20V Hercules Impact Driver Review

20V Hercules Impact Driver's Economical Design Impresses Professional Brands

A large number of people shop at Harbor Freight. Harbor Freight and its sub-brands have attracted many people with their low prices and universal accessibility of stores. But since these tools are so cheap, questions have been raised about the functionality and long-term quality of their tools. Tools like the 20V Hercules Impact Driver are part of a range that targets users willing to spend a little more for better tools.

Performance

The two main areas of performance in which we test impact drivers are speed and torque. Go to our Best Impact Driver home page for details on our testing methodology.

speed under load

This Harbor Freight impact driver got off to a strong start and worked its way up to third place in speed under load. Drive a 1/4" sort screw and it's held at 565 RPM.

Tightening torque

While Hercules does drive fast, it does more speed work than strength training. Hercules impact drivers came in at No. 14 with an average torque of 1497 in-lbs. To put that number in perspective, the leader in this test gave 2656 in-lbs of tightening torque.

Nut breaking torque

In terms of breakaway torque, Hercules has improved its position considerably. It's capable of consistently breaking through 3,000 inch-pounds of torque, tying it for 6th place in the 6-way.

problem occurs

We definitely put some load on all of our impact drivers, but nothing that we would consider abusive. We have noticed that Harbor Freight impact drivers run considerably hotter than other drivers.

I ran the torque test again to see what kind of heat our FLIR One Pro LT was picking up. It was over 120º F in less than 2 minutes of use. Bosch's IDH182 (another brushed model) barely hits 100º after the same treatment.

Weight and Footprint

Weight is an important consideration for most tools, even though most of the impact drivers we tested were not overweight. Hercules will not overburden us. It weighs 2.1 pounds without the battery. Installing a 2.5 Ah battery only adds a pound – enough to make it the 6th lightest battery.

In terms of footprint, this Harbor Freight impact driver measures 5.8 inches from end to end and is 7.5 inches tall (without battery attached). It's the bottom half of the 9th, but it sure doesn't feel bulky.

In terms of actual ergonomics, we can sum it up like this: Did you like the feel of the last-generation DeWalt impact driver?

Essentially, this is what you stick to Hercules. It's so close, it makes us wonder if Stanley Black & Decker is making these for Harbor Freight.

In fact, with a bit of sleight of hand, we were able to connect a DeWalt battery pack to a Hercules drive (although it wouldn't start). The point is, the ergonomics of the two brands are very similar… which means that the Hercules are very comfortable to use.

decibel

All the influence drivers are loud and obnoxious — sort of like managing editor Kenny Koehler talking about copywriting infractions and the ins and outs of social media. Still, like Kenny's rant, some are better than others.

Hercules impact drivers sound at 101 dB(A), which is right in the middle of the range for impact driver loudness. It took 6th place, tied with 4 other models.

feature set

As the price drops, you expect less and less features…and there isn't much to talk about in that department at Hercules. This model is pretty much the definition of "bare metal" at this level. Here's what you can expect:

• brushed motor
• Single speed with variable speed trigger
• no special mode
• led light
• belt hook
• no bit pop
• No one-handed drill insertion

value

As we've come to expect from all Harbor Freight brands, Hercules impact drivers perform well in the value category. The kit includes tools, a 2.5 Ah battery, and charger for $99. This is the cheapest impact driver in the 18V class and still holds its own against the Pro models.

There's a downside though – it only comes with a 90-day warranty. That doesn't give us much confidence in the tool's long-term build quality, though it's probably good enough for those who don't use it day in and day out. You can extend the warranty to 2 years for a fee if you wish. At this point, the price you pay is that other brands with longer warranties come into play.

Also keep in mind that you can't use Harbor Freight coupons online at Hercules.

the bottom line

It's safe to say that we've been pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Hercules impact driver against the big boys. Not only did it finish third overall in our 18V category, but it also won our DIY competition outright. Ultimately, that's where we see it best: in the hands of DIY/weekend warriors or as a Pro's backup. It's more than capable of getting the job done, and it's under $100.

The problem is that this model has more heat buildup than any other, and you can't be assured it will last beyond its 90-day warranty. If you're only using it occasionally, it's probably not a big deal, but if you're thinking about it, seriously consider extending your warranty.

• Model: HC81K1

• No-load speed: 0-2800 RPM

• Maximum Torque: 1500 in-lbs

• Impact rate: 0-3200 IPM

• Net Weight: 2.1 lbs

• Weight with battery: 3.1 lbs

• Length: 5.8″

• Height: 7.5″

• Warranty: 90 days

• Price: $99, kits to be confirmed

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