Gotta say I bought the hercules miter saw based on your recommendation and it’s fantastic. I also own the Bauer 12 in drill press. It is also fantastic and I love the reasonable prices!! Also, thank you for your great plans. I built my son the transforming 2.0 table for his grilling area for Christmas. Turned out great!! Not bad for a grandma!!
I just started watching this video and wanted to add my 2 cents before getting your input. I bought my Hercules miter saw because I took a chance on the drill driver combo and loved it. In my most humble but accurate opinion, Hercules has stepped up the Harbor Freight game.
@@rogerpiiru3212 I think your right, I noticed that the Hercules drill was slower but run after run against the dewalt the heat really didn’t change much , which would make me think the Hercules may actually be geared better . I may pick up a couple myself soon . I’d like to know your thoughts on your miter saw.
Bauer and Hercules are really game changers for Harbor Freight....the Chicago Electric and Warrior stuff could really just go away I think LOL. For the most part I think Chicago Electric is gone, but still quite a bit of Warrior stuff which is either corded or 18V with a charger you plug into the battery rather than a dock like every other brand has. I hope they keep expanding the Hercules line, so many tools in the Bauer line need to be in the Hercules line too.
@darrinsparks8119 Thanks for asking. I'm a retired facilities manager who had access to full electrical, carpentry, plumbing, welding, and masonry shops. We had 2 Delta radial arm saws and 2 Dewalt miter saws mounted in the shop. I would sit my Hercules miter saw right in the middle with all of them.
@wildbill23c I couldn't agree with you more. The corded Central Electric stuff is only about 80 % horrible, good for a weekend warrior that is going to use it 1 or 2 times a month.
I have the Bauer cordless router from harbor freight, people in one woodworking group I'm in laughed saying it's cheap and not good , they don't even have one to make that assumption first off , but let me tell you that thing works Great! And I only paid 28 dollars for it on sale , I'm very happy with it 😊
Gotta love people who say something is bad without ever using it LOL. I've always said buy what you want, its your money, but just because you spend more doesn't mean its gonna be better, or last longer in some cases.
That's awesome, thank you for letting us know. I've been thinking about getting a Bauer palm router but am a bit worried because of all the controversy surrounding harbor freight tools. I have been giving them a chance though and they haven't let me down yet. Now with what you shared I think I will go ahead and get one when I get the money. I do have a Bauer shop vac and a table saw blade and I'm happy with them so I should be happy with anything else they have in their line. I appreciate you and stay safe 💯😁
@@charitiekbyrd1 thank you, can't listen to the negative folks it best to see things for yourself, if I had listened to them I would have missed out on a great deal on a great product 👍 good luck to you and be safe as well 🙏
I've been a woodworker for the better part of 10 years. Not 1 time have I heard a customer say your tools are subpar, so I'll go with the Festool guy. My drills are Worx along with many other tools... I hate pulling out my corded boush trim router to do a roundover or flush trim something. I'm thinking about buying 4 of the HF trim routers and a couple of batteries just to set up my bits to save me time. If I could find an adapter to use my worx batteries, that would be ideal.
I love when you throw in a tool test video. The way you break it down and test them real world l like far better. Thank you for the straight forward real deal testing.
There are adapters that let BF batteries power 'name brand' tools. I used to sell tools for a big box chain and constantly got the stink-eye because I didn't push yellow tools on every customer. The boss asked why I sold a Porter set to a guy looking at the DWs. "I followed the training. I asked what his tasks and time would be. He needed a couple light tasks a month. He doesn't build houses for a living. AND instead of just bits, he's going to need bits, demolition blades, circular blades, extra batteries for the extra tools, a bag, extra charger. Accessories are profit, right? " He didn't like me very much. Sold a happy customer a portable workshop for the price of a drill.
I have owned the Hercules miter saw for 3 years, and it has been great. Also own a couple Bauer corded tools 7 inch polisher sander and a heat gun. They all perform great!!
Great comparison Matt! I had old Black & Decker quarter sheet sander basic fall apart due the sanding pad restriction pins breaking off. I did a price comparison for a new one and decided to go with the Harbor Frieght Hercules quarter sheet sander in sale for way less than yellow tools at the big box stores and I couldn't be happier with it! The dust collection system is top notch as well
I have been converting to Hercules for about 2 years now. I am impressed with how they have held up. Impact driver, drill driver, battery impacts (3/8 and half inch), router, orbital sander and of course the 12" sliding compound miter saw.
As someone who is a Hobbyist woodworker and DIYer who started on Ryobi and is starting to upgrade, I've been really happy with the Hercules drill in this video and their 7.25" circular saw. I also have the HF Yukon 60 in workbench and really like it, especially for the value.
Im a fan of my Hercules planer. My bauer failed on me while I still had the extended warranty (which I would suggest getting). They allowed me to pay the difference, and I upgraded. Im glad I did. I wonder what are other ppls thoughts are. I have a mixture of tool brands, so I'm not partial or anything, yet that is. I'm still new at the woodworking game, and this channel is an inspiration. Thanks for what you do.
I have the Hercules 12-1/2" planer as well great planer so far, its heavy, and has a 3 knife cutter head VS a 2 knife cutter head found in most other planers. I'd love it even more if Hercules came out with a spiral carbide cutterhead that you could drop in. I paid $249 for my planer on sale plus another coupon they had at the time. I also have the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw. that thing has tons of power, was accurate right out of the box, even the Hercules blade that came with the saw is pretty good for being an OEM blade. I did not get the Hercules miter saw stand, I bought the Ridgid miter saw stand, and a couple extra sets of rails...so my miter saw is attached to a set of rails and so is the planer...the planer I setup to be mounted sideways so that I could use the extensions built into the miter saw stand for infeed and outfeed support. Works extremely well, and the Ridgid miter saw stand I think is the best out there large wheels make it easy to roll across gravel, grass, etc. It folds up real easy and makes loading in a pickup very easy.
My Bauer planer also failed me and I did not get the extended warranty 😢...... Ended up getting a Delta with a 5 year factory warranty no receipt needed......
5-year tool, 3 year battery warranty. Walk in and just get a new one. Dewalt, I have to drive 30 miles to the Dewalt service center and wait 6 weeks for them to tell me they won't warranty the part, screw that! Time is money! Harbor Freight for the win.
That's the nice thing with Harbor Freight in general. I have no clue where a service center is for Dewalt in my area, but if a tool breaks I need it then, not whenever the service center decides to fix or deny the repair...either way I need the tool so being able to walk in and swap out the tool makes far more sense.
The Hercules drill is my daily driver, and has been now for, I think, about five years. My son purchased it for my birthday and it has been one of the best birthday gifts ever. It joined my Hercules reciprocating saw in the tool arsenal, and I have added a trim router to the kit. Though these two tools are corded.
I am a full time RVer and I only use the Hercules and Bauer tools cause I can get them or take them in to any harbor freight. I got the grease gun about 6 months ago for my suspension and let me tell you it works great, I have even let other use it so it has been well broken in and works like a champ.
@@willschultz5452 Nothing wrong with them. I got the Hercules because it was on sale at the time with the buy the starter kit get the tool free deal....so it was cheaper than the Bauer was....both work just the same.
Hercules has a nice fan that runs on the batteries. I use it in my shop and it's easy to move around to wherever I am working. It puts out a good breeze. I really like it! I have the Hercules trim router and like it also. Thanks for your videos! I always enjoy them and learn a lot from them.
If you have any implants,you will Love the battery powered grease gun . The DD test was top shelf testing . You’re slowly changing my mindset about Horror Freight Brands . Cheers
Looking back at this video, I noticed that in many of the tests, your left hand was partially covering the air intake at the rear of the Hercules tool …
My shop is full of Wenn tools. They are great and I've never had a problem. Planer, compound miter saw, drills, nailers, you name it I got it. Yes, I use them all.
Corrected message. I got my info backwards. (opps) I'm here watching and exstreamly happy you are comparing Harbor Freight power tools. I am slowing moving from the Harbor Freight power tools to Ridgid for power and price. Hercules were good but the Ridgid warrenty is best for me. The one power tool I will not switch from Harbor Freight is the 12" Miter Saw. Best ever.
We just switched from older Craftsman to Rigid over the Black Friday sale time. Craftsman changed their battery style and while we were able to get an adapter for the new style battery, I struggled to remove them with the added width. (It's difficult to be an independent woodworker when I have to ask my husband to change my batteries for me. 😂) We went with Rigid because of the lifetime battery and tools warranty. BUT I'd still love to see some Rigid comparisons to see if we made a good choice. Great video as always!!
There's nothing wrong with Ridgid, I've had several of their tools over the years and never had any problems with them. I don't have very many of the cordless Ridgid tools but one perk is the free lifetime battery replacement deal, and the lifetime service agreement. For a homeowner/woodworker the Ridgid tools are perfectly fine, not top of the line of course for power, but they work great in homeowner, DIYer, and woodworking type tasks.
Thank you for this review. I don't do a lot of wood projects and don't want to invest a lot of money in tools. It's good to know that i can get quality for a lower price. ❤ Also i love to see your projects please continue with them. ❤
I appreciate your tool review. Especially the ones we use everyday in the shop. The Bauer I have an impact and a grease gun. I share the battery on a farm, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. But I have the Hercules battery grinder/cutter. I’m not disappointed and have received my value back times 2 already. The grease gun is 9 pounds. It’s a heavy one compared to other
Nice Matt, this is why I still subscribe to your channel. Some TH-camrs can’t help but pull politics into their videos. Thank you for sticking to wood projects completely!
I started used HF tools because a had a project where I needed a "disposable" tool about 10 years ago. To my surprise, I still have and use that tool. While I probably would not use HF tools in a professional daily use mode, for the weekend warrior, I think they are ok. The tool that I mentioned was not even the Hercules line, it was the cheap Chicago Electric line.
I've been using the Bauer brand now partly because of finances and honestly because I probably won't live long enough for it to make a real difference! For the $$, it works for me.
Love my Hercules tools. just got the drill and 2 sanders 1 corded 1 battery. only thing I don't like is the corded sander dust port is not round. and I ordered the dust extractor. 299.00. looking forward to getting that!!!
I have the HF Hercules Miter Saw but a lot of the tools I'm buying are the Bauer line at HF... I saw you had a Bauer box on the table... I hope we get a test on them. Well done...
I know you do several different types of videos and that's awesome! However, since you are looking for suggestions I would like to see a comparison of the Hercules thickness planer or Bauer. I am a woodworker that will be on TH-cam hopefully soon and a thickness planer is something that I desperately need. I don't have the money right now to get one but I have been considering different ones. Hercules is one of the ones I've been looking at and would like to know how it stacks up. I do appreciate your videos and I watch them regularly. You are a big reason why I am going for my dream of being a woodworker on TH-cam. Along with you there are a few more I watch but you are the only one that breaks everything down for people to see how easy it is to do it, most woodworkers are really nice and helpful but I think you take it a step further with showing everyone how it's done. You are amazing Mr Peech and I thank you for everything you do. Stay safe and have fun 💯😁
Thank you I'm a yellow guy myself but I have had a short term need for a ½ impact gun. Definitely something to consider. My problem is I have already paid a lot of yellow batteries. So now it's the fight of you already have the batteries and the chargers versus something cheaper with new batteries and charger.
Could you occasionally do a video with Ryobi?? & hand tools for those of us who are in the very beginner stages? Love your videos!! They are my favorite!
I have a few Ryobi 18 Volt tools, a few of the 40V tools, and some of the 4V USB tools...they all work fine for homeowner/DIY type jobs, but some of the tools might lack the power for jobsite use.
I'm a homeowner that does woodworking as a hobby and car / home maintenance as a necessity. I can't really afford to spring for DeWalt tools, so I can't really compare to them or really any other name brand, recently manufactured tool. I have a few tools from the Bauer line, and all of them have been great. I have the Bauer corded random orbital sander, their 20v drill, both the standard and high torque 20v 1/2" impacts (my Kobalt air gun REALLY struggles with the lugs on my truck, the Bauer handles them with ease), and their 3" disc metal cutoff tool. I have a 2ah and 5ah battery. I know, apples to oranges, but I have the 12v Milwaukee drill and impact set that was on sale years ago for $99 on black friday, and while they have served me very well the Bauer drill has more power (as it should, 12v vs 20v). The 12v wasn't cutting it anymore for the things I was asking it to do because the batteries were getting a bit too old (and a 1 1/2" spade bit through 2x lumber or a 6" hole saw through cement board are really outside of what anyone SHOULD be asking a 12v tool to do). I say recently manufactured name brand because I am a master at restoring old woodworking tools. My table saw is a 1970s Craftsman with a cast iron top I got for $75 that works wonderfully once I cleaned it up and properly dialed it in, my planer is a 1980s Ryobi that surprisingly needed nothing and cost me $100, and my jointer is a 1950s 6" craftsman that needed derusting and a new belt for $60. My band saw is also a 1950s Craftsman that I paid $40 for and needed the brushes on the motor cleaned, one of the drive pulleys was bent, and the wheels (part the blade rides on) needed new tires. I got all my major expensive woodworking tools for around the MSRP of just that DeWalt drill driver combo kit.
I've owned about 2/3 of the Bauer line over the last 5 years. Over the last two years I've upgraded to the Hercules line because I wanted better performance as well as getting the 5 year on the tool and 3 years on the battery and charger. Full disclosure I've been working there for 14 months part-time to help support my tool habit. They are a great company to work for even if it's just part-time on top of my full-time job.
Don't lie, you got a job there for the discounts LOL. I have several Bauer tools and they work great, I have a few Hercules tools as well, but the Bauer line has a lot more selection.
The old Chicago tools were terrible. It was my first cordless drill years ago. I think HF has actually made strides toward solid entry level/hobbies tools. And for reference, I have been a yellow tool owner for a while. Great to learn here. Thanks!!
I have a few Ryobi tools, can't complain about any of them, they just work and are consistent. For a homeowner/DIYer they are an excellent platform because there are so many tools for so many different tasks from wood working to lawn/garden.
@wildbill23c I have used them from everything from Ranch work to commercial construction. My original impact gun was a reconditioned model bought in 2007 would run self drilling hex heads into drill stem. I dont like the battery powered grinders. I use a corded Porter Cable.
I have a Bauer cordes palm sander and ive been pleased with it and a bauer cordless brad nailer it works great also. I have even gotten a couple of their lower end tools. I have a warrior corded drill and it does everything i need it too. Warrior hand held belt sand works good for what i paid for it the belt tracking is off some but that may be from clamping it to my workbench to use it in that manor. Drill master trim router. Seems ok dont have mich experience with routers yet
My Delta 22-560 planer finally bit the dust last month and I wanted to get a new Dewalt but the price made me think about other options. I received a 25% off coupon in my email from HF telling me that they missed me, so I started researching the Hercules planer. So I spent $300 plus tax and took a chance on one and so far couldn't be happier. Its got three blades and leaves a buttery smooth finish on oak and cherry. The dust pickup is very good and I'm very satisfied so far. I'm hoping that it will turn out to be as good as the Hercules miter saw!
I have the Hercules planer as well, it works great, and for the price its perfect for most people. I have the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw as well, it has been great, and plenty of power, no adjustments needed out of the box everything was already dialed in on it, its heavy, and its very well built.
I have been woodworking and remodeling for about 40 years now and I m not a tool brand snob at all. I've used all kinds and have had really good inexpensive ones as well as expensive ones. All I can say is never judge a tool by it's cover...or color. Lol. My advice would also be to buy the tool that is appropriate for your budget and purpose. If you're using it all day 5 days a week or weekend woodworking, decide the level of quality necessary for the job. Love your videos.
I haven't bought any of the Hercules brand HF tools, but I have bought several of their other power tool brands. - Drill Master 4 1/2" angle grinder which was on sale for $9. At the time I needed it for one job and figured for nine bucks if it lasted long enough to do that it would be a win. I've had it for two years now and it still works fine. I mostly use it for sharpening my mower blades so it doesn't get a ton of use, but hey for $9 I'm way ahead. - Banks Pneumatic Pin Nailer. Bought this for about $25 several years ago. I've used it a fair amount and it's still going strong. I also have a Ridgid pin nailer which I like better, mainly because it just feels better in my hand, but the Banks faithfully drives in pin nails to the correct depth so I really have no complaints. I'd highly recommend it to any DIY'er who needed one and was on a tight budget. - Baur Orbital Dual Action Polisher/Sander, bought this a few months ago on sale for $35. I've only used it once to compound out a long strip of "dock rash" from the side of my boat. As I read in several reviews you do feel a lot of vibration while using it but it worked great, especially compared to compounding that much area by hand. Due to the vibration it's not a tool I'd use if I were a professional detailer, but for the price I'd absolutely recommend it for home use. - Baur 16 gallon shop vacuum and cyclone attachment. Just bought this a week ago so haven't used it a lot. The cyclone attachment works great, sawdust, etc. is collected in the 5 gallon bucket and never makes it to the bag in the vac. Also, If you close off the hose with your palm the vac has enough power to collapse the 5 gallon bucket. I had a coupon so the vac and the cyclone totaled about $160. Bottom line, I agree that HF has really upped their power tool game in the last few years. If I were earning my living with my tools I'd probably still go with the more traditional name brands until HF's high end lines had been around long enough to prove their reliability and longevity, but for us weekend warriors they're a very viable budget-friendly option.
I bought the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw last year, it works great, much better quality than the Chicago Electric stuff. I also have the Hercules grease gun, 1/2" hammer drill/driver, 3/8" and 1/2" impacts, and the 1/4" impact driver. Harbor Freight just changed the free tool stuff this past week...rather than buying the battery/charger starter kit and getting a free tool...now you get a free tool if you buy the new 8AH battery. I got the grease gun as a free tool when I bought the starter kit. I also have several Bauer tools....they seem to be working great as well. I gave up on Dewalt a long time ago, prices skyrocketed as did their battery prices, but the tool quality and specs never changed to coincide with the ridiculous price increases. The nice thing is we have so many different brand options out there to pick from.
No "secret" word? I liked the "pickle" one (when I cut cedar I just smell cedar). Check out the Bauer brad nailer. You don't have to buy it, just walk into the store & pick one up then imagine using it all day. As an as-needed DIYer I tend to go with the lower priced HF tools. Most of the tools are corded except for the drill & nailer (both Bauer). My fovorites are a decades (plural) old blue Ryobi circular saw and Drill Master (which HF replaced with the Warrior line) angle grinder. I got the grinder to cut tile for a kitchen remodel figuring that $25 was enough of an investment for one job. That was 5 years ago & it's still working great.
Thanks for this valuable information, please keep doing these side by side shows ..... and hey HARBOR FREIGHT you really should be sponsoring some of these shows!!!
Thanks for the options on tools. As a DYI person, price and value does matter for what I intended to use the tool. We all look at Harbor Freight with caution, this helps. I still will be a RYOBI guy for now as they remain consistent with their battery form factor. Why I left my previous brand. Continue to love your builds and tips.
It was obvious when you had both apart that the dewalt had a fan blade between the motor and the remainder of the drill and I didn't see that with the hercules. No problem with the accent (🙂) - great review and thanks for all the info!
Definitely still want to see builds and projects and such, but I do appreciate a respected and skilled craftsman giving some honset reviews of the options we have available at market for our own tool chests. What I really am looking forward to on these "cheap tool option" comparison/reviews is the follow-up videos in, say... one month? Then another at three and/or six months to see if these same tools are still functioning well. How will the batteries and motors and such be performing after a period of time. If they make it 6 months, I'd say they were worth it, especially if someone using these tools is selling their crafts for profit. For the hobbiest woodworker, maybe it'd be worth it to invest in the more "heirloom" quality tools, since they're only ever costing money and never making money. If you're just in it for the hobby, you don't want to be making trips back to Harbor Freight every few months (or even each year) rebuying the same tools over again.
Dewalt has a 3 year limited warranty, in which time they will repair the tool if you send it to a service center. Turnaround time 10 to 15 days. Hercules brushless tools have a 5 year warranty. The batteries are 3 years. The tool and batteries are replaced at the counter in the store. Turnaround time 10 to 15 minutes.
I bought the 12v tools as well and I find myself reaching for them the most because they are smaller and lighter than the 20v tools. I feel that for woodworking you don’t need the bigger tools for most jobs. I would suggest doing a comparison video of 12v tools but Dewalt discontinued theirs. I do wish that Hercules would upgrade their 12v tools to brushless. Keep up the good work Matt I look forward to seeing your videos.
Thank you for your effort. I have been using the blue gear from Lowes, and the HF is only a half-mile down the road from Lowes. I'm not sure how I will proceed. Again, thank you for all the work. Many of us probably would have almost as much fun trying to compare HF vs. our regular gear. Nicely presented.
The best thing about the Harbor Freight tools is the warranty. You get to replace your tools for free every two years as long as you have the warranty. You can also replace the tool as many times as needed during that 2 years.
I was going to say the same thing. He is covering the vents with his hand. The vent being at the back on the Hercules keeps it from pulling in dust/dirt and throwing it all over the electronics like the Dewalt does.
That's the best thing with the Hercules line the exchange warranty, VS having to wait for a company to either fix your broken tool, or deny the warranty and then you are stuck all that time without the tool for work. Even the Pittsburgh hand tools have a lifetime warranty, as does the Icon line, I think the Quinn stuff might have a lifetime warranty as well but not sure.
I’ll start by saying I’m a Milwaukee exclusive user. HF does make pretty good stuff and although doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of marketing and sponsorship deals, their tools lately JUST WORK!!! As for your overheating issue on batteries, if the batteries inside aren’t damaged, you can jump start them by connecting to another good battery for 5 minutes, then remove and place in charger. Have been doing it for years in batteries others believe they’ve toasted. Works all the time.
I appreciate your honesty, my Harbor freight tools are great for the money. I like DeWalt tools but can't afford the price, especially the batteries. I have not had any problems with my Harbor freight batteries. I quit buying Ryobi because of their batteries failed and they were all 4 amps. After 3 failed right out of the box, I'm done with Ryobi. I'll keep what I got but will never shop anything else in that line. And why would anyone buy Ryobi HP line, better off with any other line of tools.
after going thru two expensive corded Dremel tools, I decided to take a chance on the Bauer cordless version and I must say I like it a lot better. It's been over a year of using it now and it's still holding up and comes in handy for a lot of uses. It's especially good that it's cordless and easy to charge. you just hook a wire to the tool. No battery to remove. comes with a nice case too. i'll be exploring more HF tools in the future, since batteries for name brands are over $100 each and it seems like you have to buy a charger with it every time. Can't they just sell the batteries???
Great video MP. I was surprised with the results. I am still trapped in the ryobi 18 v phase. It would cost me a slight fortune(bc I have so many of the line) to switch brands now but good to know about the Hercules products. I may have to get the battery / charger and grease gun. :)
I'm just a diy guy but I own all the Bauer and Hercules tools and about a dozen batteries. They are good for the money. I really don't like the Hercules 7 1/4 circ saw but they took it back and I like the 6. 1/2 circ saw, the blade is on the left side and easily can see the line your cutting. Bauer 6 1/2 circ saw is great, it's lite and easy to use. It's not a power house but it works. I really don't need anything Because I have 2 and 3 of all the cordless tools. If my Bauer drill is not working good enough then I reach for the Hercules. I bought most of my tools for half price with the free tool deals. So a lot of my tools cost 40. Or less. Try that with DeWalt or Milwaukee. Forget about it! LMAO 😂
I have the Hercules planer, it works great, can't beat the price...Dewalt wants about 2x more money and it does the same thing, it makes thicker boards thinner. They do have a spiral cutter head option for the Dewalt but that also increases the already higher price of the Dewalt....I wish someone would release a spiral cutter head for the Hercules planer. I know the Hercules planer has a 3 knife cutter head, I cannot remember if the Dewalt is as well, I believe it is though....the biggest issue with both planers, and most other planers is dust/chip collection, the chute on my Hercules likes to clog up occasionally, but as far as operation, the Hercules planer does a great job and seems to have plenty of power.
Please don't turn into "this tool vs this tool" or "tool review" channel. I love watching your Sunday morning builds. Reminds me growing up with "This Old House"
I have went with Hercules on a bunch of their tools. The batteries are overall better than most, and the 4/8/12 amp hour batteries use 21700 Samsung cells versus 18650 Samsung cells. The cordless angle grinder and the other tools that require a 5 amp hour excel with an 8 ah or 12 ah. The balance is fantastic. The drill driver is one of my least liked tools for a specific reason: the all metal chuck can unlock itself from the sheer momentum
I am very glad you did that ... We both know you stepped on some toes with it ... The HD yellows vs the HF blues vs the HF reds now ... On down the line .... Each with it's own different battery voltage and tool connection and that's the part that hooks the buyers ... What needs to happen is all the tools can run on in the same battery no one would really ever notice a 6amp hour 18 volt over a 4amp hour 20 volt ... And the internal tool electronics could be made to handle it ... But they just don't click on the tool because the battery is the hook ... DC batteries drop so low under a load it is a bit scary really the 20V/4Ahr and the 18V/6Ahr both starting at a 10% difference probably both drop to around the same maybe 13V under a load ... Voltage, current, and battery resistance is really all that matters ... It's the battery case that's the hook
Good information I've been scared to invest in a new battery line. But I think I would go with Hercules as a contender. For the price, maybe some of these tool companies will get their prices more affordable and quality. God bless!
I have a Hercules table saw that's a few years old. Mine has a rack & pinion fence (which I really like), the new model doesn't. My problem is that the riving knife no longer lines up with the blade - it is leaning over to the left just enough that the wood catches on it. I messed with the mount trying to get it adjusted but no luck. Having to reach over a spinning blade to nudge the wood & get it to pass the riving knife is risky at best - a safety feature shouldn't cause danger. I removed the entire riving knife assembly from my saw, which means I now don't have a blade guard or anti-kickback pawls because both of those mount to the riving knife. Fortunately, I do have the Bow fence along with the featherboards, so I have those for safety.
Cool video, 15% markup incoming, sincerely. I bought the Hercules plunge router which is virtually identical to the Skil plunge router and I love it. And Skil has made some pretty good saws here lately I have the Skil job site table saw and the Dual bevel sliding miter saw and love them as well.
Very informative. Good review. But please stay with your craftsmanship on builds. Would like to see your take on the cocktail smokers. The way you look and digest things this would be very interesting to see. Great job though.
I noticed that you covered the fan in the Hercules I'm sure it was just natural but wondered if that had something to do with it getting hit. Dewalt fan but thought I'd point that out?
New to the channel. I did come for the wood working, but I am interested in these HF cordless reviews. I have been contemplating who to go with for cordless. The cost makes me hesitate.
Gotta say I bought the hercules miter saw based on your recommendation and it’s fantastic. I also own the Bauer 12 in drill press. It is also fantastic and I love the reasonable prices!! Also, thank you for your great plans. I built my son the transforming 2.0 table for his grilling area for Christmas. Turned out great!! Not bad for a grandma!!
I just started watching this video and wanted to add my 2 cents before getting your input. I bought my Hercules miter saw because I took a chance on the drill driver combo and loved it. In my most humble but accurate opinion, Hercules has stepped up the Harbor Freight game.
@@rogerpiiru3212 I think your right, I noticed that the Hercules drill was slower but run after run against the dewalt the heat really didn’t change much , which would make me think the Hercules may actually be geared better . I may pick up a couple myself soon .
I’d like to know your thoughts on your miter saw.
Bauer and Hercules are really game changers for Harbor Freight....the Chicago Electric and Warrior stuff could really just go away I think LOL. For the most part I think Chicago Electric is gone, but still quite a bit of Warrior stuff which is either corded or 18V with a charger you plug into the battery rather than a dock like every other brand has.
I hope they keep expanding the Hercules line, so many tools in the Bauer line need to be in the Hercules line too.
@darrinsparks8119 Thanks for asking. I'm a retired facilities manager who had access to full electrical, carpentry, plumbing, welding, and masonry shops. We had 2 Delta radial arm saws and 2 Dewalt miter saws mounted in the shop. I would sit my Hercules miter saw right in the middle with all of them.
@wildbill23c I couldn't agree with you more. The corded Central Electric stuff is only about 80 % horrible, good for a weekend warrior that is going to use it 1 or 2 times a month.
I have the Bauer cordless router from harbor freight, people in one woodworking group I'm in laughed saying it's cheap and not good , they don't even have one to make that assumption first off , but let me tell you that thing works Great! And I only paid 28 dollars for it on sale , I'm very happy with it 😊
I have many tools from Bauer also and I am not disappointed one bit😊
Gotta love people who say something is bad without ever using it LOL. I've always said buy what you want, its your money, but just because you spend more doesn't mean its gonna be better, or last longer in some cases.
That's awesome, thank you for letting us know. I've been thinking about getting a Bauer palm router but am a bit worried because of all the controversy surrounding harbor freight tools. I have been giving them a chance though and they haven't let me down yet. Now with what you shared I think I will go ahead and get one when I get the money. I do have a Bauer shop vac and a table saw blade and I'm happy with them so I should be happy with anything else they have in their line. I appreciate you and stay safe 💯😁
@@charitiekbyrd1 thank you, can't listen to the negative folks it best to see things for yourself, if I had listened to them I would have missed out on a great deal on a great product 👍 good luck to you and be safe as well 🙏
I've been a woodworker for the better part of 10 years. Not 1 time have I heard a customer say your tools are subpar, so I'll go with the Festool guy. My drills are Worx along with many other tools... I hate pulling out my corded boush trim router to do a roundover or flush trim something. I'm thinking about buying 4 of the HF trim routers and a couple of batteries just to set up my bits to save me time. If I could find an adapter to use my worx batteries, that would be ideal.
If there is a more honest strait forward person on TH-cam I don’t know who it would be. Thanks for your channel I like the no BS we get from you.
I love when you throw in a tool test video. The way you break it down and test them real world l like far better. Thank you for the straight forward real deal testing.
There are adapters that let BF batteries power 'name brand' tools.
I used to sell tools for a big box chain and constantly got the stink-eye because I didn't push yellow tools on every customer. The boss asked why I sold a Porter set to a guy looking at the DWs. "I followed the training. I asked what his tasks and time would be. He needed a couple light tasks a month. He doesn't build houses for a living. AND instead of just bits, he's going to need bits, demolition blades, circular blades, extra batteries for the extra tools, a bag, extra charger. Accessories are profit, right? " He didn't like me very much. Sold a happy customer a portable workshop for the price of a drill.
I have owned the Hercules miter saw for 3 years, and it has been great. Also own a couple Bauer corded tools 7 inch polisher sander and a heat gun. They all perform great!!
Great comparison Matt! I had old Black & Decker quarter sheet sander basic fall apart due the sanding pad restriction pins breaking off. I did a price comparison for a new one and decided to go with the Harbor Frieght Hercules quarter sheet sander in sale for way less than yellow tools at the big box stores and I couldn't be happier with it! The dust collection system is top notch as well
received the Hercules trim router as a gift. I couldn't be happier with it!
I have been converting to Hercules for about 2 years now. I am impressed with how they have held up. Impact driver, drill driver, battery impacts (3/8 and half inch), router, orbital sander and of course the 12" sliding compound miter saw.
As someone who is a Hobbyist woodworker and DIYer who started on Ryobi and is starting to upgrade, I've been really happy with the Hercules drill in this video and their 7.25" circular saw. I also have the HF Yukon 60 in workbench and really like it, especially for the value.
Im a fan of my Hercules planer. My bauer failed on me while I still had the extended warranty (which I would suggest getting). They allowed me to pay the difference, and I upgraded. Im glad I did. I wonder what are other ppls thoughts are. I have a mixture of tool brands, so I'm not partial or anything, yet that is. I'm still new at the woodworking game, and this channel is an inspiration. Thanks for what you do.
I have the Hercules 12-1/2" planer as well great planer so far, its heavy, and has a 3 knife cutter head VS a 2 knife cutter head found in most other planers. I'd love it even more if Hercules came out with a spiral carbide cutterhead that you could drop in. I paid $249 for my planer on sale plus another coupon they had at the time.
I also have the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw. that thing has tons of power, was accurate right out of the box, even the Hercules blade that came with the saw is pretty good for being an OEM blade.
I did not get the Hercules miter saw stand, I bought the Ridgid miter saw stand, and a couple extra sets of rails...so my miter saw is attached to a set of rails and so is the planer...the planer I setup to be mounted sideways so that I could use the extensions built into the miter saw stand for infeed and outfeed support. Works extremely well, and the Ridgid miter saw stand I think is the best out there large wheels make it easy to roll across gravel, grass, etc. It folds up real easy and makes loading in a pickup very easy.
My Bauer planer also failed me and I did not get the extended warranty 😢...... Ended up getting a Delta with a 5 year factory warranty no receipt needed......
5-year tool, 3 year battery warranty. Walk in and just get a new one. Dewalt, I have to drive 30 miles to the Dewalt service center and wait 6 weeks for them to tell me they won't warranty the part, screw that! Time is money! Harbor Freight for the win.
That's the nice thing with Harbor Freight in general. I have no clue where a service center is for Dewalt in my area, but if a tool breaks I need it then, not whenever the service center decides to fix or deny the repair...either way I need the tool so being able to walk in and swap out the tool makes far more sense.
wise, mature, neutral, professional ! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You forgot ONE KEY comparison! DOLLARS
The Hercules drill is my daily driver, and has been now for, I think, about five years. My son purchased it for my birthday and it has been one of the best birthday gifts ever. It joined my Hercules reciprocating saw in the tool arsenal, and I have added a trim router to the kit. Though these two tools are corded.
I always appreciate your honest and informative videos
I am a full time RVer and I only use the Hercules and Bauer tools cause I can get them or take them in to any harbor freight. I got the grease gun about 6 months ago for my suspension and let me tell you it works great, I have even let other use it so it has been well broken in and works like a champ.
Great comparison! I have all bauer tools, no complaints at all. The bauer grease gun works great.
Do you know if bauer and hercules batteries are interchangeable ?
I'm just about ready to get a Bauer grease gun myself.
@@VitalPolymath I don't think they are
@@VitalPolymath No they aren't. Tried it LOL...I have both Bauer and Hercules stuff.
@@willschultz5452 Nothing wrong with them. I got the Hercules because it was on sale at the time with the buy the starter kit get the tool free deal....so it was cheaper than the Bauer was....both work just the same.
Nice review. Glad you've got a new opinion of the Hercules brand. As my old tools die out, I'm converting to Hercules.
Nice!
Hercules has a nice fan that runs on the batteries. I use it in my shop and it's easy to move around to wherever I am working. It puts out a good breeze. I really like it! I have the Hercules trim router and like it also. Thanks for your videos! I always enjoy them and learn a lot from them.
If you have any implants,you will
Love the battery powered grease gun . The DD test was top shelf testing . You’re slowly changing my mindset about Horror Freight Brands .
Cheers
Looking back at this video, I noticed that in many of the tests, your left hand was partially covering the air intake at the rear of the Hercules tool …
My shop is full of Wenn tools. They are great and I've never had a problem. Planer, compound miter saw, drills, nailers, you name it I got it. Yes, I use them all.
Oh yea, a good brand!
I've heard the Wen brand is pretty decent too....nothing wrong with getting what you can afford and heck if it works why buy something more expensive.
Corrected message. I got my info backwards. (opps) I'm here watching and exstreamly happy you are comparing Harbor Freight power tools. I am slowing moving from the Harbor Freight power tools to Ridgid for power and price. Hercules were good but the Ridgid warrenty is best for me. The one power tool I will not switch from Harbor Freight is the 12" Miter Saw. Best ever.
Do you know what will also surprise you is the Bauer line of 20 volt tools at harbor freight! I have a bunch of them and they have held up very well 😊
We just switched from older Craftsman to Rigid over the Black Friday sale time. Craftsman changed their battery style and while we were able to get an adapter for the new style battery, I struggled to remove them with the added width. (It's difficult to be an independent woodworker when I have to ask my husband to change my batteries for me. 😂)
We went with Rigid because of the lifetime battery and tools warranty. BUT I'd still love to see some Rigid comparisons to see if we made a good choice.
Great video as always!!
Thank you. I’ll see what I can do.
There's nothing wrong with Ridgid, I've had several of their tools over the years and never had any problems with them. I don't have very many of the cordless Ridgid tools but one perk is the free lifetime battery replacement deal, and the lifetime service agreement.
For a homeowner/woodworker the Ridgid tools are perfectly fine, not top of the line of course for power, but they work great in homeowner, DIYer, and woodworking type tasks.
Thank you for this review. I don't do a lot of wood projects and don't want to invest a lot of money in tools. It's good to know that i can get quality for a lower price. ❤
Also i love to see your projects please continue with them. ❤
I appreciate your tool review. Especially the ones we use everyday in the shop. The Bauer I have an impact and a grease gun. I share the battery on a farm, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. But I have the Hercules battery grinder/cutter. I’m not disappointed and have received my value back times 2 already.
The grease gun is 9 pounds. It’s a heavy one compared to other
I have been buying harbor freight tools for a lone time.I use the compound mitter and the 20 volt for rebuilding homes and apartments 5 years now
Nice Matt, this is why I still subscribe to your channel. Some TH-camrs can’t help but pull politics into their videos. Thank you for sticking to wood projects completely!
I started used HF tools because a had a project where I needed a "disposable" tool about 10 years ago. To my surprise, I still have and use that tool. While I probably would not use HF tools in a professional daily use mode, for the weekend warrior, I think they are ok. The tool that I mentioned was not even the Hercules line, it was the cheap Chicago Electric line.
I've been using the Bauer brand now partly because of finances and honestly because I probably won't live long enough for it to make a real difference! For the $$, it works for me.
Love my Hercules tools. just got the drill and 2 sanders 1 corded 1 battery. only thing I don't like is the corded sander dust port is not round. and I ordered the dust extractor. 299.00. looking forward to getting that!!!
I liked the review. It was fun. Also, after watching your channel for a while, its inspired me to do a few projects!
Great comparison. Thank you!!
I have the HF Hercules Miter Saw but a lot of the tools I'm buying are the Bauer line at HF... I saw you had a Bauer box on the table... I hope we get a test on them. Well done...
I got the battery band saw on the tool deal, absolutely love it.
I know you do several different types of videos and that's awesome! However, since you are looking for suggestions I would like to see a comparison of the Hercules thickness planer or Bauer. I am a woodworker that will be on TH-cam hopefully soon and a thickness planer is something that I desperately need. I don't have the money right now to get one but I have been considering different ones. Hercules is one of the ones I've been looking at and would like to know how it stacks up. I do appreciate your videos and I watch them regularly. You are a big reason why I am going for my dream of being a woodworker on TH-cam. Along with you there are a few more I watch but you are the only one that breaks everything down for people to see how easy it is to do it, most woodworkers are really nice and helpful but I think you take it a step further with showing everyone how it's done. You are amazing Mr Peech and I thank you for everything you do. Stay safe and have fun 💯😁
Thank you I'm a yellow guy myself but I have had a short term need for a ½ impact gun. Definitely something to consider. My problem is I have already paid a lot of yellow batteries. So now it's the fight of you already have the batteries and the chargers versus something cheaper with new batteries and charger.
Could you occasionally do a video with Ryobi?? & hand tools for those of us who are in the very beginner stages?
Love your videos!! They are my favorite!
I have a few Ryobi 18 Volt tools, a few of the 40V tools, and some of the 4V USB tools...they all work fine for homeowner/DIY type jobs, but some of the tools might lack the power for jobsite use.
I'm a homeowner that does woodworking as a hobby and car / home maintenance as a necessity. I can't really afford to spring for DeWalt tools, so I can't really compare to them or really any other name brand, recently manufactured tool. I have a few tools from the Bauer line, and all of them have been great. I have the Bauer corded random orbital sander, their 20v drill, both the standard and high torque 20v 1/2" impacts (my Kobalt air gun REALLY struggles with the lugs on my truck, the Bauer handles them with ease), and their 3" disc metal cutoff tool. I have a 2ah and 5ah battery. I know, apples to oranges, but I have the 12v Milwaukee drill and impact set that was on sale years ago for $99 on black friday, and while they have served me very well the Bauer drill has more power (as it should, 12v vs 20v). The 12v wasn't cutting it anymore for the things I was asking it to do because the batteries were getting a bit too old (and a 1 1/2" spade bit through 2x lumber or a 6" hole saw through cement board are really outside of what anyone SHOULD be asking a 12v tool to do).
I say recently manufactured name brand because I am a master at restoring old woodworking tools. My table saw is a 1970s Craftsman with a cast iron top I got for $75 that works wonderfully once I cleaned it up and properly dialed it in, my planer is a 1980s Ryobi that surprisingly needed nothing and cost me $100, and my jointer is a 1950s 6" craftsman that needed derusting and a new belt for $60. My band saw is also a 1950s Craftsman that I paid $40 for and needed the brushes on the motor cleaned, one of the drive pulleys was bent, and the wheels (part the blade rides on) needed new tires. I got all my major expensive woodworking tools for around the MSRP of just that DeWalt drill driver combo kit.
I've owned about 2/3 of the Bauer line over the last 5 years. Over the last two years I've upgraded to the Hercules line because I wanted better performance as well as getting the 5 year on the tool and 3 years on the battery and charger.
Full disclosure I've been working there for 14 months part-time to help support my tool habit. They are a great company to work for even if it's just part-time on top of my full-time job.
That's great to hear!
Don't lie, you got a job there for the discounts LOL.
I have several Bauer tools and they work great, I have a few Hercules tools as well, but the Bauer line has a lot more selection.
@@wildbill23c Yes I got the part-time job there to help supply my tool habit. The extra 20% on top of most sales makes it worth it.
You should test the battery adapters for dewalt to hercules or vise versa.
Try the Hercules corded plunge router, I've been very impressed with mine
Thanks for the suggestion.
Now we need a cool little project made with that chunk of pine 😊
It (I) may be weird, but watching a drill disassemble two other drills was extremely satisfying.
I have the Hercules plainer- not had any issues -plained a whole bumch of hard maple with it. Take a look at it.
The old Chicago tools were terrible. It was my first cordless drill years ago. I think HF has actually made strides toward solid entry level/hobbies tools. And for reference, I have been a yellow tool owner for a while. Great to learn here. Thanks!!
This was a great insight. I would have never been able to put the drills together again after dismantling 😂😂😂
Im a Ryobi fan. And have no complaints at all. Haven't found any tools i do t like.
They work well for me.
The incandescent flashlight included around a decade ago was pretty horrible. I picked up an LED light a year or two ago and it works much better.
I have a few Ryobi tools, can't complain about any of them, they just work and are consistent. For a homeowner/DIYer they are an excellent platform because there are so many tools for so many different tasks from wood working to lawn/garden.
@wildbill23c I have used them from everything from Ranch work to commercial construction.
My original impact gun was a reconditioned model bought in 2007 would run self drilling hex heads into drill stem.
I dont like the battery powered grinders. I use a corded Porter Cable.
I have a Bauer cordes palm sander and ive been pleased with it and a bauer cordless brad nailer it works great also. I have even gotten a couple of their lower end tools. I have a warrior corded drill and it does everything i need it too. Warrior hand held belt sand works good for what i paid for it the belt tracking is off some but that may be from clamping it to my workbench to use it in that manor. Drill master trim router. Seems ok dont have mich experience with routers yet
My Delta 22-560 planer finally bit the dust last month and I wanted to get a new Dewalt but the price made me think about other options. I received a 25% off coupon in my email from HF telling me that they missed me, so I started researching the Hercules planer. So I spent $300 plus tax and took a chance on one and so far couldn't be happier. Its got three blades and leaves a buttery smooth finish on oak and cherry. The dust pickup is very good and I'm very satisfied so far. I'm hoping that it will turn out to be as good as the Hercules miter saw!
I have the Hercules planer as well, it works great, and for the price its perfect for most people. I have the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw as well, it has been great, and plenty of power, no adjustments needed out of the box everything was already dialed in on it, its heavy, and its very well built.
I have been woodworking and remodeling for about 40 years now and I m not a tool brand snob at all. I've used all kinds and have had really good inexpensive ones as well as expensive ones. All I can say is never judge a tool by it's cover...or color. Lol. My advice would also be to buy the tool that is appropriate for your budget and purpose. If you're using it all day 5 days a week or weekend woodworking, decide the level of quality necessary for the job. Love your videos.
I haven't bought any of the Hercules brand HF tools, but I have bought several of their other power tool brands.
- Drill Master 4 1/2" angle grinder which was on sale for $9. At the time I needed it for one job and figured for nine bucks if it lasted long enough to do that it would be a win. I've had it for two years now and it still works fine. I mostly use it for sharpening my mower blades so it doesn't get a ton of use, but hey for $9 I'm way ahead.
- Banks Pneumatic Pin Nailer. Bought this for about $25 several years ago. I've used it a fair amount and it's still going strong. I also have a Ridgid pin nailer which I like better, mainly because it just feels better in my hand, but the Banks faithfully drives in pin nails to the correct depth so I really have no complaints. I'd highly recommend it to any DIY'er who needed one and was on a tight budget.
- Baur Orbital Dual Action Polisher/Sander, bought this a few months ago on sale for $35. I've only used it once to compound out a long strip of "dock rash" from the side of my boat. As I read in several reviews you do feel a lot of vibration while using it but it worked great, especially compared to compounding that much area by hand. Due to the vibration it's not a tool I'd use if I were a professional detailer, but for the price I'd absolutely recommend it for home use.
- Baur 16 gallon shop vacuum and cyclone attachment. Just bought this a week ago so haven't used it a lot. The cyclone attachment works great, sawdust, etc. is collected in the 5 gallon bucket and never makes it to the bag in the vac. Also, If you close off the hose with your palm the vac has enough power to collapse the 5 gallon bucket. I had a coupon so the vac and the cyclone totaled about $160.
Bottom line, I agree that HF has really upped their power tool game in the last few years. If I were earning my living with my tools I'd probably still go with the more traditional name brands until HF's high end lines had been around long enough to prove their reliability and longevity, but for us weekend warriors they're a very viable budget-friendly option.
Went with a HF Warrior angle grinder for my lawn mower blades. Deere has 3 blades. For $15 paid for itself after one use.
I bought the Hercules 12" dual bevel sliding compound miter saw last year, it works great, much better quality than the Chicago Electric stuff. I also have the Hercules grease gun, 1/2" hammer drill/driver, 3/8" and 1/2" impacts, and the 1/4" impact driver.
Harbor Freight just changed the free tool stuff this past week...rather than buying the battery/charger starter kit and getting a free tool...now you get a free tool if you buy the new 8AH battery. I got the grease gun as a free tool when I bought the starter kit.
I also have several Bauer tools....they seem to be working great as well.
I gave up on Dewalt a long time ago, prices skyrocketed as did their battery prices, but the tool quality and specs never changed to coincide with the ridiculous price increases. The nice thing is we have so many different brand options out there to pick from.
Yeah ive used the hurcules impact for a while now. Im a union carpenter and even use it at work just fine!
No "secret" word? I liked the "pickle" one (when I cut cedar I just smell cedar).
Check out the Bauer brad nailer. You don't have to buy it, just walk into the store & pick one up then imagine using it all day. As an as-needed DIYer I tend to go with the lower priced HF tools. Most of the tools are corded except for the drill & nailer (both Bauer). My fovorites are a decades (plural) old blue Ryobi circular saw and Drill Master (which HF replaced with the Warrior line) angle grinder. I got the grinder to cut tile for a kitchen remodel figuring that $25 was enough of an investment for one job. That was 5 years ago & it's still working great.
Great comparison Mr. Peech - good to see that "off-brand" tools can keep up... Might need to use the DeWalt to keep you warm this weekend.
Stay safe!
Thanks for this valuable information, please keep doing these side by side shows ..... and hey HARBOR FREIGHT you really should be sponsoring some of these shows!!!
I purchased the Hercules 12 gal. dust extractor and it has quite impressive performance and If I needed another one I would by it again!!!
You do a great job. I Love listening to you. Thank you for your videos.
Thanks for the options on tools. As a DYI person, price and value does matter for what I intended to use the tool. We all look at Harbor Freight with caution, this helps. I still will be a RYOBI guy for now as they remain consistent with their battery form factor. Why I left my previous brand. Continue to love your builds and tips.
Thanks! It's important to find what works for you.
I replaced my DeWalt chop with a Hercules and I'm happy with it so far. The real test is longevity, I've had my DeWalt for almost 18 years.
Longevity definitely counts!
I use the Bauer line I only do small jobs around the house as needed. But love I run over the tool and to go the store and get a new one same day
It was obvious when you had both apart that the dewalt had a fan blade between the motor and the remainder of the drill and I didn't see that with the hercules. No problem with the accent (🙂) - great review and thanks for all the info!
Amazon sells adapters for the batteries you may want to look into. This helps you to use batteries you have in different brands.
Definitely still want to see builds and projects and such, but I do appreciate a respected and skilled craftsman giving some honset reviews of the options we have available at market for our own tool chests.
What I really am looking forward to on these "cheap tool option" comparison/reviews is the follow-up videos in, say... one month? Then another at three and/or six months to see if these same tools are still functioning well. How will the batteries and motors and such be performing after a period of time. If they make it 6 months, I'd say they were worth it, especially if someone using these tools is selling their crafts for profit.
For the hobbiest woodworker, maybe it'd be worth it to invest in the more "heirloom" quality tools, since they're only ever costing money and never making money. If you're just in it for the hobby, you don't want to be making trips back to Harbor Freight every few months (or even each year) rebuying the same tools over again.
Dewalt has a 3 year limited warranty, in which time they will repair the tool if you send it to a service center. Turnaround time 10 to 15 days.
Hercules brushless tools have a 5 year warranty. The batteries are 3 years. The tool and batteries are replaced at the counter in the store. Turnaround time 10 to 15 minutes.
@ST-0311 wow! Sounds like a better deal to me! Even if they were the same price as a DeWalt!
I bought the 12v tools as well and I find myself reaching for them the most because they are smaller and lighter than the 20v tools. I feel that for woodworking you don’t need the bigger tools for most jobs. I would suggest doing a comparison video of 12v tools but Dewalt discontinued theirs. I do wish that Hercules would upgrade their 12v tools to brushless. Keep up the good work Matt I look forward to seeing your videos.
Thank you for your effort. I have been using the blue gear from Lowes, and the HF is only a half-mile down the road from Lowes. I'm not sure how I will proceed. Again, thank you for all the work. Many of us probably would have almost as much fun trying to compare HF vs. our regular gear. Nicely presented.
The best thing about the Harbor Freight tools is the warranty. You get to replace your tools for free every two years as long as you have the warranty. You can also replace the tool as many times as needed during that 2 years.
Enjoyed the video. Really surprised by these results
Thanks for this great video. I’m going to be looking for a hercules/dewalt battery adapter.
The Hercules may be running warmer because your hand is covering the vent for the fan.
I was going to say the same thing. He is covering the vents with his hand.
The vent being at the back on the Hercules keeps it from pulling in dust/dirt and throwing it all over the electronics like the Dewalt does.
HF also has a 3 year warranty on the battery, 5 year warranty on the drill breaks or what ever walk into HF and walk out with a new one
Nice!
That's the best thing with the Hercules line the exchange warranty, VS having to wait for a company to either fix your broken tool, or deny the warranty and then you are stuck all that time without the tool for work. Even the Pittsburgh hand tools have a lifetime warranty, as does the Icon line, I think the Quinn stuff might have a lifetime warranty as well but not sure.
I’ll start by saying I’m a Milwaukee exclusive user. HF does make pretty good stuff and although doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of marketing and sponsorship deals, their tools lately JUST WORK!!! As for your overheating issue on batteries, if the batteries inside aren’t damaged, you can jump start them by connecting to another good battery for 5 minutes, then remove and place in charger. Have been doing it for years in batteries others believe they’ve toasted. Works all the time.
Unless you have a dead cell in it like mine.
I appreciate your honesty, my Harbor freight tools are great for the money. I like DeWalt tools but can't afford the price, especially the batteries. I have not had any problems with my Harbor freight batteries. I quit buying Ryobi because of their batteries failed and they were all 4 amps. After 3 failed right out of the box, I'm done with Ryobi. I'll keep what I got but will never shop anything else in that line. And why would anyone buy Ryobi HP line, better off with any other line of tools.
after going thru two expensive corded Dremel tools, I decided to take a chance on the Bauer cordless version and I must say I like it a lot better. It's been over a year of using it now and it's still holding up and comes in handy for a lot of uses. It's especially good that it's cordless and easy to charge. you just hook a wire to the tool. No battery to remove. comes with a nice case too. i'll be exploring more HF tools in the future, since batteries for name brands are over $100 each and it seems like you have to buy a charger with it every time. Can't they just sell the batteries???
Great video MP. I was surprised with the results. I am still trapped in the ryobi 18 v phase. It would cost me a slight fortune(bc I have so many of the line) to switch brands now but good to know about the Hercules products. I may have to get the battery / charger and grease gun. :)
Oh yea, just know you have options when your others start needing replaced.
The Hercules thickness planer is great and so much cheaper than the Dewalt!
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Hercules thickness planer.
I'm just a diy guy but I own all the Bauer and Hercules tools and about a dozen batteries. They are good for the money. I really don't like the Hercules 7 1/4 circ saw but they took it back and I like the 6. 1/2 circ saw, the blade is on the left side and easily can see the line your cutting. Bauer 6 1/2 circ saw is great, it's lite and easy to use. It's not a power house but it works. I really don't need anything
Because I have 2 and 3 of all the cordless tools. If my Bauer drill is not working good enough then I reach for the Hercules. I bought most of my tools for half price with the free tool deals. So a lot of my tools cost 40. Or less. Try that with DeWalt or Milwaukee. Forget about it! LMAO 😂
Great video . Would be great if you compared Hercules planer against dewalt planer. Thanks
I have the Hercules planer, it works great, can't beat the price...Dewalt wants about 2x more money and it does the same thing, it makes thicker boards thinner. They do have a spiral cutter head option for the Dewalt but that also increases the already higher price of the Dewalt....I wish someone would release a spiral cutter head for the Hercules planer. I know the Hercules planer has a 3 knife cutter head, I cannot remember if the Dewalt is as well, I believe it is though....the biggest issue with both planers, and most other planers is dust/chip collection, the chute on my Hercules likes to clog up occasionally, but as far as operation, the Hercules planer does a great job and seems to have plenty of power.
Test the harbor freight surface planer. I've been thinking about getting one but still not sure since it's not a name brand
Adapters available on Amazon to use HF batteries on DW tools and vice versa.
I loved how the miter saw cut and the led light was great.. it didnt jump as much as the DeWalt. BUT the dust collection was abysmal
Please don't turn into "this tool vs this tool" or "tool review" channel. I love watching your Sunday morning builds. Reminds me growing up with "This Old House"
Agreed
Also agree!
Agreed
I found it helpful
Agree
I have went with Hercules on a bunch of their tools. The batteries are overall better than most, and the 4/8/12 amp hour batteries use 21700 Samsung cells versus 18650 Samsung cells. The cordless angle grinder and the other tools that require a 5 amp hour excel with an 8 ah or 12 ah. The balance is fantastic. The drill driver is one of my least liked tools for a specific reason: the all metal chuck can unlock itself from the sheer momentum
I am very glad you did that ... We both know you stepped on some toes with it ... The HD yellows vs the HF blues vs the HF reds now ... On down the line .... Each with it's own different battery voltage and tool connection and that's the part that hooks the buyers ... What needs to happen is all the tools can run on in the same battery no one would really ever notice a 6amp hour 18 volt over a 4amp hour 20 volt ... And the internal tool electronics could be made to handle it ... But they just don't click on the tool because the battery is the hook ... DC batteries drop so low under a load it is a bit scary really the 20V/4Ahr and the 18V/6Ahr both starting at a 10% difference probably both drop to around the same maybe 13V under a load ... Voltage, current, and battery resistance is really all that matters ... It's the battery case that's the hook
There are adapters. I bought a Ryobi tool on sale and an adapter on Amzon for my Dewalt battery. I don't run it a ton, but for a seldom used tool.
Good information I've been scared to invest in a new battery line. But I think I would go with Hercules as a contender. For the price, maybe some of these tool companies will get their prices more affordable and quality. God bless!
I have a Hercules table saw that's a few years old. Mine has a rack & pinion fence (which I really like), the new model doesn't. My problem is that the riving knife no longer lines up with the blade - it is leaning over to the left just enough that the wood catches on it. I messed with the mount trying to get it adjusted but no luck. Having to reach over a spinning blade to nudge the wood & get it to pass the riving knife is risky at best - a safety feature shouldn't cause danger. I removed the entire riving knife assembly from my saw, which means I now don't have a blade guard or anti-kickback pawls because both of those mount to the riving knife. Fortunately, I do have the Bow fence along with the featherboards, so I have those for safety.
There is an adjustment for the knife underneath the table, just use an Allen wrench to adjust
Cool video, 15% markup incoming, sincerely.
I bought the Hercules plunge router which is virtually identical to the Skil plunge router and I love it. And Skil has made some pretty good saws here lately I have the Skil job site table saw and the Dual bevel sliding miter saw and love them as well.
Good video and info... I'm still a Dewalt gal... however, it's a good option to have.
Blessings
It is. Thanks for watching
I love your builds and enjoy the reviews. Keep up the good work.
I would like to see you test their dust extraction machine.
Very informative. Good review. But please stay with your craftsmanship on builds. Would like to see your take on the cocktail smokers. The way you look and digest things this would be very interesting to see. Great job though.
Could you test the Hercules router bits?
I was just in Harbir Freight this afternoon, looking for a new table saw
I noticed that you covered the fan in the Hercules I'm sure it was just natural but wondered if that had something to do with it getting hit. Dewalt fan but thought I'd point that out?
New to the channel. I did come for the wood working, but I am interested in these HF cordless reviews. I have been contemplating who to go with for cordless. The cost makes me hesitate.
As a "home user/hobbyist' this was a helpful review.