The 18V Litheon Bosch Impactor hex drivers are available now, with several other square drive 14V & 18V Impactors available shortly. As indicated in the title these impact drivers would be considered mid-range, which means high RPM & BPM with enough torque to do most work typical for 3/8” or ½” impact guns. We will most likely see High Torque Litheon cordless models down the road as well.
I recently got the chance to test the Bosch 18v Impactor Driver along with the 2 leading competitors (Makita & DeWalt) cordless Impact Drivers. One feature that continues to stand out in my mind was the electronic cell & motor protection which we got to see in action during the stress test. The test went like this, several extremely large bolts were lined up that none of the drivers could possibly move; then we got to try and drive the bolts with each tool. None of them could move the bolts and after a few seconds one of the competitor’s impacts started smoking and almost caught on fire. Another which had “protection” simply turned off and would not come back on. It turns out you need to find the charger and recharge the battery to get it to work again. Not very convenient if you are on the jobsite. The Bosch Impactor turned off when the electronic protection kicked on but a few seconds later it was back, working great, no fussing around. Read the full press release on all 8 versions of the Impactors Drivers & Wrenches below.
Bosch Power Tools and Accessories made a splash this week with the introduction of six new Impactor™ drivers and wrenches built around its innovative 18V and 14V Litheon™ cordless platforms. Immediately, Bosch’s new Impactors became the market leaders in speed, size and run time. Operating at up to 2,800 RPM and delivering up to 3,200 BPM, Bosch’s new Impactors are up to 27 percent faster than comparable cordless impact drivers and impact wrenches. In the demanding metal fastening, lag bolt and serial screw driving applications where impact tools live, the increase in speed means a significant boost to productivity. The Bosch 25618 18V Litheon Impactor Driver, for example, is capable of driving a 3” all-purpose screw into a pressure treated 4×4 in about 1 second. The same tool can drive a 3” x ¼” lag bolt into a pressure treated 4×4 in less than 4 seconds. In addition to outstanding speed and power, Bosch’s new Impactors are the most compact in their class. The 25618 has a head length of only 5.7 inches and is up to 25 percent lighter and 25 percent shorter (from nose to back of tool) than the competition. It also features an ergonomic handle grip designed to improve control and reduce fatigue in long run applications. All of these traits add up to a tool that is both more maneuverable, for tight spaces, and more comfortable, for all-day use.
Speed and maneuverability are only as important as the battery system behind them, however. In the case of Bosch’s new Litheon-powered Impactors, the battery system delivers – and then some. The 18V Litheon 25618 is capable of driving up to 150 3”x1/4” lag bolts between charges. What about battery lifespan? Bosch’s 18V Litheon FatPack batteries deliver up to twice the life of competitors’ batteries.
Additional advantages of the Bosch Litheon system are the Flexible Power System (FPS), which allows users to choose either the SlimPack battery, for lightest weight, or FatPack, for longest run time. Bosch’s patented Electronic Cell and Motor Protection, meanwhile, protects both the battery and the tool by preventing the three main causes of battery failure – overheating, overloading and deep discharging.
Bosch’s new Impactor family includes the following tools:
18 Volts
25618-01 Impactor Driver 1/4 Hex (2 FatPack)
25618-02 Impactor Driver 1/4 Hex (2 SlimPack)
24618-01 Impactor Wrench ½ Square (2 FatPack)
IWH181-01 Impactor Wrench 3/8 Square (2 FatPack)
14 Volts
25614-01 Impactor Driver 1/4 Hex (2 FatPack)
25614-02 Impactor Driver 1/4 Hex (2 SlimPack)
24614-01 Impactor Wrench ½ Square (2 FatPack)
IWH141-01 Impactor Wrench 3/8 Square (2 FatPack)
As with all Bosch Litheon cordless products, Bosch backs the platform with the industry’s best cordless system protection plan – the Provantage 3-year Tool Protection Plan and 2-year battery replacement plan. All of Bosch’s new Impactors come complete with a charger, belt clip and case.
