I use die grinders a lot. It is one of my most valued tools for the work that I do so I was excited to see what this top of the range Bosch grinder can do.

I remember opening the box and smiling to myself. This thing is big and looks powerful. It feels reassuringly heavy but it very well balanced once the battery is in. In the same way that a car company may claim to offer the ultimate driving experience through expertly engineered weight distribution, once the battery is in and the brushless motor is running, the tool feels light and easy to wield.

I admit that having to use two 19mm wrenches to load and remove the bit is fiddly especially while wearing gloves and dated, once you are locked and loaded, this machine is very powerful. FYI - 6mm is standard in Europe but you can get 6mm, ¼”, 8mm and ½” collets were you to need them.

The GGS 18v-10 SLC can operate at 3 different speeds and provides more than enough torque to be able to load it larger brushes or abrasive heads and, so far, the tool has performed comfortably with the coarse rotary burrs and shaping discs that I regularly use. I was worried that the Kickback Control would interject when I am digging deeper in harder woods but I am happily pleased to admit that that has happy very few times – not enough for it to be a concern at all.

Much like the other top of the range Bosch cordless tools the GGS also has Drop Control, Restart Protection and Bluetooth connectivity via Bosch’s Simply Connected APP. The app is very easy to use and connects to the tool seamlessly as long as you have a GCY-42 Bluetooth module – not all options come with one but they are not expensive. You can tweak some of the settings and have found that interesting and useful but otherwise, I do not use the app actively. If I had many Bosch Professional tools then it would be very useful.

For me, as a freeform sculptor who often works in unconventional locations, this straight grinder is a total game-changer. It being cordless is a superb incremental innovation and is powerful enough to match most of the pneumatic equivalents with much less fuss, noise or cables/hoses. I want another one.

For more information contact me directly or visit the Bosch Website. It is an excellent resource and has a huge amount of information as well as visibility on accessories and spare parts. Or it is just great for window shopping.