I already forgot. LOL Anyway they are not bad cells.
Hercules cordless
- Thread starter MattPersman
- Start date
Have you verified that by calling their parts and service dept? They have a 5 year over the counter warranty, they will just replace it.
After 5 years what parts do you need on an $80 bare tool? After 5 years if it breaks I thank it for its service and toss it in the bin and replace it.
Meh, if they stand behind the warranty you get 5 years plus a potential replacement. Assume you get 8+ years...not a bad investment if it's for a business.
I understand lamentations about our disposable society, but in the business world nothing lasts forever...similar to how municipalities replace vehicles every 3 years (or insert any interval you like).
I'm NOT arguing for or against Hercules, merely saying the real world and the ideal world rarely align.
I purchased the compact Hercules 1/2" impact wrench when they had buy a battery and charger get the tool for free or 120 dollars. I'm very pleased. It has plenty of power to remove my 100 ft. lb lugs and even removed my axle nuts at 184 ft lbs with ease. Not only that but the battery lasts a long time. Being as Hercules has a 5 year warranty on the tool and a 3 year warranty on the battery it's hard to fault. The tool seems very well built which is important to me. I don't know if this impact wrench would hold up to all day every day use however they do have a 5 year warranty which is better than Dewalt's 3 year warranty. I've used their warranty service and I just walked in with this torque wrench and the guy walked right over and grabbed one off the shelf. Zero problems getting that torque wrench replaced. He didn't even ask for the receipt which I had in my pocket.
That disposable idea goes against my principles. Just last week my Bosch grinder needed a new front armature bearing. I had fun measuring it and comparing it to a bearing chart online to get its part number. I then go downtown to the industrial supply store and get one. Now the grinder runs like new. It's over 20 years old. The satisfaction I get from maintaining and repairing my tools has no price tag.
You and i can take apart tools and look for parts. The pros lose money doing that. Time is money. They need to make money working on cars , not the tools.
In my experience/opinion, alot depends on who you get when you present for warranty. One store in Phila will argue like crazy, but others are easy going. Just my opinion...
If you give them name and phone number they have a receipt in their system and also email one to you. No one disliked HF more than I did, I still have that awful cheap Chinese rubber smell in my nose their stores used to have. Times change, the stores today are not like that anymore, the cheap and cheesy orange Chicago electric junk is mostly gone and having a store less than a mile away makes a difference.
Harbor Freight has a $120 deal on Hercules: buy the Hercules 5Ah 20V battery and the 4A charger for $120 and get a free tool.
Hercules Deal
Hercules Deal
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I think they are moving in a better direction. More Taiwan products.
Quality of some items are higher.
I think the icon tools are filling a void that's been missing for 2 decades. The quality craftsman void. The quality of craftsman is nothing like it was 20+ years ago. HF icon is filling that void.
I don't have much HF stuff outside of jacks, stands, and a press and of course tool chests, which are very good.
I think they are starting to get out of the stereotype of garbage cheap tools.
I think I’ll take one for the team and get the mid torque 1/2 inch and the long neck 1/4 ratchet. I know that ratchet (at least I think) isn’t 5 year warranty so if that’s the case I’ll buy the plan to be safe
Hope to swing by this weekend and get them let y’all know
Hope to swing by this weekend and get them let y’all know
MattP: Note that the mid-torque 1/2 inch impact is free if you buy the charger and 20 volt battery as stated in post #30. Also, the 1/4" extended reach cordless ratchet is 12 volts, so you will need a different battery. The charger can handle both 20 volt and 12 volt batteries. I bought the 1/4" ratchet a few weeks ago and it was very useful in doing a Honda timing belt job last weekend.
Here is a coupon that you can use for the cordless ratchet.
Here is a coupon that you can use for the cordless ratchet.
Last time i was in HF, i had a quick look at the battery, and seating design of some hercules tools.
Did not look too different from Dewalts 20v system.
Anybody have both to compare and contrast?
Did not look too different from Dewalts 20v system.
Anybody have both to compare and contrast?
JHZR2
Staff member
Ive had large manufacturers build significant size Li-ion batteries for me, and one thing that happens once they are made, formed, cycled, and watched, is that the voltages and sometimes 1kHz impedances get binned.
Well made packs get very closely matched cells. The other outliers need to go to another product.
So to me the question becomes if the higher end name brand products get the best cells, does cut rate stuff like from HF get the rest?
it’s statistics, plain and simple in this game. The management systems and electronics from one vendor to another may be better or worse, but when it comes to the cells, the standard distribution exists. Barring a high impedance (slow discharge) short, the good cells will fall in a statistical distribution. Those unmatched cells thst are the outliers probably get sold for mess money and put into cut rate packs for second class vendors….
JHZR2
Staff member
That’s a good point about these tools. While I don’t have a bad gut feel about Milwaukee due to failed batteries, I too share the displeasure of an offshored classic name. But Milwaukee is just one of many like that.
I hate giving my dollars to the Chinese war machine. But I also recognize that for the most part all of these battery tools are made over there. My Dewalt 20v stuff is mainly US made but I suspect the inner components aren’t.
Im not opposed to multiple tool brands if some brand has a best in class item that is superior to others in my book/view. If/when HF has something that excels for some reason I’d consider it. Unfortunately there really isn’t any better option. I doubt even Hilti or Festool or Snap On sell first world battery tools…
The last Hilti batteries I bought were made in Poland with cells made in Japan and the other one was made in Japan. This was pre Nuron and I have not yet got into that line. Hilti batteries cost a small fortune but quality has a price.
Harbor Freight has come a long way better quality products at much higher prices.
With respect to quality cordless tools I think Milwaukee wins.
Almost as important as the quality of the tool is, is the quality of the battery pack. I have yet to have a Milwaukee OEM battery fail. Two Ryobi OEM batteries have failed. Several aftermarket batteries have failed.
My experience with Milwaukee batteries is the exact opposite, 3 fails in a row, I will never buy another TTI tool.
I like being able to buy replacement battery packs from Vanon. They perform well and are available for most major brands. HF not so much, I just looked. From my time with flashlights I've learned when you see 18650 cells too cheap they are salvaged and the decent ones have new endcaps on them to hide the spot welds from disassembly. They are a smidgen longer. They halve some life left but are not new batteries. Not saying HF uses them but who knows ww/o looking. They usually have "fire" somewhere in their name. Might be telling......
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