36V or 18V Bosch?

36V or 18V Bosch?  My VERY old and VERY used Bulldog died.  Try as I might to clean an recondition again, it seems hopelessly dead.  I have an 18V new light weight drill for soft stuff (RHS 181 3611J05310), but the bats and charger for the old dead drill still seem good.  I often used the old Bulldog for every thing from ranch work to via ferrata with a 1" bit. There seems to be sooo many options.  Please advise.

Roy Suggett wrote: 36V or 18V Bosch?  My VERY old and VERY used Bulldog died.  Try as I might to clean an recondition again, it seems hopelessly dead.  I have an 18V new light weight drill for soft stuff (RHS 181 3611J05310), but the bats and charger for the old dead drill still seem good.  I often used the old Bulldog for every thing from ranch work to via ferrata with a 1" bit. There seems to be sooo many options.  Please advise.

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/sds-plus-hammers-gbh18v-26k-146490-p/ I have this 18v model. It is great, more powerful than the old 36v model.

Francis Haden wrote: https://francishaden.wordpress.com/2016/02/13/drills-for-bolting/

It's worth noting that Bosch sells 2 different 18v models, the one I linked is the more powerful of the two. 

DrRockso wrote:

It's worth noting that Bosch sells 2 different 18v models, the one I linked is the more powerful of the two. 

Sure is and thanks for making the point.

I opted for the 'less powerful' version because the extra impact energy of 1.9ft lbs vs 1.3ft lbs comes at an extra 2.2lbs weight without a battery attached.

While the model referenced is more powerful, I'm finding I can easily drill up to 18mm (bit over 11/16) in granite with the less powerful version and did n't want the extra weight considering I sometimes have to drill on lead if cliff top access is unavailable, equip overseas and wear a full SRT rig.

Unless Bosch have tweaked the brushless motor in-between these two models then run time will be the same (same voltage and battery capacity) so the only advantage would be drilling a hole faster.

Personal choices however.

^^^ In regards to the 18v line, the new generation of cells could put a little more distance between the gbh and the rhh181. The newer 18v packs can sustain a much higher discharge rate. My intuition is that the big hammer should really be able to take advantage of this, more than the smaller, lighter rhh. Before, the weight of the gbh didn't make much sense to me unless you were almost solely rap bolting, but this could change things.

Disclaimer: I have never gotten to use the gbh in a climbing setting. I own the rhh181. I have not used the new 18v core packs, only read the spec sheets.

I'd go smaller and lighter unless you have an entire area to develop (hundreds of holes).

18/20V brushless is my rec.

I've been pleased with this so far...not as compact but 2.6J of impact force makes 1/2" holes a breeze:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M4LXUD2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Came with 2 4Ah batts and case. Couldn't beat that deal.

So, rkrum, et al., are you suggesting that the GBH18V-26K  is the "new" model and that is the one I should look to based on what I do (see original OP}? And, do you know IF my ..RHS 181 3611J05310 or RHS 181(little Bosch hammer drill for desert choss) with its 4.0Ah bat.s will allow me to interchange those bats with the GBH?   Thanks, Roy

Roy Suggett wrote: So, rkrum, et al., are you suggesting that the GBH18V-26K  is the "new" model and that is the one I should look to based on what I do (see original OP}? And, do you know IF my ..RHS 181 3611J05310 (little Bosch hammer drill for desert choss) with its 4.0Ah bat.s will allow me to interchange those bats with the GBH?   Thanks, Roy

Probably are gonna have to talk to a Bosch or other knowledgeable sales representative to be absolutely sure...but you might be able to! :)

I was able to test drive both the GBH 18v and its 36v counterpart on limestone prior to buying one.  Could not really tell any difference between them (it wasn’t a back to back it was over the the course of a few days) beside the 36v was heavier.  Both were fine for the maybe 20 1/2” holes I put in those days.  I ended up buying a GBH 18v, it’s battery compatible with Bosh’s blower and angle grinder which was a plus for me. 

Thanks all!  The bat.s are interchangeable ( or so Bosch Tech. says) so I just bought the GBH 18V.  I will post here again when I get the thing and use it on a few projects waiting.