular feature than it used to be, I’ll talk about that I like the power level gauge on the batteries.

Although these tools have certainly earned a place in my new workshop, they have fallen short in many of little ways. There are not any big problems; but, they are the types of things I am talking about:

1) The light placement on the drill is in the base instead of out in front. I use the drill lights all the time since I am usually holding a drill when it starts to get black and I do not feel like looking for a flashlight but this one just is not as useful as the light on the Milwaukee drill.

2) The clutch on the drill feels cheap. I know I have only used it for a couple of weeks, but I get the feeling that it is not made to be adjusted many.

3) There is not a bit holder on the drill though there’s one on the affect driver. Maybe it is just me; but, I could have intended it the other way around. On a drill, I am constantly switching between drill bits, but the affect driver tends to keep that #2 philips head about 95 of the time.

4) I do not expect top quality bits and accessories with new tools but the bits that came with this set have set new lows. The magnetic bit holder does not hold onto anything well and I shattered the #2 bit on the 1st use in the affect driver.

5) Speaking of shattered bits, I can not explain why; but, I have also shattered two of the DeWalt affect bits in this affect driver. In my experience, those bits tend to hold up many better than they’re in this Bosch affect driver. Who knows, maybe I just got unlucky but I kind of suspect the affect driver can be hitting harder than my Milwaukee affect driver does.

Anyway, as I said before, in general I really like the feel and utility of these tools. Ergonomically speaking, they’re excellent! It really is all the little issues that could give me pause when wanting to purchase these.

I can not make a dependability judgment still since I have not had them long enough; but, I will post updates to this review if I run into issues.

UPDATE 12/2/2011

Well, for everyone who read the 1st variant of this review, I have to admit that I was incorrect when I said the bit sleeve on the affect driver was made of plastic. It turns out that it is a metal sleeve with high gloss paint (feel free to read the comments for more info). I am sorry about that dis information.

Also, as I have continued to use this set, I have come to appreciate the ergonomics more and more. Yesterday I used the Milwaukee drill/driver to install a new microwave and was blown away by how spoiled I am to get by the great feel of the Bosch tools. (As a side note, let me say that mounting a microwave through a tile back splash is a big annoyance.)

Regardless, now I am going to bump up my original review to four stars because I feel like these tools do deserve that. The issues I mentioned in the review are present, but it says many that they are starting to become my go to power tools.

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Ten of ten people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars high quality, high performance, October 27, 2011
By Terry R. Nye (Kingsport, TN) See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Bosch CLPK232 181 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)
Buyer review from the Vine™ Program () Bosch tools have a repute for high quality and high performance. This set is no exemption.

The packaging for the tools is a little flimsy. My set arrived in the factory box with an address label/packing list taped on it. The affect driver (the holders manual calls it a “fastener”) is filled in a separate box inside the box, but the drill, charger, batteries, belt clips, and a spare screwdriver bit sit open in the box. Atop all of them sits the fabric carry case. None of the things were damaged or missing in shipping, but I can envision it happening if delivery service was rough. Small parts sit loosely in the box. Bosch tools are made to endure punishment at the job site, though, so unless the box is badly damaged it could be hard to damage the drill & driver in shipping.

Both the drill and affect driver are constructed with the projected Bosch quality. They’re lightweight but solidly built. You may be able to tell by the feel that they are quality tools and not the cheap stuff you may find at Wal Mart. Both the drill and driver have excellent torque to drive any screw or screw you may want to use. Both have variable speed, and the drill has two speed settings with the common large range of torque settings. The affect driver has a small LED light near the tip to aid visibility. The drill has an LED light, too, but it’s oddly placed at the top of the base where the battery attaches. It looks to direct light where it needs to be, but it just looks like a odd place to put the light source. Included with the kit are belt clips that may be attached to the drill & driver and a couple of Phillips screwdriver bits. Bosch makes great drill and driver bits, and it could have been a welcome addition to have a bit set included, but in fairness most other drill/driver sets don’t come with bits either.

One nice thing that isn’t pointed out on the product marketing is the batteries are 18 volt Lithium Ion batteries. This is a big plus as the Li Ion batteries are smaller, lighter, hold a charge much better than NiCad batteries, and won’t develop a charge “memory.” You don’t have to drain these batteries totally before charging. The estimated six hour battery life is far superior to a likewise priced Makita 18 volt Li Ion drill/driver set I own that has only 1 1/2 hour battery life. Better, both included batteries have an LED charge display that lets you to tell at a glance how much charge is left. Cool. When my set arrived I charged both batteries now with the included charger. Every one took only 30 minutes to completely charge. Compared with the hour or longer that my other NiCad cordless tools require to charge this is a real time saver.

The included tool bag is okay, though I could have favored a hard plastic case. The bag has good construction, though, and is heavy responsibility enough that these tools and more may be easily carried in it. I just do not like the idea of them banging around inside a bag when they’re moved around. I believe, at a MSRP of $582 and discounted price of over $200 a hard case should have been provided.

In summary, the Bosch CLPK232 181 18V Max 2 Tool Combo Kit could be a great set of cordless drill and affect drivers to have for homeowners and construction workers alike. The higher price point compared with other alike sets is warranted by the Lithium Ion batteries (cheaper sets will probably have NiCad batteries). The cheap tool bag is a disappointment, but you’re still to get a great set of tools for the price. And you’ll never go wrong with Bosch quality.

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Rockwell’s RK3440K VersaCut is a powerful, multi functional, ultra compact round saw that can cut wood, flooring, plastic, ceramic tile, slate, aluminum and sheet metal. Its lightweight (four pounds) and simplified design makes it simple to control with just one hand. Improve efficiency and comfort with the VersaCut, which removes the have to drag out a big, heavy round saw to do alike tasks.
RK3440K VersaCut
At a Glance:
One saw that cuts tile, wood, aluminum, sheet metal, PVC, and more

Slim body and ergonomic balance let better control—even with one hand

Dimensions: Maximum cutting depth of 1 1/16 inches; 3 3/8 inch blade size; weighs four pounds

Backed by a two year restricted warranty
The Rockwell VersaCut is a compact round saw that is easy to control with just one hand (view larger).Powerful Mini round Saw
The Rockwell VersaCut possesses the power of a big, bulky, and heavy round saw in a compact, balanced, lightweight design. Make professional looking results in wood, flooring, plastic, ceramic tile, metal, and more using exclusive Laserguide technology that indicates a exact cutting line. And thanks to its small size, the VersaCut gives you power and accuracy in tight regions that can not be accessed by regular round saws.Professional Style Results with Just One Hand
The VersaCut—equipped with a 4 amp motor—provides professionals and everyday do it yourselfers alike with the fantastic looking results; users can make perfect rip cuts and plunge cuts with help from Laserguide technology that assures users will not have to measure a cut twice (saving time and money). A dust extraction adapter that keeps the cut line clear of dust more improves visibility. And unlike most saws, the VersaCut is intended to cut through materials thicker than one inch.Streamlined Silhouette
Thanks to an very thin design, the VersaCut gives you with better control—and its ergonomically balanced design with rear motor construction improves user comfort and decreases exhaustion. The lock off switch prevents accidental starting, and the lasting full metal inner and outer guard design extends product life. Fast access to the depth adjustment lever lets you to move the display to the wanted depth and lock the system with ease.What’s in the Box
One Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut round saw with one 24T carbide tipped blade for cutting wood, one 44T HSS blade for cutting aluminum and PVC, one diamond blade for cutting ceramic tile and cement board, one no mar plastic base plate cover, one parallel guide, one vacuum adapter and one carrying bag.The VersaCut easily handles different types of cuts in wood, concrete, metal, and more (click each to enlarge).

172 of 175 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars Great Light Weight Tool For All Around Use, September 5, 2011
By alexanderaku See all my reviews This review is from: Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut round Saw (Tools & Home Improvement) I bought my Rockwell VersaCut RK3440K at a local “brick and mortar store” exactly one week before it was in stock here at Amazon. I may have pre ordered it at and waited, but I needed it for some number of long and tall furniture grade cupboards I builded for the walls of my utility room and garage.

I had been wanting a small light corded saw of this size since watching a carpenter use a small battery powered one as he replaced trim on my home many years back. I knew a battery model could not be economical in my restricted and occasional use as a homeowner caused by replacing batteries after long periods of disuse. The one the carpenter had was nice, but not as nice as my new VersaCut and I am sure he paid more for his. The VersaCut is more powerful than the one the carpenter had, and its ten foot cord also gives good easy reach and motion.

Performance in a cut using the supplied carbide tipped mix blade is good using the VersaCut. The blade is a tough one and not many wimpy thing that flexes. I had been using my DeWalt seven 1/4″ saw with a professional mix cabinet grade blade on oak, pine, and cedar in the construction of my cupboards. The stock I used was 1/4″ thick to 1″ thick with 2x2s for rear counter support. What I now noticed using the VersaCut has been reduced edge splintering and that it made a much better cut. The other direct benefit was I not need hearing protection, as the VersaCut is very calm running in cuts. Since I worked in a confined area (long narrow utility room with freezers, and a washer and dryer, taking up most of the room), the VersaCut also made just making my cuts very easier than using the bulkier and much heavier Dewalt one hand is all you ever need using the VersaCut, with the other out of the way or holding your work. A bucking blade, attaching and kicking back, also is not happening with the VersaCut and it offers more than enough power in the cut for the three 3/8 inch blade. Attaching just does not seem to happen at all using the small three 3/8 inch VersaCut blade and the spring loaded base instantly springs out to cover the blade, and locks there with your fingers off the double trigger system. Cutting oak hardwood seemed to go just as fast with the VersaCut as using my seven 1/4″ Dewalt.

The VersaCut only cuts to a depth of just over 1″ (1 1/16 inch), but cutting the 2×2″ stock was as simple as rotating the stock in one hand as I operated the VersaCut with the other. I had projected that 1st cut to be uneven, but it was perfectly square when I finished, and every cut I made using the VersaCut was perfectly square. That is to the base does not wobble any as the tool plunges into the cut and there’s no blade angle modification. The blade is just maintained in a 90 degree position to the base.

As for more accuracy, an adjustable rip fence bar with marked graduations in metric and English standards is supplied. I used it and found the graduations to be correct with the base and blade cut. But, the laser and the “V” (blade path indication on the base) were somewhat off from the real blade cut about a sixteenth of an inch on my VersaCut. Still, that slight offshoot was no problem as I simply corrected for it in the free hand cuts I made with my right hand. Caused by the base housing construction, you really can not see the blade well as it starts into the work, so you may have to make some experimental cuts to get used to compensating for any offshoot or you may want to make your reference mark at the “V”. There’s a small opening on the left side, so you may be able to see the leading blade edge through it while cutting, but most are going to find that small opening hard at best to keep track of the blade’s cutting path through materials.

Pushing the tool into the work isn’t overly hard, but I found the spring tension may be softer, and I wished at times I could just lock the base into the retracted position throughout many cuts, but I realize this is a part of the blade safety feature provided on the VersaCut.

The depth of cut setting is a little aggravating, but simply made you just flip the tab, move it to the setting you want and flip it back to lock it again. The problem is it’ll move many, from where you had it located, as you flip the tab back to the lock position.

Back to the laser, a part of the top cover to it simply pushes forward and flips upward to reveal two small 1.5 volt (LR44) watch type alkaline batteries powering it. The cover stays in place well, and the laser is really quite bright when you press the small button at the back of the laser housing to turn it on. A second press of the button turns it off. Note: The Energizer 357 silver oxide batteries, sold here at Amazon, may be the better substitute battery as they have a higher power reserve and a 5 10 year counter life.

Blade elimination and installation is simple. Two “C” type hex shaft locks are supplied, one a spare, and you simply put one on the right side of the tool with one end over the base. One of these shaft locks is stored on the tool cable, near the handle, with the hex key needed for the blade clamping screw. A clockwise turn releases the screw, and a counter clockwise one tightens the blade.

Safety and using blades made by other manufacturers with the VersaCut
The about three 3/8 inch Rockwell VersaCut blades have a 15 millimeter arbor to go with the VersaCut arbor the same as the arbors for Makita three 3/8 inch blades. Rockwell rates the no load speed of the VersaCut at 3500 RPM which is well over 1500 RPM faster than Makita’s line of small saw blades that are rated for a maximum of 2240 RPM in this group. The Rockwell carbide tipped blade is rated the lowest at a maximum of 7,000 RPM, with the 44 tooth HSS blade coming rated higher at a maximum of 15,000 RPM, and the diamond blade rated at a 20,000 RPM maximum. Blade thickness at the arbor averages 1.2 millimeters with all three Rockwell blades, with the Rockwell HSS blade coming out somewhat thinner at the arbor, and with many slight variance of this width at the cutting edge on both it and the Rockwell carbide tipped mix blade. The Rockwell diamond blade is an easily noticed full two millimeters at the cutting edge. Since the Makita blades are so alike, this gives rise to the thought many users may attempt using the three 3/8 inch diameter Makita blades on the VersaCut. In this application, a blade exchange may be a bad idea about user safety if they’ll fit the confines of the VersaCut. Since the Makita three 3/8 inch blades are only rated for a maximum of 2240 RPM, trying to use a Makita blade on the VersaCut may just be a downright dangerous idea if they do really fit in the VersaCut housing. If found to fit, bigger diameter blades could upset cut chip and particle motion to produce destructive jamming of the blade and motor. On the other hand, the Rockwell VersaCut blades should be no problem for use on the slower RPM running Makita saws. If you do find an aftermarket blade carefully fits the VersaCut, make sure its maximum RPM ranking exceeds the Rockwell VersaCut’s 3500 RPM no load speed. I will just stick to Rockwell VersaCut blades on my VersaCut, though the three 3/8″ 15mm arbor blades are a regular blade size supplied by many other manufacturers many far exceeding the rpm prerequisite of the VersaCut and for under $5.

Also provided is a nice ballistic nylon carry case with more than enough room for the VersaCut and more accessories. With the included carbide tipped mix blade, comes a tough looking HSS crosscut blade (also for metal cutting), and a tough looking diamond blade for cutting the likes of concrete and tile. There’s an adapter for a shop vac (that, by the way, works well in dust elimination while using the VersaCut), and a plastic snap on work protector for the base. A good instruction manual is provided with a waranty card for this new “patent applied for” tool.

I’ve only used the one blade so far, but I will be adding the performance here of the VersaCut using the diamond blade in tile use shortly. I expect the diamond blade will also offer good performance, after only so far just having a good look at it. After using the VersaCut on my cabinet project, I am happy with it. I am 60 years young and arthritic, and the VersaCut made cutting the wood and building my cupboards much easier by far.

Update 10/27/11:

This evening I used the diamond blade on many HardieBacker (1/4″ cement board). The performance was a bit slower than when I cutted wood with the carbide tooth blade, but still satisfactory. Wear to the diamond blade appeared non existent after some long cuts. I did not use the dust pickup as I was outside making the cuts. The dust usually kicked up underneath the cement board where it was not most of a problem nevertheless and I did not need a filter mask throughout the cuts. Something unexpected, I also liked, is the cement dust accumulating on the upper side of the base interferes with the spring loaded base plate holding it in the up position when out of the cut, till the heavy dust is shaken out of the saw. This made starting each successive cut easier for me and I did not have to press the saw down into the thin cement board as much. That also took the worry away of possibly using too much pressure and breaking the thin cement boards. The cuts were perfect and smooth, and the saw made my work cutting the HardieBacker go quickly. As I continued cutting, I noticed there’s a housing tab that aids in raising the saw base but it requires using both hands while using the saw. The tab I am referring to is not really made for this as it’s the one that contacts the. Read more ›

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57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars nice tool, October 2, 2011
By Ed Sutter (Fanwood, New Jersey United States) See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) () This review is from: Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut round Saw (Tools & Home Improvement) I bought this hoping it could be a nice alternative to my cicular saw when cutting things 1 inch thick and less. Just used it for the 1st time on many 3/4″ plywood and it did just what I had hoped. I have some Rockwell tools (JawHorse and Sonicrafter) and all are hard quality tools. This is no exemption. You can not cut 2x4s with it, but as long as you realize its limitations (designed in), its a great addition to a workshop.

I wish that the ratings could let me to give this a four 7/8 star ranking because I have two comments.

1. I had to put a bit of channel tape around the vacuum attachment because my vacuum’s end was a bit bigger (1/16″) than the attachment’s outer diameter. To be just to Rockwell, I do not know if this is the fault of my vacuum or the Versacut.

2. As much as I like the “plunge” design, it could be nice if this had a convenient means of locking down the blade to not require the “plunge”.

Neither of these issues were serious enough for me to drop my star ranking to 4.5. I’d recommend this to a friend without a doubt.

One other thing. The last two tools I bought from Rockwell were in strong tool bags rather than the common molded plastic boxes. I love this! more useful ’cause I can throw other handtools in the bag as needed.

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61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars Well Thought Out (4 1/2 Stars), September 9, 2011
By BobbyCA (California) See all my reviews This review is from: Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut round Saw (Tools & Home Improvement) I have (had) the Craftsman’s variant of the Mini Saw and I did like it. It was compact, enough power, and was really good for small intricate cuts. But one big flaw that I could not look past and that was the fact that you can not see the blade.Not a problem on rip cuts, but made it really dificult when you needed your cut to stop at a specific point. Consequently I had to find a substitute. I stumbled across the Rockwell, which was the only one I could find in this class of saw that has an opening to see the blade. I have used it some times so far and it works quite well. It is got a great laser, long cord, easy to use with one hand, and lots of power. For my reasons, I could liked it 100 if it had a little smaller of a foot print (like the Craftsman).And like the other reviewer, I also agree that the springs on the shoe are a little too strong.. I do not know if it’ll loosen up a bit over time, but both these complaints are minor and in general its a really nice and well thought out compact saw. It comes with lots of extras too (a big bonus).

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