ON TEST
16 The Woodworker & Good Woodworking August 2019 http://www.getwoodworking.comMetabo 12V PowerMaxx Combo Set 2.7.4 12V BL
METABO 12V
POWERMAXX
COMBO SET 2.7.
Compact, spot-on ergonomically and
capable of serious drilling and screwdriving
tasks between them, Phil Davy is a big
fan of this Combo Set from MetaboMetabo’s PowerMaxx BS12 BL Q drill/driver is sleek,
compact and fits your hand snugly when picked upWith a selector slider up top, the variable speed range
is from 0-500rpm and 0-1,650rpm, depending on
the gear chosenSteel belt hooks are provided for both tools
and can be screwed to either side of the handleUnusually for a twin-tool kit, Metabo include two
different batteries: a standard 2.0Ah Li-Power pack
and a more advanced 4.0Ah LiHD unit, which offers
higher performanceTo release the pack you simply push a red locking
button and slide it offalongside. With the charger provided it takes
around 90 minutes to get the 4.0Ah battery
fully charged, and about 45 minutes for the
2.0Ah version. A flashing LED switches to
continuous green when this is reached.PowerMaxx BS 12 BL Q
cordless drill/driver
Metabo’s PowerMaxx BS12 BL Q drill/driver is
sleek, compact and fits your hand snugly when
picked up. There’s plenty of textured rubber for
grip and with a 4.0Ah battery on board weighs
just 1.1kg. To release the pack you simply push a
red locking button and slide it off. Steel belt hooks
are provided for both tools and can be screwed
to either side of the handle. Each tool also has
a magnetic bit holder, fitted in the same way.
Equipped with a brushless motor means overall
distance from chuck tip to the back of the tool is
just 160mm. Removing the chuck reducesT
here are several professional power
tool brands in the UK which aren’t
always as prominent as they deserve
to be. Metabo are among them, but
with extensive new ranges of both 12V and 18V
cordless kit they’re worth checking out if you’re
considering buying a serious drill or similar tool.
This new PowerMaxx 12V twin pack includes
a drill/driver and impact driver, plus two Li-ion
batteries and charger, all in a sturdy MetaLoc
storage case. Either tool is available separately,
with or without batteries. Unusually for a
twin-tool kit, Metabo include two different
batteries: a standard 2.0Ah Li-Power pack
and a more advanced 4.0Ah LiHD unit, which
offers higher performance. This way you have
the extended run time of a larger battery, with
a lower capacity unit as back-up or when space
is really tight, without unnecessary extra expense.
In terms of physical size the 4.0Ah battery isn’t
significantly larger. Both packs feature a green
LED fuel display by depressing the small buttonthis to less than 120mm. Although standing
taller than Bosch’s similar 12V FlexiClick drill,
the Metabo is shorter from front to back.
The soft-grip trigger is a decent size, with
standard forward/reverse button above it.
With a selector slider up top, the variable speed
range is from 0-500rpm and 0-1,650rpm,
depending on the gear chosen. Squeezing the
trigger activates a bright white LED worklight
at the base of the handle.
This drill features Metabo’s Quick System,
meaning you can remove the chuck rapidly by
grasping its red, spring-loaded collar. You don’t
need to take out a bit first, so you can switch
between drilling or inserting screws easily. Chuck
capacity is only 10mm, though you’d not expect
anything bigger on a 12V tool. Three steel jaws
will grip a bit down to 1.5mm diameter, so the
tool is ideal for small-scale drilling tasks. That
said, it easily handled large diameter flat bits
when drilling into oak.
A standard magnetic hex collar is revealed
with the chuck removed, enabling you to insert
a Pozi bit or any accessory with a hex shank.
Easy to read, a 20-way torque collar is fitted,
which clicks positively at each stop as it’s rotated.
Maximum torque is 45Nm, depending on the
material density you’re driving screws into.Metabo accessories
To increase versatility of the drill/driver you
can add either an offset angle attachment or
a 90° chuck adaptor. These both feature the
Quick System, so mounting on the tool is dead
easy. When working in confined spaces these
accessories can be really handy, making certain
cabinetmaking or shopfitting tasks far more
convenient than using a straight, in-line tool.