Harbor Freight has launched a new Hercules 20V [Max] cordless grease gun, which can deliver 5 oz/min of grease at 10,000 PSI.
The Hercules grease gun features a 14.5 oz stainless steel barrel cartridge and is said to have a 48″ anti-kink flex hose with spring guards at both ends.
Price: $130
SKU: 58607
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And, Harbor Freight also launched a new Bauer 20V [Max] cordless grease gun. The Bauer can also deliver 5 oz/min of grease at 10,000 PSI.
It features an automatic high pressure shutoff, all-metal drive train, and 36″ anti-kink flex hose. It’s also designed for use with 14.5 oz grease cartridges.
Price: $120
SKU: 58608
This is the same tool, right?
The Hercules is said to have a 48″ hose, and the Bauer a 36″ hose, although it seems nobody told this to the product photography team.
You have the Hercules at $130, and the Bauer at $120.
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Harbor Freight did something similar with their cordless heat guns, launching very similar Hercules and Bauer tools at the same time.
HF is not the only brand doing this; there was a time when Dewalt and Porter Cable launched similar tools with slight differences. Back in 2010, Dewalt’s then-new trim router had variable speed control and LED lights, while Porter Cable’s was a single speed model for $10 less.
It’s good to see Harbor Freight bringing new capabilities to Hercules and Bauer cordless power tool lines, but the lack of clear or strong enough differentiation has the potential to confuse or disappoint customers.
If you’re approaching both of Harbor Freight’s cordless systems without owning tools or batteries from either cordless, which way do you lean?
The Bauer is advertised as saving you $39 compared to the Ryobi P3410, while the Hercules is advertised as saving you $69 compared to the Milwaukee 2646-20.
So, the Bauer “compares” to the Ryobi, while the Hercules “compares” to Milwaukee? Even though they’re seemingly the same tool but with a different hose length?
Both tools are sold bare, and so you’ll need a battery and charger to get things working. Harbor Freight shows 5Ah batteries as a “frequently sold together” recommendation.
Here’s a pricing breakdown:
Hercules Cordless Grease Gun Pricing
- Tool-only: $130
- 5Ah Battery: $65
- Charger: $30
- Bundle Discount: $25
Hercules Bundle Price: $200
Bauer Cordless Grease Gun Pricing
- Tool-only: $120
- 5Ah Battery: $60
- Charger: $30
- Bundle Discount: $20
Bauer Bundle Price: $190
Jared
That does seem weird to release the same tool in different colors. I sort of get it – if you want to add a cordless grease gun to the lineups, might as well do both at once.
But identical? Might as well just have one tool line.
GNew
This is where HF went crazy. If they had to have two brands, They should have had Hercules be the higher end tools/brushless/better built, and Bauer being the lower end. But have ONE battery line. You can even brand the batteries differently for each line, but have them compatible.
With the 2 lines, 2 batteries, limited shelf space in stores and 90 day warranties, I just can not see buying any of their power tools over Ryobi.
Jared
That seems like a good idea! Would have made a lot more sense to me.
Either that or if they are going to double-release a tool, make the battery connection swappable at least.
Matthew
Agree 💯. It is really silly of HF with all their fake house brands
Addicted2Red
Exactly, make the Herc batteries HO/XC. Lower the damn price, and give Hercules a real warranty. I have no reason to buy into any of these lines. The only cordless Bauer tool I have is a clearance rotary buffer that I hacked a dewalt battery onto.
Nathan
might consider the herc model but run with my dewalt battery. as opposed to buying the dewalt one I keep wanting.
Now I need a caulk gun too.
Thanks for the info.
Jared
Would you run an adapter or are you saying Dewalt batteries fit?
Nathan
adapter.
Jared
👍
IndianaJonesy (Matt J.)
I can kind of understand why HF decided to launch 2 tool lines, but with these kind of crossover products, it would have made a lot more sense to have a cross-compatible battery. Even if it had lockouts on certain tools or something, this just seems silly.
Aaron SD
Maybe the reason for two is if you’re already on one battery system. Then you’re just hosed on the one that is shorter…
SamR
It still does not answer the question, why make both tools identical?
Hose length is not a distinguishing feature since an upgrade from places like LockNLube is available.
IMO this is confusing and does not encourage new customers to buy in any of the tool lines.
MM
If I had to buy one or the other with zero investment in either tool line I’d spend the extra $10 to get the longer hose and Hercules batteries instead of Bauer. These tools appear to be identical, but when I think about what other tools I might want to use with the battery system I’m buying into I’d rather go Herc there as well.
That said, I don’t think I’d consider buying either. In opinion a power grease gun is one of those things that few people need, but when you need one–because you’re a mechanic or you’re keeping heavy equipment greased up throughout the day–you really NEED one, and that’s not a place to skimp out and try and save a few bucks. I would go with a brand I trust a lot more. The Milwaukee model mentioned by comparison is a much better tool. It also has a 2-speed mode where you can select between volume and pressure. In “volume” mode it dispenses grease twice as fast as the HF models. Heck, the Ryobi is faster than the HF as well with 7.5 oz/min.
Kilroy
Agreed.
The typical DIYer rarely needs to “grease” anything, perhaps with the exception of the garage door tracks once every few years. For everything else, some WD-40, spray lube, or 3 in 1 will usually work.
Grease guns are for guys who often spend multiple hours per week or per day working on or operating (usually) diesel-powered equipment like farm tractors or excavators.
Adam
It made sense when one color represented a clear higher (or lower) level of performance. When both tools have the same specs, just a different length whip, doesn’t make much sense to me.
Instead of one better known brand, you now have two watered down ones.
SamR
That is a great way of describing it. Agreed.
Steve P
I started buying Bauer tools when I was broke, and have been happy to continue buying them. They use Samsung battery cells in the battery packs, and the tools work just fine. I use Hilti and Milwaukee tools at work, and have absolutely no complaints about my numerous Bauer tools. Since I already have them, and own multiple machines that use grease fittings, this would be a great buy for me.
David
I bought the Milwaukee 12 volt $130.00
I already have many of their 12 volt tools
A no brained for me😂