im 38 single dad. starting over, again. and frankly harbor freight has been amazing. hercules stuff is great. icons great. us general. even pittsburgh aint bad. but im a big nerd and like to min-max everything i do specialy if im spending my hard earned money on it. and i too have not regretted my descions of going with the top tier stuff at HF!
pittsburg tools are great tools as well as kobalt hand tools which are of similar price and warranty and quality being that I can just walk in. I have abused pittsburgh sockets and hand tools and my only issue has been with impact extensions and adapters which is funny I have only broken them with breaker bars lol not a impact.
I bought Pittsburg screw drivers, wrenches, pry bars for work. It isn’t heavy duty stuff, but I use them a lot. And I’m really happy with them. I’ve spent under 80 bucks for all that and other guys have spent hundreds for the same tools. However I do agree about the pliers and stuff. They weren’t good at all
I used to work on Toyota and now work on school buses all day long and my Hercules and Kobalt tools get me through just fine. Haven’t needed a tool truck in many years.
The tool guy got me into Milwaukee back in 2016. We were prepping for a blizzard, he showed up at the right time and demo’ed the shit out of the all new Milwaukee 1/2” impact. We pulled several dump truck wheels off as well as several 1 ton wheels off with that gun. I bought the kit that day. I worked the entire blizzard using that gun for everything. After that, I was into that battery ecosystem and I’ve never looked back.
There was nothing like Milwaukee back then for the price. The odd Bosch drill would match them here and there, since they make most the parts in Milwaukee tool anyway.. but that was about it unless you wanted to buy a $600+ Hilti/Metabo for just the drill and there batteries back then cost at least X2 a Milwaukee battery. Anyway, can't go wrong with them unless you want to go cheap lol
I'd say, if you're buying your first cordless tools, go with Hercules, especially if there's a HF in town. If you already have DeWalt or Milwaukee tools and chargers, your probably best keeping a matched collection. I just bought the Hercules 3/4" ultra....... $82 from their returned shelf. Regularly it's $200, tool only. This returned item had no signs of ever having a battery or socket installed. It looked like someone had purchased it, discovered it was a 3/4" drive, put it back in the box and took it back. I just watched a video where a guy removed all the lug nuts off of a log truck..... zipped em off effortlessly. It's definitely no toy. .......now, as a home owner.... ant owner of a Chevy S10, did I really need this 1600 ft lb monster? .....oh 'cmon, it was $82 🤣🤣🤣 Pinion nut? Lag bolts? Honda balancer bolt? 🤣 Yea, some day I'll use it. Even as a returned item, the manager informed it still carries the full 5 year warranty. I had already started my Hercules collection, otherwise I wouldn't have snapped it up. Go with what you already have is probably the best way.
As a diesel mechanic thst uses tools everyday. Im completely sold on the Hercules line. I love the impacts and ratcheting wrench. Ive dropped these tools in coolant, oil, and fuel and they still keep performing
I've always said this when dealing with "tool snobs" - If I can do the same job with a $5 screwdriver that you need a $20 screwdriver to do... one of us should not be using tools.
I had all my tools stolen (my power tools were DeWalts) and then found myself in a situation where I got a job that required I have my own tools. Went to Harbor Freight and these Hercules tools saved my job, honestly. Affordable and they're good quality. I've abused the 1/2" high torque impact to hell and back and it keeps working. Can't say the hand tools I had to get held up, replacing those with tool truck and Gearwrench stuff, but the Hercules I'm comfortable sticking with. Not having to wait a week to warranty something is a bonus too, even though I haven't had to warranty anything in the six months I've been using them every day.
Interestingly enough, back in the day when my 18 volt dewalts were brand new, i stuck a multimeter on one and found the new 18 volt nicads had 30 volts of charge on them! I was then able to reliably gauge the actual life left on them after charging as the voltages dropped off steadily over repeated chargings. The packaging said they could be recharged "Hundreds of times" but 100 to 150 maximum was closer to the truth- about six months worth or so to this sheet metal worker.
I have the Ridgid line. Lifetime on the tool and battery if registered within 30 days. I just had a 3 year old oscillating multi tool repaired free. The on/off switch was broke. I tried to super glue it. It worked twice and broke so I sent it in. They say they will have it back to you within 14 days and I received a week later. Pricier than HF Bauer/Hercules, but I'm highly satisfied. I do buy HF hand tools. ALL of my hand tools are from HF.
The Hercules line has been working out well for me. I keep adding tools and batteries when there is a good sale which Harbor Freight seems to have often.
Ive been loving mine the most used tool of mine would be their brushed 12v 1/4 anvil impact, I have about almost a year and a half of useage on it of taking off doors and body panels on cars and maan that thing is amazing it hasent skipped a beat sense I got it. the only complaint I got is that its brushed I would kill for a brushless version of most of their 12v line
The Herc 20V impact driver was my first cordless mechanic's tool (vs. cordless drills for mostly wood and house work), and it's been a great tool. I've used it repeatedly on big rig trucks, and for changing out parts on my pickup truck. Lately been using it on a medium-duty truck for bolts from 10mm to 14mm. Just recently bought the Herc reciprocating cutter for cuts I needed to go straight down into, and it worked.
I got into the Hercules system back in 2018 because I wanted a good quality but cheap cordless drill to carry in the camper. The new Hercules drill absolutely blew away my dearly loved DeWalt drill that I had at the time. 100% Hercules ever since. Saws, impacts, vacuum's, you name it... everything Herc has been 100%. Absolutely no complaints with anything.
When I went to buy my first tool from harbor freight I had the choice of Bauer or Hercules, The Hercules felts SUPER slow and low on power with the in store model they had on display with a full battery. The Bauer hit twice as hard and twice as fast. I ended up going with Bauer and I've been happy with them. While they might be a little slower to get newer stuff out the brushless stuff they have out and even the brushed stuff is still VERY good. I've got a brushed 1/4 inch impact and regular style Sawzall. The impact has taken apart 90% of my Jetta when I was building its TDI and even took a few dunks in a pool of antifreeze, the Sawzall has torn down whole 5th Wheel campers with no issues and was even left in the rain. I've since picked up a lot of the brushless stuff and its even better and stronger. One handed brushless Sawzall rips thru anything I've thrown at it, 1/2 inch impact takes semi lugs off no issues, and the drill mixed 20 or so bags of concrete back to back no issues. Also picked up the 6 1/2 inch circular saw and that thing is a little beast, put a good Spyder demo blade on it and it tore thru plywood with nails and aluminum ducting on it no issues.
My experience with Ryobi is overwhelmingly positive. Especially when my brother in law got upset my half inch impact got lug nuts off faster than his Milwaukee, could have been operator error to be fair to the tools. 😂
I have Ryobi and I have no complaints at all. I love the variety really, I have a small power adapter, a drill, a 1/4 inch driver, a 5 1/4" circular saw, a light, a weed whacker, a blower, an edger, and a 1/2" impact. All uses the same 18v battery. Though I bought some after market bigger batteries, because it was cheaper and I have no complaints with those batteries either (I actually use those batteries the most).
I bought into Ryobi almost 25 years ago mainly because they were the first to use the same battery across the line of tools. My first purchase was a circular saw and a 3/8 impact driver. I still have and use both of them this was before their green tool line came out.
@@corydriver7634 Yup my light and little circular saw are not green, in fact found them on the side of the road with a bad battery between them. Both work great still.
And that’s without any deals form HF for Hercules. The 2 for $99 is a godsend! I have 2-standard 12/20V chargers from the 5-AH Battery and charger kits that I got a free tool with for $99 each kit on Ohio’s tax free week. I got one with the 7-1/4” circular saw and the other with the 1/4 inch impact driver. I got the 1/2 inch high torque long anvil impact and the 8-AH battery for $99 during Ohio’s tax free week. Got their hammer drill and another 8-AH battery for another $99. Then I got 2x 8-AH batteries for another $99 Total spent: $517.94
I went with Ridgid years ago because I was doing more carpentry / handyman work at the time and it was just smarter of a decision rather than going Red at the time. I have stuck with the 18v Ridgid and their lineup has grown over the years.. I have 14 4ah Ridgid 18v batteries that are all 7 years old now and they still ALL work just like they're still new. So.. to me, that made my decision back then worth it. I did have someone give me 2 broken Milwaukee 12v (pencil battery) small impact guns and a battery, was gifted a Milwaukee 12v jacket with a 3.0 battery so I do have a couple of those, but I'm actually really quite satisfied with my Ridgid. (Ryobi Ridgid and Milwaukee are from the same parent company. I'm just glad Ridgid has a real heavy duty high torque impact driver and they have the 18v ratchet with the extended reach - tool only for 149, can't beat that! (it's just like the Dewalt one)
I have 5 Hercules tools: 20v 1/4" impact driver, drill, circular saw, and hand held shop vac and a 12v 3/8 impact. I have 2 chargers. I've had the impact and drill for at least 5 years and been thrilled with them. The impact driver has seen lots of use and never a hitch. I will be adding the high torque 1/2" impact and a 12ah battery soon.
I like Harbor Freight for stuff that me or my kids tend to lose (10mm sockets) and unique tools like larger Metric Sockets and extensions. I like that you have used the Hercules tools and have shared with us your experience. I will lean towards those if I buy new, buying used or at a pawn shop is a good thing at times.
I am using Ryobi because we don’t have Harbor Freight in Canada. No issues. The brushless 1/2-inch impact gun is incredible with the high performance batteries. The Milwaukee might be stronger, but for the amount I use the stuff, the extra expense makes no sense.
Got a set of Drilll/Impact Bosh power tools from my fatherinlaw my first Christmas with the family. Best tool for the job is the one's you have on hand. Don't think these videos get enough appreciation. Thanks for the content!
Good video, quick comment. You mention a difference of 20v on some to 18v on another. The 20v tools are 20v Max, the 18v tools are 18v Nominal. The milwaukee is also 20v Max, both the DeWalt and Hercules are also 18v Nominal. Hope this helps/makes sense. All three battery platforms run at the same spec.
@@TheQuestionableGarageDeWALT was probably trying to differentiate between their 18v lithium and 18v NiCd lines. The NiCd line was already named after the nominal 18v voltages so they named the newer line after the maximum voltage for 5S lithium ion: “20V Max” though they actually charge closer to 21v max. Of course, that opened the floodgates to many competing 18v tool lines pulling a DeWALT and calling their tools “20 volt” too.
Yeah, the 18/20V thing is nothing but marketing gibberish. But if it made that much difference, people would flock to the Kobalt 24V stuff. Not that I have any problem with those tools other than I don't own any.
Used to have access to buying Dewalt batteries from a warranty center. Could get brand new batteries for about 25% of retail. Tools were very reasonable as well. Those were the days!
With a 3D printer, I was able to create a batter adapter that uses a Milwalkee 18v battery into any Bauer powertool. In my case, I have Bauer trim router. But I can find and print pretty much any type batter adapter to any brand of tool. Granted that is not for everyone but for less than $10 and about an hour of time I can create any battery adapter.
I would add direct tools sells ryobi and ridgid so you can buy refurbished or blemish tools for cheaper. Also if you find a cool knock off brand tool it'll probably work for Dewalt, Milwaukee, or makita. You can always buy some knock off batteries for those tools but something to think about for those looking into their 1st power tool brand
This is something I’ve been waiting on. I am so sick of buying Milwaukee batteries. They break. The tools are great. The batteries suck. I’m transitioning to Hercules.
@@benholler1389 I didn’t have problems till about two years ago. I have pulled batteries out of my toolbox and the bottom part just fall off. I have one of the brand new six amp power batteries that’s less than six months old. The problem, however, is more with their 12 V stuff, every time I see another TH-camr using them they are being held together with duct tape
I think the Ryobi line of tools would be more comparable to the Hercules tools. The Ryobi line is absolutely huge. For the home gamer, I think Ryobi would be fine.
I didn’t include them as I don’t have a lot of experience. I know @agingwheels loves his, as do our Mighty Car Mod friends, I went to compare the three I did because of how plentiful they are throughout the us.
Been using them for everything for 10 years. Even expanded to their 40 volt line for a lot of my yard care tools. Helps I have a Home Depot under 2 miles from my house.
I've been a Ryobi man for a long time; I've not had a tool fail and have not had issues with the 18v lithium batteries. My biggest issue traditionally with HF power tools over the years, especially on the low end, has been fit, finish, and ergonomics; the Hercules tools does look to be an improvement over HF's older stuff.
Love my 25 years with Ryobi. I also picked up the cheap DrillMaster 18v NiCad jigsaw, drill and impact about 12 years ago. Can't get batteries for them now. They changed to Warior a few years ago with LIon batteries. I found i could modify the tool to accept the new battery version. It takes some work to get it done but I finally have them working again.
There's no comparison to be made between the old HF stuff, and Hercules. Herc is right up there with Big Red and Big Yellow, and 1/3 the price. And the Hercules warranty blows them both out of the water.
The Hercules warranty is awesome. Never had issues. I’ve gotten a new driver kit just cuz the battery messed up. A new 1/2 impact and batteries. No questions asked and no BS. Can do that with Milwaukee or dewalt
If you need a special tool, there are battery adapters you can purchase that work fine. I have a lot of milwaukee STYLE batteries that charge on my milwaukee charger, and a BAUR adapter that fits the milwaukeee STYLE battery onto the Baur tool and works fine. Just another option out there for you to use.
I bought my very first electric power tool today and it's the Hercules 1/2 inch 20v impact. I look forward to using it on a front bumper DIY project tomorrow. It was this video that swayed me. Thanks!
I bought several different battery powered drills and many times by the time I needed to replace the battery they had changed the design and it was cheaper to buy a new combo kit. I friend convinced me to start buying Ridgid tools. I’ve been very happy with them and I had to send in the 3/8” angle drill because the chuck stopped locking. It took 2 tries because they didn’t understand about it not locking but they did the shipping both times. I now carry a 1/2” impact driver in my pickup truck.
The trusty old makita 9.6 volt drill was the go to drill in the trades in the 1970's- I was there doing sheet metal installs with it all day, every day. More buildings were built with this tool than all the others combined, then. I'm glad to see the dewalt 18 v cordless four packs now get the lithium ion batteries- my first four packs had the ni cads and were useless without running two chargers at a time and also with two extra $100 dollar each nicads to keep me fully powered all day long.
@@StephensPenTurnings I bought a house and they left a bunch of old power tools and one of them was the Makita 9.6 and it still works, the battery just doesn’t last long.
I bought into the ryobi early. Now I have way too many, but I use them a lot. I had dewalt, but when the batteries died I could get the ryobi starter kit with the same amp hour batteries and 4 tools. I went ryobi.
Exactly my experience 25 years ago. Still have my original tools and only burned up one drill. A full set replacement was cheaper than buying batteries alone. Now have over 50 Ryobi one+ in my collection.
Hercules has been awesome! My buddies that have Milwaukee and tool truck offerings, they want to make the switch. If Hercules made a stubby impact like the Milwaukee, it would be game over.
Agree on that, the batteries make the cordless tool. Somehow the old Sears/Craftsman NiMH drill a buddy has is still kicking to this day! Certainly was wishing the Makita batteries were better. Over where we are, the easiest genuine brand to get would be Makita. One specialist tool center sells Milwaukee, AEG, DeWalt, Ryobi, Bosch and perhaps other brands I don't remember or even know. I definitely wish there's a Harbor Freight here...or better, I should move to somewhere that has one nearby! I can surely use some tools, much more a cordless die grinder of sorts! Quick note on battery voltages: Typical Lithium-ion batteries are charged to 4.2 volts, and is shipped from the factory at 3.6 or 3.7 volts. With that in mind, an "18v" battery is 3.6 x 5 cells. "20v" or "21v" is the same number, just charged up (4.2 x 5). "12v" is usually 4.2 x 3 cells, 12.6 volts. "40v" is just basically doubling the "20v". For NiCd or NiMH, basically divide the voltage by 1.2 and you get how many cells are in there! Unfortunately that does make it a bit difficult converting those tools to lithium, there is a need for extra electronics for protection and a different charger must be used.
I've been using the 20V Hercules tools for a little over the last year and they've been great. I've never had to use the warranty, but I do know that anything that says "brushless" in the Hercules line is a 5 year warranty. If it doesn't say that, it's a 90 day warranty and as Jared said, the batteries and charger are a 3 year warranty. All purchase information is conveniently stored on my HF account, so no storing receipts. As for the 12V stuff, the thing I really wanted was the ratchet, but they are not brushless,so they don't get the good warranty. I ended up going with the Skil 12V PWRCORE ratchet and impact driver which both come with a 5 year warranty and cost pretty similarly to the Hercules stuff. I haven't even found a need to get a 3/8" impact gun because the impact driver with a stubby socket adapter has proven not only more compact, but more than sufficient for anything I've asked of it. I can very much recommend either of those lines of tools without reservation.
I’m a metal worker, I build barndos. We use ridged and Milwaukee- provided by the main contractor. I recently bought into hercules, impact and drill plus grinder. Everyone I’ve let use them prefer them over Milwaukee! Between ridged and hercules it was a close tie between which one my coworkers would pick up first.
I’ve used my tiny little Hercules hex impact and it’s perfect for all my motorcycles and I’ve even used it on some more serious bolts and 9/10 it’s plenty powerful enough.
Great video, good advice, and entertaining. For anyone looking at the Home Depot weekly emails, I've gone down the Ryobi rabbit hole, and overall, they're fine for a garage mechanic, the older cordless impact leaves a bit of umph to be desired, vs my plug in electric, but can break anything thats not ugga dugga'd in place. The Sawzall does a great job eliminating northern rust monsters, as well as unwanted shrubs/trees/roots where I'm digging. And the rest of the tools are down right good values. Otherwise, because I do more wood working, and finish work, I'm very happy with the neon green team. Just my 2 cents, I am fully prepared to be mocked, and belittled.
Here is your mocking and belittling comment. Ryobi sucks... when it comes to palm sanders. Just sharing this as hopefully a helpful tip. My dad does a lot of hobby woodworking in his retirement days and is a mixed bag of Ryobi, Rigid and HF. I used his Ryobi palm sander working on a project with him and thought my teeth were going to rattle loose. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about Ryobi so no judgement here. If you can deal with the cord, just get a decent corded one and save your hands.
@@NJVernick1 Yeah, I have the corded sander (it is almost at its end after multiple garden beds, and 3 kitchen remodels), because I don't need to carry that weight around while finish sanding wood.
No mocking here. I went down Ryobi's rabbit hole as well. The huge problem now, is Ryobi is being treated like Milwaukee by fan Bois. Seriously. What in the living hell now? It's Ryobi, I should not be seeing comments about a new Ryobibtool, that's as much as Milwaukee also made by TTI and being OK with the full price. I mean, for crying out loud, the ryobi stick vacuum is near the price of the of a Dyson. Sure you can pay half and get a $200 ryoni stick vacuum, but it's not anywhere near the $400 stick vac that's only 30% stronger. But hey, it's green, take our green money! I was anti harbor freight cordless stuff because Ryobi was beating them in specs and price. But again, Ryobi is charging like double, so paying slightly more than old prices, but less than current Ryobi prices, for hercules it now makes sense. Good job TTI, you destroyed the only good everyday person brand you had. Those fanatics will come down from their fever high and your going in the clearance bin. Your stupid stick battery is not worth it anymore, stupidly bulky for no darn reason. Easy to deal with for cheap tools, but not worth it at all when you are trying to sell garbage at vanity prices.
Ive been a makita guy forever, thats what I have at work for decades. They've only recently started getting into automotive tools, I have their power ratchet, its nice because it both has 3/8 and 1/4 heads. As far as batteries 18v and 20 v are the same. Same cell count, just different methods of rating them. Peak vs mean voltage. The 18v stuff was around before brands like DeWalt started putting 20v on their tools to make them sound better. I think the best things out there are the battery brand adapters. I recently picked up a bauer 3in cut off tool and a makita adapter to run my Makita batteries. 1 thing I do like about makita over other brands is they have the lithium protection circuitry built into the battery not the tool, so if you were to damage a tool, or say use it off brand, theres no worry of over discharge and battery damage
I started with Rigid many years ago when I was a carpenter for a major exterminating company and have abused them dropping the off top of houses multiple times. I do wish they had a bigger tool selection but they are coming around. As always great video enjoyed it.
Never had an issue when buying MKE, DW, etc from box stores, too many fakes online. One of the major TH-cam tool testers did some deep dives and most of the Herc stuff was comparable to first generation MKE internals. Been through them all since the and my first Makita with non-swappable batteries and now on MKE Fuel, won't ever go back. Economy of scale and need to attract repeat customers are major reasons the HF products continue to evolve, because you can't grow on low price and low quality alone- Hyundai prime example, far from the disposable cars of the 1980s when they first hit the shores here, still wouldn't consider them Honda or Toyota quality, but far above where they once were. As mentioned early in the video, the ecosystem and minimizing who's batteries you want to live with is just as important as any cordless tool decision. Good insight and obviously real world experience from jobs big and small.
I'm fortunate enough to get a yearly tool allowance to purchase my own tools. We also have a tool room that the company has that carries the yellow and red power tools that we can check out at anytime, industrial maintenance setting. Still we have over 20 acers under roof and I bought a Ryobi set(impact driver and hammer drill)to keep in my tool chest as not to walk all the way to the tool room. I was really impressed with the Ryobi and could work just as hard as the yellow and red brand, not as compact or light though. I'm getting ready to go pick up the Hercules impact driver and hammer drill set this week. Thanks for the review.
Love the review! Good to hear real use reviews from you. If you're not in a hurry you can bring that DeWalt price way down. As an example I've got the DeWalt recip saw kit and only paid $149 from an authorized retailer. If I weren't in the DeWalt line I'd consider Hercules.
Hello again. Jared Thank you for another Great Video 👍 I enjoyed watching tonight's video. I started with air tools and transition to the 12- volt Hitachi brush tools. Overall I thought they were good tools. But I found that they were not strong enough to do everything. About two weeks ago I bought the M12 combo kit from Home Depot. I haven't used them yet. I do have projects that they will be used. I would have bought the Hercules tools if they had a version of the Insider Ratchet. Quite frankly I am surprised that Harbor Freight hasn't put one out. It seems that Tool Company's steal from one another. 🤔 Again thank you
Im now a semiretired HVAC&R contractor and now an avid woodworker. A small note the DeWalt and others are 20v max are actually 18 v at running. I’m a Milwaukee fanboy for over 40 years and went through too many cordless tools from many brands. Just need to replace/upgrade my cordless tools, went with Milwaukee they are a bit overpriced, huge verity of tools (many for woodworking) and mostly top quality, but not like the older corded ones more failures and a pain for warranty as it is 4+ hours to the nearest service center. I have some old blue Ryobi cordless tools that still work. DeWalt sells an adapter for the old tools.
Very informative and helpful video, Jared! Your positive experiences with HF tools and honest reviews have certainly made me much more likely to consider buying them. Thanks for providing me (and many others, I suspect) with some really useful insights! Keep up the great work! P.S. Nice work with the price comparison graphics, Editor Duane! I missed the awesome tunes, but I understand they’re not appropriate for such a knowledge intensive video.
Appreciate your perspective! Every bauer battery the shop i work at stopped working. Maybe it was the inconsistent use or it was the lowest tier batt but all the Ryobi batteries are still working fine. I think the bauer tools have worked just fine though.
I went to kobalt for this reason. I started with Milwaukee drill driver combo with two 1.5 amp hour battery. Wanted to add on to the line with a 1/2 impact and the price plus going from a dual to a single hammer impact for the price wasn’t worth it for me. So ended up going kobalt xtr for 259 with one 4 amp max output and got a free xtr sawzall has always worked well for me now I got over 10 tools in the line with 10 batteries and been working great for me from garage and household tools plus outdoor power tools. Plus with their deals 2 4 amp batteries and a charger for 149 and get a free tool really helps.
There's another thing to be careful of - Big stores can sometimes convince tool brands to make lesser models for them to sell cheaper. When I was starting out I looked at what tools the older guys were using, and spoke to a bunch of them, and the going opinion was that "Time is money so I bought DeWalt" I did and haven't been disappointed at all, 1/2" and screwdriver impacts, drills, sawsall etc have been great.
I've been having fantastic luck with Hercules and Ryobi the last few years. They do everything I want and more, whether I am working on my car or in my wood shop. I do have a rule though, If I buy the H/R tool and I use it enough to break it, then the replacement is a higher quality one from Makita (or an equivalent if Makita does not make one). I don't waste money on something I won't use enough, but I don't waste money buying lots of things I use a lot. That said, Hercules and Ryobi are doing some really cool stuff and trying things the big brands won't touch. I like that and want to see more of it.
That’s the difficult question, you are down one brand, it’s hard to justify starting over and I’m a big fan of trying to keep just one, but sometimes that doesn’t work
Had the same dilemma with yellow. I bought Deals at HF to back up what was fading or tools I'd never been able to justify the cost. I won't buy anything else yellow new or used unless there's absolutely no other choice.
I agree with your reasoning. The key is to know what you actually need and buy accordingly. I predict that Harbor Freight will start adding tool trucks as their next venture.
I've been a DeWalt fanboy for 20 years.. Over the past year those batteries have finally died out (2nd or 3rd round) I've had a few of the Bauer tools recently to fill the need for tools in my shop, and at the house. I went all-in with more Bauer tools this summer and have been quite happy with the performance. Picked up the transfer pump, air inflator, and that silly wet/dry vac, and was more than impressed with that last purchase.
I started investing in the Hercules tools a little over a year ago. The Bauer stuff is okay but if you know harbor freight and sales prices of tools, you can often get Hercules for close to bauer MSRP. The warranty is way better (not because i have needed to warranty anything yet but its similar to the lifetime warranties they offer on handtools). The tools are great, my half inch ultra torque got a honda crank bolt off when a DeWalt couldn't (i think the dewalt was old). It's not a matter of which got the bolt out, the Hurcules stuff can keep up when it shouldn't considering it's priced similarly to Ryobi which doesn't.
technician for twenty five plus years Agree with you on the snap on. But if you buy the Milwaukee stuff off the trucks it's, it's much easier to get them replaced.
what i like about dewalt that's never talked about is the bright colour. you can find them easily in a busy work place, no wasting time searching. also there a lot of battery adapters out there to use one type of battery on different makes of tools.
I have a Dewault corded band saw. The rubber tracks turned to mush one day and gummed up the entire saw. New ones are available but it was a PITA to get it all cleaned up and the new ones installed.
I own alot of Milwaukee, alot of dewalt, also some craftsman but man the Hercules tools have been so good to me. Specially for the price i know the warranty is super good on it too but my tools havent let me down, i just added the big 1/2 impact "super torque" the thing is strong asf. I also have the little vaccum and the fan! I love the little fan i paid $30 i also have their polisher and circular saw
I have been in the dewalt platform for over 20 years. Is it the best? Not even close, was it the best for me at the time? Yes. Since I was in that platform I just stayed. Honestly it would take a lot for me to switch, that’s only because of the investment I already have. Now if another tool company traded me tool for tool and battery. I would switch. If I was just starting out? Harbor freight here I come
For me also. 20ish years ago we had a Lowe's almost next door to the fixer upper we just bought. Craftsman was still at Sears, Kobalt had not been conceived yet and DeWalt was king of the commercials. Over a year ago I bought into Bauer needing a tool Hercules didn't have any DeWalt wanted over 3 times the price for. It started with BUYING the tool I needed with a battery and a charger (since the adapter I bought wouldn't let me use my yellow batteries) which included a free tool. Then I bought a second larger battery that came with a free charger and I still hadn't spent what I would've for the DeWalt tool. Since then I've bought into Hercules also and haven't had any problems or regrets. As my DeWalt tools fail I'll replace them with blue or red from HF.
Bauer brand from harbor freight has been amazing believe it or not. I beat the living hell out on my 1/2 impact and drill are still alive and kicking..
I mainly use Ryobi and Hercules. The Ryobi because they had a sweet system deal and I love the color. I like the feel of the tools and they do what I want. I started using the Hercules because of the pricing. I hate the color. The feel is okay. They do what I want. For me, it boils down to how often will I use the tool and then the cost. I have a full size Ryobi recip and small Hercules recip.
It's very simple. Take whatever decent brand has the overall type of tools you need. That's great that Milwaukee has the best stuff for automotive use, but if 1/2 of your use of house stuff, they aren't as good for that. And since you want to avoid multiple battery types, pick what is best for your total use case. For me, I had to go yellow, as Dewalt had the stuff I needed. Battery powered jig saw, circular saw, Oscillating tool, etc. But yet they also have 1/4 and 1/2" impacts I use all the time (1/2" is a bit weak, sadly), 1/2 in ratchet driver, etc. They also had the cheapest powered PEX-A expander, which I needed to do some plumbing additions in the house. But if you turning wrenches in your 1-car garage in an apartment, Dewalt isn't the brand I would choose. If I'm running a shop turning wrenches all day, I'm not going yellow either.
I have a Hercules drill and batteries w/charger that are about 9 years old and is still working perfectly! This drill has been used HARD too, not a shelf queen. I will continue to buy Hercules and the fact the HF stores are conveniently located is also a plus!
I should also add that as far as being dropped thirty feet onto concrete pads is concerned, only the older makitas could survive the fall and still be functional- they tended to break or crack at the top of the grip, where duct tape wraps could hold them together long enough to finish the day's work out. Dewalt was a close second, but both times each drill an xrp 18v and later a 14.4 hammer drill both lost whichever gear they happened to be in when they fell- the other gears still worked, however, andf again, duct tape sufficed to let them both finish out the day! Now, drop a milwaukee even just 20 feet onto the pad, and you are done for the day.- unless you have the cash and there is a home depot or other hardware store nearby.
Personally I'm a RIDGID fan but with all the new tech out now I could see going with Hercules or even Hart for at home use. I started with RIDGID in my old factory job and stay because I'm already invested with chargers and batteries for them. Starting over or even helping my son start his collection I tell him to look at his needs, use, and price range. Big brand isn't always the best for price versus intended use.
Due to the fact that I use my tools for wood, home, and auto I have been in the Dewalt ecosystem mostly for years. I do have a craftsman battery ratchet that I love. I may invest in some Hercules eventually but the dealt had done me well overall.
DIY here. I have "Red", "Yellow", "Light Green", and "Blue" (Hercules). Yep. and I buy what I need, that provides the best performance, for the right price, and with a good warranty. p.s. Moving mostly to "BLUE".
Being a homegamer had to go with the Bauer line, due to the lack of variety. Hercules is just now going to release a cordless jigsaw. The only bauer tool had an issue with was the brushed circular saw. It was gutless.
Hi Jared nice video 📹 and workmanship!!! The tools 🔧 were good !!! I worked with Milwaukee Bufffers all tool need the number speed locator !!! Even for special ed speed
When I finally decided to commit to a single battery ecosystem, I (home garage DIY guy) decided on Bauer- the "better" of HF's "good" (Warrior)- "better" (Bauer)- "best" (Hercules) lines. I bought a cordless drill, impact driver, palm sander, jigsaw, leaf blower and shop blower. Later on I added a 3/8" impact wrench. The tools are "ok"- not great. My neighbor had a Ryobi 3/8" impact wrench which I borrowed to compare with my Bauer- blew it away. I've added a bunch of Ryobi tools, batteries and a 6-pot charger for the batteries. I do still use my Bauer leaf blower and shop blower- they are more than fine for my needs, and I added one of the new Bauer brushless 1/2" compact impact wrenches- it's much better than the old 3/8". I used it exclusively to upgrade the suspension on my Jeep TJ, rather than break out my super-heavy Ryobi 1/2" high-torque impact. It handled the job with no issues.
Corded/air tools are a must if you do a lot of work - drills, grinders, sanders. Cordless are really convenient, but do NOT buy the cheap batteries on eBay, etc. Project Farm showed how many of them are absolutely fake.
Giant gorilla... 🤣 I started out cordless life back in the early 90s with a makita drill. (I worked on theater sets.) The balance on that thing was atrocious. When someone walked in with a Craftsman we "snobs" all laughed at him, until we used it. No more bad balance and aching arms and wrists. For me the straw that broke the camel's back was trying to drive sheetrock screws into a ceiling with it. It went in the bin.... Never went back.
Love the Hercules line. Sadly a 10mm took out my impact driver!! Walked in (w/rest of kit) and walked out with replacement. Fast and easy warranty. HF can be a little strange about partial kit replacements. At least in my closest store.
You must be talking about a 🔫 because I don't see how the other could have done that to that impact unless it had a defect because that thing is a beast.
@@JohnnyRebLa Surprised me!! Was #7 of 8 10 mm holding down coils during a spark plug change. Think it was just a defective driver that made it past quality control. Replacement is running fine and hasn't looked twice at anything I've tried to remove.
i have the bauer 1/4 in hex compact driver i use on my car and so far its done everything i have thrown at it for my use, so for the bauer brand i recommend that for a home user in the garage
I just got DeWalt 12 volt tools, sawsall,drill and flash light and 2 little batteries and charger for 22 bucks at a yard sale. They worked so I got them. I'll probably sell them for double when I have a yard sale.Lmao! I don't need them and have all Bauer and Hercules tools. But I couldn't pass up a deal.
I personally have a couple of these tools in my favorite is the brushless impact driver because I have used it for many builds where I have put in hundreds of 3 inch wood screws
You can get close to Hercules pricing with Dewalt and Milwaukee if you buy, and take advantage of holiday sales and offers like on Labor Day weekend or Black Friday deals. There are also hacks where you can get a free battery or etc, that you may not need then, you return the battery. Comparison with the Hercules ultra torque would be the dcf900. Which is significantly more powerful. There is the dcf961 but that was just made to piss on Milwaukee gen 3 before it even came out, in bragging rights. A tool with actual vtec mode. 😂
im 38 single dad. starting over, again. and frankly harbor freight has been amazing. hercules stuff is great. icons great. us general. even pittsburgh aint bad. but im a big nerd and like to min-max everything i do specialy if im spending my hard earned money on it. and i too have not regretted my descions of going with the top tier stuff at HF!
watch ave / boltr. on real tool reviews.. old vids.. he,s in bc, kanakistan, ex engineer. funny as hell..even did his wifes dildo.. & dyson..
pittsburg tools are great tools as well as kobalt hand tools which are of similar price and warranty and quality being that I can just walk in. I have abused pittsburgh sockets and hand tools and my only issue has been with impact extensions and adapters which is funny I have only broken them with breaker bars lol not a impact.
Their sales are incredible on these tools, making them amazingly affordable.
Yup all those brands have been good to me too, I recently bought their "Quinn" impact set and I love it
I bought Pittsburg screw drivers, wrenches, pry bars for work. It isn’t heavy duty stuff, but I use them a lot. And I’m really happy with them. I’ve spent under 80 bucks for all that and other guys have spent hundreds for the same tools. However I do agree about the pliers and stuff. They weren’t good at all
I used to work on Toyota and now work on school buses all day long and my Hercules and Kobalt tools get me through just fine. Haven’t needed a tool truck in many years.
Same
Same here 2
The tool guy got me into Milwaukee back in 2016. We were prepping for a blizzard, he showed up at the right time and demo’ed the shit out of the all new Milwaukee 1/2” impact. We pulled several dump truck wheels off as well as several 1 ton wheels off with that gun. I bought the kit that day. I worked the entire blizzard using that gun for everything. After that, I was into that battery ecosystem and I’ve never looked back.
There was nothing like Milwaukee back then for the price. The odd Bosch drill would match them here and there, since they make most the parts in Milwaukee tool anyway.. but that was about it unless you wanted to buy a $600+ Hilti/Metabo for just the drill and there batteries back then cost at least X2 a Milwaukee battery. Anyway, can't go wrong with them unless you want to go cheap lol
I'd say, if you're buying your first cordless tools, go with Hercules, especially if there's a HF in town. If you already have DeWalt or Milwaukee tools and chargers, your probably best keeping a matched collection.
I just bought the Hercules 3/4" ultra....... $82 from their returned shelf. Regularly it's $200, tool only.
This returned item had no signs of ever having a battery or socket installed. It looked like someone had purchased it, discovered it was a 3/4" drive, put it back in the box and took it back.
I just watched a video where a guy removed all the lug nuts off of a log truck..... zipped em off effortlessly. It's definitely no toy.
.......now, as a home owner.... ant owner of a Chevy S10, did I really need this 1600 ft lb monster? .....oh 'cmon, it was $82 🤣🤣🤣
Pinion nut?
Lag bolts?
Honda balancer bolt? 🤣 Yea, some day I'll use it.
Even as a returned item, the manager informed it still carries the full 5 year warranty.
I had already started my Hercules collection, otherwise I wouldn't have snapped it up.
Go with what you already have is probably the best way.
As a diesel mechanic thst uses tools everyday. Im completely sold on the Hercules line. I love the impacts and ratcheting wrench. Ive dropped these tools in coolant, oil, and fuel and they still keep performing
I've always said this when dealing with "tool snobs" - If I can do the same job with a $5 screwdriver that you need a $20 screwdriver to do... one of us should not be using tools.
I had all my tools stolen (my power tools were DeWalts) and then found myself in a situation where I got a job that required I have my own tools. Went to Harbor Freight and these Hercules tools saved my job, honestly. Affordable and they're good quality. I've abused the 1/2" high torque impact to hell and back and it keeps working. Can't say the hand tools I had to get held up, replacing those with tool truck and Gearwrench stuff, but the Hercules I'm comfortable sticking with. Not having to wait a week to warranty something is a bonus too, even though I haven't had to warranty anything in the six months I've been using them every day.
Interestingly enough, back in the day when my 18 volt dewalts were brand new, i stuck a multimeter on one and found the new 18 volt nicads had 30 volts of charge on them! I was then able to reliably gauge the actual life left on them after charging as the voltages dropped off steadily over repeated chargings. The packaging said they could be recharged "Hundreds of times" but 100 to 150 maximum was closer to the truth- about six months worth or so to this sheet metal worker.
I have the Ridgid line. Lifetime on the tool and battery if registered within 30 days. I just had a 3 year old oscillating multi tool repaired free. The on/off switch was broke. I tried to super glue it. It worked twice and broke so I sent it in. They say they will have it back to you within 14 days and I received a week later. Pricier than HF Bauer/Hercules, but I'm highly satisfied. I do buy HF hand tools. ALL of my hand tools are from HF.
The Hercules line has been working out well for me. I keep adding tools and batteries when there is a good sale which Harbor Freight seems to have often.
Ive been loving mine the most used tool of mine would be their brushed 12v 1/4 anvil impact, I have about almost a year and a half of useage on it of taking off doors and body panels on cars and maan that thing is amazing it hasent skipped a beat sense I got it. the only complaint I got is that its brushed I would kill for a brushless version of most of their 12v line
The Herc 20V impact driver was my first cordless mechanic's tool (vs. cordless drills for mostly wood and house work), and it's been a great tool. I've used it repeatedly on big rig trucks, and for changing out parts on my pickup truck. Lately been using it on a medium-duty truck for bolts from 10mm to 14mm. Just recently bought the Herc reciprocating cutter for cuts I needed to go straight down into, and it worked.
17:45 that clutch dump comment - i lol'd until i was in literal tears cos i do it all the dang time! i'm still chuckling even right nw!! lololol
I got into the Hercules system back in 2018 because I wanted a good quality but cheap cordless drill to carry in the camper. The new Hercules drill absolutely blew away my dearly loved DeWalt drill that I had at the time. 100% Hercules ever since. Saws, impacts, vacuum's, you name it... everything Herc has been 100%. Absolutely no complaints with anything.
When I went to buy my first tool from harbor freight I had the choice of Bauer or Hercules, The Hercules felts SUPER slow and low on power with the in store model they had on display with a full battery. The Bauer hit twice as hard and twice as fast. I ended up going with Bauer and I've been happy with them. While they might be a little slower to get newer stuff out the brushless stuff they have out and even the brushed stuff is still VERY good. I've got a brushed 1/4 inch impact and regular style Sawzall. The impact has taken apart 90% of my Jetta when I was building its TDI and even took a few dunks in a pool of antifreeze, the Sawzall has torn down whole 5th Wheel campers with no issues and was even left in the rain. I've since picked up a lot of the brushless stuff and its even better and stronger. One handed brushless Sawzall rips thru anything I've thrown at it, 1/2 inch impact takes semi lugs off no issues, and the drill mixed 20 or so bags of concrete back to back no issues. Also picked up the 6 1/2 inch circular saw and that thing is a little beast, put a good Spyder demo blade on it and it tore thru plywood with nails and aluminum ducting on it no issues.
Lies 😅
My experience with Ryobi is overwhelmingly positive. Especially when my brother in law got upset my half inch impact got lug nuts off faster than his Milwaukee, could have been operator error to be fair to the tools. 😂
I have Ryobi and I have no complaints at all. I love the variety really, I have a small power adapter, a drill, a 1/4 inch driver, a 5 1/4" circular saw, a light, a weed whacker, a blower, an edger, and a 1/2" impact. All uses the same 18v battery. Though I bought some after market bigger batteries, because it was cheaper and I have no complaints with those batteries either (I actually use those batteries the most).
Ryobi One+ HP are basically slightly "detuned" Milwaukee tools, Same parent company TTI😉
@@MrHeHim Yup. So they end up being cheaper than Milwaukee too.
I bought into Ryobi almost 25 years ago mainly because they were the first to use the same battery across the line of tools. My first purchase was a circular saw and a 3/8 impact driver. I still have and use both of them this was before their green tool line came out.
@@corydriver7634 Yup my light and little circular saw are not green, in fact found them on the side of the road with a bad battery between them. Both work great still.
I have both blue and green Ryobi tools. No problems with them. The impact dropped from a 6 foot ladder and still works
And that’s without any deals form HF for Hercules. The 2 for $99 is a godsend!
I have 2-standard 12/20V chargers from the 5-AH Battery and charger kits that I got a free tool with for $99 each kit on Ohio’s tax free week. I got one with the 7-1/4” circular saw and the other with the 1/4 inch impact driver.
I got the 1/2 inch high torque long anvil impact and the 8-AH battery for $99 during Ohio’s tax free week.
Got their hammer drill and another 8-AH battery for another $99.
Then I got 2x 8-AH batteries for another $99
Total spent: $517.94
1k, vs almost 1,500 for Milwaukee, I'm huge Milwaukee fan, but I been buying Hercules lately, and been pretty impressed
I went with Ridgid years ago because I was doing more carpentry / handyman work at the time and it was just smarter of a decision rather than going Red at the time. I have stuck with the 18v Ridgid and their lineup has grown over the years.. I have 14 4ah Ridgid 18v batteries that are all 7 years old now and they still ALL work just like they're still new. So.. to me, that made my decision back then worth it. I did have someone give me 2 broken Milwaukee 12v (pencil battery) small impact guns and a battery, was gifted a Milwaukee 12v jacket with a 3.0 battery so I do have a couple of those, but I'm actually really quite satisfied with my Ridgid. (Ryobi Ridgid and Milwaukee are from the same parent company. I'm just glad Ridgid has a real heavy duty high torque impact driver and they have the 18v ratchet with the extended reach - tool only for 149, can't beat that! (it's just like the Dewalt one)
I have 5 Hercules tools: 20v 1/4" impact driver, drill, circular saw, and hand held shop vac and a 12v 3/8 impact. I have 2 chargers. I've had the impact and drill for at least 5 years and been thrilled with them. The impact driver has seen lots of use and never a hitch. I will be adding the high torque 1/2" impact and a 12ah battery soon.
I like Harbor Freight for stuff that me or my kids tend to lose (10mm sockets) and unique tools like larger Metric Sockets and extensions. I like that you have used the Hercules tools and have shared with us your experience. I will lean towards those if I buy new, buying used or at a pawn shop is a good thing at times.
I am using Ryobi because we don’t have Harbor Freight in Canada. No issues. The brushless 1/2-inch impact gun is incredible with the high performance batteries. The Milwaukee might be stronger, but for the amount I use the stuff, the extra expense makes no sense.
Got a set of Drilll/Impact Bosh power tools from my fatherinlaw my first Christmas with the family. Best tool for the job is the one's you have on hand. Don't think these videos get enough appreciation. Thanks for the content!
Good video, quick comment. You mention a difference of 20v on some to 18v on another. The 20v tools are 20v Max, the 18v tools are 18v Nominal. The milwaukee is also 20v Max, both the DeWalt and Hercules are also 18v Nominal.
Hope this helps/makes sense. All three battery platforms run at the same spec.
Amazing some people still don’t believe this!
Good call, spaced on the marketing numbers myself.
@@TheQuestionableGarageDeWALT was probably trying to differentiate between their 18v lithium and 18v NiCd lines. The NiCd line was already named after the nominal 18v voltages so they named the newer line after the maximum voltage for 5S lithium ion: “20V Max” though they actually charge closer to 21v max.
Of course, that opened the floodgates to many competing 18v tool lines pulling a DeWALT and calling their tools “20 volt” too.
Yeah, the 18/20V thing is nothing but marketing gibberish. But if it made that much difference, people would flock to the Kobalt 24V stuff. Not that I have any problem with those tools other than I don't own any.
Used to have access to buying Dewalt batteries from a warranty center. Could get brand new batteries for about 25% of retail. Tools were very reasonable as well. Those were the days!
With a 3D printer, I was able to create a batter adapter that uses a Milwalkee 18v battery into any Bauer powertool. In my case, I have Bauer trim router. But I can find and print pretty much any type batter adapter to any brand of tool. Granted that is not for everyone but for less than $10 and about an hour of time I can create any battery adapter.
I would add direct tools sells ryobi and ridgid so you can buy refurbished or blemish tools for cheaper. Also if you find a cool knock off brand tool it'll probably work for Dewalt, Milwaukee, or makita. You can always buy some knock off batteries for those tools but something to think about for those looking into their 1st power tool brand
This is something I’ve been waiting on. I am so sick of buying Milwaukee batteries. They break. The tools are great. The batteries suck. I’m transitioning to Hercules.
What is your garage/house worth to you? Your children's lives?
These things have generic blue wrap batteries in them.
I have been using Milwaukee since the m18 line came out every day. And have had very very few issues with batteries
Same as above. Have thousands of dollars of milwalkee tools. The small 1/2" guns more powerful then my snapon gun
@@tarstarkusz lie
@@benholler1389 I didn’t have problems till about two years ago. I have pulled batteries out of my toolbox and the bottom part just fall off. I have one of the brand new six amp power batteries that’s less than six months old. The problem, however, is more with their 12 V stuff, every time I see another TH-camr using them they are being held together with duct tape
I think the Ryobi line of tools would be more comparable to the Hercules tools. The Ryobi line is absolutely huge. For the home gamer, I think Ryobi would be fine.
I didn’t include them as I don’t have a lot of experience. I know @agingwheels loves his, as do our Mighty Car Mod friends, I went to compare the three I did because of how plentiful they are throughout the us.
Been using them for everything for 10 years. Even expanded to their 40 volt line for a lot of my yard care tools. Helps I have a Home Depot under 2 miles from my house.
I've been a Ryobi man for a long time; I've not had a tool fail and have not had issues with the 18v lithium batteries.
My biggest issue traditionally with HF power tools over the years, especially on the low end, has been fit, finish, and ergonomics; the Hercules tools does look to be an improvement over HF's older stuff.
Love my 25 years with Ryobi. I also picked up the cheap DrillMaster 18v NiCad jigsaw, drill and impact about 12 years ago. Can't get batteries for them now. They changed to Warior a few years ago with LIon batteries. I found i could modify the tool to accept the new battery version. It takes some work to get it done but I finally have them working again.
There's no comparison to be made between the old HF stuff, and Hercules. Herc is right up there with Big Red and Big Yellow, and 1/3 the price. And the Hercules warranty blows them both out of the water.
The Hercules warranty is awesome. Never had issues. I’ve gotten a new driver kit just cuz the battery messed up. A new 1/2 impact and batteries. No questions asked and no BS. Can do that with Milwaukee or dewalt
If you need a special tool, there are battery adapters you can purchase that work fine. I have a lot of milwaukee STYLE batteries that charge on my milwaukee charger, and a BAUR adapter that fits the milwaukeee STYLE battery onto the Baur tool and works fine. Just another option out there for you to use.
I bought my very first electric power tool today and it's the Hercules 1/2 inch 20v impact. I look forward to using it on a front bumper DIY project tomorrow. It was this video that swayed me. Thanks!
Holidays are coming look out for their sales that way you can stock up on batteries, really good tools
@@joseromero344 thanks will do
kay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
I bought several different battery powered drills and many times by the time I needed to replace the battery they had changed the design and it was cheaper to buy a new combo kit.
I friend convinced me to start buying Ridgid tools. I’ve been very happy with them and I had to send in the 3/8” angle drill because the chuck stopped locking. It took 2 tries because they didn’t understand about it not locking but they did the shipping both times. I now carry a 1/2” impact driver in my pickup truck.
The trusty old makita 9.6 volt drill was the go to drill in the trades in the 1970's- I was there doing sheet metal installs with it all day, every day. More buildings were built with this tool than all the others combined, then. I'm glad to see the dewalt 18 v cordless four packs now get the lithium ion batteries- my first four packs had the ni cads and were useless without running two chargers at a time and also with two extra $100 dollar each nicads to keep me fully powered all day long.
I still have my 9.6, in its's original case no less. Still works too, YAY me lol
And guys cry today about batteries not lasting long enough 😂😂
@@StephensPenTurnings I bought a house and they left a bunch of old power tools and one of them was the Makita 9.6 and it still works, the battery just doesn’t last long.
I bought into the ryobi early. Now I have way too many, but I use them a lot. I had dewalt, but when the batteries died I could get the ryobi starter kit with the same amp hour batteries and 4 tools. I went ryobi.
Exactly my experience 25 years ago. Still have my original tools and only burned up one drill. A full set replacement was cheaper than buying batteries alone. Now have over 50 Ryobi one+ in my collection.
Hercules has been awesome! My buddies that have Milwaukee and tool truck offerings, they want to make the switch. If Hercules made a stubby impact like the Milwaukee, it would be game over.
I bet one is coming
Agree on that, the batteries make the cordless tool. Somehow the old Sears/Craftsman NiMH drill a buddy has is still kicking to this day! Certainly was wishing the Makita batteries were better. Over where we are, the easiest genuine brand to get would be Makita. One specialist tool center sells Milwaukee, AEG, DeWalt, Ryobi, Bosch and perhaps other brands I don't remember or even know. I definitely wish there's a Harbor Freight here...or better, I should move to somewhere that has one nearby! I can surely use some tools, much more a cordless die grinder of sorts!
Quick note on battery voltages:
Typical Lithium-ion batteries are charged to 4.2 volts, and is shipped from the factory at 3.6 or 3.7 volts.
With that in mind, an "18v" battery is 3.6 x 5 cells. "20v" or "21v" is the same number, just charged up (4.2 x 5). "12v" is usually 4.2 x 3 cells, 12.6 volts. "40v" is just basically doubling the "20v".
For NiCd or NiMH, basically divide the voltage by 1.2 and you get how many cells are in there! Unfortunately that does make it a bit difficult converting those tools to lithium, there is a need for extra electronics for protection and a different charger must be used.
I just got one of the Hercules ultra torque 1/2" Impact. I have to say that I'm impressed, but it is very heavy.
I've been using the 20V Hercules tools for a little over the last year and they've been great. I've never had to use the warranty, but I do know that anything that says "brushless" in the Hercules line is a 5 year warranty. If it doesn't say that, it's a 90 day warranty and as Jared said, the batteries and charger are a 3 year warranty. All purchase information is conveniently stored on my HF account, so no storing receipts. As for the 12V stuff, the thing I really wanted was the ratchet, but they are not brushless,so they don't get the good warranty. I ended up going with the Skil 12V PWRCORE ratchet and impact driver which both come with a 5 year warranty and cost pretty similarly to the Hercules stuff. I haven't even found a need to get a 3/8" impact gun because the impact driver with a stubby socket adapter has proven not only more compact, but more than sufficient for anything I've asked of it. I can very much recommend either of those lines of tools without reservation.
I’m a metal worker, I build barndos.
We use ridged and Milwaukee- provided by the main contractor.
I recently bought into hercules, impact and drill plus grinder. Everyone I’ve let use them prefer them over Milwaukee!
Between ridged and hercules it was a close tie between which one my coworkers would pick up first.
I’ve used my tiny little Hercules hex impact and it’s perfect for all my motorcycles and I’ve even used it on some more serious bolts and 9/10 it’s plenty powerful enough.
I'm a professional TH-cam certified home mechanic plus 40 years doing field technical service on complex robotic stuff. . I approve this video!
Great video, good advice, and entertaining. For anyone looking at the Home Depot weekly emails, I've gone down the Ryobi rabbit hole, and overall, they're fine for a garage mechanic, the older cordless impact leaves a bit of umph to be desired, vs my plug in electric, but can break anything thats not ugga dugga'd in place. The Sawzall does a great job eliminating northern rust monsters, as well as unwanted shrubs/trees/roots where I'm digging. And the rest of the tools are down right good values. Otherwise, because I do more wood working, and finish work, I'm very happy with the neon green team. Just my 2 cents, I am fully prepared to be mocked, and belittled.
Here is your mocking and belittling comment. Ryobi sucks... when it comes to palm sanders. Just sharing this as hopefully a helpful tip. My dad does a lot of hobby woodworking in his retirement days and is a mixed bag of Ryobi, Rigid and HF. I used his Ryobi palm sander working on a project with him and thought my teeth were going to rattle loose. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about Ryobi so no judgement here. If you can deal with the cord, just get a decent corded one and save your hands.
@@NJVernick1 Yeah, I have the corded sander (it is almost at its end after multiple garden beds, and 3 kitchen remodels), because I don't need to carry that weight around while finish sanding wood.
My Ryobi tools are so old they're not even green, they're blue. Heheha. I've been curious about the Hercules brand so thank you for the video.
No mocking here. I went down Ryobi's rabbit hole as well. The huge problem now, is Ryobi is being treated like Milwaukee by fan Bois. Seriously. What in the living hell now? It's Ryobi, I should not be seeing comments about a new Ryobibtool, that's as much as Milwaukee also made by TTI and being OK with the full price. I mean, for crying out loud, the ryobi stick vacuum is near the price of the of a Dyson. Sure you can pay half and get a $200 ryoni stick vacuum, but it's not anywhere near the $400 stick vac that's only 30% stronger. But hey, it's green, take our green money!
I was anti harbor freight cordless stuff because Ryobi was beating them in specs and price. But again, Ryobi is charging like double, so paying slightly more than old prices, but less than current Ryobi prices, for hercules it now makes sense.
Good job TTI, you destroyed the only good everyday person brand you had. Those fanatics will come down from their fever high and your going in the clearance bin. Your stupid stick battery is not worth it anymore, stupidly bulky for no darn reason. Easy to deal with for cheap tools, but not worth it at all when you are trying to sell garbage at vanity prices.
Hercules in my shop. They work and are cost effective. Bauer too.
Ive been a makita guy forever, thats what I have at work for decades. They've only recently started getting into automotive tools, I have their power ratchet, its nice because it both has 3/8 and 1/4 heads. As far as batteries 18v and 20 v are the same. Same cell count, just different methods of rating them. Peak vs mean voltage. The 18v stuff was around before brands like DeWalt started putting 20v on their tools to make them sound better. I think the best things out there are the battery brand adapters. I recently picked up a bauer 3in cut off tool and a makita adapter to run my Makita batteries. 1 thing I do like about makita over other brands is they have the lithium protection circuitry built into the battery not the tool, so if you were to damage a tool, or say use it off brand, theres no worry of over discharge and battery damage
I started with Rigid many years ago when I was a carpenter for a major exterminating company and have abused them dropping the off top of houses multiple times. I do wish they had a bigger tool selection but they are coming around. As always great video enjoyed it.
Never had an issue when buying MKE, DW, etc from box stores, too many fakes online. One of the major TH-cam tool testers did some deep dives and most of the Herc stuff was comparable to first generation MKE internals. Been through them all since the and my first Makita with non-swappable batteries and now on MKE Fuel, won't ever go back. Economy of scale and need to attract repeat customers are major reasons the HF products continue to evolve, because you can't grow on low price and low quality alone- Hyundai prime example, far from the disposable cars of the 1980s when they first hit the shores here, still wouldn't consider them Honda or Toyota quality, but far above where they once were. As mentioned early in the video, the ecosystem and minimizing who's batteries you want to live with is just as important as any cordless tool decision. Good insight and obviously real world experience from jobs big and small.
I'm fortunate enough to get a yearly tool allowance to purchase my own tools. We also have a tool room that the company has that carries the yellow and red power tools that we can check out at anytime, industrial maintenance setting. Still we have over 20 acers under roof and I bought a Ryobi set(impact driver and hammer drill)to keep in my tool chest as not to walk all the way to the tool room. I was really impressed with the Ryobi and could work just as hard as the yellow and red brand, not as compact or light though. I'm getting ready to go pick up the Hercules impact driver and hammer drill set this week. Thanks for the review.
I’ve got a ton of Dewalt tools but the Hercules stuff has impressed me.
Love the review! Good to hear real use reviews from you. If you're not in a hurry you can bring that DeWalt price way down. As an example I've got the DeWalt recip saw kit and only paid $149 from an authorized retailer.
If I weren't in the DeWalt line I'd consider Hercules.
Hello again. Jared
Thank you for another Great Video 👍 I enjoyed watching tonight's video. I started with air tools and transition to the 12- volt Hitachi brush tools. Overall I thought they were good tools. But I found that they were not strong enough to do everything. About two weeks ago I bought the M12 combo kit from Home Depot. I haven't used them yet. I do have projects that they will be used. I would have bought the Hercules tools if they had a version of the Insider Ratchet. Quite frankly I am surprised that Harbor Freight hasn't put one out. It seems that Tool Company's steal from one another. 🤔 Again thank you
Im now a semiretired HVAC&R contractor and now an avid woodworker.
A small note the DeWalt and others are 20v max are actually 18 v at running.
I’m a Milwaukee fanboy for over 40 years and went through too many cordless tools from many brands. Just need to replace/upgrade my cordless tools, went with Milwaukee they are a bit overpriced, huge verity of tools (many for woodworking) and mostly top quality, but not like the older corded ones more failures and a pain for warranty as it is 4+ hours to the nearest service center.
I have some old blue Ryobi cordless tools that still work.
DeWalt sells an adapter for the old tools.
Very informative and helpful video, Jared! Your positive experiences with HF tools and honest reviews have certainly made me much more likely to consider buying them. Thanks for providing me (and many others, I suspect) with some really useful insights! Keep up the great work!
P.S. Nice work with the price comparison graphics, Editor Duane! I missed the awesome tunes, but I understand they’re not appropriate for such a knowledge intensive video.
Appreciate your perspective! Every bauer battery the shop i work at stopped working. Maybe it was the inconsistent use or it was the lowest tier batt but all the Ryobi batteries are still working fine.
I think the bauer tools have worked just fine though.
We highly agree with your review 🙌🏻 they all work great! When a tool is used correctly it gets the jobs done effectively!🙌🏻❤️
I went to kobalt for this reason. I started with Milwaukee drill driver combo with two 1.5 amp hour battery. Wanted to add on to the line with a 1/2 impact and the price plus going from a dual to a single hammer impact for the price wasn’t worth it for me. So ended up going kobalt xtr for 259 with one 4 amp max output and got a free xtr sawzall has always worked well for me now I got over 10 tools in the line with 10 batteries and been working great for me from garage and household tools plus outdoor power tools. Plus with their deals 2 4 amp batteries and a charger for 149 and get a free tool really helps.
There's another thing to be careful of - Big stores can sometimes convince tool brands to make lesser models for them to sell cheaper.
When I was starting out I looked at what tools the older guys were using, and spoke to a bunch of them, and the going opinion was that "Time is money so I bought DeWalt" I did and haven't been disappointed at all, 1/2" and screwdriver impacts, drills, sawsall etc have been great.
I truly love you testing Harbor Freight tools
I've been having fantastic luck with Hercules and Ryobi the last few years. They do everything I want and more, whether I am working on my car or in my wood shop. I do have a rule though, If I buy the H/R tool and I use it enough to break it, then the replacement is a higher quality one from Makita (or an equivalent if Makita does not make one). I don't waste money on something I won't use enough, but I don't waste money buying lots of things I use a lot.
That said, Hercules and Ryobi are doing some really cool stuff and trying things the big brands won't touch. I like that and want to see more of it.
Blue vs Red. I've been wondering if I should add some blue batteries to my collection of red.
That’s the difficult question, you are down one brand, it’s hard to justify starting over and I’m a big fan of trying to keep just one, but sometimes that doesn’t work
@@TheQuestionableGarage It is tough because I have over a dozen Red batteries in my toolbox. It is tough to switch or add them now.
Had the same dilemma with yellow. I bought Deals at HF to back up what was fading or tools I'd never been able to justify the cost. I won't buy anything else yellow new or used unless there's absolutely no other choice.
I agree with your reasoning. The key is to know what you actually need and buy accordingly. I predict that Harbor Freight will start adding tool trucks as their next venture.
Owning a shop for 20 years I can say with confidence that Dewalt and Craftsman and Hercules will definitely get the job done.
I've been a DeWalt fanboy for 20 years.. Over the past year those batteries have finally died out (2nd or 3rd round) I've had a few of the Bauer tools recently to fill the need for tools in my shop, and at the house. I went all-in with more Bauer tools this summer and have been quite happy with the performance. Picked up the transfer pump, air inflator, and that silly wet/dry vac, and was more than impressed with that last purchase.
I started investing in the Hercules tools a little over a year ago. The Bauer stuff is okay but if you know harbor freight and sales prices of tools, you can often get Hercules for close to bauer MSRP. The warranty is way better (not because i have needed to warranty anything yet but its similar to the lifetime warranties they offer on handtools).
The tools are great, my half inch ultra torque got a honda crank bolt off when a DeWalt couldn't (i think the dewalt was old). It's not a matter of which got the bolt out, the Hurcules stuff can keep up when it shouldn't considering it's priced similarly to Ryobi which doesn't.
technician for twenty five plus years Agree with you on the snap on. But if you buy the Milwaukee stuff off the trucks it's, it's much easier to get them replaced.
what i like about dewalt that's never talked about is the bright colour. you can find them easily in a busy work place, no wasting time searching. also there a lot of battery adapters out there to use one type of battery on different makes of tools.
I have a Dewault corded band saw. The rubber tracks turned to mush one day and gummed up the entire saw. New ones are available but it was a PITA to get it all cleaned up and the new ones installed.
I own alot of Milwaukee, alot of dewalt, also some craftsman but man the Hercules tools have been so good to me. Specially for the price i know the warranty is super good on it too but my tools havent let me down, i just added the big 1/2 impact "super torque" the thing is strong asf. I also have the little vaccum and the fan! I love the little fan i paid $30 i also have their polisher and circular saw
I have several of the hercules tools. I'm a home DIY person only. They work great. The high torque 1/2" impact is a beast.
I have been in the dewalt platform for over 20 years. Is it the best? Not even close, was it the best for me at the time? Yes. Since I was in that platform I just stayed. Honestly it would take a lot for me to switch, that’s only because of the investment I already have. Now if another tool company traded me tool for tool and battery. I would switch. If I was just starting out? Harbor freight here I come
For me also. 20ish years ago we had a Lowe's almost next door to the fixer upper we just bought. Craftsman was still at Sears, Kobalt had not been conceived yet and DeWalt was king of the commercials. Over a year ago I bought into Bauer needing a tool Hercules didn't have any DeWalt wanted over 3 times the price for. It started with BUYING the tool I needed with a battery and a charger (since the adapter I bought wouldn't let me use my yellow batteries) which included a free tool. Then I bought a second larger battery that came with a free charger and I still hadn't spent what I would've for the DeWalt tool. Since then I've bought into Hercules also and haven't had any problems or regrets. As my DeWalt tools fail I'll replace them with blue or red from HF.
@@CALDues yah I was pissed the first time I traded my American craftsman in and got a China replacement tool. Haven’t bought another since.
Ace Hardware runs specials on Dewalt and Milwaukee that often beat Lowes and Home Depot
Bauer brand from harbor freight has been amazing believe it or not. I beat the living hell out on my 1/2 impact and drill are still alive and kicking..
I mainly use Ryobi and Hercules. The Ryobi because they had a sweet system deal and I love the color. I like the feel of the tools and they do what I want. I started using the Hercules because of the pricing. I hate the color. The feel is okay. They do what I want. For me, it boils down to how often will I use the tool and then the cost. I have a full size Ryobi recip and small Hercules recip.
I used to be a Harbor freight detractor but now tgeyre my go to. No issues
It's very simple. Take whatever decent brand has the overall type of tools you need. That's great that Milwaukee has the best stuff for automotive use, but if 1/2 of your use of house stuff, they aren't as good for that. And since you want to avoid multiple battery types, pick what is best for your total use case. For me, I had to go yellow, as Dewalt had the stuff I needed. Battery powered jig saw, circular saw, Oscillating tool, etc. But yet they also have 1/4 and 1/2" impacts I use all the time (1/2" is a bit weak, sadly), 1/2 in ratchet driver, etc. They also had the cheapest powered PEX-A expander, which I needed to do some plumbing additions in the house. But if you turning wrenches in your 1-car garage in an apartment, Dewalt isn't the brand I would choose. If I'm running a shop turning wrenches all day, I'm not going yellow either.
Can't wait to see the next episode on the Satellite
This was perhaps, at least for me, your most useful video! Do more like this. Thank you Jared and keep up the great work.
i have lots of Milwaukee...and Bauer too. Right angle drill for $39 bucks! works fantastic. they all have their pros and cons.
I have a Hercules drill and batteries w/charger that are about 9 years old and is still working perfectly! This drill has been used HARD too, not a shelf queen. I will continue to buy Hercules and the fact the HF stores are conveniently located is also a plus!
I should also add that as far as being dropped thirty feet onto concrete pads is concerned, only the older makitas could survive the fall and still be functional- they tended to break or crack at the top of the grip, where duct tape wraps could hold them together long enough to finish the day's work out. Dewalt was a close second, but both times each drill an xrp 18v and later a 14.4 hammer drill both lost whichever gear they happened to be in when they fell- the other gears still worked, however, andf again, duct tape sufficed to let them both finish out the day! Now, drop a milwaukee even just 20 feet onto the pad, and you are done for the day.- unless you have the cash and there is a home depot or other hardware store nearby.
Nicely done. Excellent presentation. Got me thinking...
I use lidl parkside performance for 20v. I use milwaukee 12v for tools that need a small profile or less weight.
Personally I'm a RIDGID fan but with all the new tech out now I could see going with Hercules or even Hart for at home use. I started with RIDGID in my old factory job and stay because I'm already invested with chargers and batteries for them. Starting over or even helping my son start his collection I tell him to look at his needs, use, and price range. Big brand isn't always the best for price versus intended use.
I’ve never clutch dumped before. Now it’s on my to do list.
Due to the fact that I use my tools for wood, home, and auto I have been in the Dewalt ecosystem mostly for years. I do have a craftsman battery ratchet that I love. I may invest in some Hercules eventually but the dealt had done me well overall.
DIY here. I have "Red", "Yellow", "Light Green", and "Blue" (Hercules). Yep. and I buy what I need, that provides the best performance, for the right price, and with a good warranty.
p.s. Moving mostly to "BLUE".
Being a homegamer had to go with the Bauer line, due to the lack of variety. Hercules is just now going to release a cordless jigsaw. The only bauer tool had an issue with was the brushed circular saw. It was gutless.
Hi Jared nice video 📹 and workmanship!!! The tools 🔧 were good !!! I worked with Milwaukee Bufffers all tool need the number speed locator !!! Even for special ed speed
When I finally decided to commit to a single battery ecosystem, I (home garage DIY guy) decided on Bauer- the "better" of HF's "good" (Warrior)- "better" (Bauer)- "best" (Hercules) lines. I bought a cordless drill, impact driver, palm sander, jigsaw, leaf blower and shop blower. Later on I added a 3/8" impact wrench. The tools are "ok"- not great. My neighbor had a Ryobi 3/8" impact wrench which I borrowed to compare with my Bauer- blew it away. I've added a bunch of Ryobi tools, batteries and a 6-pot charger for the batteries. I do still use my Bauer leaf blower and shop blower- they are more than fine for my needs, and I added one of the new Bauer brushless 1/2" compact impact wrenches- it's much better than the old 3/8". I used it exclusively to upgrade the suspension on my Jeep TJ, rather than break out my super-heavy Ryobi 1/2" high-torque impact. It handled the job with no issues.
I love you so much! I recently just found your kislux and i’m in love!! Your videos are so fun and you energy is just MWAH! keep living your life
Den of tools cracked open a Milwaukee and a Hercules battery for the ones saying Hercules is made with cheaper cells and they were identical.
Corded/air tools are a must if you do a lot of work - drills, grinders, sanders. Cordless are really convenient, but do NOT buy the cheap batteries on eBay, etc. Project Farm showed how many of them are absolutely fake.
Giant gorilla... 🤣 I started out cordless life back in the early 90s with a makita drill. (I worked on theater sets.) The balance on that thing was atrocious. When someone walked in with a Craftsman we "snobs" all laughed at him, until we used it. No more bad balance and aching arms and wrists. For me the straw that broke the camel's back was trying to drive sheetrock screws into a ceiling with it. It went in the bin.... Never went back.
Love the Hercules line. Sadly a 10mm took out my impact driver!! Walked in (w/rest of kit) and walked out with replacement. Fast and easy warranty. HF can be a little strange about partial kit replacements. At least in my closest store.
You must be talking about a 🔫 because I don't see how the other could have done that to that impact unless it had a defect because that thing is a beast.
@@JohnnyRebLa Surprised me!! Was #7 of 8 10 mm holding down coils during a spark plug change. Think it was just a defective driver that made it past quality control. Replacement is running fine and hasn't looked twice at anything I've tried to remove.
Thanks, Jared for the input
i have the bauer 1/4 in hex compact driver i use on my car and so far its done everything i have thrown at it for my use, so for the bauer brand i recommend that for a home user in the garage
I just got DeWalt 12 volt tools, sawsall,drill and flash light and 2 little batteries and charger for 22 bucks at a yard sale. They worked so I got them. I'll probably sell them for double when I have a yard sale.Lmao! I don't need them and have all Bauer and Hercules tools. But I couldn't pass up a deal.
I personally have a couple of these tools in my favorite is the brushless impact driver because I have used it for many builds where I have put in hundreds of 3 inch wood screws
Which tool goes farther when you throw it across the garage?
You can get close to Hercules pricing with Dewalt and Milwaukee if you buy, and take advantage of holiday sales and offers like on Labor Day weekend or Black Friday deals. There are also hacks where you can get a free battery or etc, that you may not need then, you return the battery.
Comparison with the Hercules ultra torque would be the dcf900. Which is significantly more powerful. There is the dcf961 but that was just made to piss on Milwaukee gen 3 before it even came out, in bragging rights. A tool with actual vtec mode. 😂