Personally I think right angle drills are becoming more and more irrelevant, primarily because of the smaller sizes of regular ultra-compact drill; and every year these ultra-compact drills get smaller and smaller. Even though the ultra-compact drill has taken away many a job that the right angle drill could do, there are still times when we need something even smaller.

The PS11 is the latest right angle drill from Bosch, but unlike other right angled drills on the market, it has an articulating head. The new head allows the tool be used in standard 90-degree form, or it can be used as a straight drill when adjusted to 180-degrees. If both of those angles wont do, you have three more angle choices in between 90 and 180. Since you will be working in small, probably dark areas, an LED light would be nice; well, the PS11 has two LED lights that move with the head. While one light is great, two is even better. The drill features a 3/8-inch auto locking chuck that is suitable for most drilling and screwing tasks, and delivers speed up to 1,300 RPMs.

The Bosch PS11 Angle Drill/Driver is available as a kit (PS11-2A) which includes 2-batteries, a 30min charger, and a soft case. Retail prices is suggested to be $149. Those of you adding to your collection can find the bare tool as model PS11B.

Bosch Tools
Bosch PS11-2A - TylerTool

Bosch sent me out their Cordless PS50 Multi-X a few months back, as well as their Corded MX25E Multi-X. Since I got them both around the same time, and have used them both on the jobsite, I figured it would be best to do a single article that reviews and compares both models together.

Oddly, Bosch's introduction into the oscillation tool market was done with the 10.8/12-volt cordless PS50, while other manufacturers and even their own tool subsidiary, Dremel, all introduced corded models. But even though the PS50 is a few years old, it is still a very relevant tool today. As long as you look at the PS50 as a cordless tool and purchase it knowing it will have its limitations compared to corded models, you quickly realize what a great tool it is.

The one features that everyone is still waiting for on oscillating tools, is tools-less blade change. Fein, the originator of the tool has had this feature for a few years now, but at this point, Fein and Porter-Cable are the only ones with the tool-less blade change feature. Now it looks like Bosch Germany is releasing a tool-less oscillation tool of their very own. This is good news if the tool eventually makes its way to the US, but that can only happen if it doesn't violate any current patents. It likely doesn't violate any Fein patents, or else it would not be available in Germany, but patent laws are different in each country.

We can't exactly see how the tool-less feature works on the Bosch GOP 300 SCE Professional, but we can see a lever on the left side of the tool that hints at its function. The tools uses the Bosch OIS blade standard, which means the blade can not be simply pulled forward. So the system might be less like the one Porter-cable uses, and more like what Fein uses. Either way, we will be keeping our eyes out for this one.

We might not think of ourselves as dare devils, but climbing up on scaffolding, being lifted 50 feet into the air in a small bucket, or walking across narrow steel beams, are all jobs your average person would not be willing to do. We are dare devils, we just don't get the fame.

Well now is the time to show off. Bosch wants to see your dare devil shots, but always remember, safety first. If Bosch likes your photo/s you could win a Bosch Circular Saw, Bosch DareDevil Saw Blades, and a Mike Metzger Autographed Truck Tool Box. You could alo win one of the weekly prizes, like, a Bosch Cordless Drill, Bosch DareDevil Spade Bits (see my video), or Blaklader Work Pants.

Win Big With Bosch! Be A DareDevil.

"You may not laugh in the face of gravity every day like Mike here, but we bet you have a wild streak. Show us how you work hard on the jobsite, or have fun off the job. You could win serious prizes."

I always like to promote my local tools store's tools sales, and this time it is all about Bosch. Tools R Us is offering huge sale prices on most of Bosch's popular tools, and even some of the newest Bosch tools. Check out the images below to see what is being offered.  If you are in the area of Montclair California any time this week and you like tools, you probably want to check it out.

Warning - Large Image Links

Bosch has recently announced a new Saw blade that is part of their DareDevil line. The blade is designed to perform better and last longer than other blades on the market, and if they are anything like their DareDevil Spade bits, framers really having something to look forward too. The boost in performance is due partly to features like Bosch's C3 Micrograin Carbide teeth, which are said to not only stay sharper longer, but they can also resist impact damage. Other features include a special coating on the blade that helps to reduce binding in wet or treated lumber, and an extra-hard steel plate that resists bending and deflection. The harder plate also allows the DareDevil Blades to have larger body slots, which are the key to keeping heat down.

"This blade is designed to start sharper and stay sharper ? that's beyond a tagline, it's what framers asked for," said Chris Carlson, Bosch group product manager, circular saw blades. "Due to the number and variety of cuts in a building project, contractors need a blade that cuts smoothly to avoid fatigue and splintering. The hardened thin-kerf plate and body slots deliver durability and a straight, true cut."

I love the Bosch DareDevil Spade bits, so I hope the new saw blades live up to the standards that they have set. The DareDevil Blade is available now at local home centers in a 7-1/4" size 24T, with 10 and 12-inch sizes coming in early 2012.

Jay over at Cop Tool put together a pretty simple and probably pretty accurate test, pitting the Bosch 2.6Ah batteries (BAT618) against the new Bosch 3.0Ah batteries (BAT619G). Now why did Bosch and the other manufacturers take years to start using 3.0Ah batteries, when Makita has been using them since they first introduced the world to Lithium-ion tools all those years ago? Well, I don't have an answer to this. Whatever the reason, Bosch now has batteries with a rating of 3.0Ah, and have also packed in a few other features. The new High Capacity or HC (as Bosch calls them) battery packs have also been engineered to work in super cold working conditions. One of the complaints of lithium-ion battery packs over the years, is that they do now work in cold temps, thus leaving workers in cold weather states with poor performing tools. In some cases the tools would not work at all. Bosch's HC battery packs have a low temp rating of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, which should solve most of those cold weather issues.

Another nice feature of the HC batteries is the built in fuel gauge. Now this is a feature that might only get used a fraction of the time, but it will save you time throughout their life. Now first thing in the morning you can check your battery status, and start with the battery with the most juice, and put the other on the charger.

To see how these two batteries battle it out, you will have to head on over to Cop Tool to see the final results. *Hint* The new HC batteries last longer.

Via CopTool

I like tools that make my life easier, and as a finish carpenter you wouldn't think a portable band saw would be one of these tools, but on rare occasion they really are. You might be surprised by the amount of metal I have to work with on any give job. For instance I might have to cut down a 1/4" think angle-iron L-bracket that it too long, or cut down a support post, or more commonly, cut metal closet rod to length. When reviewing the Stout-X band saw back in 2009, I discovered how valuable these tools really are to anyone cutting metal, but they cut with such ease. Because the blade is moving in one direction and pushes your material into a small table, the band saw has very little vibration, and unlike cutoff wheels, they throw almost no sparks.

Bosch has recently introduced a compact portable cordless band saw to their 18-Volt line up which should make a lot of people happy. There are other cordless models on the market today, but each one is different. What I like about the Bosch BSH180 Band Saw is that it is one of the smaller cordless units on the market, similar in size to the Stout-X, and has a similar 2-1/2" cutting capacity. What really impresses me about the Bosch BSH180 is it's claimed 150 cuts per charge in 1" conduit. That, coupled with two batteries, should make the Band Saw a great portable metal cutting solution.

The BSH180-01 is retailing for around $400 and includes two of the Bosch FatPack batteries, 30-minute charger,and carrying case. A tool-only option is also available for Bosch battery owners for around $200.

BSH180-01 - CPO Bosch
BSH180-01 – Ohio Power Tool

BSH180 - Bosch Tools

Are you a Pro and want to show off your great work, or are you a Not So Pro that needs a bit of help but still likes to give it a try? It doesn't really matter, because Bosch has a contest for both types. Bosch and Joe the Pro are running a contest looking for photos showcasing the work you have done. If you are one of the chosen, you win a new Bosch Power Box 360 radio. All you have to do is head over to contest page on Facebook and enter using the online form. Submit your photo and a short description. The contest runs until July 15th, and the Judges will chose one winner a week.

Pro Or Not So Pro Contest

Back in October 2010 Bosch announced their partnership with Perceptron, a global leader in optical scopes. This lead us to assume that Bosch at some point in the future would come out with a 12V inspection scope that would compete with the cordless models from some of the other major brands. It looks like our prediction was correct, as Bosch has announced their new PS90 12V Max Inspection Camera.

The PS90 inspection cam allows people of all trades to get a view of small tight places. The camera comes with a waterproof flexible imager that is a full 48-inches in length and has a camera head that is only 17mm in diameter. The head itself is made out of metal for added durability, and features bright LED lights that Bosch says are configured to provide maximum visibility while preventing hot spots and glare. The camera also can be used with a hook, magnet, or mirror attachments.

The main body of the PS90 features a 2.7-inch display, and controls that allow the user to magnify the image up to four times. If 2.7-inches is not big enough for you, the kit also comes with a video output cable that can be used with an external video monitor. The PS90 kit also includes a battery with built-in life indicator gauge, and can be charged in 30 minutes with the included charger. Bosch says the 12V battery provides 8-15 hours of continuous use depending on LED light usage.

For users that need to get into even smaller places, Bosch also offer a shorter 36-inch flexible imager that uses a smaller 9.5mm head. If both sizes are needed, they can be purchased together in the PS91 kit. Both kits are available now at Amazon and other stores nationwide.

PS90 – Amazon, PS91 – Amazon

Bosch Tools