Bosch 1191VSRK-RT 120V 1/2-Inch Single Speed Hammer Drill (Renewed)

I needed to drill 16 holes into my concrete foundation wall - about 1 1/2 inches each. Even with the proper bit, my work shop drill simply could not do the job. After considerable research into drills made specifically for my needs, it occurred to me - "Why buy new when factory-reconditioned will do?" Pretty simple deduction for me as I seriously doubt this tool will be used again - however, never say never. The reconditioned drill arrived faster than expected, even though it was not Prime Eligible. Just in case, I also ordered Bosch HCBG700 7-Piece Blue Granite Hammer Drill Masonry Bit Set. No complaints with packaging or delivery for either. The drill and associated parts were encased in a great looking Bosch tool case which I was most pleased to see. In spite of the advertisement indicating the drill would have a box, past experiences have disappointed me - not so this time. The drill did not appear to have been cleaned after factory-reconditioning as the chuck was marred with grease and other debris. Nothing serious, but something a person with a rag could have taken care of. I found that on the shabby side and not a good endorsement for Bosch. The operation of the drill was superb for my needs. I had no difficulty whatsoever figuring out how to operate it and doubt seriously that I would have needed the well-written manual accompanying the drill. My 16 holes were drilled to my satisfaction without any undo exertion or effort. In fact my own masonry drill bit worked exceptionally well - all it required was the proper tool! I found the auxiliary handle to be most helpful as well as the depth gauge. The drill was operated in the conventional and hammer modes along with screwing in some Phillips heads to complete my project. As for the chuck key which some reviewers disliked, I had no particular problem with it as I prefer to ensure tightness of a bit before use. With arthritic hands and fingers, hand tightening can be a problem. This was quite a good deal for me in spite of anticipated limited future use. I recommend purchase as this is an easy to use professional tool for home projects. UPDATE of Apr 12th 2017: A situation arose where I needed to drill two 2 3/4 inch holes through stone floor tile into a concrete base beneath it. Good fortune for me in that I had my Bosch hammer drill waiting for another project. All turned out well using the regular drilling feature to get through the tile and then the hammer capability for the difficult part. Only thing that may have made things easier would have been variable speed. However, all's well that end's well. Very pleased with the performance of this tool.

This is what I can say, it is presented in new case, with new side handle and chuck key. It is noisier than I expected, don't know if it is a problem or just the way it is built, maybe I expected more from Bosch , a few years ago I bought from Amazon a re-conditioned Skil sabre saw and that arrived in as new condition, looked like it had never been used. I bought this as I have some metal work to do and bought a set of Bosch Bits and was impressed with them. I did not expect to be having surgery so about another week I will give it a work out. My other work drill is a Hitachi, I bought 5,6 years ago, the reason I did not try that in 1/2" is the reviews on the new models is not the same as when I bought the 3/8" model, which is a fantastic drill. That is why I tried the Bosch. I will report after I use it, one last thing the case has room for the set of drills I bought, seeing as they would handle 90% or more of my use, for me that is a plus.

Bosch products do not let you down, even the re-manned ones. It looks and works like new. It came with a new case, handle, and depth gage. I had brought a similar drill belonging to the local "maestro" back from a mission trip to Guatemala with plans to personally refurbish it and return it to him. Turns out it was manufactured in China for distribution outside the US so I opted to replace it. Within two hours of ordering it I learned that a pastor from Guatemala would be visiting our church within a week and would be able to take the drill back to the maestro. Consequently I immediately called the vender's customer service department to arrange for expedited shipping. The rep with whom I spoke seemed inconvenienced by my call but assured me that the drill would arrive in time for me to pass it on to the visiting pastor. When it did not arrived by the date the rep said it would, I emailed the company and expressed my concern regarding the matter and described the expense and inconvenience its late arrival meant. The response I received back was brief and to the point; the customer service rep was mistaken. No apology, nothing else. Mind you this vender's website has banners on their website boasting of their dedication and record for exemplary customer service. I followed up with another email to the customer service supervisor who had responded to my email and expressed my displeasure with the customer service I received from them. A few weeks have passed and I have not received any response from the supervisor. Needless to say, while the product was superior, I will not do business with them again and I could not in good conscience recommend them to others.

First one I got died when I drilled the first hole, had grease running out of it on to my customers floor. Had to go to Home Depot and buy a Bosch rotary hammer drill for $200. That one drills like a dream. I tried to cheap out with this drill but it can't drill a half inch in concrete so it is useless to me for the task I bought it for. Got a new reconditioned one for the piece of junk I first got but am afraid to turn it on. Several other reviews mentioned grease pouring out of the drill when they used theirs. Bosch makes high quality products so I would say the problem is the company doing the refurbs. Honestly I wanted my money back because I already had bought the new drill but the company would only send me a replacement. I have a bad feeling about the replacement as it feels greasy to the touch right out of the box. Take my advice and buy a new drill if your job depends on the performance of your tools. Love my rotary hammer drill, punches through concrete and rebar effortlessly.