Bosch SDS Drill Review
In this review we take a look at the Bosch SDS Drill, the Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE. This drill forms part of our SDS comparison review, where we have reviewed the Milwaukee PH27X, this Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE and the Hitachi DH26PX SDS drills.
To see how we rated the three head over to our comparison review and see who we rated as our overall winner.
This Bosch SDS drill is a budget offering and the cheapest of the SDS drills we have on review. Unfortunately, that shows in a few areas, read on and we will take a look why.
- Delivers 2.7 J of impact energy for fast drilling and high chisel removal performance
- High-quality components ensure robustness, reliability, and long performance lifetime
- Optional chisel mode enables use in wide range of applications
- All-round performance rotary hammer for daily use in the SDS plus category
- Items included: GBH 2-26, Auxiliary handle, Depth stop 210 mm, Machine cloth, Carrying case
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Bosch SDS Drill Overview
The Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE forms part of Bosch’s professional range. We have always been very impressed with Bosch power tools. The Bosch PSB 1800 is one of the most popular products we have ever reviewed and is a fantastic testament to the company and quality of it’s products.
The beauty of a product like the PSB 1800 or the Bosch IXO electric screwdriver is that they are aimed at the home DIY enthusiast and aren’t going to be put to the test on a building site with all day long work loads.
Whilst the same can be said for this Bosch SDS drill, it isn’t likely to be sold to the tradesman who requires it to drill through masonry daily or chase out brick work day after day. The very nature of the work that is undertaken by an SDS drill is hard work and tough on power tools.
If you have a very low work load for this drill or you wish to have something for occasional use then this could be just the ticket, it comes with a great price point for an SDS drill and would be ideal as an occasional SDS drill. However, if your house is made from Accrington brick or you have a few foot of blockwork to drill through we would probably advise something more capable, such as the Milwaukee PH27X.
Does the Bosch SDS drill have any redeeming features? Most definitely, it has many pro’s which we will uncover below, I am just saying don’t expect to be doing up a house and using this as your main tool.
Specifications
- Up to 13mm in metal
- Up to 30mm in wood
- Up to 68mm in concrete
Features
So, as we have discussed already the Bosch SDS drill isn’t for continuous use by the tradesman, in our opinion. But what does it do well?
Firstly, we are big advocates of safety features on power tools, the Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE features an overload clutch. This is something that isn’t present on every SDS drill on the market yet and we wish it was. This simple feature not only protects the drill but also the person using it. Should a bit get stuck in the brick work, the clutch will prevent the drill from damaging the drill or wrenching your arm and hand. A lot of injuries have been caused by an SDS drill getting stuck, you can easily pull something, but thanks to Bosch’s overload clutch this won’t be a problem.
Whilst we are on safety, Bosch have included a ball grommet on the cable, this allows it to sustain a fair amount of stress and manipulation without causing breaks in the cable. Often you see a drill or SDS drill more specifically with breaks in the cable, this isn’t safe and we need to minimise the chances of this as much as possible.
Power
This Bosch SDS drill has plenty to give when it comes to power, with it’s 800w motor and 2.7 joules of impact energy, you won’t find any issues when it comes to driving through brickwork of any sort.
It also has a rotating brush plate which allows for equal power distribution whether you are using it in forward or reverse mode. This is a rare feature and something that we would like to see in more SDS drills.
Weight
When it comes to the weight of this Bosch SDS drill, it isn’t the heaviest of the SDS drills we have reviewed. The Milwaukee is heavier in fact. However, what the other two SDS drills from Milwaukee and Hitachi have in their favour is balance.
The Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE weighs in at 2.7Kg, very light weight compared with other SDS drills on the market indeed. But in my opinion Bosch have got the balance of the weight all wrong.
The weight of the Bosch is all at the front and over prolonged use drilling through tough brick work, I feel this would give you aches and pains along with holding yourself in an incorrect posture. When we are using something such as an SDS drill we need to ensure we are in a comfortable position, without any excessive strain being put on our body.
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Warranty
Another thing that puts Bosch as one of our favourite brands is their warranty. Their tools are geared more towards the home DIY enthusiast than the tradesman on a building site. To that end they may not stack up next to a tool from a brand such as Makita, DeWalt or Festool. But for what they are they are fantastic tools that are backed by an amazing warranty!
Most Bosch power tools, this Bosch SDS drill included, come with a standard 1 year warranty out of the box. However, if you go online and register with them within 30 days of purchase this gets extended to a 3 year warranty! For a tool that is so reasonably priced to come with a 3 year warranty you can’t complain!
Whilst we wouldn’t recommend heavy consistent work for this Bosch SDS drill, you know that no matter what this Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE will be covered.
Positives and Negatives
Positives:
- Intelligent variable trigger
- 3 mode hammer drill
- Mechanical clutch
- 3 Year warranty
Negatives:
- Case is very flimsy and made from brittle plastic
- No regular chuck included
- Not particularly well balanced
SDS Drill Comparison
We think this is a great SDS drill, but how does it compare to the competition? We’ve picked 3 of our favourites and put together a comparison table:
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
For more information, please check out our SDS comparison review.
Conclusion
We try to be as honest and frank with our readers as possible. Most people when looking for a particular tool’s review want an honest and genuine review that they can use to then make a decision on whether to buy the drill or not.
This review of the Bosch SDS drill may appear initially negative and why would you bother buying the Bosch GBH 2-26 DRE based on it. However, please bare in mind that we are trying to cover all bases. It has some incredibly redeeming features and a fantastic warranty!
- Delivers 2.7 J of impact energy for fast drilling and high chisel removal performance
- High-quality components ensure robustness, reliability, and long performance lifetime
- Optional chisel mode enables use in wide range of applications
- All-round performance rotary hammer for daily use in the SDS plus category
- Items included: GBH 2-26, Auxiliary handle, Depth stop 210 mm, Machine cloth, Carrying case
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
If you are interested in a SDS drill for your toolkit that will get occasional use, then this could be just the tool for you! However, if you are planning a large project and want something that you can throw a lot of abuse at, maybe consider either the Milwaukee PH27X or the Hitachi DH26PX.
If you liked this review, maybe you would like to take a look at one of our others, try our Hitachi DH26PX SDS drill review.
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Performance
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Features
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Ergonomics
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Value
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