wrote in message
...

Sneeeep

Good for them! We get screwed with poorly performing tools at high
prices again!

Robert



I recently, last summer, received out of the blue a Bosch Li 18 volt impact
driver. I still don't know who sent it to me and it was sent to me. It was
not suppose to go to any one else.

Swingman and I worked a few loooong hot days near Austin back in July and
August. Between the 2 of us we used his DeWalt 18 volt drill, my Makita 12
volt 2.6 impact, and the Bosch with the 18 volt 1.3 amp battery. I will
say that the Bosch did keep up in run time with the Makita which had double
the amp rating and 2/3's the voltage. They all basically lasted all day.

I really did not notice any additional grunt out of the 18 volt impact over
the 12 volt impact, they really appeared to be about equal in power. That
really did not surprise me. I was surprised that it lasted as long if not
longer than the Makita, I guess the 50% higher voltage accounted for that.

Most all of the Li batteries that I have read about include a gas gauge to
indicate how much of a charge the battery has. That is good especially when
used in situations that you mentioned and don't happen to have your 300'
extension cord tagging along to power the charger resting in your tool belt.
;~)

MY BOSCH battery has no such charge indicator. Additionally when the Li
battery decides to be empty, it is empty. It gives you the warning that it
is about to be completely depleted when it slows down half way through
driving "a" 2" screw. It does not completely drive the screw, it just slows
down and stops, on that screw. That's it. With the NiMH you typically get
a warning several screws before depletion.

I do like the Li battery more however, it is lighter weight and charges
faster, easier to carry a charged spare in my tool belt on those occasions
when I might be down inside a wall inside an attic. The gas gauge would be
a must have for me in those situations but when you get the tool for free
there is that saying about a gift horse that comes to mind.

Which impact do I reach for? I still prefer the Makita.