I decided to switch all my cordless tools to Hercules

[Notgrownup]

Going all in and getting all Hercules cordless tools while they have a 20% daily coupon. I already got the driver/impact with 2 batteries and a charger and the circular saw, I already had 2 chargers and some 20v 5AH batteries and a 12v 4AH battery. These are what I’m getting. This will be for homeowner use but I’m hearing more and more that commercial guys buying these as well. The reviews and 5 years warranty won’t me over.
I won a $500 visa gift card recently at a vendor trade show so it was time

 

[willf650]

Now that their lineups expanded, I would possibly be willing to give them a shot, but I more or less have everything I need in Milwaukee and DeWalt.

Way back in the day I used to work with a guy that had all Ryobi stuff. It worked well enough, and if it broke, you didn't care you just bought another.

I've worn out some DeWalt and broke a couple Milwaukee M12s so nothing's indestructible. What kind of pissed me off is on one Milwaukee the trigger wore out and the replacement part was as much as a new drill.

I'm already carrying battery adapters to run DeWalt tools on Milwaukee batteries in my work truck so I'd be willing to give a cheap Hercules tool shot with a battery adapter

 

[Notgrownup]

We use DeWalt at work and I commend them for a good tool, it works great but for my budget. I was going to get Bauer but opted for the Better Hercules lineup. The only 12 volt tool I want for now is the little extended ratchet.

 

[zendriver]

Don't really see the platform going away any time soon.

I have a couple of the brushless impacts. Nice.

 

[Gmonkee]

I am busy picking up the mish-mash of tools and battery platforms others are shedding.
We have six battery types in use and aren't afraid of cheaper corded tools.

We are heavy in B+D 20v max at least. But when we get a drill, battery and charger for less than a spare B+D battery that's a deal.

Buying the random stuff has lead us to know which to continue in based on support, quality and power output.
A few have really surprised us.

 

[zendriver]

Going from the HF 90 day, to a 5 year (3 for batteries) warranty will promote the Hercules platform.

 

[mike93lx]

What did you have previously?

 

[AEAdam]

I'm not sure this is a great idea.

1) Having a single battery platform just isn't really practical or even possible. Eventually you will need a tool only available on some other platform.
2) The low price of the HF tools seems good, but there are deals and sales on the better brands that make the difference pretty inconsiderable.
3) I have no data and have heard nothing about HF batteries/chargers. All I know is that Ave opened up some knock off batteries. The cells were identical or better than the name brand cells, but the battery management chip was really low quality. That chip is 1/2 of the system that keeps your batteries from catching fire. So for me, it's name brand batteries and chargers only. Rebuilt would be ok if they kept the same circuitry, but that hasn't been an issue for me yet.

I find Milwaukee tools pretty affordable and I've become a fan of the M12 line. I like the 4amphr batteries with the little rectangular foot on them for better balance and being about to stand the tool up. I think at this point, choosing HF cordless tools isn't a great idea when better tools, with bigger selection are available for not that much more money.

TIP: Buy the batteries on sale from a big box store known to not permit counterfeits. Or buy a starter set on sale. Then buy the tools refurbished or used with or without batteries. I just bought a M12 stubby 3/8" impact for $50 with 2 batteries (2 amp and 4 amp) and a broken charger I chucked in the trash. It was a little dirty/greasy. I cleaned it up and it looks almost new.

 

[Aaron_W]

I still rely on corded tools for the most part but Bauer has become my primary cordless brand, along with a smattering of Hercules, Ryobi and Makita.

While I'm sure in a direct comparison the Bauer tools will lose against the big names I've been quite happy with them. They are much better than the price would suggest. I've only got a few Hercules tools, but I would say the same for them.

I started with Bauer because of the price, I've largely stayed with them over Hercules because they are good enough and they offer a wider variety of options. I have found Ryobi to be better than Bauer in the yard / garden tools area, and Hercules isn't even a contender there.

I'm both happy and sad that I'm out of town. Sad because I could have made good use of that 20% coupon this weekend, happy because I don't really need anything and I won't be making good use of that coupon this weekend.

 

[jd_1138]

I still rely on corded tools for the most part but Bauer has become my primary cordless brand, along with a smattering of Hercules, Ryobi and Makita.

While I'm sure in a direct comparison the Bauer tools will lose against the big names I've been quite happy with them. They are much better than the price would suggest. I've only got a few Hercules tools, but I would say the same for them.

I started with Bauer because of the price, I've largely stayed with them over Hercules because they are good enough and they offer a wider variety of options. I have found Ryobi to be better than Bauer in the yard / garden tools area, and Hercules isn't even a contender there.

I'm both happy and sad that I'm out of town. Sad because I could have made good use of that 20% coupon this weekend, happy because I don't really need anything and I won't be making good use of that coupon this weekend.

I have the 6 tool Bauer combo kit that was $250. It has a impact driver, regular drill, oscilating multi tool, blower, circular saw, small light, 2 batteries (1.5 and 3aH), charger.

They are good, but then again I haven't used them much. I also have a few Makita tools and corded too. I am of the opinion chasing all one brand is not economical. Some of the cheaper brands have decent stuff you can get use out of.

 

[FTG-05]

I'm now a fan of Hercules having used my 20v grease gun several times.

 

[Notgrownup]

What did you have previously?

Porter Cable

 

[mike93lx]

Porter Cable

I bet this is going to be a great step up. Enjoy!

 

[zendriver]

Told the wife a cordless vac would make it quicker for her to clean out her car, so tomorrow after work, I'll pick up the wet/dry for 20% off.

 

[Notgrownup]

Picked up the Jigsaw today and will get the reciprocating saw tomorrow.

 

[Aaron_W]

I have the 6 tool Bauer combo kit that was $250. It has a impact driver, regular drill, oscilating multi tool, blower, circular saw, small light, 2 batteries (1.5 and 3aH), charger.

They are good, but then again I haven't used them much. I also have a few Makita tools and corded too. I am of the opinion chasing all one brand is not economical. Some of the cheaper brands have decent stuff you can get use out of.

Yes, I've found that there are a lot of tools that I'd like but can't justify the price of a premium brand for the use I'd get out of them. Ryobi, Bauer and Hercules are good enough, and priced right for those kinds of tools.

With the Bauer tools I found going to the 5ah batteries gives many of them a noticeable improvement. HF often puts the 2 pack of 5ah batteries on sale for $89 for Bauer and $99 for Hercules.

Told the wife a cordless vac would make it quicker for her to clean out her car, so tomorrow after work, I'll pick up the wet/dry for 20% off.

I've got the little Hercules 1/2 gallon handheld and a larger 3-1/2 gallon Bauer cordless. Super handy.

 

[Twisted Sid]

I have no data and have heard nothing about HF batteries/chargers.

Probably should have stopped there then

 

[decableguy2000]

Have the cordless/corded vacuum for a while now. Its been great. Have the 12v die grinder and its been good as well. Just picked up the cordless band saw Friday haven't used it yet. May get the 7 1/4 cordless circular saw tomorrow. Seems to have good reviews. I have an older brushed 6 1/2 Dewalt it a little on the weak side. Picked up a 8 and 12ah batteries awhile back.

 

[shoggoth80]

I own a handful of HF cordless tools. For the price point, I like them plenty. I've got Bauer impact driver and 1/2 impact gun... Neither are brushless. I've got the Herc 3/8 extended ratchet, again not brushless. The one Bauer yard tool I have is the line trimmer. It does more than I expected.

I've run the Bauer impact tools pretty hard, and they're still kicking. When pretty much every cordless thing is produced offshore, there's some benefit to being able to get pieces cheaply locally. I wouldn't mind upgrading my impact stuff to the blue brand, but they're still working. If I manage to grenade them, or I really get into a spot where I need the newer more compact versions, then I'll cross that bridge. Barring some kind of windfall anyway.

 

[Wamsutta]

The Bauer line always reminds me of the Jack Bauer played by Kiefer Sutherland.

Matter of fact, I'm just going to call the tool 'Jack Bauer' from here on out.

 

[drokihazan]

I'm definitely not leaving the Milwaukee and Snap-On cordless ecosystems at this point, but I buy a fair number of corded Hercules tools and really like them (portaband, tablesaw, chop saw) and I'm thinking about picking up the Hercules belt grinder tomorrow on the sale

 

[Notgrownup]

I am very impressed so far with all the pieces I got.

 

[Notgrownup]

went today for the last of the 20% on a drill then I got a orbital sander and a smaller 12v drill driver for the missus to have near the house.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Hercules sounds like a good buy. Only have cordless impacts, drills, and multi tool, Dewalt and Makita. May add Hercules after I buy some Milwaukee cordless tools. 4 battery platforms may be too many.

 

[Notgrownup]

I’m selling my collection of Porter Cable

 

[willf650]

I was at Harbor Freight today taking advantage of the 20% off coupon and looked at the Hercules stuff and actually bought the band saw stand.

I‘d have no issues trying the tools. Everything you get from big red is from china so why not pay less for it. There lineup seems to have everything you would need. Only thing lacking is a better cordless rotary hammer, although the one they have is only $100. I paid $350 for the one from big red.

 

[txvwnut]

I had a guy that worked for me at the day job and used a Hercules 1/2” impact. I think that thing would stand right with a Milwaukee.

 

[eviltwin]

I don’t think having multiple battery platforms is a bad thing unless you work job sites with no power. No platform has all the best/affordable tools. Having a few platforms lets you pick and choose the best/affordable options.

A great example is the Hercules 12V right angle die grinder. Even if you are in the M12 platform, you can buy 2 Hercules tools, 2 batteries and a charger for cheaper than a single Milwaukee M12 tool only. Then you will have batteries for HF future brushless Hercules ratchets

 

[Notgrownup]

I am so impressed with these Hercules tools. Just WOW! even the smaller 12v with 4AH DRILL it’s not brushless but it packs a nice punch. The circular saw I was the most impressed with. Only need to buy a reciprocating saw now and a ratchet and my collection will be complete, well maybe…

 

[1982fxr]

Great til next week when hf drops the line and something new takes its spot.

 

[mike93lx]

"I'm happy about my new tools"

"here's why you shouldn't be"

 

[zendriver]

Great til next week when hf drops the line and something new takes its spot.

Why would they do that?

The Hercules stuff is selling like crazy

 

[littleboss]

I am afraid of Hercules, Ryobi and similar brands. I am not a full time mechanic but a retired farmer but I use my tools everyday. I have Milwaukee and DeWalt. My Milwaukee stuff is mechanic tools and outdoor tools (chainsaw, hedge trimmer, etc). I have DeWalt for the woodworking tools- routers, saws, sanders,, etc. My only Milwaukee ww tool is my track saw.

Just because a Hercules tool looks like a Milwaukee or both are built in China doesn't mean it's built the same internally.
If I need a throwaway tool for one or two uses I will consider HF

 

[Cruzan80]

Great til next week when hf drops the line and something new takes its spot.

I really don't get this attitude. I have posted something similar before (like for the "Flex" clear-out). Maybe someone can hep me understand the FOMO here (at least for a homeowner, vs a business).

If the OP has everything he needs, and enough batteries to last a while, and is happy about how it performs, what does it matter if/when they drop the line? I have batteries that are over a decade old, and still work just fine. The tools don't stop working just because they don't sell them "new" anymore. Maybe he misses out on the newest, most powerful, lightest, etc, but the tools still continue to do a job for him, at a weight/power/cost that he is happy with.

For reference, I have CM Nextec 12V, B&D/Porter-Cable 20V, and just going to add a bit of CM 20V (due to free battery swap). If anything, some of the weirder/rarer CM Nextec stuff has been easier to find once it got dropped. At this point, I think I have 10-12 batteries, multiple impacts/drills, at least 2x of anything I care about (RA impact, etc), and just about anything else they made (missing the jigsaw and rotating hammerhead, and may pick up the mouse sander soon) and it still probably cost less than a Milwaukee 12v multi-set. For the PC stuff, the only "new" development that I picked up was when the released the mid-torque brushless along with CM (and may end up grabbing the hi-torque if I can find a deal), and a couple of larger batteries now that they are on sale again. Everything else was before they went exclusive to TSC (Vac, drills/impacts, nailers, etc).

 

[AEAdam]

I really don't get this attitude. I have posted something similar before (like for the "Flex" clear-out). Maybe someone can hep me understand the FOMO here (at least for a homeowner, vs a business).

If the OP has everything he needs, and enough batteries to last a while, and is happy about how it performs, what does it matter if/when they drop the line?

Because there is no “everything”. No single platform makes everything, let alone makes it all well.

I had all Bosch carpentry tools. No reason except I liked the slider and the routers were top notch. So I went with their 18v stuff. And I have almost everything but not everything.

I needed a pex expander, so now I have Milwaukee m12. My Bosch laser is 12v so I have that. Makita has a cordless planer, and biscuit joiner that no one else had.

Now when I see something I like, like the low torque semi quiet Milwaukee surge, I can buy the bare tool for $50-100 on eBay. Because I already have the batteries for it.

If you give up one platform and switch to something like Hercules, you’re just going to regret it. You’ll feel left behind because you will be. Does that make sense?

For the flip side, here I am with Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch and 5 different battery chargers (12 & 18v) feeling pretty foolish. But the reality is, no one company makes everything, so it’s a bit unavoidable.

 

[Cruzan80]

None of the points you make deal with Hercules being discontinued, which was my main point.

TL;DR Name me one tool that Porter Cable (what he switched from) makes, that Hercules doesnt. Otherwise, your "everything" argument is nonsensical when applied to the OP.




How about "If Hercules has everything he needs CURRENTLY"? Then he is fine.

I wasn't not trying to say the OP should never buy another system, just don't get this FOMO of "They may discontinue the lineup, and the world will end.

If you give up one platform and switch to something like Hercules, you’re just going to regret it. You’ll feel left behind because you will be. Does that make sense?

No, not really. Because either they have what I think I will need right now, and I will be happy, or they don't. If they don't make a special whiz-bang in the future, I can look at that tool on its own merits then. But because they may not have a specialty tool that I may or may not ever want? That is almost the definition of FOMO. Not being "left behind" IF the current lineup MEETS My NEEDS.

 

[mike93lx]

How about "enjoy the hell out of the new tools you are happy with"?

 

[Cruzan80]

How about "enjoy the hell out of the new tools you are happy with"?

Because some people can't stand anyone being happy with a HF tool, and need to point out where they went wrong.

 

[Bert_]

I am afraid of Hercules, Ryobi and similar brands. I am not a full time mechanic but a retired farmer but I use my tools everyday. I have Milwaukee and DeWalt. My Milwaukee stuff is mechanic tools and outdoor tools (chainsaw, hedge trimmer, etc). I have DeWalt for the woodworking tools- routers, saws, sanders,, etc. My only Milwaukee ww tool is my track saw.

Just because a Hercules tool looks like a Milwaukee or both are built in China doesn't mean it's built the same internally.
If I need a throwaway tool for one or two uses I will consider HF

I'm not a Milwaukee fanboy anymore. I used them for quite a few years and still do use some of their stuff. Some of their drills are junk. I'd get less than a year out of the fuel ones.

If everybody is selling junk, you might as well buy the cheaper one.

 

[zendriver]

I really don't get this attitude. I have posted something similar before (like for the "Flex" clear-out). Maybe someone can hep me understand the FOMO here (at least for a homeowner, vs a business).

Doesn't really make sense anyway.

HF as far as it's "major" cordless tool lines, have only dumped "Chicago electric" and "Drillmaster" (cordless anyway) goofy brand names and dated, so-so technology that was destined for the boneyard anyway.

If the OP has everything he needs, and enough batteries to last a while, and is happy about how it performs, what does it matter if/when they drop the line? I have batteries that are over a decade old, and still work just fine. The tools don't stop working just because they don't sell them "new" anymore. Maybe he misses out on the newest, most powerful, lightest, etc, but the tools still continue to do a job for him, at a weight/power/cost that he is happy with.

Not sure why they would even want to "drop the line", since most everything in the store now days, is seemingly Bauer or Hercules. Would make about as much sense, as if Sears had dumped Craftsman to "Greattools" brand name.

Besides unless I missing it, there does not seem to be much of any new battery technology that would make anybody, including Milwaukee "jump ship" on their current profitable cordless tool platforms.

HF competes against Milwaukee, just fine it seems.

For reference, I have CM Nextec 12V, B&D/Porter-Cable 20V, and just going to add a bit of CM 20V (due to free battery swap). If anything, some of the weirder/rarer CM Nextec stuff has been easier to find once it got dropped. At this point, I think I have 10-12 batteries, multiple impacts/drills, at least 2x of anything I care about (RA impact, etc), and just about anything else they made (missing the jigsaw and rotating hammerhead, and may pick up the mouse sander soon) and it still probably cost less than a Milwaukee 12v multi-set. For the PC stuff, the only "new" development that I picked up was when the released the mid-torque brushless along with CM (and may end up grabbing the hi-torque if I can find a deal), and a couple of larger batteries now that they are on sale again. Everything else was before they went exclusive to TSC (Vac, drills/impacts, nailers, etc).

I have Cman 19.2v Lion stuff that still works fine 20 years later.

The HF brands are only going to get more robust, IMO