Review of Bosch 1199VSRK 8.5 Amp 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill
 
Manufacturer: Bosch
Average Customer Rating:
 
Customer Reviews (18)
List Price: $285.00
Amazon Sale Price: $159.76
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
1/2", Dual Torque, Hammer Drill, 8.5A Motor, 1/2", 3 Jaw Chuck, Pistol Grip Handle, Dual Mode Selector, Easily Converts From Rotation Only To Hammer Drill Mode, Metal Gear Housing, 12' Power Cord, 2 Speed Gearbox, Select High Speed Or HighTorque, Comes With Carry Case.

Product Details
  • Half-inch, three-jaw chuck for rugged hammer-drilling applications
  • Pistol grip handle with soft grip and compact ergonomic design
  • Ambidextrous lock-on button to reduce fatigue
  • 12-foot, pivoting power cord for better reach and convenience
  • High-output, Bosch-built 8.5 Amp motor for powering through concrete

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews
Dependable workhorse
 
Review Date: August 17, 2007
Reviewer: W. Beckett, Lexington, KY
I've found this tool to be a dependable workhorse in the class of work it was designed for. I've used it on jobs that involved hundreds of concrete drill holes, typically 1/4". I've had it in use for 90 days and it's a keeper.

I bought it because Bosch makes excellent rotary and demo hammers. It's the only Bosch tool I own. My equipment includes Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, etc.

12/29/07 My experience with the 1199 continues to be 100% positive. We put this type of tool to heavy duty use, drilling concrete and block. The tool sometimes undergoes multiple hours of run time in a single day. The 8.5 amp motor stays cool under work load and has never exhibited any indication of significant strain. Letting the tool do the work is critical.

Sizing the tool to the job and using it correctly are essential when working in a business environment. My reason for selecting this hammer drill was the power weight balance. It's a two hand drill that comes in at 6 lbs. and offers high and low torque capability. Any frequent work above ½" in concrete essentially requires a rotary hammer which is typically a heavier tool.

Previous reviews noted issues with "wobbling" chuck(s) and electrical failures. Electrical problems typically become evident quickly and I'm confident Bosch's unconditional warranty holds merit. The chuck issue can quickly be addressed as the drill comes out of the box, brand new. If it runs true with a bit attached at max speed, no load, then the chuck is fine. The hammer action of this drill is serious business and should not be construed as a chuck fault.

I'm not particularly brand loyal across the board. I believe most contractor grade tool manufacturers have particular products that prove themselves superior on the job. I've since added another Bosch tool to my equipment, based primarily on it's reputation and my experience with this tool.
Strong and Smooth
 
Review Date: September 4, 2007
Reviewer: Jeff Pike, Mechanicsville, VA United States
I bought this upgrade after I burned my Ryobi up. The job that killed the Ryobi consisted of twelve 9/16" holes into 1/2" thick steel and twelve 1/2" holes into concrete at a depth of 2 3/4", however, I was seeing blue sparks even before this job. After very slow progress on the first 9 steel holes and first two concrete holes the Ryobi quit. It had had seen some medium and light duty before that. It really struggled cutting through ceiling and floor joists with self propelled auger bits.

I brought in the Bosch to finish the job and it was strong and smooth. What a time saver too! It was surprisingly powerful on the high speed setting. It cut the steel and concrete both like butter one either the high speed or high torque settings. I took it around back after the job and tried some self propelled auger bits that the Ryobi had struggled with. The Bosch chomped right through the 3+ inches width of a pressure treated 2X4 without a problem on both high and low speed settings with 1" and 3/4" auger bits. There is no wobble in the chuck. It's a fine machine and it compares well to Milwaukees I have used in the past. It has also seen the worst I can give it.

Some finer details about the drill:
- It will take some getting used to pulling the key from the detachable holder and putting it back. I'm used to just grabbing the cord where the key is and going to work.
- Read the case and make sure you have it upright before opening it.
- The case is nice. Although it seems compact it has room for a box of bits and plenty of loose ones.
- Extra long cord is nice too.
- Depth gauge is reliable and sturdy (better than others I have seen.)

Update 1/08: I've used the drill for a few more jobs including some electrical work and some concrete with Tapcons. She is still running strong and smooth, and it's really a pleasure to use. I forgot to mention that it comes with an anti-kickback feature. Someone was helping with the Tapcons, and I saw them twist the bit pretty badly. The chuck stopped cold without even so much as a jerk. That's a nice safety feature to have on a beast like this.
Powerful drill
 
Review Date: May 11, 2004
Reviewer: Sammy G. Duncan, raleigh, nc
I just recently purchased this drill and so far am very happy with the ease that it powers through everything I throw at it. Luckily, I haven't noticed any chuck wobble as described by another reviewer. The drill is very comfortable in the hand and the side handle provides a very nice grip. The depth stop is easily adjusted and holds it depth even with repetive drilling.

This is a bruiser of a drill and probably overkill for a DIYer like me. However, the ease of drilling through concrete block and pressure treated lumber provided by this drill is very nice.

Appreciate the slip clutch
 
Review Date: May 21, 2008
Reviewer: R. Ferguson, Earth
I just wanted to echo one of the earlier positive reviews and say that the integrated slip clutch is a great feature. It is not uncommon for bits to catch in masonry and when this happens you have a few possible results: a broken bit (stuck in the hole?), a bit that is spinning in the chuck, or a drill that spins into you. This slip clutch in this drill goes a long way to preventing all of that. I'm now a big fan of this feature and, regardless of brand, wouldn't buy a hammer drill without it.
Working great
 
Review Date: April 5, 2009
Reviewer: Thomas D. Graham, California, USA
Needed to make 3, 3/4 inch holes 4 inches deep in a concrete slab. A 60 year old concrete slab. I mention the age because as concrete ages it continues to harden. This drill worked fine using Bosch Blue Granite carbide bits. I first drilled a 1/4 inch hole. That hole actually was the slowest hole to drill. Then drilled it out to 3/4 inch in steps using 1/8 inch larger drill sizes. For the last 3/4 inch hole I used a bit made NOT by Bosch and the carbide tip chipped badly on the second and third holes. Caused by the hard aggregate in the slab concrete. The Bosch bits took it all in good shape. Probably took me 10 minutes each hole because of all of the bit swapping. Sure a Hilti would have done a hole in 30 seconds and it should for what it costs. Other choice was to rent a Hilti for about half of what the Bosch cost.
Quick delivery & perfect for my initial purpose
 
Review Date: May 25, 2008
Reviewer: Michael Bazzell,
I bought this drill to install a gate in a sidewalk. It drove (8) 3/8" wedge anchors 2" into my sidewalk with no trouble in well under an hour. It was "reconditioned" so I was a little concerned but it perfomed like a marvel for the price. I am not a pro but I expect this drill would handle this type of job every day for some time.

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Filed under: Bosch • Power Drills

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