As a HFT employee I really do love seeing our tools get much needed improvement. Also Hercules released a tool kit 1/4 in impact driver kit. Brushless. As far as warranty I know a bit of videos ago you wondered if it's over the counter return policy is true it definitely is it's just like our extended warranties bring it in and swap it out
@MtaNyctrainAtlantaMartatrains not to sure on earthquake I know the 1/2 short anvil and long anvil are clearanced out maybe finally updating the tool I know it's been a bit since they did an update
@@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164 I think Earthquake cordless are just rebranded Durofix/ACDelco tools -- the batteries are compatible iirc. HF is phasing them out
@Paul As another employee that picked up that tool for $70, I went back and swapped out the tool in the box and got the kit for $90. It's a beast for sure.
@@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164 been using Earthquake impact and a ratchet for few years, definitely not cool they're being phased out.. But I'll squeeze a little more life out of them before i buy something else. Will probably be a Milwaukee or something similar. Those extra few foot pounds of torque do come in handy when you need them. Even though I have a bunch of Bauer tools, when it comes to impact wrenches i would skip Bauer and Hercules - i need the torque!
I like seeing that Harbor Freight actually cares enough to invest in the improvement of their products, and that they are seemingly more honest about their numbers than most of the name brands.
@@torinireland6526 they single handedly enabled a poor man like me to get tools I need to do whatever I want. Problem is you'll wanna keep spending there
@@torinireland6526they are a legit company and the best source of decent hand tools. They never fail and have great warranty. Powertools are something they need to work on and are working on. Be cautious of those if they ever come to canada!
Man...HF stepping up their game is nice to see. Particularly with the way their warranties work. They just keeping raising the bar on quality. Can't wait for their Series 3 US General boxes to drop in May.
@Jordan Russell as far as I'm aware at the moment the 72 is only one with the work center hutch. For the moment and it's the hutch style of the ICON tool box
Can’t trust this guy any longer. He’s got Amazon affiliate links down below to buy the tool. He gets 7-10% from every single one. TH-cam is a Sad place. Honestly just watch project farm for stuff like this.
The Bauer will be a huge bargain to me, as I already have a bunch of 5.0aH batteries. As a guy who makes my living with tools, I gotta say that I’ve been fairly impressed with the Bauer stuff. I got the drill, driver, heat gun, and tire inflator when I needed tools in a pinch. I liked them so well that I brought them to my shop and use them everyday.
@@codygooch510 I’m a professional mechanic at a municipal fleet garage. I have a Milwaukee 2767-20, but the rest of my cordless tools at the shop are Bauer. The drill and driver are holding up really well after two years of daily use. I also have the smaller reciprocating saw, jig saw, flashlight, heat gun, and tire inflator. I’m happy enough with the Bauer tools that I’m going to go get the 3/8” impact gun and high torque 1/2” gun the next time I’m in the store.
@@michaelcrumlett187 i read this comment a month ago but rewatching i thought i'd drop some things, my business partner bought the bauer with a 3ah and the charger, i bought the ultra torque hercules with the little 1/2 inch 2 5ah and the charger and holy shit the hercules is infinitely better, some serious power with them.
I actually like the bauer tire inflator. I picked it up open box for ~15usd. It's my go to when I need to top up the tires. I got other options but I like the compact size and it's pretty quick paired with a 4ah battery. The bauer drill and 3/8 impact are both fine for small jobs. It hasn't let me down. I don't have high expectations for either but they have exceeded them.
I always have the perfect timing. I bought the new brushless Bauer 1/2” drive and sold off the old brushed version. Now, this critter comes along. I only had one issue from the old version for removing a lug nut and that was at a Pull-a-Part yard. The lug nut was rusted and I had the 3 a.h. battery which was not fully charged. In using new version the impact seemed smoother and less chintzy. When y’all go for the Bauer take advantage of the 5 a.h. battery deal, I did.
Same thing happened with me and my local harbor freight. The associates hadn't even heard of the wrench yet, they had no idea what I was talking about. I too finally talked the manager into looking for them and he found a bunch on a pallet. I now have the Ultra torque Hercules and the mid torque brushless Bauer. I already have high output batteries for both, so it was just the price of the tool. I'm pretty stoked!
After investing in Bauer batteries for my other tools, I thought I'd have to eat the cost to get a decent impact. They didn't even have them on the shelf yet at my local HF, thank you for this heads-up.
Bauer has been great with their deals lately for some reason. They had a two 5ah battery deal for $80 a little while back, and right now they have the 5ah with a free brushless impact driver, 3/8 impact wrench, or a couple other tools. I've got a handful of their cordless tools like the driver, the brushless multitool, and the hot glue gun; so far I can't complain.
Just found your channel and thank you. Just a simple thank you. I own the 3/8" drive Bauer brushless impact as it was only $44.99 for ITC members. Kind of hard to pass up. Now, they currently have a 15% off ITC coupon for the 1/2' drive brushless you covered in this video and I'm tempted considering it will do the job that I need it to. The ITC bonus 15% off coupon ends today, Mother's Day 2023, so I would need to act sooner than later. I personally love my 3/8" drive model and I have 2 different batteries, 5mh and 3mh, so I have the recommended battery for power from Bauer/Harbor Freight. Your channel is killer.
I am converting from old school air to Cordless. I am mainly looking for something that will remove transmissions and engines , Water pumps , Ect. I do not mind breaking out the air to remove wheels. I like the idea of a 3/8. From your experience , Would you recommend the 3/8 or 1/2 ?
I own almost every Milwaukee Fuel tool but because of this channel I branched out! I just got new Kobalt right angle $80, new Dewalt Dcf923b $100, and 2 power stack batteries and charger $100 new, all on eBay! Then I Picked up kobalt 24v weed wacker kit with 2 batteries $70 on sale at lowes! Next is Ridgid Octane High torque for back up before they are all gone and some random metabo stuff! I love this channel!
Thank you for doing this test. Now my curiosity is answered without me needing to buy it first,lol. I figured that two Ryobi’s & one Metabo HPT, is enough for my three vehicles to break loose lug nuts. I’m glad that HF is stepping up their game on their Bauer & Hercules cordless power tools
Seems like hf wants to compete with Milwaukee at the highend with the ultra torque, and with ryobi at the mid end with this bauer. Competition is one helluva drug.
Really not sure how worthwhile the Bauer is compared to the Hercules high torque. The Herc high torque is now priced at $159.99 with the 5 year warranty while the Bauer is still $129.99. If you add a 2 year warranty you're at $169.99. If you can catch it on a good sale price or already have Bauer batteries and charger then maybe. Otherwise I don't see the point unless you are OK flying with the Bauer 90 day warranty. Of course HF may end up lowering the price on the Bauer as they have on the Hercules impacts, particularly the compact 1/2" which started life 2 years ago at $99.99 and is now at $64.99 (still want to see a TTC re-test on that one!!, hint hint!)
I'm a tile & stone contractor going on 40 years. The cheap power tools at HF work just as good as one of the name brands, but they do not work/last very long. Great for an at home do it yourself-er, but not made for every day use on job sites. You get what you pay for.
I just got this in a kit with 5ah battery and charger for $135.99 using a 15% off coupon they had on the website for Bauer and Hercules tools. This kit is normally listed for $159.99 which is still an amazing deal anyway! Cannot beat that!
That is my browsers homepage lol. I was curios how the Bauer was going to perform. The drills seem to test good for the dollar, biggest drawback is the battery packs running highstar cells. Nice video!
Agreed on both. The batteries are certainly the weak-point and with that in mind there's only so beefy they can make any cordless tool in the line. Something they've basically solved with Hercules.
Episode idea: Test ideas on how to remove wildly over-tightened lug nuts and lug bolts after your best high-torque method thoroughly rounded off the bolt. You could test the different styles of rounded bolt removers, try welding a new nut onto the bolt, or drilling the nut off, etc. Make sure to simulate the lack of access to the nut that many wheels cause (can only get to them from top top because they are in a recessed hole)
I had this problem with over torqued lug bolts done with an air gun. The only way they would come out with the bauer was holding a propane torch on each one for about 4 minutes a pop, then equipped with a short kobalt socket the new bauer high torque finally got them all out. Had to impact for over 10 seconds on some.
Exactly what I was thinking by the end. For someone who doesnt work on cars for a living, this would be a great investment short of buying a massive air compressor and air tools. Would probably also work nicely for someone just starting out
I bought the Bauer 2085CR-BR (shorter 1/2" Impact) and it does what I bought it to do. For $60 its dang cheap for a knock around 1/2 impact and its fairly short so it will fit into smaller spaces. I would love to see you guys eventually throw this impact onto your tester for comparison. Thanks for the great videos!
@v10viper04 oh yes how do you like it is it strong enough i have my bauer brushless 1/4" driver that i use with socket adapter that thing rips off 3/4 ton lug nuts only thing it has trouble with was the shock bolts and some suspension parts of that 1/2" has a little more nuts it should be perfect
For $79 I bought a 5Ah battery with rapid charger combo and got this tool for free. And it broke nuts on my rig suspension I torqued to spec @325ft lbs.
RE: The HF Bauer, Same with me i had to ask a manager at HF about this model, they had them in the "back" storage, they werent out yet on display. I needed this to take off my Lug Nuts and it worked great.
5 year warranty on a Harbor Freight tool VS a 3 year warranty with Dewalt, and the Hercules is still cheaper....I have a lot of Dewalt stuff, but their prices have gotten ridiculous as of late, so I've been picking up the Bauer and Hercules stuff lately as they come in stock. No idea how long the Bauer or Hercules stuff will last, but with the prices of Dewalt going up, I'll use the Bauer & Hercules stuff for trips to the pick a part yards and leave the Dewalts at home.
@@wildbill23c good point. I like how I can take my non working tool to HF and leave with a brand new replacement while neither SBD, Milwaukee or Makita would do that.
@@engineer_alv I think those brands you have to return them for warranty work to a warranty service center? Then you'll probably never see them again...yeah its nice to just walk into a store and make a simple counter exchange and be on your way.
I really enjoy watching all the testing you do …it really adds knowledge, for people to make an informed decision on things. Live confidently and peacefully
I have yellow, red, and blue platforms....I've been running the yellow tools since 2005 with the 18V stuff then gradually switched to the 20V as the 18V batteries bit the dust. I've been picking up the Hercules and Bauer stuff along the way now as well, for a throw the tool bag in the truck for pick a part yard visits stuff. I keep my yellow tools at home now, the blue and red stuff is the only thing that leaves the property LOL.
I really do love the Amazon testing videos you do. Not that I’d ever buy one, the novelty of it makes for great entertainment. And keep the flashlight videos coming
I bought the high torque bauer when it first came out and used it daily at the dealership i worked at. Had no issues with it until about a year in the trigger started to act up. Took it apart and cleaned the trigger contacts, worked perfectly again and still works good to this day!
Something you forgot to mention is that during March and April you can get a FREE tool when you purchase a 5AH bauer battery. I got the new brushless impact driver with my battery but there is 7 or 8 other tools to choose from. Crazy value
We purposefully dont mention sales because people might be watching our videos months or a year from now and then our testing/impressions if tied to that current sale price aren't relevant to them any longer. We try to use normal selling price on everything which also makes it a level playing field. Come winter we sort of get lit up in the comments for the deals you can find vs the prices we show, but then in January people are all reasonable again :P
@@TorqueTestChannel ok gotcha wasn't sure if you knew about it or not. Thanks for the highlight I'm trying to get the word out because it seems no one knows about this sale, even the workers at my local store had no idea.
Here in Europe, we've had the Parkside Performance high torque at €129, rated for 1356Nm fastening and 1898Nm loosening. Would love to see some Parkside tools on this channel in the future!
Yes iv been trying to ask them to test the parkside, I want one but I’m in the UK And I have to import it, they sell the non performance from time to time in lidl
Thanks for this video i had the baure mid torque but once i got the email for the new high torque i returned it so fast my store said they didn't even have the high torque on shelfs yet
Love to see it. With my Ultra Torque living at the Kustoms shop, I was curious if this would be worth having at home, but luckily(or unluckily), I already broke the bank on the DCF891 so it’s become my de facto high torque at the home body shop. I love the size, but man it definitely deserves its wrist breaking score haha.
I just dont see the aging Milwaukee 2767 being worth $280 these days with plenty of mid-range brands making that level of power. Hopefully we get the new high torque soon.
Well it's currently $217 here: amzn.to/3mBQgjw but yeah who knows how long that will last. Home depot was asking over $300 for it recently. It's a whole battery ecosystem you're buying into though of course, Bauer has some decent tools but still fairly limited.
You mentioned the extended warranty on Bauer, but it is actually a "replacement plan" IIRC which is more like insurance. So you must purchase the replacement plan again if you have to replace the tool for any reason outside of the 90 days. Where a warranty would be free and continue the balance of the remaining warranty window without purchasing another replacement plan. They tried to use my replacement plan once when a tool failed in the first 90 days and that is how I found out the difference. Great video. I honestly just like the bauer matches my Milwaukee stuff and the blue ones don't look as nice.
Right now they have a battery kit going on where you get a battery a charger and a free tool for 80 bucks so right now you could get this brushless impact with battery and tool for $80
Ive been using the hercules high torque model professionally and it really does get the job done although it does struggle with some bigger jobs like heavy duty or lifted trucks with heavy aftermarket wheels, and also the battery isn't very well secured to the tool so it likes to fall off sometimes, its a good value for the lube tech whos starting out. Only thing I regret is not getting the ultra torque model.
I purchased the Dewalt DCF900 kit at Lowes about 6 weeks ago for 345 out the door. I just priced the Bauer out for 248 out the door. I'll take my Dewalt hands down for the extra 90+ bucks and the extra power.
I have the milwaukee and i like it. Original bought it for axle replacement. Then needed it to replace engine mounts which touch out to be great. Breaks them 14 year old bolts right loose
I bought a Bauer 1/4 impact for $50 6.5 years ago and it finally quit on me today. And I used it regularly and abusivly lol dropped off ladders 14+ feet up, dropped off second story walls and roofs, forgot it in the rain and snow for 3 months… and has always until today maintained 90lbs torque when I used it for lug nuts
I've been waiting a long time for a good 1/2 Bauer impact gun. The old one is the ony thing from them that I have bought that I absolutely regret getting. I've been eyeing this new one since it was quietly announced. As soon as I saw this review, I went to HF and bought one....they offer ly had the in the back of the store.
I mean this is awesome considering I already have a 5 year old Bauer 1/2 inch, 3/8,1/4, grinder,circularsaw, Bluetooth radio, fan, light, and usb charger for home use and always looking for more. I do believe I will add this to the collection. We only Use Milwaukee at work but like I said most of my Bauer stuff is better than five Years old and never had a problem. Plu
I know it’s just a smaller version of the Hercules, but I’d really love to see you test the newer Bauer 1/2” brushless mid-torque. They’re giving them away for free right now with the purchase of a 5ah battery starter kit (battery & charger).
At 1:15 "....-$20 bucks...." $129.99 in 2023 is equal to $93.07 in 2010.... According to my inflation calculator when I run it backwards. Just thought that was interesting....
Market competition driving prices down! awesome to see! I wish all our Canadian monopoly businesses had to content with competion like we're seeing in the world of mid\high torque impacts.
Gotta love how the SeeSii, the LED light keeps working though the tool does not... In fact it keeps working even w/o the battery on it! lol I get there's some capacitance there but that thing is on for several seconds with no battery?!?
Let’s Go!!!! Saw this pop up and it made my day!! P.S. I am killing them all with my Ultra Torque. I’m am not anyones favorite right now. So far showed up 2 “Trusty Dusty” Milwaukee 2767’s and I live in Milwaukee so you KNOW they aren’t liking this. Hahahah
Could you test some corded high-torque impacts? The problem I found with Harbor Freight is that once the product is a few years old, getting replacement batteries is impossible, and so I'm leery of all HF battery products. Part of why I'm not so afraid to invest in Milwaukee's M12 line - I'm confident that 5-8 year from now I'll still be able to get M12 batteries, or at the very least, replace old cells. Now, a corded high-torque impact would be a different story, luckily HF sells one of those as well for all of $90.
Cut a small tab off the bauer and it will take dewalt batteries. I have an old brushed makita high torque that does the job with a freshly charged 5 ah, but lacking otherwise. Might buy this to replace it. The batterys that were available when Makita came out didn't really have enough amperage to do a good job. I kept it long enough that the newer battteries produce enough to run the brushed motor. If yall want to test an older Makita I'll send it to you. I would be curious as to were it ranked. Its a btw450, very lightly used so should be representative of its era.
Nice, I was curious how this was going to do. Have you guys ever considered testing the newer Hercules 5Ah batteries with the black top? I’ve read that they switched cells for the worse from the older blue top model which is what you’ve used in testing.
The Hercules 59398 tool tested here as different specs than the ones in the store. The store ones have much higher torque ratings. Has the tool been upgraded?
As a HFT employee I really do love seeing our tools get much needed improvement. Also Hercules released a tool kit 1/4 in impact driver kit. Brushless. As far as warranty I know a bit of videos ago you wondered if it's over the counter return policy is true it definitely is it's just like our extended warranties bring it in and swap it out
What is going on with earthquake cordless tools, they should do more with earthquake cordless tools, I love the name
@MtaNyctrainAtlantaMartatrains not to sure on earthquake I know the 1/2 short anvil and long anvil are clearanced out maybe finally updating the tool I know it's been a bit since they did an update
@@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164 I think Earthquake cordless are just rebranded Durofix/ACDelco tools -- the batteries are compatible iirc. HF is phasing them out
@Paul As another employee that picked up that tool for $70, I went back and swapped out the tool in the box and got the kit for $90. It's a beast for sure.
@@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164 been using Earthquake impact and a ratchet for few years, definitely not cool they're being phased out.. But I'll squeeze a little more life out of them before i buy something else. Will probably be a Milwaukee or something similar. Those extra few foot pounds of torque do come in handy when you need them. Even though I have a bunch of Bauer tools, when it comes to impact wrenches i would skip Bauer and Hercules - i need the torque!
This is great. Good option to have for when you’re not going to use it all the time but need something strong
Exactly. I don't need tradesman quality for things I might use once a month
I like seeing that Harbor Freight actually cares enough to invest in the improvement of their products, and that they are seemingly more honest about their numbers than most of the name brands.
I wish we had Harbor Freight in Canada. By the looks of things, they're shaping up to be a seriously legit tool company.
@@torinireland6526 they single handedly enabled a poor man like me to get tools I need to do whatever I want. Problem is you'll wanna keep spending there
@@torinireland6526they are a legit company and the best source of decent hand tools. They never fail and have great warranty.
Powertools are something they need to work on and are working on. Be cautious of those if they ever come to canada!
@@torinireland6526Exactly. I personally use Bauer and I’ve had absolutely no problems with that brand. Hope they move up there.
dude harbor frieght is the goat, has damn near evrything you could need for any job ever
@@torinireland6526
Man...HF stepping up their game is nice to see. Particularly with the way their warranties work. They just keeping raising the bar on quality. Can't wait for their Series 3 US General boxes to drop in May.
the us genereral stuff is so fucking quality at half the price
Keep an eye out in mid April we should be getting displays for stores by then hopefully my store gets the slate Grey to display
@@seirraalpha937 Really hoping we get Hutches on the top that are actually useful! I love my 56 double bank but the top ""hutch"" is just useless.
@Jordan Russell as far as I'm aware at the moment the 72 is only one with the work center hutch. For the moment and it's the hutch style of the ICON tool box
Can’t trust this guy any longer. He’s got Amazon affiliate links down below to buy the tool. He gets 7-10% from every single one. TH-cam is a Sad place. Honestly just watch project farm for stuff like this.
The Bauer will be a huge bargain to me, as I already have a bunch of 5.0aH batteries. As a guy who makes my living with tools, I gotta say that I’ve been fairly impressed with the Bauer stuff. I got the drill, driver, heat gun, and tire inflator when I needed tools in a pinch. I liked them so well that I brought them to my shop and use them everyday.
Are you a pro or a maintenance
man/land lord kinda guy? If you’re a pro how have the drill & impact held up?
@@codygooch510 I’m a professional mechanic at a municipal fleet garage. I have a Milwaukee 2767-20, but the rest of my cordless tools at the shop are Bauer. The drill and driver are holding up really well after two years of daily use. I also have the smaller reciprocating saw, jig saw, flashlight, heat gun, and tire inflator. I’m happy enough with the Bauer tools that I’m going to go get the 3/8” impact gun and high torque 1/2” gun the next time I’m in the store.
@@michaelcrumlett187 i read this comment a month ago but rewatching i thought i'd drop some things, my business partner bought the bauer with a 3ah and the charger, i bought the ultra torque hercules with the little 1/2 inch 2 5ah and the charger and holy shit the hercules is infinitely better, some serious power with them.
I actually like the bauer tire inflator. I picked it up open box for ~15usd. It's my go to when I need to top up the tires. I got other options but I like the compact size and it's pretty quick paired with a 4ah battery.
The bauer drill and 3/8 impact are both fine for small jobs. It hasn't let me down. I don't have high expectations for either but they have exceeded them.
Bauer impact drill screw driver attachment
Between you and Project Farm. I seriously love the videos. He does the torture. You guys get the specs. Top best channels for testing tools period.
💯 agree
Thank you for vigilantly guarding us all against buyer's regret.
@@codygooch510 his job is dope! Lol
Too late already ordered it 😢
"Bauer's" regret
@@life_of_riley88😂😂😂
Damn. They were doing vagina testing?
I always have the perfect timing. I bought the new brushless Bauer 1/2” drive and sold off the old brushed version. Now, this critter comes along. I only had one issue from the old version for removing a lug nut and that was at a Pull-a-Part yard. The lug nut was rusted and I had the 3 a.h. battery which was not fully charged. In using new version the impact seemed smoother and less chintzy. When y’all go for the Bauer take advantage of the 5 a.h. battery deal, I did.
Same thing happened with me and my local harbor freight. The associates hadn't even heard of the wrench yet, they had no idea what I was talking about. I too finally talked the manager into looking for them and he found a bunch on a pallet. I now have the Ultra torque Hercules and the mid torque brushless Bauer. I already have high output batteries for both, so it was just the price of the tool. I'm pretty stoked!
After investing in Bauer batteries for my other tools, I thought I'd have to eat the cost to get a decent impact. They didn't even have them on the shelf yet at my local HF, thank you for this heads-up.
Bauer has been great with their deals lately for some reason. They had a two 5ah battery deal for $80 a little while back, and right now they have the 5ah with a free brushless impact driver, 3/8 impact wrench, or a couple other tools. I've got a handful of their cordless tools like the driver, the brushless multitool, and the hot glue gun; so far I can't complain.
That’s a bananas deal.
I've bought a new 5ah Bauer battery on eBay for 30 bucks. Very happy with that
Just got a bauer 5ah battery and charger, which came with a free midsize 1/2 impact. Gotta love these deals
Just found your channel and thank you. Just a simple thank you.
I own the 3/8" drive Bauer brushless impact as it was only $44.99 for ITC members. Kind of hard to pass up. Now, they currently have a 15% off ITC coupon for the 1/2' drive brushless you covered in this video and I'm tempted considering it will do the job that I need it to. The ITC bonus 15% off coupon ends today, Mother's Day 2023, so I would need to act sooner than later.
I personally love my 3/8" drive model and I have 2 different batteries, 5mh and 3mh, so I have the recommended battery for power from Bauer/Harbor Freight.
Your channel is killer.
I am converting from old school air to Cordless. I am mainly looking for something that will remove transmissions and engines , Water pumps , Ect. I do not mind breaking out the air to remove wheels. I like the idea of a 3/8. From your experience , Would you recommend the 3/8 or 1/2 ?
I own almost every Milwaukee Fuel tool but because of this channel I branched out! I just got new Kobalt right angle $80, new Dewalt Dcf923b $100, and 2 power stack batteries and charger $100 new, all on eBay! Then I Picked up kobalt 24v weed wacker kit with 2 batteries $70 on sale at lowes! Next is Ridgid Octane High torque for back up before they are all gone and some random metabo stuff! I love this channel!
The rigid is on sale today on dto for $112.
Thank you for doing this test. Now my curiosity is answered without me needing to buy it first,lol. I figured that two Ryobi’s & one Metabo HPT, is enough for my three vehicles to break loose lug nuts. I’m glad that HF is stepping up their game on their Bauer & Hercules cordless power tools
A SeeSii gen 1 will be perfect if you’re not removing lug nuts from large trucks (F-450, etc).
@@michigansoundwizard, he has three impacts. Why would he want that thing?
Seems like hf wants to compete with Milwaukee at the highend with the ultra torque, and with ryobi at the mid end with this bauer. Competition is one helluva drug.
Really not sure how worthwhile the Bauer is compared to the Hercules high torque. The Herc high torque is now priced at $159.99 with the 5 year warranty while the Bauer is still $129.99. If you add a 2 year warranty you're at $169.99. If you can catch it on a good sale price or already have Bauer batteries and charger then maybe. Otherwise I don't see the point unless you are OK flying with the Bauer 90 day warranty. Of course HF may end up lowering the price on the Bauer as they have on the Hercules impacts, particularly the compact 1/2" which started life 2 years ago at $99.99 and is now at $64.99 (still want to see a TTC re-test on that one!!, hint hint!)
I'm a tile & stone contractor going on 40 years. The cheap power tools at HF work just as good as one of the name brands, but they do not work/last very long. Great for an at home do it yourself-er, but not made for every day use on job sites. You get what you pay for.
I disagree mine has worked and lasted very long time.
I just got this in a kit with 5ah battery and charger for $135.99 using a 15% off coupon they had on the website for Bauer and Hercules tools. This kit is normally listed for $159.99 which is still an amazing deal anyway! Cannot beat that!
That is my browsers homepage lol. I was curios how the Bauer was going to perform. The drills seem to test good for the dollar, biggest drawback is the battery packs running highstar cells. Nice video!
Agreed on both. The batteries are certainly the weak-point and with that in mind there's only so beefy they can make any cordless tool in the line. Something they've basically solved with Hercules.
@@TorqueTestChannel Yep with the Extreme packs using Samsung cells.
Just got the BAUER HIGH TQ and have a ADAPTER coming to RUN FLEX BATTERY it should put out more RPMs with the 6AMP STACKED LITHIUM
Thanks Torque Test Channel!!! I've been waiting for this review. Keep up the good work.
Episode idea: Test ideas on how to remove wildly over-tightened lug nuts and lug bolts after your best high-torque method thoroughly rounded off the bolt. You could test the different styles of rounded bolt removers, try welding a new nut onto the bolt, or drilling the nut off, etc. Make sure to simulate the lack of access to the nut that many wheels cause (can only get to them from top top because they are in a recessed hole)
I had this problem with over torqued lug bolts done with an air gun. The only way they would come out with the bauer was holding a propane torch on each one for about 4 minutes a pop, then equipped with a short kobalt socket the new bauer high torque finally got them all out. Had to impact for over 10 seconds on some.
@@dirkdiggler8232 Did the wheel around the lugnut get discolored with that much torch time?
Really nice review. IMO these new Bauer tools should be a top pick for the DIY user.
Exactly what I was thinking by the end. For someone who doesnt work on cars for a living, this would be a great investment short of buying a massive air compressor and air tools. Would probably also work nicely for someone just starting out
I bought the Bauer 2085CR-BR (shorter 1/2" Impact) and it does what I bought it to do. For $60 its dang cheap for a knock around 1/2 impact and its fairly short so it will fit into smaller spaces. I would love to see you guys eventually throw this impact onto your tester for comparison. Thanks for the great videos!
$60 ? the hek how u get it for 60 lol. it's 129 on shelf
He's talking the non brushless 1/2 bauer impact there's a coupon right now for it 49.99
@@slicktmi No, it's brushless. It's the shortest 1/2" impact they offer. The brushed 1/2" is the old one.
@v10viper04 oh yes how do you like it is it strong enough i have my bauer brushless 1/4" driver that i use with socket adapter that thing rips off 3/4 ton lug nuts only thing it has trouble with was the shock bolts and some suspension parts of that 1/2" has a little more nuts it should be perfect
Hate to break it to you but that one is really weak. Its only got the power of a mid torque gun. Does not do lug nuts too well.
Always a Good Friday, new Torque test video to watch!!
Thanks for all the in depth testing. I would certainly like to see some Amazon high torque guns tested.
For $79 I bought a 5Ah battery with rapid charger combo and got this tool for free. And it broke nuts on my rig suspension I torqued to spec @325ft lbs.
yes please review the smaller bauer 1/2 brushlees impact
I love when y'all do the breakdowns
This impact is on sale this weekend for $129 including 5ah battery and charger.
RE: The HF Bauer, Same with me i had to ask a manager at HF about this model, they had them in the "back" storage, they werent out yet on display. I needed this to take off my Lug Nuts and it worked great.
HF has been killing it for the last year or so. But honestly I'd pay the $50 premium for the Hercules High Torque and its 5 yr warranty
5 year warranty on a Harbor Freight tool VS a 3 year warranty with Dewalt, and the Hercules is still cheaper....I have a lot of Dewalt stuff, but their prices have gotten ridiculous as of late, so I've been picking up the Bauer and Hercules stuff lately as they come in stock. No idea how long the Bauer or Hercules stuff will last, but with the prices of Dewalt going up, I'll use the Bauer & Hercules stuff for trips to the pick a part yards and leave the Dewalts at home.
@@wildbill23c good point.
I like how I can take my non working tool to HF and leave with a brand new replacement while neither SBD, Milwaukee or Makita would do that.
@@engineer_alv I think those brands you have to return them for warranty work to a warranty service center? Then you'll probably never see them again...yeah its nice to just walk into a store and make a simple counter exchange and be on your way.
I really enjoy watching all the testing you do …it really adds knowledge, for people to make an informed decision on things. Live confidently and peacefully
I have the Baur hi torque 1/2 impact. Turn it down when tightening or you'll snap bolts.
I am a contractor, i use only Bauer, they are amazing.
Not bad at all! Especially if you are already in the Bauer line, this would be a great upgrade. 🐺🔧
I have yellow, red, and blue platforms....I've been running the yellow tools since 2005 with the 18V stuff then gradually switched to the 20V as the 18V batteries bit the dust. I've been picking up the Hercules and Bauer stuff along the way now as well, for a throw the tool bag in the truck for pick a part yard visits stuff. I keep my yellow tools at home now, the blue and red stuff is the only thing that leaves the property LOL.
I really do love the Amazon testing videos you do. Not that I’d ever buy one, the novelty of it makes for great entertainment. And keep the flashlight videos coming
This will be a nice tool to have for those emergency tire swaps on the side of the road. 😂
Would love to see other non Amazon budget brands like Worx and Masterforce
Would honestly love to see a test on that HF compact bauer 20v 1/2in impact you mentioned.
I bought the high torque bauer when it first came out and used it daily at the dealership i worked at. Had no issues with it until about a year in the trigger started to act up. Took it apart and cleaned the trigger contacts, worked perfectly again and still works good to this day!
10:12 - The trigger switch is a sealed unit. How did you take it apart?
Would be interesting to see the numbers with the new 8ah 21700 cell batteries
I RARELY need anything other than my 3/8” stubby for what I do so honestly… I’m tempted to pick this up for the few times a year I need a high torque.
Excellent review - a vote for more Amazon reviews - I could watch tests of those no names all day.
I still love my SeeSii gen 1 mid torque. I was sad to see this SeeSii high torque fail. lol
Something you forgot to mention is that during March and April you can get a FREE tool when you purchase a 5AH bauer battery. I got the new brushless impact driver with my battery but there is 7 or 8 other tools to choose from. Crazy value
We purposefully dont mention sales because people might be watching our videos months or a year from now and then our testing/impressions if tied to that current sale price aren't relevant to them any longer. We try to use normal selling price on everything which also makes it a level playing field. Come winter we sort of get lit up in the comments for the deals you can find vs the prices we show, but then in January people are all reasonable again :P
@@TorqueTestChannel ok gotcha wasn't sure if you knew about it or not. Thanks for the highlight I'm trying to get the word out because it seems no one knows about this sale, even the workers at my local store had no idea.
@@matthewbull5606 Nah it's a good point and we appreciate people highlighting this stuff in the comments
Can you please have a look at the parkside performance impact wrench
@@sublimelove157 Sort of hard to get one and a battery and charger in the U.S. it might be like 400+ EUR
Here in Europe, we've had the Parkside Performance high torque at €129, rated for 1356Nm fastening and 1898Nm loosening. Would love to see some Parkside tools on this channel in the future!
Most recent model number is PASSP 20-Li A3
Yes iv been trying to ask them to test the parkside, I want one but I’m in the UK
And I have to import it, they sell the non performance from time to time in lidl
I hope they test parkside
300 British pounds tool only in the US
@@TorqueTestChannel Ouch
Thanks for this video i had the baure mid torque but once i got the email for the new high torque i returned it so fast my store said they didn't even have the high torque on shelfs yet
Love to see it. With my Ultra Torque living at the Kustoms shop, I was curious if this would be worth having at home, but luckily(or unluckily), I already broke the bank on the DCF891 so it’s become my de facto high torque at the home body shop. I love the size, but man it definitely deserves its wrist breaking score haha.
I just dont see the aging Milwaukee 2767 being worth $280 these days with plenty of mid-range brands making that level of power. Hopefully we get the new high torque soon.
Well it's currently $217 here: amzn.to/3mBQgjw but yeah who knows how long that will last. Home depot was asking over $300 for it recently. It's a whole battery ecosystem you're buying into though of course, Bauer has some decent tools but still fairly limited.
@@TorqueTestChannelthat’s why I got battery adapters lol
I'm from the future, the new Milwaukee high torque is amazing. Let's go Red. 😂
You mentioned the extended warranty on Bauer, but it is actually a "replacement plan" IIRC which is more like insurance. So you must purchase the replacement plan again if you have to replace the tool for any reason outside of the 90 days. Where a warranty would be free and continue the balance of the remaining warranty window without purchasing another replacement plan.
They tried to use my replacement plan once when a tool failed in the first 90 days and that is how I found out the difference.
Great video. I honestly just like the bauer matches my Milwaukee stuff and the blue ones don't look as nice.
Love the videos! I would love to see the Bauer with 8ah and maybe vs other Bauer impact models. Thanks for the vids!
Right now they have a battery kit going on where you get a battery a charger and a free tool for 80 bucks so right now you could get this brushless impact with battery and tool for $80
So I would say Bauer wins on that right now
Ive been using the hercules high torque model professionally and it really does get the job done although it does struggle with some bigger jobs like heavy duty or lifted trucks with heavy aftermarket wheels, and also the battery isn't very well secured to the tool so it likes to fall off sometimes, its a good value for the lube tech whos starting out. Only thing I regret is not getting the ultra torque model.
And you put this out right after I get home I guess this the next tool for the camper
I purchased the Dewalt DCF900 kit at Lowes about 6 weeks ago for 345 out the door. I just priced the Bauer out for 248 out the door. I'll take my Dewalt hands down for the extra 90+ bucks and the extra power.
I believe you get like $20 off buying all components in store but I'm with ya
When you said " names that make you scratch your head" I was laughing so hard, very true statement.
I have the milwaukee and i like it. Original bought it for axle replacement. Then needed it to replace engine mounts which touch out to be great. Breaks them 14 year old bolts right loose
I bought a Bauer 1/4 impact for $50 6.5 years ago and it finally quit on me today. And I used it regularly and abusivly lol dropped off ladders 14+ feet up, dropped off second story walls and roofs, forgot it in the rain and snow for 3 months… and has always until today maintained 90lbs torque when I used it for lug nuts
I've been waiting a long time for a good 1/2 Bauer impact gun. The old one is the ony thing from them that I have bought that I absolutely regret getting. I've been eyeing this new one since it was quietly announced. As soon as I saw this review, I went to HF and bought one....they offer ly had the in the back of the store.
I appreciate the info I was planning on headed to harbor frieght tomarrow but wasn't sure if I wanted to Bauer or hercules definitely helped me decide
I mean this is awesome considering I already have a 5 year old Bauer 1/2 inch, 3/8,1/4, grinder,circularsaw, Bluetooth radio, fan, light, and usb charger for home use and always looking for more. I do believe I will add this to the collection. We only
Use Milwaukee at work but like I said most of my Bauer stuff is better than five
Years old and never had a problem. Plu
I know it’s just a smaller version of the Hercules, but I’d really love to see you test the newer Bauer 1/2” brushless mid-torque. They’re giving them away for free right now with the purchase of a 5ah battery starter kit (battery & charger).
My old IR coldless gave up the ghost and I need to replant axle and both front lower control arms on the daily. I think this will fit the bill
Now that ive had this for a year now, i can say it does every thing i ask. Thing is a beast,full time mechanic.
Bought the 2960 mid torque from Milwaukee and I love it..
At 1:15
"....-$20 bucks...."
$129.99 in 2023 is equal to $93.07 in 2010.... According to my inflation calculator when I run it backwards.
Just thought that was interesting....
I refer these videos to friends who even mention impacts or anything in your realm..thanks guys
Market competition driving prices down! awesome to see! I wish all our Canadian monopoly businesses had to content with competion like we're seeing in the world of mid\high torque impacts.
Gotta love how the SeeSii, the LED light keeps working though the tool does not... In fact it keeps working even w/o the battery on it! lol I get there's some capacitance there but that thing is on for several seconds with no battery?!?
I have the new Hercules ULTRA Impact and it's a beast! HF has come a long way
I've bought the Bauer 1/2" with the 5ah battery charger combo for $99. As an auto mechanic and for everyday use It does everything I need. 🇺🇲👍
Grabbed one immediately. Works great
the pins on the tool side might be gapped too far where they contact the battery terminals on the seesi? just a thought
Can you do a 3/8 impact test? Everyone always wants the big bad high torque tests but a 3/8 and maybe even 1/4 would be great also
Let’s assume same power, but it needs a long term quality test for longevity!!!!!! Another awesome video 👍👍
Amazon high torques is a must make must see video, the carnage should be beautiful.
Thanks for this vid. I was just about to buy that new Bauer but after seeing this vid I think I'm going with the Hercules Ultra Torque..
Let’s Go!!!! Saw this pop up and it made my day!! P.S. I am killing them all with my Ultra Torque. I’m am not anyones favorite right now. So far showed up 2 “Trusty Dusty” Milwaukee 2767’s and I live in Milwaukee so you KNOW they aren’t liking this. Hahahah
Could you test some corded high-torque impacts?
The problem I found with Harbor Freight is that once the product is a few years old, getting replacement batteries is impossible, and so I'm leery of all HF battery products. Part of why I'm not so afraid to invest in Milwaukee's M12 line - I'm confident that 5-8 year from now I'll still be able to get M12 batteries, or at the very least, replace old cells.
Now, a corded high-torque impact would be a different story, luckily HF sells one of those as well for all of $90.
Would love to know the working fastening torque of the Bauer on all 3 speed settings.
Can't seem to find that information anywhere.
Nice. I'm happy with my $80 ridgid octane. Thanks direct tools outlet.
Just got one love it already have all the batteries can't go wrong
SeeSii also have a right angle impact wrench akin to the m12 and kobalt. It would be good to see a comparrison between those.
Cut a small tab off the bauer and it will take dewalt batteries. I have an old brushed makita high torque that does the job with a freshly charged 5 ah, but lacking otherwise. Might buy this to replace it. The batterys that were available when Makita came out didn't really have enough amperage to do a good job. I kept it long enough that the newer battteries produce enough to run the brushed motor. If yall want to test an older Makita I'll send it to you. I would be curious as to were it ranked. Its a btw450, very lightly used so should be representative of its era.
Nice, I was curious how this was going to do. Have you guys ever considered testing the newer Hercules 5Ah batteries with the black top? I’ve read that they switched cells for the worse from the older blue top model which is what you’ve used in testing.
Can review any of the new Ridgid tools, the new sub compact impact wrench, the new impact driver, or the high torque hammer drill?
Can you test the Bauer 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch mid torques??? I have one and really want to know how it compares to my gen 3 Milwaukee high torque.
Will the existing 20v DeWalt adapter work for these? Might swoop one of I don't have to get new batteries and chargers
The Hercules 59398 tool tested here as different specs than the ones in the store. The store ones have much higher torque ratings. Has the tool been upgraded?
This may be a contender for something that I only need to swap out wheels on my car a few times a year.
Strangely searching that model number brings up a wet and dry vacuum (though it is correct per HF website) and I can't find it anywhere on Amazon
Shame about the seesii. Like you mentioned if I needed something like this I would've not hesitated due to the others doing well.
Would be curious to see you revisit this test again with the new 8ah bauer battery, see if the extra juice gives us some more torques.
I would love to see the kobalt right angle impact vs the Seesii right angle impact.
I am flush in Bauer batteries and high speed charger. Have to account for that when I buy a new cordless tool.
I like my Bauer stuff.
Can you guys test their compact model next?
Hey I have that Bauer! I use it to work on my car and it’s been pretty good so far, makes short work out of some pretty tight bolts
Pro at work. Pro homer at home. Got this for home. Easiest brake job I ever did. Good value.