Harbor Freight unveiled 3 new high performance Hercules 20V brushless power tools at this years SEMA event. They include a new high torque drill and hammer drill and impact driver. In this article we’ll take a closer look at the two Hercules 20V Brushless high torque drill(s). I also wrote about the new Hercules 20V Brushless 4 mode impact driver and you can check it out here. A big thanks to Joshua B. for spotting!
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Hercules 20V Brushless High Torque Drill Models
There are two high torque drill models.
A 1/2″ hammer drill version as shown above.
And a 1/2″ drill driver version as shown above.
Hercules 20V Brushless High Torque Drill Features
Both models should have the same feature set with the main difference being that one has a hammer drill mode. Otherwise both have strong high torque rated at 1,200 in-lbs thanks to a brushless motor. This makes them very strong drills for heavy duty work. That’s as strong as Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gen 2 & 3 models! They feature 2 speed settings with up to 2,000 RPM on high. You’ll find metal 1/2 inch chucks and metal gear case construction. It uses an E-Clutch instead of a mechanical clutch to limit torque when using the torque collar settings.
The hammer drill model is shown with with a side handle similar to Milwaukee’s. It clamps on to the top and can be positioned left or right side and doesn’t rotate like the one on Dewalt models. The handle grips onto the screw posts and I wonder if it may be possible to position the handle vertically as well? We’ll have to wait and see. The drill/driver isn’t shown with a side handle so I wonder if it doesn’t come with one?
At the base of the tool is where you find the LED light. They also come with belt clips pre installed on the left side. One cosmetic difference between both models is that the hammer drill variant has a blue accent on the torque collar as well as a blue hammer icon on the side.
Hercules 20V Brushless High Torque Drill Differences Compared to Dewalt High Torque Drills
When the Hercules brand came out, they originally were trying to mimic the look and in some cases unique features found on similar Dewalt products. Not all of their Hercules power tools are trying to directly imitate Dewalt though. In my opinion, these new Hercules high torque drills are more comparable to a Milwaukee M18 Fuel drill. The side handle is similar in design and some design cues as well. The handles do give off a Dewalt vibe but that’s about it in my opinion.
One thing you’ll find on a Dewalt 20V high torque drill you wont find on either of these are their premium features. This includes 3 speeds instead of two and very bright LED lights. A 3 speed transmission is better because it offers the same high torque low speed as well as a high speed mode. But also includes a middle speed setting that gives the best of both worlds. The Dewalt drills also offer super bright LED lights that also double as flashlights. They also feature a switch to toggle between regular brightness, medium, and full brightness with a 20 minute mode.
The side handles are also different. Dewalt’s side handles can fully rotate giving you the angle you want. Dewalt’s side handle also has a hole to use a depth rod. Depth rod’s come in handy when hammer drilling so you don’t over drill.
One big difference between the two brands is usually price. Harbor Freight usually prices their Hercules tools less than Dewalt tools so expect to save money by going blue.
Hercules 20V Brushless High Torque Drill Availability
Harbor Freight didn’t provide a price for these but they did mention they will be available in December 2022.
You can check out the original video above. I also wrote about the new Hercules 20V Brushless 4 mode impact driver and you can check it out here.
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Looks like Harbor Freight is seriously stepping up their game with these Hercules brushless tools!