Bosch Reviews

I was initially disappointied when I first received the extra work clamp for my new Bosch Mitre Saw; it struck me as flimsy in comparison to the very solid steel clamp that came with the saw. I had ordered another clamp, wanting one for both sides of the saw cut, and assumed that I would be getting the same simple sturdy clamp that slides into the clamp hole behind the saw fence and swings over the fence to be screwed down on the piece of wood to be cut. The new clamp does this, but it has an added quick-clamp release, that supposedly makes using it faster and easier. But strength was replaced by this " great idea " , and I don't understand why, because the original clamp essentially does the same thing without the release mechanism. It's no big deal, so I give the folks at Bosch three stars for trying to reinvent the wheel. And since the force needed to clamp-down a piece of wood securely on the saw isn't great, any clamp will work ok, even this 'imporved' model. But if you hold the clamps in your hands, and weigh them side-by-side, the original very solid work clamp makes the new one look pretty silly.

Like the clamp - it has a sliding adjsutment that makes it quick to use and when clamped down - the wood is going any place. Works great on the sliding compound saw.

This product is so well designed, one of the main reasons I bought a Bosch saw was because of their clamp. Do you think this is overstated? It is not. My two primary goals in sawing are (1) to keep all of my fingers, (followed distantly by) (2) to saw wood as needed. A good clamping system is of paramount importance to me.

If a clamp does not work quickly and easily, we tend to dispense with it and just hold the wood. I know several people who found out the hard way the drawbacks of holding while cutting. Bosch is the only manufacturer who goes the extra distance and includes (1) a quick adjust, (2) a quick push clamp, (3) all-metal construction, and (4) a cushion to avoid denting the wood. Bosch is the only company that puts a lot of thought into the design of their clamp.

Way to go, Bosch! I salute you with all the fingers that I was born with!

For general purpose cutting these are the choice. They do well in a variety of non-abrasive materials. Just don't push them hard or you will need another 5 pack right away. The bits do better if you just let the tool do the work. They are kind of hard to control if you want a nice cut. But that's the nature of spiral saws . The down cutting spiral is nice since the dust is blown away from you instead of back at your face. It's pretty simple , if you have a spiral saw , you need these bits.

For Canadians who cant shop Amazon (I can and do frequently)(love Amazon for the great deals)..these are available at Home Depot for the same price..with currency conversion of course and PST GST

The trick to using these bitsand keeping them from snapping is setting the depth guide to just below the outside surface that you are cutting, but slowing down your cutting rate the futher down the bit you go. In other words, when you cut a thin material at the edge of the bit, with the guide set low, cut SLOW as the force is on the end of the bit and it can snap easy. Go slow and keep your cost low.

I bought this stand after talking to Rousseau and being assured that the stand would work well with the Porter Cable 3812. Well . . . .they have included pre-drilled holes for the PC, but that's about it. You can't store the miter gauge on-board anymore (which means the cord storage is gone also), and the fence is in the way when storing upright (although you can move it). I was really disappointed, because this thing is built really well and would have been nice to have. Amazon is picking it up in the morning.

I know it's kind of expensive, but it'sreally worth it. I was having trouble moving my Bosch "portable" table saw even though I'm a burly 6'5, 250 pound guy until I got it. It's a real sturdy stand that let's me move the saw easily - down 50 yards of gravel driveway from my shop to my house, then up six steps to the deck without hassle. I also wheel the saw to make the best use of shop space. I move it inside my shop as needed to cut large boards, or into a corner for storage. I generally don't fold the saw stand up unless I'm loadining it into my pickup.

Simple to assemble, set up and use. I have a Makita, and Rousseau said I had to make a plywood base. It works great. Better than what comes with the saw. It is built for the beasts out there, so it is a bit big to go in and out of my trailer. No more saw off, move stand, saw on. Just push the button and(be careful..pinch hazard!)fold up the wheels.

This tool has plenty of power but thank God for two batteries and a fast charger. The run time leaves a lot to be desired. I have an old 9.6 volt drill that outlasts the Bosch by 2to1. But all that aside, it's got a great chuck and the bits run true with no slippage. Mabe I just got a bad set of batteries.

I've had mine for over 6 months and for the most part have been pretty satisfied. It's powerful ( 450 in/lbs of torque ), lightweight, well balanced, and a great value with a low price and 2 batteries and a one hour charger. Compared to other 14.4 drills, it's very competitve. The only thing that I don't like is the run time. I personally think the run time is weak, but 1) I'm used to using 24 volts and 2) I haven't compared it with my 14.4 DeWalt and PC. Overall, this is a pretty good drill for just about anyone

To be perfectly honest, I do not have this particular model. I do have two 3610's and a 3615. They are of the same breed, however, as the latest model, and I have had ample time (three years) to put them through their paces. In my opinion, the first thing that you must consider before buying any tool is what you are going to use it for. It does not make sense to buy a 24 volt cordless monster for doing a job better suited to a corded drill. I went to my local HD and hefted some of the 18 and 24 volt models and they were great as long as you had an electric winch to pick them up. You can not work with them for any length of time. Period. The Bosch 14.4 volt models are the epitomy of great design, great ergonomics and sensible application of battery power. They have accomplished everything I have thrown at them, even though I have thrown them some real curves, such as driving No. 14 screws, and drilling holes with 1 inch speed bore's. For a general, all around cordless drill they are the best I have seen, or used. Most of the others are sloppy with wide tolerences, very heavy, or just didnt feel right in your hand. These drills feel right right from jump street. My recommendation is to buy two. One for pilot drilling and one for driving. If you are a fanatic, like me. buy three. Through hole, pilot hole, driving. By the way, I have Bosh's Circular saw, Jig saw, and metal shear, and they are all top of the line, very well engineered tools that are a pleaseure to use. My next buy will be the 1618EVS Router. All my toos ar turning blue, the gray ones the red ones and the yellow ones are going on the auction block! Hope this helps, Have a good life!

Yes, the Airsweep is in many respects the UBER VACUUM. But it isn't perfect. First of all, the wheels kept falling off, and I had to take the time to do some after market jury rigging to keep them on. You can't plug in tools that draw more than 7 or so amps, or you will blow it up. And it comes so stripped down, and I've spent so much on accessories (basket, wands, HEPA filter, bags, suckulators), it is the most expensive tool I own (and I'm a contractor!). And I don't like the fact that I can't buy replacement bags anywhere in my town (Portland, Oregon), so I have to plan ahead and order them online. Despite all the dough I've spent, it is growing on me. I hooked it up to my Bosch Palm Sander, and it is the sweetest low-dust setup. It is very quiet. And the internal filter shaking feature is very civilized. And don't forget that Bosch has a top notch warranty backing their products.....

Well, it's hard to get excited over a vacuum, but if you need one, this is a very high quality machine. Having owned other Bosch tools, I expected a vacuum that ran smoothly and felt solid. I wasn't disappointed. It's made of heavy plastic with strong latches and rubber-edged wheels. The hose connection is solid, locking with a small turn. It's a little bulky (what wet/dry isn't) and it's certainly not light, but rolls easily. The front casters can be locked when you want to keep it in one place.
One of the main reasons I bought this was because of it's low noise rating. Having used it for a few weeks, I'm very pleased with the quiet operation. In fact, the airflow through the end of the hose is significantly louder than the motor. The automatic filter cleaning feature is much louder than I expected, however. Just to give you an idea, the owner's manual even states that you should warn others around you before you activate this so as not to startle them.
Another reason I bought this vacuum was the power-tool-activated start. This is a handy feature which saves you the extra step of turning the vacuum on and off when it's attached to a sander or other small tool. This brings me to my first disappointment: the connected power tool must be limited to 7 amps. I was hoping to use this with my miter saw, but it's too large (13 amps). You're probably limited to sanders and laminate routers.
The other thing that disappointed me was that the vacuum comes with just a hose and a dust bag. If you want the standard attachments (extension wand, crevice tool, floor attachment, etc.) you have to buy them separately. For the price, you'd think Bosch would throw them in.
Overall, it's a very well-made wet/dry vacuum that should last for many years (unlike my last run-of-the-mill unit). The motor runs quietly, and the suction is amazing. It has two separate filters which supposedly do a great job keeping the dust inside the vacuum instead of recirculating it through your house, though I haven't had to clean a lot of fine dust yet to see for myself. I recommend it if you're looking for a high-end vacuum that should stand up to lots of abuse.

First of all, to the others who said this tool can not be used with miter saws, table saws etc. that draw more than 7 amps, trust me, this is bull--. I found out from an anonymouse source that it will be just fine with most tools that draw up to around 13 amps. Try it and see. I use it with my bosch 10" compound miter-saw and my rigid table saw all the time and never had a problem. The insructions say other-wise because of some political red tape and electical liabilty issues I believe in germany or something. Don't worry, if you are over working the unit it will shut off temporarily and you'll have to push the reset button. I was actually not going to buy the vacuum because I had read the instructions on-line and was aware of this. My unit has never even tripped the reset button and I
ve been using it for a year on and off.
Next topic: Quality! This unit is everything you would expect from bosch. Built like a tank. I never had a problem with the wheels falling off and the locks on them work great. Also a very well balanced machine (does not fall over when you pull it. Yes, the vibrate feature is loud but it does not hurt your ears at all. Its more of a medium pitch fast vibration noise that you can feel too. It can be startling to the un-aware though.
As far as the cost of the accessories go, you get what you pay for. If the accessories were included the vacuum would be more expensive and some people don't want the accessories. I would personally rather have a company that can make enough money to produce qulaity equipment and back it with a good warranty than cheaper attachments.
Lastly, I would purchase the bags from amazon when you get the vacuum. With the vibrate feauture, you will not go through bags very often any-way and the bosch vac bags fit better than others. You can buy adapters and modify them with duct tape to make other bags fit, but if you suck up alot of large bag filling debris you can also use the vacuum with out a bag and just dump the tank when you are done. Bags are best used for drywall dust etc.
The only thing I would change about this vacuum (and trust me I am picky)is the vacuum power. I would try to make it a littly more powerfull. One way to improve it is to attach a 2" hose to the unit with a standard 2" hose cuff. Purchase a 2nd hose cuff to go back to 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 inch accessories if necessary. You can call any professional carpet cleaning supply store and they will be happy to help you out with this. Amazom may have these too but here are is one great company and their phone no: Windtrax inc. (800)443-0676

Enjoy, J loveski.

I purchased this unit after test-renting a Bosch 11316 Demolition Hammer in order to dig 25 very deep tree holes in the hard, California clay soil where I live. The 11316 was massive overkill for the job (I used it on 30-40% power all day), and often sunk deep into the cement-hard soil just under its own weight!

The 11241 is a fantastic tool - it digs with a clay spade at a moderate pace, dramatically reducing workload for terraforming (moving a lot of dirt, as I did with a retaining wall), and for trenching, digging, and moderate-duty demolition.

BEWARE - it takes 3-4 hours of use before it really *works*. Out of the box, brand new, you will swear this thing is broken. Read the manual - it vaguely refers to a 5 hour break-in period. Trust me, not much happens for the first 2 hours - I recommend finding drilling applications.

So far, I've trenched, drilled holes in concrete, done terraforming, and some serious digging for tree planting and
other gardening tasks. The weight of this unit is ideal for the application, and the power is just sufficient. (5 stars would be reserved for a bit more power - it takes a while to get through some applications where old roots are in the way - the 11316 cut through them like a hot knife through butter).

I've yet to try this unit on concrete - I suspect it will do a credible job, but not great, due to its moderate power output.

I have the clay spade, acaling chisel, and two bull points of different lengths. All work very well.

One superior aspect of this unit over the 11316 monster - the vibration isolation is really nice in the handle. My wrists can tolerate 2-3 hours/day of this work, where 2 hours of the 11316 caused me a week or so of serious aching.

Do yourself a favor, invest in this hammer, you will be glad you did! It is designed and built to last. The BEST of the BEST! Performance is outstanding.

I couldn't be happier. Bosch has never let me down--Great tool, Great Company!! I have nothing but praise for Bosch power tools. If your in the market for this tool ,look no more!

Purchased the 24 V reciprocating & circular saw combo kit some two years back. I'm an electrician, not a professional carpenter, but I do take on remodeling projects from time to time. I've enjoyed decent mileage (a host of window replacements, two kitchens and four bathrooms) out of both these tools, but I've had some problems as well.

When the reciprocating saw gets to vibrating - as reciprocating saws will - the battery pack falls out! Drop that sucker on it's head one time too many, and you're out 114 bucks for a replacement. Recently took my saw to a repair shop, and waiting to hear back from the factory. Thus, still don't know if it's a design flaw, or just another busted tool. Apart from that one, very significant problem, I'll say that the reciprocating saw's darn handy, and excellent for light to medium demolition. However, when the going gets really tough, you need something that'll make the lights dim; that's when my corded Milwaukee takes over.

The circular saw's 6 1/2" blade makes it a light to medium-duty tool as well. It's left-bladed, which I like, but this also means the blade-guide tends to bind against the cut off piece of whatever you're sawing (I'm right-handed), and the tool has to be pushed. I like the saw's electric brake very much; release the trigger and the blade stops quicker'n you can think about it.

Over all, both tools are handy-dandy, but a bit pricey for something that's not pro-grade.

I purchased the Bosch 24 volt with the Drill, Flashlight, Circular Saw, and reciprocating saw. This set is nothing short of awesome! The reciprocating saw blasts through a very thick metal pipe like it was butter! I didn't expect to finish that job on one battery but I was wrong. I have no doubt it could have cut that pipe 50 times on that one charge, it didn't even slow slightly. The drill is the same story, true corded power. I'm 6'5" and 265 lbs and the drill "caught" while drilling 1/4" steel with a 1/2 drill bit and damn near broke me wrist. Regarding the weight......I have been so amazed with the power that I haven't even noticed. With the drill, put the supplied handle on this monster because it takes two hands and a strong grip! I do wonder if the 2.4 amp hour batteries I have seen have a significant advantage over the 2.0 amp hour batteries that it ships with.

The 3960CFK 24 V combination kit includes 2 batteries, 1 charger, 1 light, 1 6.5" circular saw, 1 0.5" drill / driver, 1 reciprocating saw ( mail-in ) and a case for ....

You don't have to be especially observant to notice the significant relative expense of this offering.

This is one fine tool, but what are those people at Bosch thinking. For the amount you pay, they could at least throw in a few attachments. I bought this because I wanted the versatility of Temperature control. It would be even more versatile with the attachments which seem to be hard to find.

Gun works very well. It would be better if you could get the accessories as the different applications require different heat. I have not been able to locate any of access. the Spreader(HG010), Deflector (HG020), Reflector(HG030) or the concentrator(HG040). IF you can, I think you will be satisfied.

The Bosch 1943 is a pleasure to use. Normally, the temperature of the output of heat guns is a guess resulting in over or underheating. This gun has LEDs that indicate the heat of the output. The gun reaches full temperature in approximately 60 seconds and cools in approximately 10 seconds. The air volume is appropriate for most tasks but the option of higher volume would be appreciated. The gun is very quiet and light.

I've used other Bosch, Milwaukie, Skill and Black & Decker guns. This one is clearly the best.

A well made molded case that is thought out and has plenty of room for the router, edge guide, bits, but could use a little foam insullation to keep things from banging around. Mine is used for a 1618 EVS (with handle) and it fits well.

At moments like these, I'm glad I don't write advertising copy for a living. What is there to say about a box? Suffice it to say it does what you bought it for.

It's a blow molded box. Hinges on one side, latches and a handle on the other. The molded insert fits the 1613 very nicely. There are no instructions (it's a box!), so I had to flip and turn the router several times before I found its intended placement. Go ahead and laugh, but not before you try it yourself. The top is molded to fit Bosch's deluxe edge guide, so I bought one to fill the space. It's held securely enough to keep it in place if you're gentle. I'm now gentle with the loaded box because the edge guide makes a hefty projectile when lose, somewhat negating the reason for buying a protective box in the first place. There are a number of slots for 1/4" and 1/2" shank bits, but I was rather nervous about the edge guide busting up my carbide as well. A 1" thick sheet of open cell foam should hold the guide securely in place and solve the problem nicely.

I was looking for a box for the router, and so I bought this one. I'm not disappointed. Just make sure to pick up some foam at the fabric store.

This is a solidly built product. A must for storing your Bosch router when not in use. Cheap insurance for keeping your expensive router safe from neglect.

I work for a finish carpentry company; one of our main stages is installation of doors, The Bosh planer is used to do edge bevels and trimmings fit. Good features are: Good weight distribution. Smooth cutting. Strong motor. Good and firm adjust cutting depth. Nice left or right option on the dischargeable port extractor. Good solid Guiding fence. Poor features are: The back shoe of the planer could had been 1 � to 2 inches longer. One or two smaller v groves in the front shoe with the deeper single one only available now. The metal caring box could had been 1 to 2 inches bigger all the way around for easier fitting the planer with the guide fence on, and not having to move the guide in or out every time to use it or store it, even if it is easy to move it. Would I buy this planer again? Yes.

The Bosch 3296K has excellent performance and functionality along with the best, most complete and versatile guide fence accessory available anywhere. There really is no comparing this unit to any of the other portable planers on the market today. The fence is so much better than the cheap, practically useless, guides offered by most manufactures and adds a dimension of accuracy and precision that could never be achieved repeatedly using a portable planer free hand. Only Porter-Cables top of the line model 9118, which I have used extensively, has a functionally comparable guide fence, but with only a 2-13/32" capacity, the PC is much more limited as to what you can do with it, and is also unjustifiably much more expensive.
The only minor complaint I have with the Bosch 3296K is that the chip chute lever is a little short and can be difficult to move forward after being fully seated in the rear position. It's possible that the lever may become easier to move as the unit gets more worn in, but right now it's a little stiff, even after being lubricated with silicone spray, and often requires two hands to operate. Also a chip bag might also be a nice extra for easier cleanup of quick, small, "hurry up", indoor plane jobs, such as shaving a door edge.
The really bad news is, unfortunately, if you don't already have one of these, you can pretty much forget about ever getting one. Right now, there is a very, very, limited availability of the 3296K. It took me over four months of scouring the web and local suppliers to finally locate and purchase one.
This is due to the fact that even though it is technically still available from some suppliers, Bosch is no longer manufacturing this unit because it is being replaced with a new model beginning in June 2002. The new model will reportedly have three chamfer slots in the shoe, a slightly higher amp motor, still maintain the 3/32" cutting depth capacity, the same excellent guide fence accessory and somehow actually cost a little less. Sounds like it's going to be another excellent unit.
Overall, from my own comparison and usage, as of this date, I personally feel that the Bosch 3296K is the finest and most versatile portable planer kit available from any major manufacturer and definitely money well spent, if you're lucky enough to still find one.

Had to replace 8 doors and make them fit old openings that were built out of real 2" lumber for the frames. Each one was different. This planer did the job just fine, never bogged down. With the directional chip ports, using it with either hand and any direction left the chips flying away from the operator. For a planer this one is not hard on the ears, not as loud as a circular saw. The fence on the planer never moved from where it was set and to adjust it was easy, its also about 2" high for great support. The only thing that I do not care for is the depth adjustment knob is marked in millimeters and not inches. But a minor detail for such a great tool. I since have used this planer instead of my belt sander on finishing the edges of some shelves, it leaves that clean of a cut. Great planer for the price.