Bosch PBH 2100 RE rotary hammer drill (550 W, in case)
Product description
The essentials
The Bosch PBH 2100 RE is a 550 W rotary hammer drill aimed at people who want one tool that can handle a bit of everything: drilling into concrete, working through steel and wood, and switching between hammering, chiselling, drilling and even screwdriving. It’s the sort of tool that makes sense if you’re doing regular DIY or small jobsite work and don’t want to juggle separate machines.
On paper, the standout is how flexible the controls are. You get separate stop functions for drilling versus chiselling, plus an impact stop switch that switches the hammer mechanism off when you move into wood/metal drilling and screwdriving. That’s useful because it helps you match the tool’s behaviour to the material rather than forcing the same action for every task.
Key features that you’ll actually use
What you’ll notice day to day is the control set is designed around switching tasks quickly rather than constantly changing tools or setups. There’s:
- A keyless chuck, which should make bit changes quicker and less fiddly.
- A selection switch for hammering, chiselling, drilling or screwdriving.
- Impact stop switches that turn off the hammer mechanism for drilling in wood or metal, and for screwdriving.
- A rotation stop function that turns off the rotary motion when chiselling.
That combination matters because rotary hammer drills can feel a bit “one mode” if the controls aren’t thoughtful. Here, Bosch has clearly tried to separate drilling actions from chiselling actions, so the tool can behave more appropriately as your job changes.
What matters most for buying decisions
This is built around versatility, not specialist depth. If your jobs are mixed—say you’re drilling holes in masonry one day, then doing metal/wood work and occasional screwdriving the next—the PBH 2100 RE’s mode switching is exactly the kind of feature set you want.
It’s also supplied “in case”, which is handy for storage and transport between jobs. Not all rotary hammer listings come with that level of practical organisation, so if you’re the kind of buyer who cares where the drill bits and accessories end up, that’s a small but real plus.
That said, you should be realistic about expectations: with only the motor power stated (550 W) and no other performance figures provided here, it’s hard to judge heavy-duty, high-frequency professional demands. For light-to-regular work, it sounds well matched, for constant, big-volume masonry work, you may find yourself wanting something more purpose-built.
Practical usage examples
Imagine you’re fitting a shelf bracket. You set the switch away from hammering so you can drill into wood cleanly. Then, later in the same project, you come to a concrete section—hammering mode becomes the go-to, so you’re not swapping tools just to keep going.
Another common scenario is a small repair. You might drill through a wall to run a fixture, then switch to chiselling when you need to remove material. The rotation stop function for chiselling is the kind of detail that can make that transition smoother.
Who it suits (and who should look elsewhere)
It makes sense if you want a single rotary hammer drill that supports drilling in concrete, steel and wood, plus chiselling and screwdriving with the right stopping behaviour.
You may want to skip it if your work is mainly deep masonry demolition or you routinely need maximum performance under sustained load—because the information provided focuses on versatility and controls, not on high-output performance metrics.
Tech specs
- Type: Rotary hammer drill
- Name: Bosch PBH 2100 RE (550 W, in case)
- Power: 550 W
- Chuck: Keyless chuck
- Modes: Hammering, chiselling, drilling, screwdriving
- Impact stop: Switches off hammer mechanism for drilling in wood/metal and for screwdriving
- Rotation stop: Switches off rotary motion when chiselling
Mini FAQ
How does it behave when drilling wood or metal?
It’s designed to switch off the hammer mechanism using the impact stop function when drilling in wood or metal.
Can it be used for screwdriving?
Yes—there’s a screwdriving mode, and the impact stop function is also described as switching off the hammer mechanism when screwdriving.
Is there a dedicated chiselling mode?
It includes chiselling via the selection switch, and rotation stop is used to switch off the rotary motion when chiselling.
Does the chuck make bit changes faster?
A keyless chuck is included, which should help make bit changes quicker and more convenient.
Final verdict
If you want one drill for mixed materials—concrete, steel, wood—with controls that actively match the task (drilling vs chiselling, plus impact/rotation stop where needed), the Bosch PBH 2100 RE is a sensible pick. It feels aimed at practical DIYers and small-work users who value fast mode changes and the convenience of a keyless chuck.
However, if your priority is heavy, nonstop masonry work and you need performance beyond what’s described here, it might not be the best match. In that case, it’s worth comparing against options that clearly state the kinds of performance details you care about for your specific job rhythm.