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If you look at the instructions, these drills are not rated to drill anything over 11/2". The fact that Makita cut out when drilling an oversized hole is a plus because that drill will have a longer useful lifespan than the other two drills.
Well, considering the DeWalt model used has a plastic chuck grip and probably has brushes... probably the Mikita. (Edit: They all have brushes, so that's fair at least; still, seeing a best vs best vs best would be cool) I think for $60 USD more the DeWalt steps its game up. I've never seen the comparisons of the best DeWalts against the Best of its competition: always seems to be a compromise in testing on every channel that does it. But hey, that's my thoughts on the prediction.
I actually work at Harbor Freight and sell these drills. I get a lot of feedback from my customers regarding the production, reliability and performance of the Hercules tools. The feedback I've gotten has been overwhelmingly positive. One of my favorites, a customer bought one of the Hercules angle grinders about a year ago that he intended to use daily at his work with the intention of trying to burn it up........he is still using that angle grinder ;) Also, the batteries for the Hercules (as well as the Bauer) are at least 1/3 the price as is for the DeWalt, Makita, etc. This is a great real world comparison and appreciate the information as I will be able to pass this on to my customers that are considering this drill. Thanks for the vid!!!!!
In my experience as a full-time Harbor Freight cashier for the last several months, I don't recall seeing a single Hercules product come back faulty. They really are built like tanks.
My guess is that most costumers will buy the Hercules for very light home use due to the cheap price (=lower expectations) as opposed to buying Makita/DeWalt for contractor/extensive use. Still, I'm surprised how well it did.
@@Greg8872 Which no one does. They run right back to the store with them. Most of the tool stores, including Harbor Freight, will refund or exchange the tool. People do not like to deal with factory service. If the H-F guy says they are not being returned (and other tools ARE) then I will have to concede he is probably right.
I was a Logistics Supervisor at a Harbor Freight in Iowa recently and most of my farmer customers rave about the Hurcules line HF has. That's not an exaggeration. I was skeptical myself. But I gotta listen to my customers. BTW, I own most of the drills/impacts myself, and have never had a problem with them. They also a 3.0 AH battery!
I really appreciate that you sharpened the auger bit each time. You gave each drill a solid chance and equal fairness. As a newcomer, I’m looking at the Hercules.
Extremely happy with my Hercules. Been using it for work 5 days a week for the past 6 months. Amazing battery life and performs better than my old Dewalt.
A total surprise. I work in construction and I use all Dewalt tools and the battery is interchangeable with other Dewalt tools. Now I have to look twice when I go to Harbor Freight. Thanks for the video.
A side not to that.....i work at Harbor Freight and the Hercules batteries are interchangeable with other Hercules tools, as are the Bauer batteries. The batteries are also about 1/3 of the price as the Dewalt, Makita, etc.
I am shocked. For the record, I am a regular Harbor Freight shopper. And I did not expect the Hercules drill to kick this much ass or much less, come in first place. Awesome. Thanks for your review.
@@cloverdale87 i mean yeah you'd want another battery for sure. But right out of the gate they give you a bigger 2.5ah battery so you can get longer uses out of it. Personally i use ryobi because you get two batteries. And they charge in 30 minutes. Which is why i prefer ryobi.
@@hairpunut and you can get two 4 amp hour batteries for a smokin deal during the holidays. I noticed ryobi would sell their best batt years ago during the holidays in a BOGO twin pack for the same price as a single battery. that was usually around $99 for two. But sometimes, they would move them to a small clearance section in the power tool aisle and I got some for $85 and then another one (or two) for $79. Sweet! So I have a lot of their stuff because it's so inexpensive, rugged, and, so far, reliable (except the trim nailer started screwing up until I found a video on YT on how to fix the problem). The lawn equipment etc. All good enough and some great tools but you just can't beat the cost savings on batteries. Such a big difference. Not sure if the "premium brands" have more reasonably priced batteries these days but I did see that Ryobi now has a 9 amp hour battery - lol - holy shitballs! that would be sweet for the fan, the pump, LED lights. Guess I'll just have to wait to the holidays and see if they offer those suckers BOGO. :)
By the time you buy the extra battery and the warranty the Hercules is more expensive than the DeWalt. Take the things apart and you will see they're not in the same league.
Nothing all that major really. I've used it for drilling through metal during automotive repairs or upgrades, drilled out some rivets, drywall and wood.
Paused the video like you asked gave it some thought also remembered all your previous videos and determined we the audience are the winners because your reviews are very thorough and explained and you go the extra mile thank you keep it up
Today after losing count long ago, my hercules impact driver 12v finally needed recharging. This thing is a beast and I can't believe I waited this long to buy one.
I have one myself, and I'm looking to buy another just to put away an have. By the way its looking though, I would never have to use it. The one I have just keeps on keeping on.
Incredibly interesting comparison. Always wondered about HF cordless stuff. The only real questions is how long the Hercules drill and battery will hold up over years of use and abuse.
I really appreciate you man you literally spent hours drilling holes so the Duke of provide us with the best information your awesome bro not to mention all the money you spend doing this stuff really really appreciate you
I spent three years repairing drills, nail guns and construction equipment. Of the three mentioned here I would chose the Makita. Roofers, home builders and carpenters can be hard on tools and they are ALL neglected. Makita always hung in there the longest between repairs.
I'd lean towards the Makita because of japanese quality reputation but, who know where they're made anymore? I'll go with Harbor Freight for the value / price.
Having been down this road with all three of these brands, I was amazed to discover that the "Harbor Freight Drill" have significantly greater working torque than the other two. The battery life of the "Harbor Freight" and "DeWalt" were about the same. The battery life of the "Makita" was significantly shorter. As to the life expectancy of the three, I haven't gotten there yet.
What really impressed me was the first drill test. Makita did not make it through, Dewalt struggled, Hercules just went through it like nothing. Then, baterry test again Hercules again proves to be a better tool overall? These name brands need to give a solid reason to why they are more expensive than the cheapest in the market. Great video!!
I rarely rarely comment on videos but I love when I find a video from you that I haven't seen before. I love the way you review things objectively with no bias
I just learned that Harbor Freight offers a "REPLACEMENT PLAN" for $13.00 mwaning you can destroy and replace as long as you extend the $13 replacement plan every time.....crazy!
Excellent testing video. I didn't expect the Harbor Freight product to do as well as it did. I probably had the "normal" bias against lower cost products from Harbor Freight even though I have several power tools from Harbor Freight and they all work well. Sometimes it's difficult to overcome one's own bias.
Awesome video...very practical tests that show us real use results. I’d like to add a little extra thing I noticed about the warranty as you described. The longer warranties on the more expensive models were only against manufacturers defects...not wear and tear. In most cases, you’d notice a defect within 90 days of use. I believe the extended warranty available from Harbor Freight is very reasonable and far more comprehensive. Just another + for the Herc
Have had no issues whatsoever with my Milwaukee drill either. Put it through the ringer a time or two while working either in my house or on a customers car.
They never review against Milwaukee. I seen Milwaukee do one with DeWalt . They put each on the ends of the same rod then pulled both triggers. DeWalt started smoking . Never had a chance.
Bill Thompson I had one of those Milwaukee fuel drills. In a few weeks the chuck locked. Took it back to Home Depot to be repaired. Baught another one while I was waiting for the first one. Within a few weeks that one locked too. I’ve had dewalt ever since. Batteries are starting to go after 4-5 years. I hate the smaller batteries do not have the charge gauge.
Gotta love Harbor Freight, despite the hate they get, they sell a lot of good stuff for a good price. Just be careful as a lot of the super cheap tools they have are junk as you might suspect.
Yep totally agree have a 10 dollar black 3/8s ratchet that's lasted 9 years of abuse. But the 180 dollar pipe bender I bought set screw failed after two bends returned three times before finally getting their cheaper one and finishing he job with it but it's still not good.
@@stevenlengyel9701 I have the Chicago Electric 4.5 amp, the Bauer 7 amp, and the Hercules 11 amp grinders. All are amazing in their own right, good value for the price and power. The 11 amp Hercules angle grinder is a hellcat. Almost too much power to control!
Most of their stuff is from China. Even the Chinese can make a good something off and on. Simple is well made while anything more complex, well, good luck.
I work in commercial construction and I've tried them all over 40 plus years in the business. We are brutally hard on power tools, most folks will never experience that type of use. Makita had the first battery drill I ever saw and it was unique for the time but not impressive...3/8" with a 7 volt stick battery. When Black and Decker came out with 1/2" drive 12 volt drills in the 90s it was a game changer and Milwaukee and Bosch followed. Battery powered tool models have certainly come a long way since they showed up in the 70s.In the last 25 years for overall quality, selection of tools, and service/backup I prefer Makita. After seeing these dissected on another UA-cam channel the Makita appear to be built better as well. For my money, time, and headache factor it's Makita. With this said, I think that for the average consumer any of them will get the job done around the house. I invested in Makita to replace my personal hodgepodge of brands at home ten years ago and have never looked back.
I've already got the DeWalt set and they work fine. The only problem I have with DeWalt is they want a tremendous amount of money for their batteries, which like all batteries will tap out within a few years of use. I hate the color of Rigid but I think their approach to the battery situation is ideal. All you have to do is register the tool with Rigid and you can just send them your worn out batteries and they will send you another battery for free, forever. I could be mistaken on this, but its a nice and fair way to do it. Plus it gets egg on every other company's face when it comes to battery replacement. On top of that it makes them stick with one battery style so you don't have to buy new tools when the batteries wear out.
Ya the makita recip saws are the best they do great compared to the 3 hf recips and 2 milwaukees we burnt out with our redildo. It's a dildo with a recip saw shank on it u get into the thicker women with the other brands they usually let the smoke out but not the makita great stuff they've got goin there.
Mikita seems to make high quality tools. I had been given a little combo kit with sockets and screw driver bits with a magnetic shaft, looked kind of cheap, but this has been my favorite for over 30 years. I have one of the Mikita drills, paid $99 at Home Depot (on sale) works great. Mikita makes surprisingly good tools.
@98erics most guys I gave heard try to take rigid up on their battery deal haven't been successful. Rigid makes up some bullshit excuses about abuse and what not....
Awesome video brotha I'll be keeping an eye out for one of those Hercules 20v drills at the parking lot sale in October thanks for the non biased review
I use makita used the same drill for two years love it batteries charge in 30 mins and they have a huge selection of tools with the 18 volt batteries I have a bunch of there tools and have had zero issues
I used one of these dewalts and the next model up with the all steel head and bigger battery pack for 3 yrs roofing. We never had a problem out of the drill or battery pack and we really abused them doing metal roofing. I ended up injuring my back and had to quit but they were still using them when I left. Personally, I own one of the lithium ion Ryobi kits so I don't really have a horse in this race lol. Still, if I was gonna buy one of these, it would be the Hercules. Hard to argue with the price and performance of that drill and it seems like it would last too.
I have been a Dewalt user for most of my 32 years in the construction business and I stick with them due to how indestructible they are and how close a Dewalt service center is when they finally give up. The one frustrating thing is I have been using the 18v setup since the day they came on the market and they are trying desperately hard to remove all signs of them for some reason but where the true confusion is when I bought a set of Li-ion batteries and I get less life out of them brand new then I do out of the original XRP batteries (still using after a bunch of years) and when the Li-ion goes it doesn't drain slowly.... it just stops dead. The lack of any indicators to tell me the status of the battery life when I'm on the top of a 12' ladder squished into a tight space is giving me reason for serious consideration of others. Thanks for the video -
This test really doesn't account for durability , which is really the most important thing you want and need. So on drill drives a couple more holes, so what, you just put in the battery a few seconds sooner. Drill stops after a few months, you lose.
At our shop we used to buy a lot of these units as it seemed we were always replacing one or two a month (we have 30 of them). Over the years we switched between DeWalt, Makita, and Ryobi... Depending who was on sale. About two years ago we switched to the Hercules units when a Harbor freight opened near us. They last just as long or longer than the others and saves us $$ in the long run.
I don't know about the drill, but I do know that the Harbor Freight torque wrench is more accurate and is overall more sturdy than the over priced shit from Snap On.
I run makita 18 volt I have used makita for 5 years the oldest batteries still work something any other brand will not acheive, I have seen many brands and only makita has a battery protection system and a fan on the charger .
I agree with this. I purchased a 18v Makita drill/driver set for a basement remodel project 5 years ago. No problems, ever. Batteries appear to be strong as ever (I had a concern about battery life and am pleased I haven't had to buy a replacement$100 battery). Dropped and gouged them numerous times, never an issue. The biggest problem I had was while using the driver to undo leafspring bolts on my pickup. The impact adapter (name brand, not Makita) broke and I could not get it out of the hammer piece. I ordered a replacement hammer for $5 and fixed it myself in about 20 minutes. That said, Hercules has my attention for my next cordless purchase.
John Bango also the dewalt and makita have named brand battery cell( I believe makita is Samsung cell and dewalt is lg cell) and the Hercules is using off brand cell
I have worked in a machine shop/engineering environment for 42+ years. I was forced to retire from nephropathy 5 years ago. We used to run Milwaukee all the time. Until 2005, they seemed to hold up well, but were dropping in endurance. It got to the point that we couldn't even get 6 months out of them in assembly. We then went with Dewalt & they did better, but still the batteries didn't last. A friend bought a couple of HF drivers, and he told me that the big guys better watch out, as HF just may give them a run for their money in the near future. We couldn't buy the HF units through channels due to the fact they weren't made in the USA. But a lot of stuff is just not made here anymore. I have to say I did not expect the HF to come out on top. Thanks for all the work and time that you put into these videos. Smiles.
This is the reason I love harbor freight. Not because is cheap is because people talk crap about them well damn knowing a cheap tool is better then their favorite brand tools
The harbor freight tool won't turn on in a year. My unborn grandkids could fire up my Makita 40 years from now and that gun will still fire. Plus the her battery system is trash and harbor freight will change the system without notice and stop producing them
Lately I've had a problem with the lifespan of rechargeable batteries for tools and electronic devices from China. They work well when new, but after a few months won't hold a charge.....
Even cheap tools can give out a lot of good service. I guess it depends what kind of work one does,any of these drills will do good to work around the house.
Great vid,but I buy name brand and tested long term durability.Dewalt,Makita,Milwaukee,I care about how tough and robust and long term parts Where my dewalt and milwaukees have fallen off many roofs,drilled thousands of holes and cracked the casing on the dewalt,it still works great.I stay with what treats me right.
Great video, I bought the Hercules late last year and could not be happier with it. This video is in line with my opinion that Hercules is approaching world class tool status. Not sure how it stacks up against Milwaukee and maybe a couple others, but based on my real world testing, this Hercules drill is the best value out there.
I bought the Hercules drill, two of the bigger bayteries. I had to return the drill, when it stopped responding to the trigger after screwing 11 3" #8 screws. I got a replacement the next day. So far, so good on this drill. I did buy the 2 year warranty.
I own the Hercules and I have no problems with it I don't see why everybody dislikes Harbor Freight products because I have several products from Harbor Freight and I rarely have any issues with any of them. So I would say I would not hesitate to buy the Harbor Freight Hercules drill again if I'll ever need it.
Did you get the 1 or 2 year warranty? I got the 1 year on my Bauer, the manager said if there's any reason you wanna return it in the 15 months (because it's a year on top of the 90 days) you can do so and exchange it as well, even if it's still in good condition
People dislike HF because they have been selling poor quality tools at a cheap price which seems like a bargain up front until you have to start repairing or replacing them. The Hercules line is just (what 2 or 3 years) old now and they really upped their game on these. Across many of the tools they offer under this line, it actually seems like you can get a better tool for less money. I have their miter saw and couldn't be happier with it. Looking to pick up one of these drills soon.
@@bigvelvetdog Yeah, I think a lot of the negative reports from 1 or 2 years ago had to do with early models probably coming from factories in China that cut corners or had production issues. I'd imagine they've been resolved by now because the more recent comments I see about Hercules tools, the more positive they are. The cheap power tools like the $10 angle grinders aren't meant to be ran hard every day for 10 years, they're meant to be used once a week doing light duty tasks and it beats having to uses a hacksaw or a wire brush. People have this concept that they have to overpay to get the absolute best and overpowered thing they need. Gonna tow a 1.5 ton camper once a year 50 miles away for vacation? A 1/2 ton pickup will do just fine, but overcompensation types will get a 3/4 ton instead because "it's built stronger."
@@elmuyguapo592 I wouldn't say the HF brands are superior tools, but they are more affordable. People just get unhinged when you challenge their long held beliefs that the tools they have are the best and to say that they're not is taken as a personal insult.
I have had the Makita for 2 years now with the only issue is the bearings for the chuck are worn out it wobbles side to side in which ever direction you choose. thanks for the video results interesting. I'm going to look closer at Hercules. Oh I use these tools on a daily bases.
I got the Hercules line for my uncle after watching this video after Home Depot would not cover his Ridgid batteries for warranty claiming he didn't have his receipt, I bought the 2 year replacement on the impact, drill and hammer drill and he has been using them daily over a year and half no problem on the job site, I also got him a 5 AH battery and he hasn't had a problem with anything so far, he likes the tools even more than his Ridgid line and is now going to buy the Reciprocating saw and Circular saw.
I think Harbor Freight is going way out of their way to improve the quality of the products that they sell. I also believe that they are in direct competition with the "big name " manufacturers and your going to see them winning a lot more of these comparisons.
I have owned all 3 plus a few others and in MY honest opinion HF is still running strong after 5 yrs showing no signs of crapping out! The only drawback is the one battery, but no prob buying the extra one it’s def worth it! Great comparison test!
That's because the DeWalt brand generates its hype with the drills (and other tools - like a saw that cuts 4×8 sheets of aluminium diamond plate like butter) in its higher-tier. Imagine seeing the Porsche brand name and going cheap: You'd get a Boxter instead of a 911. Similar thing here. The ones in this video are all hobby/project grade. And they are good, don't get me wrong, but for every day industrial use you skip Home Depot and go to an industrial tool supplier: Those are the ones that power through a decade without problems. They cost significantly more, though, so probably aren't worth the cost for the average person. We used the good DeWalts in just about every place I worked at as a welder and/or a maintenance mechanic and... they really are as good as the hype (batteries are great, too). I've used other brands in the lower tier as well, and they're about the same as (sometimes better than) the lower tier DeWalts, practically speaking. The only other electric power tool brand I've seen in industry is a mold maker who used a Snap-On 1/2" impact on occasion (though the air tools were far more likely to get use). Though I assume that other high tier offerings from different brands are better than the ones shown in this video, too. Hope that explains why there's such a dissonance between people who use the various tools.
Ok,I did as you asked and paused before watching. I've never been happier with a drill than I am with my Hercules drill! It eats through wood,steel,and concrete. Then runs in talons like a maniac. I recommend it for anyone,and I'm a professional tradesman and use it daily in my job. Now,on to the video.
3 friends and I redid my subflooring and strengthen the joists. We each had a different drill. I can tell you in the real world my Herc out did the Makita and Dewalt hands down. This review is spot on.
I want to upgrade my DeWalt DW972 3/8" 12.0V drill with a nickel cadmium battery to a 18.0 or a 20.0V 1/2" drill with Lithium-Ion battery. I have heard a lot about the hammer drill, should I get that instead of the drill driver? I'm not a contractor.
I have the same dewalt drill and I have to say I've had a master force from menards and its 2 years older and runs circles around the dewalt hands down.
Im a contractor and have owned most every brand of drill/driver set. Milwaukee and Makita are what i buy. I care first and foremost about durability and Makita absolutely takes a beating and never lets me down.
Have had my makita set for 7 years, both 18v batteries give me full amperes full blast every time I pick them up after sitting a few weeks, love them still. Never recharge until full battery drain, ever as instructions say.
I'm a retired Master Carpenter with 45 years experience with tools. I Used mostly Dewalt tools and as far as the cordless drills i've owned at least 4-5 of each model and i've noticed that as the battery capacity has increased over the years the run time and general toughness and quality has gone way down. I Have one halfway working 18 volt left and a box full of junk ones for parts for friends to use. The keyless chucks have always been junk that loosen or fail to hold up to vibration or general use. Most of the tool's components are made in our 51 state of China and hopefully will change for the better.
Tom Cook I’m not at 45yrs experience. Well over 30. Milwaukee is a great brand. About 10 yrs or more ago. The man that was the chief engineer at Dewalt left on the reason of he was being told to cut corners. Went to the red brand. One reason Milwaukee has a huge foot hold in the industry. I’m a blue fan now. They are the only company that is only Makita. Others are so many other brands. Thanks for putting your blood,sweat & fun out there bother. Craig
@@thenitruc8165 had plenty of DeWALT’s fail and lose power, same with Milwaukee and PC. I’ve just had best luck with Mikita over 30 years, no “sucka”” just experience
I have been using makita drills for decades.. I have a set of 18v LXT drills... I've been using them for over 10 years. I use the 1/4" impact to put on lug nuts and usually have to back then off because it over torqued them. That still has fallen off 2 storey roofs and hit sidewalks and bounced on more than one occasion. Took it like a champ and they still run. I have gone through about 8 battery packs in the 10ish years. The drills keep going. I have some old old ones that still run but I can't find batteries for them. I loved them so much that I bought a set of them for just inside the house. Because the ones I've had for ten years are covered in grease, dirt, brake dust and I'm sure a bit of my own blood. I did this after i was using one in the house and set it down on my wife's brand new very light shade carpet... Yeah, I had to buy an expensive carpet cleaning machine... I built two 14x10 barns with 14x4 decks on each one last year with the Makita drill. I always recomend these to anyone. Plus all the Makita tools use the same batteries.. The radio, saws, weed eater, ECT...... Now if only I could get paid for saying that... Or atleast a couple new batteries..
based on numerous reviews and battles i have seen including this one, i just got the Hercules at Harbor Freight. They have the 1/2 hammer drill now for $49.99...reg price is $64.99. Got the 2.5 amp battery, and the rapid charger.
I'd like to see a comparison with the other Harbor Freight brand, Bauer. Their cordless 1/2" drill comes in a kit with battery and charger for $5 more than the Hercules 1/2" drill alone. Thanks for the great review.
Got the Hercules drill/driver (hammer drill) and also got the bigger battery to replace a Dewalt. So far, I have not been dissapointed. This sucker works and with the larger capacity battery with the drill locked, it will torque right out of your hands if you aren't careful. It's now my go to drill for pretty much everything and gets great battery life. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Eat your heart out Dewalt, I won't buy another one of your overpriced products and batteries. Not worth it!
A lot of this boils down to which battery platform you choose. I have a lot of 20v DeWalt tools so even if performance is comparable or slightly less than the others it makes sense to stick with DeWalt so I can use one battery amongst a variety of tools. Plus, in over 20 years of DeWalt ownership I've yet to have a defective tool. So that is worth something. I have had to upgrade my old NiCd tools but the tools themselves still work great. Not sure I'd trust a Harbor Freight tool to last that many years - but I'm open to the idea as their pricing is very attractive.
We had one Dewalt and it was junk. But could have just been a lemon. What I noticed on Dewalt is Christmas time their on Sale which is a big big plus. But I choose Milwaukee and never looked back
Phormify - That's exactly right. People are just going to pick whichever battery ecosystem they've already bought into, at hundreds or thousands of dollars. The real market share to be made is on DIY/new homeowners still trying to build an inventory and not committed to brand loyalty. That's probably why companies like Ryobi spend a small fortune on interactive and targeted advertising.
I used to work for a small roofing company with about 8-10 crews as a repair/maintenance guy. We used NiCad DeWalt and Makita drills and buy far the biggest failure was the batteries. We had a few clutches and one 3 speed transmission go bad, and the DeWalts were easier to break the housing between the grip and the head than the Makitas but that was from abuse not manufacturing though. Overall I would so if you are a pro or already have a set, don't change but for a home gamer starting out they are very hard to beat. I also think that if they (harbor freight) keep improving their line up they could put a real hurting on the big guys very soon.
Although I didn't comment earlier, I thought the Makita would do the best. I am shocked the Hercules did the best. Gives me lots to think about (I own a Makita 18v drill and impact driver -about 5 years old)
I've given up on brand loyalty. Videos like this , and forums are good sources of information when choosing which tool to invest in. Every tool has its strengths and weaknesses, you can make a choice based on your specific needs. Sometimes, a compact tool that can fit in tight spaces is more useful to you, even if it lacks the horsepower.
I was surprised that the super tools (DeWalt & Makita) did not outperform the Hercules. Once again it shows how much we listen to advertising instead of looking into the actual facts. Thanks for going through all the effort it takes to do something like this.
This is why for certain tools (like drills) that are relatively safe even with a malfunction I tend to go with the off-brand types. I still don't trust them with the more potentially dangerous tools though like angle grinders and routers.
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Hercules
If you look at the instructions, these drills are not rated to drill anything over 11/2". The fact that Makita cut out when drilling an oversized hole is a plus because that drill will have a longer useful lifespan than the other two drills.
Well, considering the DeWalt model used has a plastic chuck grip and probably has brushes... probably the Mikita. (Edit: They all have brushes, so that's fair at least; still, seeing a best vs best vs best would be cool)
I think for $60 USD more the DeWalt steps its game up. I've never seen the comparisons of the best DeWalts against the Best of its competition: always seems to be a compromise in testing on every channel that does it.
But hey, that's my thoughts on the prediction.
Harbor Freight - Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!
I’d go with the harbor freight Hercules
I don't know how I ended up here but, that was the best damn video I've ever seen about drills.
And only..
An actual, real, no nonsense review and test. I like the fact that you even went as far to sharpen the bit between uses.
and the one that appeared to have won went last...so if they sucked at sharpening the bit it did not transfer to the test.
you should also check out Project Farm channel. very honest testing of everyday products.
But I think a brand new bit should be used at each test
I actually work at Harbor Freight and sell these drills. I get a lot of feedback from my customers regarding the production, reliability and performance of the Hercules tools. The feedback I've gotten has been overwhelmingly positive. One of my favorites, a customer bought one of the Hercules angle grinders about a year ago that he intended to use daily at his work with the intention of trying to burn it up........he is still using that angle grinder ;)
Also, the batteries for the Hercules (as well as the Bauer) are at least 1/3 the price as is for the DeWalt, Makita, etc.
This is a great real world comparison and appreciate the information as I will be able to pass this on to my customers that are considering this drill. Thanks for the vid!!!!!
Nonsense, the Hercules is apiece of junk. You know that too or the company would warranty them for more than 90 days.
In my experience as a full-time Harbor Freight cashier for the last several months, I don't recall seeing a single Hercules product come back faulty. They really are built like tanks.
My guess is that most costumers will buy the Hercules for very light home use due to the cheap price (=lower expectations) as opposed to buying Makita/DeWalt for contractor/extensive use. Still, I'm surprised how well it did.
@db 253 Sure wish you would back that up--you may be right, but what leads you to that conclusion? Now let me give you a laugh--I use B&D
But are they one of those items who as soon as you open it you see a paper that says "Do Not Return To Store, Call Us!"
@@Greg8872 Which no one does. They run right back to the store with them. Most of the tool stores, including Harbor Freight, will refund or exchange the tool. People do not like to deal with factory service. If the H-F guy says they are not being returned (and other tools ARE) then I will have to concede he is probably right.
I was a Logistics Supervisor at a Harbor Freight in Iowa recently and most of my farmer customers rave about the Hurcules line HF has. That's not an exaggeration. I was skeptical myself. But I gotta listen to my customers. BTW, I own most of the drills/impacts myself, and have never had a problem with them. They also a 3.0 AH battery!
I really appreciate that you sharpened the auger bit each time. You gave each drill a solid chance and equal fairness. As a newcomer, I’m looking at the Hercules.
Extremely happy with my Hercules. Been using it for work 5 days a week for the past 6 months. Amazing battery life and performs better than my old Dewalt.
A total surprise. I work in construction and I use all Dewalt tools and the battery is interchangeable with other Dewalt tools. Now I have to look twice when I go to Harbor Freight. Thanks for the video.
A side not to that.....i work at Harbor Freight and the Hercules batteries are interchangeable with other Hercules tools, as are the Bauer batteries. The batteries are also about 1/3 of the price as the Dewalt, Makita, etc.
I am shocked. For the record, I am a regular Harbor Freight shopper. And I did not expect the Hercules drill to kick this much ass or much less, come in first place. Awesome. Thanks for your review.
Yes the HF is cheaper but only one battery
I would have to buy 2.
@@cloverdale87 i mean yeah you'd want another battery for sure. But right out of the gate they give you a bigger 2.5ah battery so you can get longer uses out of it. Personally i use ryobi because you get two batteries. And they charge in 30 minutes. Which is why i prefer ryobi.
@@hairpunut and you can get two 4 amp hour batteries for a smokin deal during the holidays. I noticed ryobi would sell their best batt years ago during the holidays in a BOGO twin pack for the same price as a single battery. that was usually around $99 for two. But sometimes, they would move them to a small clearance section in the power tool aisle and I got some for $85 and then another one (or two) for $79. Sweet! So I have a lot of their stuff because it's so inexpensive, rugged, and, so far, reliable (except the trim nailer started screwing up until I found a video on YT on how to fix the problem). The lawn equipment etc. All good enough and some great tools but you just can't beat the cost savings on batteries. Such a big difference. Not sure if the "premium brands" have more reasonably priced batteries these days but I did see that Ryobi now has a 9 amp hour battery - lol - holy shitballs! that would be sweet for the fan, the pump, LED lights. Guess I'll just have to wait to the holidays and see if they offer those suckers BOGO. :)
The Ryobi battery’s die sooner then won’t take a charge.
By the time you buy the extra battery and the warranty the Hercules is more expensive than the DeWalt. Take the things apart and you will see they're not in the same league.
I purchased the Harbor Freight Hercules model in early 2018 and it runs like a champ.
Carlos Clivilles what all do you use it for? I’m trying to decide which one I should get for apartment maintenance.
Nothing all that major really. I've used it for drilling through metal during automotive repairs or upgrades, drilled out some rivets, drywall and wood.
Does Hercules make sawz-all and grinders?
@@anthony639 sawzall for $100 and 4½ grinder for $70.
@@anthony639 sorry that's the 11 amp grinder the 7 amp is a mere $40
Paused the video like you asked gave it some thought also remembered all your previous videos and determined we the audience are the winners because your reviews are very thorough and explained and you go the extra mile thank you keep it up
I would never have guessed that the Harbor Freight drill would perform as well as it did
it is the best drill on the market
I'd like to take a moment of silence for all the lumber that gave its life for this excellent video.
Rest assured there will adequate stock of Southern Yellow Pine for your next 2 x 4 project.
lol lumber is already the dead form of a tree
Yes, as was mentioned, we have enough pine. However, this particular wood did become holey for this video. Now it is with the heavenly board feet.
Lol. Nice one.
lumber lives matter....lumber lives matter....lumber lives matter
Makes me sick to think of all the money we have thrown away on name brands when they dont stand behind their warranties.
Ya they weasel out
Buy ridgid. They have never back down till this day.
@alonzomartii no, they always try to wiggle out from what I hear.
Today after losing count long ago, my hercules impact driver 12v finally needed recharging. This thing is a beast and I can't believe I waited this long to buy one.
I have one myself, and I'm looking to buy another just to put away an have. By the way its looking though, I would never have to use it. The one I have just keeps on keeping on.
Incredibly interesting comparison. Always wondered about HF cordless stuff. The only real questions is how long the Hercules drill and battery will hold up over years of use and abuse.
I really appreciate you man you literally spent hours drilling holes so the Duke of provide us with the best information your awesome bro not to mention all the money you spend doing this stuff really really appreciate you
I spent three years repairing drills, nail guns and construction equipment. Of the three mentioned here I would chose the Makita. Roofers, home builders and carpenters can be hard on tools and they are ALL neglected. Makita always hung in there the longest between repairs.
Cjango Freeman yeah me and my dad put a Walmart hypertough driver against his de Walt and the hyper tough out performed it all the way
I'd lean towards the Makita because of japanese quality reputation but, who know where they're made anymore? I'll go with Harbor Freight for the value / price.
Been rock n Makita for 15 years one black n white drill and blue black saw saw down but the rest of the gang is still running strong💯🤜🤛💯😁
how many Hercules drills have you repaired?
@@msk3905 None.
Best drill comparison I’ve ever seen so far. Very informative seeing how these brands are actually performing. Good works, Sir!
Having been down this road with all three of these brands, I was amazed to discover that the "Harbor Freight Drill" have significantly greater working torque than the other two. The battery life of the "Harbor Freight" and "DeWalt" were about the same. The battery life of the "Makita" was significantly shorter. As to the life expectancy of the three, I haven't gotten there yet.
What really impressed me was the first drill test. Makita did not make it through, Dewalt struggled, Hercules just went through it like nothing. Then, baterry test again Hercules again proves to be a better tool overall? These name brands need to give a solid reason to why they are more expensive than the cheapest in the market. Great video!!
I rarely rarely comment on videos but I love when I find a video from you that I haven't seen before. I love the way you review things objectively with no bias
Word.
“Daddy, why does our playset have all these holes?”
Ventilation
Aerodynamics.
@@RealToolReviews Shout out to Vice Grip Garage!!!
Hahaha.
😂😂😂😂😂
I've seen many so-called reviews that do not cover half of what this thorough, comprehensive, and clear survey covered. Good on ya!
Really thought the makita was gonna win and I just bought a hurcules today lol
I just learned that Harbor Freight offers a "REPLACEMENT PLAN" for $13.00 mwaning you can destroy and replace as long as you extend the $13 replacement plan every time.....crazy!
👌🍆
Thanks a ton. I've had several bad HF drills, and would never have considered this one without this video.
Excellent testing video. I didn't expect the Harbor Freight product to do as well as it did. I probably had the "normal" bias against lower cost products from Harbor Freight even though I have several power tools from Harbor Freight and they all work well. Sometimes it's difficult to overcome one's own bias.
Pre-video I'd say DeWalt will win.
After seeing the video I'm glad I got the Hercules as a gift for my nephew.
Would you recommend buy the harbor fright 3/4 impact gun an what impact sockets would you buy?
By far the best tool review channel I’ve ever seen! MAKE MORE VIDOES!!! I even watch all the ads fully to support you lol
More coming soon 😉👍
This video was a lot of work. Tnx for sharing.👍
Electrician that just got a hercules on a budget, no complaints here
Awesome video...very practical tests that show us real use results.
I’d like to add a little extra thing I noticed about the warranty as you described. The longer warranties on the more expensive models were only against manufacturers defects...not wear and tear. In most cases, you’d notice a defect within 90 days of use. I believe the extended warranty available from Harbor Freight is very reasonable and far more comprehensive. Just another + for the Herc
I’d like to see the Milwaukee drill tested. I bought the new fuel. Seems great so far.
Have had no issues whatsoever with my Milwaukee drill either. Put it through the ringer a time or two while working either in my house or on a customers car.
MIlwaukee #1
They never review against Milwaukee. I seen Milwaukee do one with DeWalt . They put each on the ends of the same rod then pulled both triggers. DeWalt started smoking . Never had a chance.
Bill Thompson I had one of those Milwaukee fuel drills. In a few weeks the chuck locked. Took it back to Home Depot to be repaired. Baught another one while I was waiting for the first one. Within a few weeks that one locked too. I’ve had dewalt ever since. Batteries are starting to go after 4-5 years. I hate the smaller batteries do not have the charge gauge.
Gotta love Harbor Freight, despite the hate they get, they sell a lot of good stuff for a good price. Just be careful as a lot of the super cheap tools they have are junk as you might suspect.
Yep totally agree have a 10 dollar black 3/8s ratchet that's lasted 9 years of abuse. But the 180 dollar pipe bender I bought set screw failed after two bends returned three times before finally getting their cheaper one and finishing he job with it but it's still not good.
AJ exactly, don’t buy the Drill Master angle grinder, it’s a piece of crap.
@@stevenlengyel9701 I have the Chicago Electric 4.5 amp, the Bauer 7 amp, and the Hercules 11 amp grinders. All are amazing in their own right, good value for the price and power.
The 11 amp Hercules angle grinder is a hellcat. Almost too much power to control!
Most of their stuff is from China. Even the Chinese can make a good something off and on. Simple is well made while anything more complex, well, good luck.
Is it possible to see a max torque test before they stall/overload protect? Both 1st and 2nd gear test. That would be interesting to see.
x2 would love to see this
I work in commercial construction and I've tried them all over 40 plus years in the business. We are brutally hard on power tools, most folks will never experience that type of use. Makita had the first battery drill I ever saw and it was unique for the time but not impressive...3/8" with a 7 volt stick battery. When Black and Decker came out with 1/2" drive 12 volt drills in the 90s it was a game changer and Milwaukee and Bosch followed. Battery powered tool models have certainly come a long way since they showed up in the 70s.In the last 25 years for overall quality, selection of tools, and service/backup I prefer Makita. After seeing these dissected on another UA-cam channel the Makita appear to be built better as well. For my money, time, and headache factor it's Makita. With this said, I think that for the average consumer any of them will get the job done around the house. I invested in Makita to replace my personal hodgepodge of brands at home ten years ago and have never looked back.
I've already got the DeWalt set and they work fine. The only problem I have with DeWalt is they want a tremendous amount of money for their batteries, which like all batteries will tap out within a few years of use. I hate the color of Rigid but I think their approach to the battery situation is ideal. All you have to do is register the tool with Rigid and you can just send them your worn out batteries and they will send you another battery for free, forever. I could be mistaken on this, but its a nice and fair way to do it. Plus it gets egg on every other company's face when it comes to battery replacement. On top of that it makes them stick with one battery style so you don't have to buy new tools when the batteries wear out.
Ya the makita recip saws are the best they do great compared to the 3 hf recips and 2 milwaukees we burnt out with our redildo. It's a dildo with a recip saw shank on it u get into the thicker women with the other brands they usually let the smoke out but not the makita great stuff they've got goin there.
I second that on makita lol
Mikita seems to make high quality tools. I had been given a little combo kit with sockets and screw driver bits with a magnetic shaft, looked kind of cheap, but this has been my favorite for over 30 years. I have one of the Mikita drills, paid $99 at Home Depot (on sale) works great. Mikita makes surprisingly good tools.
@98erics most guys I gave heard try to take rigid up on their battery deal haven't been successful. Rigid makes up some bullshit excuses about abuse and what not....
My heart dropped at 2:23. I almost reached for the screen, purely reactional.
I only do that when I have a drill bit in it, always breaks the bit.
Awesome video brotha I'll be keeping an eye out for one of those Hercules 20v drills at the parking lot sale in October thanks for the non biased review
You'll be glad you did. The bigger battery you can get separately does as advertised,and holds a good charge a loooong time.
Hercules is the top of the line band for HF, so its their best tool line. Very pleased with their comeback products
I use makita used the same drill for two years love it batteries charge in 30 mins and they have a huge selection of tools with the 18 volt batteries I have a bunch of there tools and have had zero issues
What a great no bullshit review. Very informative.
247 dewalt employees disliked this video 😂🤣
I used one of these dewalts and the next model up with the all steel head and bigger battery pack for 3 yrs roofing. We never had a problem out of the drill or battery pack and we really abused them doing metal roofing. I ended up injuring my back and had to quit but they were still using them when I left. Personally, I own one of the lithium ion Ryobi kits so I don't really have a horse in this race lol. Still, if I was gonna buy one of these, it would be the Hercules. Hard to argue with the price and performance of that drill and it seems like it would last too.
Probably Mikita actually because DeWalt beat Mikita twice and lost once even with the lower price
I have been a Dewalt user for most of my 32 years in the construction business and I stick with them due to how indestructible they are and how close a Dewalt service center is when they finally give up. The one frustrating thing is I have been using the 18v setup since the day they came on the market and they are trying desperately hard to remove all signs of them for some reason but where the true confusion is when I bought a set of Li-ion batteries and I get less life out of them brand new then I do out of the original XRP batteries (still using after a bunch of years) and when the Li-ion goes it doesn't drain slowly.... it just stops dead. The lack of any indicators to tell me the status of the battery life when I'm on the top of a 12' ladder squished into a tight space is giving me reason for serious consideration of others.
Thanks for the video -
The bigger DeWalt batteries don't weigh a whole lot more and have an indicator.
This test really doesn't account for durability , which is really the most important thing you want and need. So on drill drives a couple more holes, so what, you just put in the battery a few seconds sooner. Drill stops after a few months, you lose.
Holy Shit! The HF DRILL kicked ass! For a lot less money. Will it be durable over the months and years??????
Will it be durable over the months and years? At the HF rock bottom prices they may be considered one-use throwaway tools.
At our shop we used to buy a lot of these units as it seemed we were always replacing one or two a month (we have 30 of them). Over the years we switched between DeWalt, Makita, and Ryobi... Depending who was on sale. About two years ago we switched to the Hercules units when a Harbor freight opened near us. They last just as long or longer than the others and saves us $$ in the long run.
I don't know about the drill, but I do know that the Harbor Freight torque wrench is more accurate and is overall more sturdy than the over priced shit from Snap On.
I run makita 18 volt I have used makita for 5 years the oldest batteries still work something any other brand will not acheive, I have seen many brands and only makita has a battery protection system and a fan on the charger .
I agree with this.
I purchased a 18v Makita drill/driver set for a basement remodel project 5 years ago. No problems, ever. Batteries appear to be strong as ever (I had a concern about battery life and am pleased I haven't had to buy a replacement$100 battery). Dropped and gouged them numerous times, never an issue.
The biggest problem I had was while using the driver to undo leafspring bolts on my pickup. The impact adapter (name brand, not Makita) broke and I could not get it out of the hammer piece. I ordered a replacement hammer for $5 and fixed it myself in about 20 minutes.
That said, Hercules has my attention for my next cordless purchase.
That Hercules drill is no joke! Thanks for these tests.
Cheapest drill has highest quality chuck and efficiency. This is more sad than funny.
Makes sense. There is no real service network or decent warranty included at the price point, so less overhead on HF.
But he didn't compare the run off of each chuck so hard to say which one has the best chuck
goodpoint. Seen a tear down on one. Decent quality
The prices of all three drills tend to coalesce when you factor in the cost of their warranties. Still, HF comes ahead but by a lesser degree.
John Bango also the dewalt and makita have named brand battery cell( I believe makita is Samsung cell and dewalt is lg cell) and the Hercules is using off brand cell
Man I enjoyed this video. My wife got me the hercules for my birthday last month. I've been wanting it for awhile. Excellent product so far!
I have worked in a machine shop/engineering environment for 42+ years. I was forced to retire from nephropathy 5 years ago. We used to run Milwaukee all the time. Until 2005, they seemed to hold up well, but were dropping in endurance.
It got to the point that we couldn't even get 6 months out of them in assembly. We then went with Dewalt & they did better, but still the batteries didn't last.
A friend bought a couple of HF drivers, and he told me that the big guys better watch out, as HF just may give them a run for their money in the near future.
We couldn't buy the HF units through channels due to the fact they weren't made in the USA. But a lot of stuff is just not made here anymore.
I have to say I did not expect the HF to come out on top.
Thanks for all the work and time that you put into these videos.
Smiles.
This is the reason I love harbor freight. Not because is cheap is because people talk crap about them well damn knowing a cheap tool is better then their favorite brand tools
The harbor freight tool won't turn on in a year. My unborn grandkids could fire up my Makita 40 years from now and that gun will still fire.
Plus the her battery system is trash and harbor freight will change the system without notice and stop producing them
@@nunyabidnesss all baseless speculation. Opinion does not equal facts.
Lately I've had a problem with the lifespan of rechargeable batteries for tools and electronic devices from China. They work well when new, but after a few months won't hold a charge.....
I would love to see durability testing. Great video.
Check out VCG construction tool test raw videos on the Hercules
This guy does some awesome tool testing and in a very controlled state of environment. Thank you!!!!
Great video. About to replace my cordless drills that are 20+ years old. Think I'm going to check out Harbor Freight!
Even cheap tools can give out a lot of good service.
I guess it depends what kind of work one does,any of these drills will do good to work around the house.
I always wondered about the Hercules, I m sold now that's a shocking value for the hard earned dollar.
Great vid,but I buy name brand and tested long term durability.Dewalt,Makita,Milwaukee,I care about how tough and robust and long term parts Where my dewalt and milwaukees have fallen off many roofs,drilled thousands of holes and cracked the casing on the dewalt,it still works great.I stay with what treats me right.
Great video, I bought the Hercules late last year and could not be happier with it. This video is in line with my opinion that Hercules is approaching world class tool status. Not sure how it stacks up against Milwaukee and maybe a couple others, but based on my real world testing, this Hercules drill is the best value out there.
I bought the Hercules drill, two of the bigger bayteries. I had to return the drill, when it stopped responding to the trigger after screwing 11 3" #8 screws. I got a replacement the next day. So far, so good on this drill. I did buy the 2 year warranty.
I own the Hercules and I have no problems with it I don't see why everybody dislikes Harbor Freight products because I have several products from Harbor Freight and I rarely have any issues with any of them. So I would say I would not hesitate to buy the Harbor Freight Hercules drill again if I'll ever need it.
Did you get the 1 or 2 year warranty? I got the 1 year on my Bauer, the manager said if there's any reason you wanna return it in the 15 months (because it's a year on top of the 90 days) you can do so and exchange it as well, even if it's still in good condition
They are jealous because they already spent hundred more than the harbor freight models that are superior.
People dislike HF because they have been selling poor quality tools at a cheap price which seems like a bargain up front until you have to start repairing or replacing them. The Hercules line is just (what 2 or 3 years) old now and they really upped their game on these. Across many of the tools they offer under this line, it actually seems like you can get a better tool for less money. I have their miter saw and couldn't be happier with it. Looking to pick up one of these drills soon.
@@bigvelvetdog Yeah, I think a lot of the negative reports from 1 or 2 years ago had to do with early models probably coming from factories in China that cut corners or had production issues. I'd imagine they've been resolved by now because the more recent comments I see about Hercules tools, the more positive they are.
The cheap power tools like the $10 angle grinders aren't meant to be ran hard every day for 10 years, they're meant to be used once a week doing light duty tasks and it beats having to uses a hacksaw or a wire brush.
People have this concept that they have to overpay to get the absolute best and overpowered thing they need. Gonna tow a 1.5 ton camper once a year 50 miles away for vacation? A 1/2 ton pickup will do just fine, but overcompensation types will get a 3/4 ton instead because "it's built stronger."
@@elmuyguapo592 I wouldn't say the HF brands are superior tools, but they are more affordable. People just get unhinged when you challenge their long held beliefs that the tools they have are the best and to say that they're not is taken as a personal insult.
Good test. I have always liked Dewalt, the 20v batteries don't seem to hold a charge like the 18v.
I think I'll give the Hercules a shot.
I have had the Makita for 2 years now with the only issue is the bearings for the chuck are worn out it wobbles side to side in which ever direction you choose. thanks for the video results interesting. I'm going to look closer at Hercules. Oh I use these tools on a daily bases.
I got the Hercules line for my uncle after watching this video after Home Depot would not cover his Ridgid batteries for warranty claiming he didn't have his receipt, I bought the 2 year replacement on the impact, drill and hammer drill and he has been using them daily over a year and half no problem on the job site, I also got him a 5 AH battery and he hasn't had a problem with anything so far, he likes the tools even more than his Ridgid line and is now going to buy the Reciprocating saw and Circular saw.
What size was the large 17” auger bit?
i would love a similar head to head with the 1/4 impact drives
These videos are so well done. Thanks!!
I think Harbor Freight is going way out of their way to improve the quality of the products that they sell. I also believe that they are in direct competition with the "big name " manufacturers and your going to see them winning a lot more of these comparisons.
It looks like the same outfit made the DeWalt and the Hercules battery. Are they interchangeable?
I have owned all 3 plus a few others and in MY honest opinion HF is still running strong after 5 yrs showing no signs of crapping out! The only drawback is the one battery, but no prob buying the extra one it’s def worth it! Great comparison test!
Would love to see a review on the kobalt drills
Dewalt! Clearly i lost. I would buy Hercules. Ill remember this...
We bought the harbor freight one because it was cheaper and it worked just as good as you demonstrated
I have lots of the Craftsman 19.2 V tools, but they have stopped making them. I would like to see how the new 20 V drill compares.
Excellent vid. Fast moving, no bullshit, not verbose. Well done.
I have a Dewalt, and it's not all that it's hyped up to be. Actually, I would have thought Makita was the best until watching this, but I was wrong.
That's because the DeWalt brand generates its hype with the drills (and other tools - like a saw that cuts 4×8 sheets of aluminium diamond plate like butter) in its higher-tier.
Imagine seeing the Porsche brand name and going cheap: You'd get a Boxter instead of a 911. Similar thing here.
The ones in this video are all hobby/project grade. And they are good, don't get me wrong, but for every day industrial use you skip Home Depot and go to an industrial tool supplier: Those are the ones that power through a decade without problems. They cost significantly more, though, so probably aren't worth the cost for the average person.
We used the good DeWalts in just about every place I worked at as a welder and/or a maintenance mechanic and... they really are as good as the hype (batteries are great, too).
I've used other brands in the lower tier as well, and they're about the same as (sometimes better than) the lower tier DeWalts, practically speaking.
The only other electric power tool brand I've seen in industry is a mold maker who used a Snap-On 1/2" impact on occasion (though the air tools were far more likely to get use).
Though I assume that other high tier offerings from different brands are better than the ones shown in this video, too.
Hope that explains why there's such a dissonance between people who use the various tools.
Just take a trip to a tool rental place. See what they use. They wont buy it if it doesnt hold up to being treated like a rented mule.
Ok,I did as you asked and paused before watching. I've never been happier with a drill than I am with my Hercules drill! It eats through wood,steel,and concrete. Then runs in talons like a maniac. I recommend it for anyone,and I'm a professional tradesman and use it daily in my job. Now,on to the video.
3 friends and I redid my subflooring and strengthen the joists. We each had a different drill. I can tell you in the real world my Herc out did the Makita and Dewalt hands down. This review is spot on.
Ya but the quality is terrible
@@lcoi-3200 You are right the Herc quality is much better.
are the batteries interchangeable between the three brands, since they are all same sliding type?
No, each takes its own battery style.
I want to upgrade my DeWalt DW972 3/8" 12.0V drill with a nickel cadmium battery to a 18.0 or a 20.0V 1/2" drill with Lithium-Ion battery. I have heard a lot about the hammer drill, should I get that instead of the drill driver? I'm not a contractor.
I have the same dewalt drill and I have to say I've had a master force from menards and its 2 years older and runs circles around the dewalt hands down.
Im a contractor and have owned most every brand of drill/driver set. Milwaukee and Makita are what i buy. I care first and foremost about durability and Makita absolutely takes a beating and never lets me down.
I have to agree with you on that, I've seen many dewalts fail but my 14.4 is still kicking ass
Have you ever tried the harbor freight options?
Totally agree
@@bradleyburton5034 🤣🤣🤣
I've owned Makita for about 25 years. I will never buy Makita again the batteries just do not last and the tools are becoming cheaper and cheaper.
how many charges those batteries take before they go funny? That would be good test too.
Have had my makita set for 7 years, both 18v batteries give me full amperes full blast every time I pick them up after sitting a few weeks, love them still. Never recharge until full battery drain, ever as instructions say.
The harbor freight are Samsung batteries and no contest the best by far. There are videos on that in another channel
I'm a retired Master Carpenter with 45 years experience with tools. I Used mostly Dewalt tools and as far as the cordless drills i've owned at least 4-5 of each model and i've noticed that as the battery capacity has increased over the years the run time and general toughness and quality has gone way down. I Have one halfway working 18 volt left and a box full of junk ones for parts for friends to use. The keyless chucks have always been junk that loosen or fail to hold up to vibration or general use. Most of the tool's components are made in our 51 state of China and hopefully will change for the better.
Tom Cook I’m not at 45yrs experience. Well over 30. Milwaukee is a great brand. About 10 yrs or more ago. The man that was the chief engineer at Dewalt left on the reason of he was being told to cut corners. Went to the red brand. One reason Milwaukee has a huge foot hold in the industry. I’m a blue fan now. They are the only company that is only Makita. Others are so many other brands. Thanks for putting your blood,sweat & fun out there bother. Craig
I had a dealt that held up for 11 years and I used it almost every day. I say dealt will win.
It probably was already said but the dewalt is the most expensive. It was on sale and cost $179.
30 years now, Makita no question.
performed garbage in this test. For more money. Sucka born every day
@@thenitruc8165 had plenty of DeWALT’s fail and lose power, same with Milwaukee and PC. I’ve just had best luck with Mikita over 30 years, no “sucka”” just experience
I have been using makita drills for decades.. I have a set of 18v LXT drills... I've been using them for over 10 years. I use the 1/4" impact to put on lug nuts and usually have to back then off because it over torqued them. That still has fallen off 2 storey roofs and hit sidewalks and bounced on more than one occasion. Took it like a champ and they still run. I have gone through about 8 battery packs in the 10ish years. The drills keep going. I have some old old ones that still run but I can't find batteries for them. I loved them so much that I bought a set of them for just inside the house. Because the ones I've had for ten years are covered in grease, dirt, brake dust and I'm sure a bit of my own blood. I did this after i was using one in the house and set it down on my wife's brand new very light shade carpet... Yeah, I had to buy an expensive carpet cleaning machine... I built two 14x10 barns with 14x4 decks on each one last year with the Makita drill. I always recomend these to anyone. Plus all the Makita tools use the same batteries.. The radio, saws, weed eater, ECT...... Now if only I could get paid for saying that... Or atleast a couple new batteries..
based on numerous reviews and battles i have seen including this one, i just got the Hercules at Harbor Freight. They have the 1/2 hammer drill now for $49.99...reg price is $64.99. Got the 2.5 amp battery, and the rapid charger.
I'd like to see a comparison with the other Harbor Freight brand, Bauer. Their cordless 1/2" drill comes in a kit with battery and charger for $5 more than the Hercules 1/2" drill alone. Thanks for the great review.
Got the Hercules drill/driver (hammer drill) and also got the bigger battery to replace a Dewalt. So far, I have not been dissapointed. This sucker works and with the larger capacity battery with the drill locked, it will torque right out of your hands if you aren't careful. It's now my go to drill for pretty much everything and gets great battery life. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Eat your heart out Dewalt, I won't buy another one of your overpriced products and batteries. Not worth it!
I’m not in the market but when my current cordless drill dies, I’ll get the Hercules. I also thought it would win before watching the test.
A lot of this boils down to which battery platform you choose. I have a lot of 20v DeWalt tools so even if performance is comparable or slightly less than the others it makes sense to stick with DeWalt so I can use one battery amongst a variety of tools. Plus, in over 20 years of DeWalt ownership I've yet to have a defective tool. So that is worth something. I have had to upgrade my old NiCd tools but the tools themselves still work great. Not sure I'd trust a Harbor Freight tool to last that many years - but I'm open to the idea as their pricing is very attractive.
Phormify had the same thought, lots of Makita batteries and tools in the house. And I don't plan on getting a second battery system.
We had one Dewalt and it was junk. But could have just been a lemon. What I noticed on Dewalt is Christmas time their on Sale which is a big big plus. But I choose Milwaukee and never looked back
Phormify - That's exactly right. People are just going to pick whichever battery ecosystem they've already bought into, at hundreds or thousands of dollars. The real market share to be made is on DIY/new homeowners still trying to build an inventory and not committed to brand loyalty. That's probably why companies like Ryobi spend a small fortune on interactive and targeted advertising.
you can buy an adapter for the nicad dewalt tools to run the 20v max batteries.
no need to get all new tools that way
I used to work for a small roofing company with about 8-10 crews as a repair/maintenance guy. We used NiCad DeWalt and Makita drills and buy far the biggest failure was the batteries. We had a few clutches and one 3 speed transmission go bad, and the DeWalts were easier to break the housing between the grip and the head than the Makitas but that was from abuse not manufacturing though. Overall I would so if you are a pro or already have a set, don't change but for a home gamer starting out they are very hard to beat. I also think that if they (harbor freight) keep improving their line up they could put a real hurting on the big guys very soon.
wow! thank you so much for an amazing vid! hows the Hercules holding up through these years? thank U
I gave it away probably two years ago to a local home repair company..... they still are using it & comment regularly how great it is.
I actually saw this video after I had purchased the Hercules. After seeing this, I think I made the right choice. Very interesting results.
"Hercules Hercules! "
😂
That's exactly what came to mind when I seen those in the store lol
I'm impressed with the Harbor Freight drill, I would definitely purchase one from Harbor Freight.
Although I didn't comment earlier, I thought the Makita would do the best. I am shocked the Hercules did the best. Gives me lots to think about (I own a Makita 18v drill and impact driver -about 5 years old)
I've given up on brand loyalty. Videos like this , and forums are good sources of information when choosing which tool to invest in. Every tool has its strengths and weaknesses, you can make a choice based on your specific needs. Sometimes, a compact tool that can fit in tight spaces is more useful to you, even if it lacks the horsepower.
I was surprised that the super tools (DeWalt & Makita) did not outperform the Hercules. Once again it shows how much we listen to advertising instead of looking into the actual facts. Thanks for going through all the effort it takes to do something like this.
This is why for certain tools (like drills) that are relatively safe even with a malfunction I tend to go with the off-brand types. I still don't trust them with the more potentially dangerous tools though like angle grinders and routers.