Frequently asked questions

Power tools can be classified in the following basic types according to their application range:

• drilling tools
• screwdriving tools
• sawing tools
• routing tools
• planing tools
• sanding tools
• shearing and punching tools
• striking tools
• joining tools

In addition to this, there are power tools for special applications and combination types.

Power tools work according to the following basic principles:

• Rotation
• Oscillation
• Reciprocation
• Impact
• Heat

The basic principles are used individually or in combinations.

Volt is the unit of measure of electrical voltage.

Watt is the unit of measure for (electrical) power.

You have to know the characteristics of the material you are working on.

The user of drills is primarily at risk of possible back torques. Back torques occur when the drill’s torque output increases due to increasing friction of the bit in the hole when

• drilling deep holes
• drilling large diameter holes
• the drill bit jams in the hole or on exiting the workpiece

Extremely high, dangerous kick-back can occur if the power tool jams.

No. You have to go by the material characteristics.

The softer the material, the higher the speed. The harder the material, the lower the speed.

As there are very different hardness ratings within materials, you should always drill with the right speed that is adapted to the material and the drill bit diameter.

In technical literature there are application tables that have been calculated in detail. The speeds listed here in our table must be seen as simplified guidelines that can be used to achieve good results with hand-held machines.

Other speeds may apply for special drill bits and core cutters. It is best to consult the values specified on the packaging or in the user manual.If you cannot precisely define the speed of the drill used, then use the nearest value.

The possible kick-backs during drilling can be avoided as follows: Always use immaculate, sharp drill bits. Damaged or blunt drill bits have considerably higher friction and can very easily get jammed or stuck.

Encourage the chip flow when drilling deep holes by regularly retracting the drill bit. This reduces drill bit friction and with it the risk of jamming.

When drilling large diameter holes, select the suitable speed and fix the workpiece.

Generally pre-drill when drilling holes of over 6 mm diameter in metal. This measure will mean that less feed pressure is required. This is especially advantageous when drilling thin sheet metals because it enables you to adjust the feed pressure more precisely when removing the drill bit from the workpiece, which prevents the cutting edge of the drill bit from getting caught. As a rule of thumb, for pre-drilling you choose a drill bit with a diameter that matches the chisel edge width of the large drill bit.

Back torques are absorbed by handling the machine safely. It is therefore necessary to hold and guide the drill with both hands. Drills that are intended to be used with an auxiliary handle must be used with the auxiliary handle.

The spindle on the drill is securely fixed in the bearings. This provides a high level of true running precision. The speeds are optimised for drilling in metal. The spindle on the impact drill is positioned in the bearings as a moving part. The true running precision is not as good as on normal drills because of the different system. The speed is usually higher than that of drills because stone is also drilled, which requires a high impact rate.

Yes, Bosch is registered with a compliance scheme as required by the Portable Battery Waste Regulations. The registration number is BPRN00561.

Tool reactions can occur when tightening and loosening screws, which can endanger the user. The causes are

• kick-backs
• bit slipping
• noise

Yes, These are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations. Speak with your retailer regarding any in store take back scheme they may offer or deliver to your local Civic Amenity site where they will be accepted for recycling free of charge.

Impermissible and therefore dangerous back torques can be avoided by the following measures:

• correct selection of the screwdriver
• correct setting of the screwdriver, e.g. torque or depth stop in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations

The standard guarantee on DIY tools is 24 months from date of purchase.

Customers are also given a three month guarantee on repair work carried out by the Bosch Service Centre or any Authorised Service Agent.

Please refer to our current guarantee conditions for details.

The most common cause of bit slipping is:

• bit size does not fit the screw
• bit is applied to the screw at a tilt
• tilting during screwdriving
• not enough pressure

It is not difficult to see that an application error is to blame in each of these cases.

The effects of bit slipping are:

• risk of injury to the user
• damage to the workpiece
• damage to the screw
• damage to the bit

You can see that it is worth avoiding these common application errors.

Nearly all screwdriving applications can be classified as one of two basic types: hard screwdriving applications and soft screwdriving applications.

• Hard screwdriving applications are all applications in which there is a hard material (usually metal) directly under the screw.
• Soft screwdriving applications are all applications in which there is a soft material (usually wood) directly under the screw or the screw is being driven into soft material.

There are machine screws and wood screws. There are different versions of these basic types for various building materials and special applications. They differ in terms of their shape and their type of thread.

In principle, the different types are:

• screwdrivers with depth stop
• screwdrivers with torque clutch
• screwdrivers with rotary impact

Sanding or grinding surfaces is called surface sanding or surface grinding, whereas cutting materials by grinding them is called cut-off grinding or deep grinding.

Nearly all solid materials can be sanded or ground. Only certain material types such as elastomers can either not be sanded or ground at all or only with extreme technical measures.

The application range is based on the abrasive used and is universal. Orbital sanders are preferably used for working on wood, wood-based materials and painted surfaces. They are less suitable for metals and stone materials because the material removal rate is very low.

Orbital sanders are excellent for flat surfaces. There is a risk of sanding through here and there on sharp corners and edges and on convex or concave curved surfaces due to the hard, flat sanding plate. This can also damage the sanding plate.

The typical sanding and grinding tools for working on large surfaces are orbital sanders, random orbit sanders, angle grinders and belt sanders.

The application range is based on the abrasive used and is universal. Angle grinders are preferably used for grinding metal and stone. The grinding position becomes very hot due to the tool’s high circumferential speeds. Angle grinders are therefore less suitable for wood-based materials and plastics.

Virtually all workpiece shapes can be worked on. Angle grinders are, however, less suitable for workpieces that need to be given an absolutely flat surface because the high material removal rate means that application errors will inadvertently cause deep grinding marks.

• Comply with the application ranges intended by the manufacturer
• Only use the abrasives intended by the manufacturer
• Use the best possible dust extraction process
• Wear protective glasses
• Use a protective mask
• Use ear protectors

The main risk of injury on sawing power tools is posed by the saw blade – both when the tool is at standstill and when it is working. There is also the risk of machine kick-back resulting from application errors. You must only use sharp saw blades in immaculate condition. The saw blades must be suitable and permitted for the corresponding saw. Blunt or damaged saw blades can lead to jamming and machine stalling. Injuries caused by the saw blade can be avoided by the following measures:

• Never remove, fix open or otherwise manipulate protective guards.
• Operate the machine with both hands, holding it in the grip areas provided.
• Put protective sleeve on chainsaws after use.
• With all other saws (except circular saws), remove the blade from the saw after work.

Set and fix adjustable safety mechanisms such as the riving knife according to instructions.

The saw must be guided securely and firmly during work. When doing so, choose a feed pressure that does not cause the saw to jam or stall. This could cause kick-back torques to occur.

With the exception of certain mineral materials and glass, virtually all materials can be cut with hand-held electric saws.

Hand-held circular saws are basically suitable for all sawable materials by using the corresponding saw blade.

The main application range of the circular saw is fast and precise trimming and sizing of panel-shaped components by means of straight cuts. Cutting depths of up to 100 mm or more are used the carpentry trade, but handling such large hand-held circular saws is risky due to the high back torques that occur when the saw blade jams.

Metals cannot be sawn with the tandem saw because of the way it works:

the metal chips that get between the saw blades and in the bar guide would weld the saw blades stuck as a result of friction. Plastics can be sawn to a limited extent: the chips and dust from foamed thermoplastics, especially styrene based (e.g. polystyrene), heat up between the saw blades and the guide as a result of friction. After cooling down, they jam the saw blades because of the hot glue effect. With carbide tooth tipped saw blades, however, they are also suitable for sawing soft and porous stone materials such as aerated concrete and soft lightweight bricks. The saw blades can be changed without the need for additional tools.

The tandem saw is primarily intended for working on wood in the carpentry trade. Beams are usually cut to length and tenon joints are produced. The tandem saw is used just as often in structural work to cut aerated concrete components.

The basic types are:

• reciprocating saws (e.g. jigsaw)
• rotary saws (e.g. circular saw)
• continuous saws (e.g. chainsaw)

Hand-held chainsaws are used only for working on wood. They are used to quickly cut and trim beams and square timbers and fresh (“green”) wood in the gardening and forestry trade.

Sabre saws are basically suitable for all sawable materials by using the corresponding saw blade.

The sabre saw is typically used in installation and plumbing, vehicle construction, metalworking and pallet recycling.

You must read the user manual because battery technology changes quickly, which may require a new method of operation.

Self-discharge refers to the process by which a battery passively emits energy through storage alone. Once a certain time has elapsed, the battery must be charged before it can operate a garden tool. The self-discharge with conventional nickel technology is approximately 25% per month, whereas with Li-ion it is less than 2%. Li-ion batteries are therefore ready to use even after prolonged periods of storage.

Memory effect occurs in NiCd batteries if they are not fully discharged. If a part of the battery is not used, the battery “remembers” this. The unused part of the battery is then no longer available for storing energy in the battery. This memory effect cannot occur in Li-ion batteries.

Li-ion batteries should be stored at room temperature. Storage at higher temperatures reduces the lifetime of the battery. Li-ion batteries can be destroyed by temperatures above 55 °C, and can suffer deep discharge at temperatures below –15 °C. Li-ion batteries should not be fully charged prior to long-term storage. The activity in a fully charged cell is higher than a partially charged cell, which causes the cell to age more quickly.

Brand-name batteries, particularly those in Bosch garden tools, are protected by a variety of safety mechanisms. An explosion is virtually impossible. Nonetheless, short circuits or mechanical damage to the pack should be avoided at all costs.

You give them back to the power tools dealer. He collects them and passes them on to the power tools manufacturer who then arranges for them to be recycled properly.

The main risk of injury on routers is posed by the sharp router bit – both when the tool is at standstill and when it is working. Routers work at very high rotational speeds. Improper operation can lead to machine kick-back. You must only use sharp router bits in immaculate condition. The router bits must be suitable and permitted for the corresponding router. Blunt or damaged router bits can lead to severe vibration, machine kick-back and bit breakage. Injuries caused by the router bit can be avoided by the following measures:

• Operate the machine with both hands, holding it in the grip areas provided.
• Remove the bit from the router after work.

When routing edges, the feed direction must always be opposite to the bit’s direction of rotation (upcut routing). When routing in the bit’s direction of rotation (downcut routing), the machine cannot be guided safely, especially at higher cutting depths. The severe evasive movements of the machine can cause the user to lose control over the router, which poses extreme risk of an accident. The router must always be guided securely and firmly.

The selected feed pressure must not cause the machine to lose speed too much, which causes vibration.

Hand-held power tools for routing are known under the generic terms routers or plunge routers. The term “plunge router” describes the fact that the router bit is first located above the workpiece and has to be lowered to start routing.

Hand-held routers differ in their application purpose and power consumption. The common types are:

• Multifunction tools
• Palm routers
• Routers

In general, all free-machining materials, especially wood-based materials, can be processed. Metals can only be processed with heavy, stationary routing machines. Only thin aluminium sheets can be processed with hand-held routers.

The hardness of wood is relatively low which makes machining easy. However, if local temperatures get too high, for example, if you stay in one spot for too long, it tends to burn.

The elasticity especially of long-fibred soft wood exerts a certain clamping force on the router bit which is converted to additional frictional heat. In case of solid wood it is very important to respect the grain direction if you want to achieve good results.

The source of danger on an electric planer is the high-speed rotating cutter shaft (“planer shaft”). As a result of momentum, the planer shaft continues to run for some time after the planer has been switched off. Until complete standstill is reached, the planer shaft must therefore not come into contact with the user or other objects, e.g. the work bench.

To prevent danger, you should not put the planer down until the planer shaft has come to a standstill. It is easiest to use a planer type that has a parking feature (“parking rest”). This feature prevents the planer shaft from touching the surface underneath. You must nevertheless ensure that there are no objects on the surface.

All free-machining materials can be planed. However, portable electric planers are almost exclusively used to process wood and wood-based materials. The processing of plastics is possible if the planing width is low (approximately 20-50 mm, depending on the type of plastic).

In comparison to other materials, wood is relatively soft and can therefore be perfectly processed by material-removing techniques. As a “naturally grown” processed material, it has a fibrous structure in natural state and, due to differing growth conditions, it is marked by irregularities, for example, branches. This has to be taken into account during machining since it has an influence on the surface quality.

When the planer is brought into starting position the operator pressure must be applied to the front of the planer base, otherwise the result will be a dent in the surface.

When the planer is taken off the planed material the operator pressure must be applied to the rear of the planer base, otherwise the result will be a dent in the surface.

The correct planing direction has to be chosen to make sure that the planer does not cut against the emerging fibres since this would deteriorate the surface quality. By setting the planer on at a slight angle to the feed direction one can produce an “oblique drawing cut” which improves the surface quality (planer blade does not penetrate into the workpiece across the feed direction but diagonally to the feed direction).

As a rule, only wood and wood-based materials can be stapled and only if the wood is not too hard. Natural wood and plywood can be more easily stapled since the fibres exert an additional clamping force. Other wood-based materials like chipboard can only be reasonably successfully stapled if resin-coated staples are used.

All hard materials, for example, metals, stone-based materials, glass and hard plastics can not be stapled.

Tackers are exceptionally safe if used as instructed. They should always be applied directly on the workpiece and never to “shoot” staples through the air. Many tackers are therefore equipped with a mechanical safety device which prevents their actuation unless they are pressed against hard materials.

Glue guns are electrically safe, however, they should not remain unsupervised in switched-on condition like all electric appliances. The high melting temperature of 150...180 °C of the adhesive, however, requires your attention during application to avoid skin burns.

All materials with absorbent or porous surfaces and with suitable resistance to heat can be glued with the hot glue gun. Typical materials are wood, wood-based materials, stone-based materials and fibre-based materials such as fabrics, leather, cardboard and paper.

Materials that cannot be glued are those with a smooth, non-absorbent surface such as glass, metal and smooth plastics, as well as heat-sensitive plastics such as polystyrene foams. If in doubt, perform a gluing test.

Before painting

• First cover up the floor and all furniture and radiators with cover sheeting and fix cover sheeting at the edge with masking tape
• Also mask all door and window frames, sockets, light switches, skirting boards, etc. with masking tape
• If you want to paint a wall in different colours, you can use the masking tape as a separating line between the colours

During painting

• Begin with the corners of the room
• Then paint the ceiling and finally the remaining walls

If you follow this procedure and paint away from the window, i.e. with the incidence of light, all colour transitions will disappear and you will prevent unattractive shading.

The choice of paint type depends on the application range: Do you want to paint your furniture? Are you painting your walls? Do you want to protect your patio against weather effects with a varnish?

Emulsion paints:

Suitable for painting ceilings and walls (indoors). They have good adhesive properties, even out surface irregularities on boards, plasterboard or cement fibres, seal pores on plastered walls and concrete, and are preferred for painting ingrain and anaglypta wallpapers.

Latex paints:

Special emulsion paints which are usually permeable to water vapour, but very hard-wearing, scruff-resistant and insensitive to standard detergents. They are mainly used in damp rooms such as bathrooms or laundry rooms and in heavy duty rooms such as garages or kitchens.

Varnishes:

Colour paints or other paints with especially finely distributed, low pigmentation. They are used when you want the texture of the substrate to remain visible. Wood is protected by varnishes against weather effects, UV radiation, and in some cases against fungi and insects. Wood surfaces can be given a consistent colour by the varnishes, which can also be used on concrete to balance out any colour variations.

Lacquers:

Lacquers are mostly opaque coatings. Once it has dried, the coating gives a high-quality, good-looking matte or shiny surface. They are resistant to chemicals and are mainly used to coat wood, metal, plastic or mineral material.

In principle, colourless paint should not be used on windows, wooden panelling or any other wooden components that are situated outdoors.

Colourless paints and light varnishes do not provide sufficient UV protection. UV radiation will cause the wooden surface to lose its ability to hold paint, the wood will turn from brown to grey, the paint will crack and peel away from the wood.

White, covering coatings usually provide the most durability. Sufficiently pigmented varnishes have proven effective on panelling or fences.

A levelling instrument is a tool for measuring the relative height of objects.

By projecting laser lines onto the wall, a laser levelling instrument makes it easier to perform tasks such as precisely hanging up pictures, shelves or wall cupboards and precisely aligning objects in relation to each other.

The path between the measuring instrument and the measuring object must be free of obstacles. You therefore have to measure past obstacles.

Measuring errors can also occur if smoke or dust absorb or partially reflect the measuring beam.

The lasers used in Bosch measuring tools correspond to laser class 2, which is classed as safe. There is therefore no need for any particular safety measures. In general, however, laser beams should never be aimed directly into the eyes, regardless of their protection class.

For orders through the online shop, a flat rate per order of 4.76 £ (incl. VAT) is charged.

For each order made through the Service Contact Centre, i.e. by telephone, e-mail, letter or fax, a flat rate per order of 7.14 £ (incl. VAT) is charged.

When cash on delivery is used for orders, an additional cost of 2.50 £ is charged.

We offer a fixed cost repair service on the majority of our repairs other than those covered under guarantee. On booking the repair of your power tool if there is a fixed price cost available for the tool in question payment in advance can be made at this point. Alternatively if no fixed price cost is available the collection will take place and an estimate for repair will be made subject to diagnosis.

At this point you will have the option via email to

1) Proceed with the repair

2) Authorise the recycling of the tool

3) Have it returned in an unrepaired state.

After a charged repair, you are entitled to a guarantee of one year.

This can be for one of three reasons:

1) It’s an accessory, not a spare part. You can find an overview of our accessories at www.bosch-do-it.com or contact your dealer directly.

2) The part you require belongs to an assembly. In this case, you can only order the complete assembly.

3) The part you require is unavailable or no longer in stock.

Spare parts are the essential parts of a power tool. They are basic equipment, without which it would not be possible to operate the tool

Spare parts include: toothed belts, screws, yokes and carbon brush sets.

Accessories are function-enhancing attachments or add-ons, without which a power tool still operates normally, and include saw blades, cases, auxiliary handles, sanding paper and drill bits.

Collection of tools during the warranty period is free of charge. For repairs after the warranty period has expired, there are one-off shipping costs of 7.14 euros (incl. VAT).

Please note that calibration costs are based on no additional parts being required to return the product to a state where calibration can take place. For further details, please contact our Service Hotline team or alternatively email us.

Tel: 0844 736 0109 Mon - Fri: 8.00 – 17.00

(landline rate 4 pence/min from a BT phone. Mobile and other phone network charges may vary)

email: boschservicecentre@uk.bosch.com

If you discover external damage to the parcel when the spare part shipment is delivered, then refuse acceptance or show the damage to the postman/delivery agent.

If, whilst unpacking the goods, you discover material defects or you have ordered the wrong spare part, then please inform us as soon as possible (within 15 days at the latest). Please also check our delivery conditions on this point.

Before you return the goods, you must request a returns note from us, quoting the delivery note number.

Yes, These are covered under the Portable Battery Waste Regulations. Spent batteries and rechargeable batteries can be taken to any retailer offering a battery "take back scheme" or Civic Amenity site where they will be accepted for recycling free of charge.

Your faulty tool can be sent directly to our service centre. Another option is to hand it in at your local retailer or DIY store.

When sending it to us directly, it is important to ensure that the repair order form is filled in and enclosed with the faulty tool, thus enabling your order to be processed quickly.

Providing we receive a collection request before 16:00, we will aim to collect the following day (weekdays only).

Yes, Bosch is registered with a compliance scheme as required by the WEEE regulations (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). The registration number is WEEE/CK0085VZ.

As with the Repair Service, We aim to carry out the Calibration Service and return the calibrated tool to the user within five working days.

Products for collection must be securely boxed to prevent damage during transportation. Our carrier may also refuse to take items inadequately packaged.

No, but this is how we proceed:

In the case of a warranty claim, the repair is, of course, free of charge.

Once the warranty has expired, the following applies:

If the repair costs are less than 50% of the new price, we repair the tool immediately. The repair costs are listed clearly in the invoice.

If the repair costs are more than 50% of the new price, you will receive a cost estimate.

Furthermore, you have the option of an “advance release”:

You decide beforehand if the tool with a repair price above 50% should be released for recycling or if you would like a cost estimate.

In case of an advance release, you are exempt from the shipping costs.

The Bosch Calibration Service is brand-independent. It only caters to our own brands “Bosch” and “CST/Berger”.

You can decide if the tool remains at the service centre and is recycled there, or if you would like to have it back. In this case, there is a handling charge of 17.85 £, plus shipping costs of 7.14 £ (incl. VAT).

In the case of a warranty claim, there are, of course, no shipping costs.

For repairs after the warranty has expired, there is a one-off cost per order of 7.14 £ (incl. VAT).

The standard guarantee on blue products (and Batteries) is twelve months from date of purchase in commercial use.

The guarantee on professional blue power tools can be extended to 36 months (and in the case of Batteries 24 months) if the tool/Batteries are registered online within four weeks of purchase.

You normally receive the repaired tool back after three to five working days at the latest.

Ampere is the unit of measure of electrical current.

That depends on the intended use. DIYers prefer the impact drill because of its versatility, whereas professionals prefer the drill for its precision.

This term denotes the screwdriving accessory required for the particular screw type (slotted, cross head, hex, Torx, etc.). The bit is fixed in the machine either directly via a hex shank in a chuck or in a bit holder that is either part of the machine or an inserted accessory.

The application range is based on the abrasive used and is universal. Random orbit sanders are preferably used for working on wood, wood-based materials and painted surfaces. When used with the right accessory, random orbit sanders are excellent for polishing work. The work rate is lower when sanding metal or stone materials.

Virtually all workpiece shapes can be worked on due to the round sanding plate, which is available in various hardness ratings. Working on sharp corners and edges can lead to sanding through and to damage on the sanding pad.

You always begin with a coarse grit and then choose a finer grit for each stage. As a rule of thumb, you choose a grit that is twice as fine for each subsequent stage.

For example: grit sequence 40 – 80 – 180 – 360 – 600 – 1200

Jigsaws are basically suitable for all sawable materials by using the corresponding saw blade.

Jigsaws are particularly suitable for complex work with curved cuts in all materials. Of all saws, they have the largest selection of universal and special saw blades.

Lithium-ion batteries are based on a new technology that uses lithium as a component in the electrodes. They differ fundamentally from nickel-based batteries and have a cell voltage of 3.6 volts, which is three times as high as nickel cadmium batteries. Less battery cells are required, which enables the power tool to be smaller and lighter or more powerful at the same size. Unlike nickel cadmium batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not have memory effect. They also have considerably less self-discharge.

In the spare part catalogue in our Online Shop you will find exploded pictorial views of all our tools from the last 25 years. Here you can easily identify the spare part you require. Keep the 10 digit article number of the tool or its trade name ready to hand. To ensure that you quickly find the right spare part, you have to enter this number.