Bosch makes durable and powerful tools that are worth the price you pay for them. These cordless drills are a great investment because they can get to work wherever you need them. Let’s take a look at these three drill kits to see which one will be the best for you.
Bosch DDS181-102L 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Drill/Driver Kit with High Capacity Battery, Charger and L-BOXX-2
The DDS181-102L kit contains the DDS-181 drill/driver. This is a good tool for both contractors and homeowners with big jobs to do. It’s a ½” drill with a ratcheting keyless chuck and a 4-pole brushed motor. It’s 7.28-inches long and weighs 3.4 pounds, making it the lightest and longest drill out of these three.
The two-speed transmission ranges between 0-500rpm (under no load) and 0-1700rpm, with a total of 26 clutch settings. Use the “drill” setting to lock up the chuck for jobs needing the most torque. You can control the precise speed with the variable speed trigger, and as soon as you release the trigger, the brake stops the drill. This saves battery power and causes fewer stripped screws.
The maximum drilling capacity in soft wood is 2 inches, and up to 1-1/2 inches in hard wood. Bosch didn’t state a maximum capacity for masonry, but they report that the maximum in “mild metal” is ½-inch. You can also use accessories like wire brushes (sold separately) to strip, sand, and polish.
The DDS181-102Lhas an LED work-light at the foot of the drill, just above the battery. It runs off the tool’s battery. The 18V lithium-ion battery refills in about an hour on the included charger. The drill and charger have what Bosch calls “Electronic Cell Protection.” This is a feature designed to help lithium-ion batteries last longer by protecting them from overcharging and overheating.
The included hard plastic case is part of Bosch’s stacking L-BOXX system. If you have more than one of these boxes, you can stack them and they lock together. The case is resistant to water, and it has handles on three sides to make it easy to carry.
More features of the Bosch
- Comes with drill, charger, one 18V lithium-ion battery,and L-BOXX-2 case
- Bosch offers a 1-year limited warranty, and this tool is eligible for the extended ProVantage warranty
Bosch DDS182-02 18-volt Brushless 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Drill/Driver with 2.0Ah Batteries, Charger and Case
The DDS182-02 drill in this kit has a contractor-grade brushless motor. Pro tools have brushless motors because they put out more power while using less battery charge, and they have a longer overall lifetime than brushed motors do. They also require no maintenance.
Besides the brushed motor, the DDS182-02 drill has Durashield housing to protect the motor and transmission. It was tested to withstand ten-foot drops.
Although the DDS182-02 is rated at just 442 inch-pounds of torque, Bosch explains that the actual driving torque is much higher. To handle the power without letting a bit slip, it has a ½-inch auto-lock chuck.The top capacity is the same as the other two drills even though the torque rating looks lower. The maximum in metal is 1/2-inch, while the maximum in hard wood is 1-1/2-inches and soft wood is 2 inches.
The transmission has two gears: 0-500rpm and 0-1700rpm (under no load). For precise drilling and driving, there are 18 + 1 clutch settings and a variable-speed trigger.
It weighs 3.5 pounds and measures 7 inches long, the same as the DDS181A-02 described below. There is a built-in LED light in the foot of the drill, and an on-board magnetic bit holder.
More features of the DDS182-02 drill kit
- Comes with drill, two 2.0Ah batteries, charger, bit holder, 4-piece bit tip set, belt clip, and carrying case
- Bosch offers a 1-year limited warranty, and this tool is eligible for the extended ProVantage warranty
Bosch DDS181A-02 18V Compact Tough 1/2″ Drill/Driver Kit with SlimPack Batteries
The DDS181A-02 has a canned motor with electronic protection against overload. This is not a brushless motor, but it’s very compact and powerful for its size. It allows this drill to be just 7 inches long, but still have up to 600 inch-pounds of torque. This makes it the same as the DDS181-02 in power but smaller in size.
The two-speed transmission offers no-load speeds of 0-500rpm and 0-1700rpm. You can control the precise speed with the variable speed trigger. There are 26 total clutch settings.
Use the “drill” setting to lock up the chuck for jobs needing the most power. While driving, as soon as you release the trigger, the motor brake stops the drill. This saves battery power and reduces the number of screws you’ll strip.
The maximum drilling capacity in soft wood is 2 inches, and up to 1-1/2 inches in hard wood, the same as the other two drills. Bosch didn’t report what the maximum capacity is for masonry, but they say that the maximum in “mild metal” is ½-inch. You can also use accessories like wire brushes (sold separately) to strip, sand, and polish.
The DDS181A-02 has an LED work-light at the foot of the drill. It runs off the tool’s battery. The 18V lithium-ion battery refills in about an hour on the included charger. The drill and charger have what Bosch calls “Electronic Cell Protection.” This is a feature designed to help lithium-ion batteries last longer by protecting them from overcharging and overheating.
Besides its compact size, it has the same Durashield protective housing against drops that the DDS182-02 has. This drill weighs 3.5 pounds.
More features of the DDS182-02 drill kit
- Comes with drill, two batteries, charger, double-ended Phillips screw-driving bit, and carrying bag
- Bosch offers a 1-year limited warranty, and this tool is eligible for the extended ProVantage warranty
Recommendation
These three drills have similar power and speed with a few key differences.
If you want the most compact drill, get either the DDS181A-02 or the DDS182-02. You’ll have the advantage of the Durashield housing that protects against drops.You’ll also have two batteries for plenty of runtime.
If you plan to work your drill hard and want it to last as long as possible, get the DDS182-02 because it has a brushless motor and the Durashield protection against drops. It comes with two 2.0Ah lithium-ion batteries for longer runtime.
If you like the L-BOXX-2 case, and you don’t need a brushless motor, get the DDS181-102L. Keep in mind that it comes with only one battery.
If you want to get started driving right away, the DDS182-02 kit comes with a 4-piece set of compact screw-driving bits and two lithium-ion batteries.