I switched from ridgid to bauer also. Commercial havcr and cooking equipment. It's been about 4 months and I've put them through hell being covered in cooking oil or taking falls and of course using the drills for hammer when needed. No issues at all. So far I have the impact driver, drill/hammer driver, shop vac, multi tool, grinder, rotary hammer drill, lights and will be buying more
I clicked on this video thinking "wtf? ditch the milwaukees for HFT? this is gonna be crap," but this was actually a really well thought out, composed, unflinchingly honest and articulate look into the HFT ecosystem of tools. Thanks man, I know this is 18 months late, but really solid video. 👍
Yeah buddy... me too. I'm in the bakken. Pay the extra 10-20$ bones get the extra 2 yr extended warranty. Keep track of the time u purchased the tool and when u near ur 2 yr extended warranty... take it to store n get new one. Pay the 10-20$ extended warranty on replacement tool.... peace of mind. And fast tool fix/ replacement. And affordable too. Versus dewalt, milwaukee, strapon, etc. All askin to send ur tool in to be inspected to see if they gonna repair it or send u some refurbished piece of shytttt. Harbor freight u go in with a fuqd up tool, you come out with a new tool and feeling like an alter boy who lost his virginity 😂 jus sayin. I L9VE HARBOR FREIGHT!!! Some review talking trash how a certain tool sucks or broke etc.. have ya'll tried goin back to the store with said item to see how they'll make it right? Obviously not... b4 any of u dog on harbor freight u might wanna actually try them out b4 passi g judgement. Jus sayiin.. also when u got employees who don't take care of tools n treat them like shyt simply cuz they didn't pay for them, why would u put a high end power tool in their hands anyway?
I just finished building the handrail on my deck ruclips.net/user/postUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z and used this great little router to clean up the top rail before the final sanding and stain. It was light weight but packed lots of power. Either size battery didn't seem to make it top heavy and I'm a 64 yr old women so I really appreciated how easy it was to use...................... CORDLESS only way to go !!
I use a few Milwaukee 12v tools for work but the batteries only seem to last for maybe a year before they start discharging really quickly. Its a shame cause I love the drills, drivers, impacts and ratchets, but its actually cheaper for me to buy a new bundle kit every year on Cyber Monday than purchase two or three standalone batteries
I have both Bauer and Milwaukee. It seems to me that typically the Bauer tools have more vibration and less power. The first time I used a Milwaukee drill after owning a comparable Bauer for a couple of years, I was very impressed with the torque the Milwaukee put out as it dang near twisted my wrist. I think if I were to use such tools daily as in a commercial setting, the Milwaukee would be hard to beat...other than it is more likely to be stolen. Having been in the automotive repair industry for over 50 years, I still think high quality tools pay off in more ways such as longevity, comfort and reliability. For casual or infrequent users the lesser quality tools are fine. One learns to appreciate smooth running tools, especially once you reach 70. At least some of the cheaper brands seem to be getting better as the years go by even though I have tossed away some of them over the years.
I am a full time farm mechanic and I bought the 1/2 drive impact and the grinder 2 years ago and they are great tools. They take a beating on the farm. Especially for the price. Just bought the 3/8 drive impact today to add to my Bauer line of tools.
I love my Bauer tools. Perfect for homeowner tasks. The cordless air pump lives under the back seat of my truck. The weedwacker is perfect with the 5 ah battery. I've used the circular saw to rip 2x4s. The USB charger is amazing. The handheld vacuum is great. All one the same batteries!
Great video sir. I’m an electrician and Bauer has served me well on all of my jobs. They are tough tools man. The apprentices make fun of me but they are broke all the time buying Milwaukee merch. Lol. Bauer have came out with some brushless tools that are amazing.
I've been using Bauer for over 3 years . I have most of the 20 volt tools . I've had great service from them . The new 8 amp hour battery is unbelievable .
Derek, I am a Milwaukee fanboy and really like their tools but I have to admit Bauer tools are great! I love the 20V Chainsaw, string trimmer, and leaf blower. Their air compressor is lightweight and my wife could pick it up and use it. I hope Harbor Freight continues with the Bauer line as I have many Bauer tools. The drills are as not professional as Milwaukee but they do work well and I built a shed under a porch using Bauer power tools. Thank you for your honest reviews of this line of tools.
I am a fan boy of both. I still have a pile of M12 tools I use regularly. Hard to beat either brand really! Bauer for low cost and Milwaukee for performance and quality!
It seems like if HF is going to keep supporting a brand it’s going to be the bauer lineup as it always seems like they are adding new 20v tools to it and honestly it seems like one of the largest cordless lineups available as there are even some niche things others done have. I think the only thing really holding me back from fully committing to the lineup is the selection of the lawn care tools. If something similar to the atlas lineup was on yhe 20v platform I’d probably be set. For me it’s wanting a string trimmer that has 2 sides for the strings and then a lawn mower. Craftsman seemed to have pulled it off really well on their 20v lineup where the lawn mower uses 2 5ah batteries and people seem to rave about the runtime for it. Right now the 6 tool bundle with 2 batteries, a charger, and a bag is on sale for 200 bucks. That is extremely hard to beat even with the Bauer lineup. Currently the only 20v Bauer tools I have are the hammer drill and the inflator/air compressor. That inflator/compressor is ridiculously useful and even though I’m only using the 1.5 ah battery when they reccomend at least the 3ah one, it does a great job. Always carry it in my car and with the 12v power cable it’s not even a big deal if the battery dies, however with the battery if I’m traveling with an air mattress that’s what I’ll use to inflate(also at home as well). The drill has worked great too. It feels very solid and is holding up well for normal work around the house. Really couldn’t beat the tool, battery, and charger for 60 bucks. The batteries are pretty cheap as well. And with most tools being sold without the battery it seems real easy to add on to what you already have
My very first 18V set was Milwaukee. Ever since, I was never interested in trying out different brands of power tools. I'm more interested in making money in my business, than trying to see which batteries last longer. In my honest opinion, Milwaukee > All HFT power tool brands
I was an HVAC install tech “helper” (apprentice) shortly after high school and my first set was also Milwaukee, the tools I mentioned here. I had them for over 7 years when I decided to sell them and switch to Bauer. I moved away from HVAC and worked as a plumber for a number of years and used my M18 tools through that time too. I eventually decided I wanted to get a college degree and stopped working in the trades. Well I did school part time and did plumbing full time for about 6 months. Company stopped having enough work for us, so I just moved on. Fast forward to starting a YT channel. I’m no longer working as a pro of any kind. I work on all my own stuff. Never pay anyone to do anything, and being that I’m a full time student at a university, I didn’t have the need for the professional level tools. My batteries started going out. Not hardly holding much of a charge or delivering much power to the tools. So I decided to get into something much more affordable to not only have more capability but also to maintain in terms of batteries as well. If you think this video is about me saying HF cordless tools are better than Milwaukee or that I made the switch to see what batteries last longer, either you didn’t listen well, or you’re trolling me. Which is surprising seeing as how you are also a content creator. I have no business outside of creating videos on tools, products, and projects in my DIY shop. If this channel ever makes me enough money to consider different tool brands as an investment to make content on in which pays me back more in ad revenue than I spent on the tools, then I will do that. But for now, Bauer tools it is. Finally, I agree with you. Milwaukee is no doubt the king of the cordless (and probably corded even) power tool market. It’s no doubt the best tools for contractors that I know of. I have a M12 cordless ratchet and intent on expanding that line. Bauer 20v is a super good option at a much more affordable price than Milwaukee M18. It’s not a better tool, and that wasn’t my point. All in all, thanks for watching, I do fix/flip a few outdoor power equipment items every year for fun and extra cash so I’m going to check your channel out.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Yeah no it's your decision on the switch and nobody should tell you if it was right or wrong. And no I don't troll and would never want myself to be trolled. Sorry if it sounded like I was trying to. Not ever my intention. Thanks for the reply 👍
@@fillslawncare I took your original comment at best as unpolished criticism, and at worst a possible troll comment. It's always so hard to know what people mean behind written communication, especially on short comments over the internet. Thanks for clearing that up!
Hey man I'm a m18 guy myself. And I feel you on the batteries. Hopefully within the next month I am going to be buying the 12 dual bevel slide mitre saw the 8 1/4 table saw the rear handle 7 1\4 inch circular saw and a new super sawzall. Now hopefully my wife doesn't leave me or kill me as those 4 tools alone are almost 1800 before taxes but I will also be needing at least 3 and if I'm buying 3 might as well buy 4 because I have 4 new tools so I should technically have 7 probably 8 but the other 3 or 4 are just going to have to wait lol of the m18 12.0 ah batteries. And at $249.00 each battery there's another 750 really need 4 so 1000 bucks lol. Damn how does she keep from choking me in my sleep lol. And like I said another 3 really need 4 later on but need them very soon more batteries and let's not forget the $180.00 super charger possibly way more if I can find a multi battery super charger so that I can charge those 12.0 ah in 1 hour instead of waiting on the job site for 3 hours with the regular charger. Also hence why you should really have 2 batteries for each tool. So yea definitely feel you there man. I have actually thinking really hard about the Hart brand brushless stuff for around the house stuff and I would say for the wife but if I spent that much money on 4 new tools and end up with 7 hopefully 8 new batteries then hand her a Walmart hart brand she will definitely be using the brushless hart tools to saw me in to lil pieces lol. 2000 in batteries and 1800 before taxes on 4 new tools. Yep she would definitely be adding more coverage to the life insurance and accidents will rain down on me lol
I have several Bauer 20v tools. Bought the first drill and impact kits at a parking lot open box sale at half price to try them out. They meet my needs. I've gotten a couple other tools from parking lot open boxes, like the sander, grinder, and the circ saw, but most of the others I've paid full price (using a coupon for probably 10% off most times). They've worked fine for me. I have a Porter Cable 20v set as well, and the Bauer is about as good or better. The Bauer batteries are definitely cheaper, and Porter Cable seems to have quit coming out with any new tools. I like the price because I can leave my Bauer in my truck and my Porter Cable at home. The only caveats I have are the on/off switch on the grinder is a bit gimpy, and a couple adjustment knows on the circ saw are cheap plastic. Otherwise I think all the other tools are nice. Wish the warranty was longer - not that I've needed one.
Yup, I agree with pretty much everything you said. I have also gotten at least two of my tools open box, most of them 10% off, some of them a little more, but almost everything has been on sale.
Just picked up the 5AH battery for my Bauer circular saw, and was able to cut several sheets of 1/2 and 3/4 inch baltic birch sheets, then using the battery on the impact drill for another project. Getting the angle grinder next, and I hope they make an oscillating tool soon too. Thanks for the video. Thus far I'm very happy with the bauer tools I have.
It's not the best cordless brand out there but it's also not priced to be. For what most tools and batteries cost, I am pretty satisfied with it. Thanks for watching and commenting man! Really appreciate it.
I've been using my bauer impact driver, flashlight, torque impact, and hammer drill since 2017...no problems whatsoever.. I'm very satisfied with the tools.
I wouldn't be concerned about Harbor Freight abandoning the Bauer battery platform as these tools can easily be modified to accept overpriced yet ubiquitous Dewalt batteries and then be powered by inexpensive (Cheaper than even Bauer), better performing THISS batteries. If HF were to abandon, I'd pick up all the 2nd hand spares I could from distressed sellers.
Great video Derek . . . I think your analysis was spot on. I need to take a look at the Bauer line of tools . . . good idea about showing the tools in use while talking!
I stumbled onto your channel. Its very refreshing to see a dude like you NOT knocking a brand but taking the time to point out the good. Very few do that. Most folks dont need expensive tools. Most will do very well with Bauer. I own one Bauer tool. Its the plug in reciprocating saw. As much as i use it… its perfect. Harbor Freight stuff implies junk. They really need to work on that. I am totally with you in regards to the 90 day warranties. That speaks volumes in the confidence they have in their tools. In the 90 days i used my new Bauer saw maybe twice? So at say 8 months i use it and something goes SNAP…. I am really screwed. Keep up your good work my man. Keep us up to date. Thank You.
I've had a pretty good experience with my 20v Bauer tools. I have the circ saw, hammer drill, Sawzall, and impact. The drill, in particular, has seen a lot of hard use. The only problem has been the hardware on the circular saw adjustments failing. I can still use it and did again today. The reason I chose this brand was due to the good reviews, and the fact that everything is being made overseas anyway. If you think you're getting a superior tool because of the name, you might be fooling yourself. It could very well be made in the same factory. Anyway, I have only been pleasantly surprised at the performance and I've been using them for a couple years now.
To say that because tools by every brand are made overseas therefore there is no difference in quality is surely not anyone's opinion. My dewalt gear is much more powerful, reliable and robust than the ridgid's, the harts and such when and if I ever see them on jobsites. Edit: I reread the original comment this wasn't what you said but seemed to imply. I only say this to save someone the frustration of having features of their tools breaking or failing due to cheap quality products people fool themselves into believing aren't any different.
Hi, I have both Bauer 1/4 and 3/8 impact and they are awesome and gets the job done well, I’ve always been a hilti and Milwaukee fan, I’m semi retired now and don’t require top quality tools anymore, just my opinion, ty, Bob,
I switched from the M18 line to the Hercules line. I thought about Bauer but I like the 5 yr warranty and the brushless options on the Hercules line, and the power from all the Hercules tools is unmatched, especially for the price! I do have a few Bauer tools that are not made in the Hercules line and I really like them.
Cool. I just started getting into the m12 line. Also, never wear gloves when using grinders because it is an entrapment hazard. The glove can get caught between disc and guard and get pulled in (with your fingers).
I got the Bauer leaf blower because it was really well-recommended, but wound up giving it to my son when his broke down. We recently moved to house with a big yard and I've been caring for the lawn on my own, so I went and got the Ego stuff. I'm a Milwaukee guy, but I'm not a purist. I still have some Makita and Ryobi and even a Craftsman nailer that was the cheapest option when I needed one. People don't buy Milwaukee because it's three times better than Bauer, because it's not. They buy it because they can, just like they buy an Unlimited F150 instead of an XL. People will spend more money for more sizzle.
My Bauer impact driver for over 2 years now, and it still drives screws perfectly, my circular saw is almost 2 years old and still cuts great, several of my batteries are 2 years old and still holding a charge fine. All my Bauer tools are still working just fine! I think in total to buy the tools and batteries I have not on sale would be around $458.00, but I bought most of them on sale. I have several Bauer corded tools now as well including the 3 gallon shop vac, which is super handy. Their corded tools are just as good as the cordless, and I would definitely recommend them, my garage is slowly getting more and more red with Bauer. One of my new favorite Bauer tools I have. is the little 20v flashlights, I have two of them now and they keep coming in handy, I was using one to light up my grill the other night. I keep one in my pantry closet which doesn't have a light, I think I put that thing in there almost 2 months ago and it still hasn't run the battery down yet. I have come across one Bauer product that I need to return though, I recently grabbed the USB charger because it's handy to have a charger that runs off my power tool batteries since I am really diligent about keeping them charged where as we always forget to plug in the portable battery banks we have to charge phones with. One of the USB ports on the charger does not work, so I need to take it back to exchange it, but harbor freight is really good about exchanging or returning things, I tried out the base level miter saw a month or two ago and wasn't happy with it and ended up returning it for a full refund with no hassle. I've even seen the people at my local store exchange a tool that was three years old for a guy without a receipt, anyway I am pleased with my tools and excited that they are still coming out with more tools to add to the lineup.
I have lots of the corded grinders. I definitely agree, their corded tools are a great deal and my shop is also filling up with Bauer tools. I haven’t checked out the vacuum but project farm did a video on one of the Models and it outperformed similar vacuums at a much smaller price, he doesn’t really make recommendations but sort of did at the end of the video. I wouldn’t be surprised if every now and then someone opens a dud Bauer tool but my philosophy with HF power tools is that if you use them pretty good when you first open them and they work well, they probably are going to last. Seems like most duds break out of the box. It’s inconvenient but I think it doesn’t happen often. Yeah HF customer service can be pretty dang good. Last night a bought a new welding cart trying to save some space in my shop by getting rid of another tool box and down sizing, the dude gave me 20% even though my coupon didn’t work on it. As far as Bauer vacuums go, I’m waiting for a cordless vacuum to come out for cleaning my cars. I have a big rigid shop vac, it would just be much more convenient for it to be cordless.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects yeah dud tools are going to happen occasionally no matter what brand you buy, when I worked at Lowes I saw plenty of name brand tools come back broken. I try to at least test everything I buy from HF the first day I have it, make sure at the very least they turn on and function even if I don't use them that day. So far everything has been good, I only returned the miter saw because it wasn't accurate, and one of the USB ports does work, so I can use it, just want both to work.
Definitely. That make sense. I saw the Bauer miter saw last night, pretty impressed with the build quality I’d have to say, bummer it’s not accurate though. I don’t know why HF has that admiral brand, seems like they could just rebrand the saw Bauer and call it good. They have like 4 different miter saw brands now?
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects oh no, wasn't the Bauer saw that I bought, that thing has the makings of a fantastic saw! I would love to have one! No the saw I bought was the 10" Chicago electric non slider. I bought one because my sister in law got one for free, cause some dumbass tried to return it al lowes then left it there. The one she got was a different model number than the one I got. Hers is great, the numbskulls who bought it put the blade on backwards, so yeah it probably wasn't cutting very well! It had a model number which started with a 6. The one I bought had a model number starting with a 5, the mounting for the pivot was not machined well and loose, so every time you went to cut the blade would wander, hence why it wasn't accurate. I ended up scoring a used Craftsman for $50 at a garage sale and returning the Chicago Electric.
I went with ryobi and hilti because ryobi's big stationary stuff like lights and pumps and fans are very cheap and rugged while hilti's handheld tools are fun quiet and safe(anti-kickback brakes on the bigger stuff) It's also because hilti's 12v stuff all barely exceeds 1-2 pounds fully assembled and are tiny enough to fit in pajama pockets 😁 That and when a RUclipsr called vuaeco started using their ryobi stuff with 24v kobalt batteries I immediately stopped caring about ANY of the 18v platforms and hilti/kobalt were the obvious 24v choices at the time. I even handmade wooden adapters that allow me to simply use hilti batteries on the ryobi stuff and the ryobi stuff absolutely sings on hilti batteries 👍🙋♀️ And since the batteries are managed internally just like ryobis, there's no danger of undercharging them Yeah, I like thinking in absolutes. My logic is to just go for the cheapest biggest batteries possible(ryobi) for the stuff that never gets moved(no movement = no wear&tear) and the most well-built stuff for things that DO get taken everywhere(hilti). I believe It'd be silly to go for anything inbetween
When companies come out with something new, then come out with something better shortly after, it’s because they listened to customer’s feed back on how to make things better, actually listened, and made them better. When coming out with a new product, you can’t make it perfect the first go around. So they put out what they have, and improve with customer input. Which they did. And grateful that they listen and put better product out as fast as they did.
There is nothing new about HF's business plan. Have the boys in China clone every good tool in the cheapest possible manner, haul them over here by the boatload and undercut good quality goods. Sometimes that junk is so bad they have to come up with a different model, usually, under a new name, nobody has ever heard of. Milwaukee has been around since at least the 60s. And many of those tools are still in operation today. Who ever heard of "Bauer" until a few months ago? The truth is, nobody goes to HF for quality, they go there for the price.
I’m also upgrading my power tools to battery. I’ve been a lifelong Craftsman fan, but like you, I have switched to Bauer. Within the last five years I have bought almost all my tools from Harbor Freight. I’m very upset with HF for not giving you at least a gift card for promoting Bauer over Milwaukee. Thanks for the great video.
A follow up video. I like it 👍 Also. People keep buying Bauer, and they keep building the tool line. They would be fools to drop Bauer. If they do, I’m definitely switching to Ryobi, their line up is unmatched, for the price. Thou I hate the color.
You and me both dude. I have nothing to complain about Ryobi other than I can't stand the way it looks haha. Speaking in terms of performance, I am sure they are great. And I was recently reassured by a social media marketing manager at Harbor Freight that this tool line is NOT going anywhere any time soon. I am still optimistic!
I just bought a bauer drill driver 20v yesterday and used it today. It worked great and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg , we'll see how it hold up but im happy with my purchase. It came with a nylon bag , charger, battery, drill and two bits all for 54.99 on sale. I don't buy tools for work or anything just to do stuff around the house.
So far, I have (2) 1.5Ah, 3Ah, and a 5Ah batteries along with drill/driver, 3/8 impact, string trimmer, leaf blower, shop blower, and the 20v shop vac (which is supper convenient). Have to say I’m pretty satisfied with the Bauer system.
The rep at Harbor Freight turned me on to Bauer after my Ryobi drill shit the bed. So far I love it! I got the 3A battery and the fast charger. I doubt I'll regret it.
You can always have the batteries rebuilt (Batteries Plus etc) if they stop carrying the Bauer brand.Bauer is a good money maker for then so I highly doubt they'll phase them out
The newest versions are going brushless and seem solid. If you want the 5 year warranty Harbor Freight the Hercules line is for you. The new high torque is great.
I have Makita cordless tools and love them and would love to expand my kit but it is so expensive to do. A few weeks ago i needed to cut a tree down and bought the Bauer pole chainsaw and ended up loving it. From there things went down hill in a good way i bought the Bauer weed eater, rotohammer, grinder, impact driver, corded shop vac 6 gal, corded sawzall and have future plans to buy some other tools. I also bought the adapters so i can use my Makita batteries so i dont need batteries anytime soon.
I actually got into contact with a social media marketing manager at HF. They told me they'd be very surprised if both big cordless tool brands were not still being sold in the store in 15 years. They said that they can't make any promises in that sense, but he assured me the Bauer and Hercules lines were safe in that sense.
When I started as a plumbers helper all my power tools were Bauer and worked well. I eventually switched to milwaukee because they worked better than what I had. The thing that concerns me is more to do with harbor freight I was invested in their old Chicago electric cordless power tools that no longer exists, I still have three batteries left over and four broken power tools
One thing I like about the bauer too line is how large the tool line is. Everything from impact gun to a drill to a fan to a light to an electric chainsaw to a weedeater to a radio to a heatgun an even more and they all use the same battery. You could get all those tools and not need thousands of dollars in diffrent batteries and chargers
I own the Bauer hammer drill, purchased because the Tool Bear said it was high quality, and it isn't as strong as some of the Ryobi, Hart or Black and Decker drill drivers; not even other hammer drills. I gave it to my wife and wished her well.
I disagree. The "first gen" Bauer tools were not as good as the "second gen" but both generations of Bauer tools were no doubt better than anything B&D has put out in the last 30 years. I would say it is easily as good if not better than base level Ryobi in my opinion. I find it to be good quality for the price. You can spend a lot more and get about the same durability and performance with apples to apples tools. Either way, thanks for watching dude!
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I own both the Black and Decker, Bauer and even Hercules. I can actually get the Black and Decker to do more than the Bauer. Bauer just isn't a good quality tool. I respect your opinion, even if I strongly disagree. I have contemplated posting a video showing the difference in quality and power between several of the brands. My only concern is that the Bauer was smoking within 10 minutes of my using it.
I have been looking into switching platforms and had my eye on Bauer. I asked a HF employee how they are and he said it depends on what youre doing. Light, around the house stuff it does fine but doesn't last with abuse like the big names do. I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to try them and still might.
I would say he is under selling it a little. It’s not Milwaukee, DeWalt, or Makita. It probably not even Kobalt or Rigid. But having used both brands, it’s at least as good as Ryobi.
Mspeed I would personally go with the kobalt tools man. I had about 15 of the tools and 9 batteries bug and small. NEVER let me down, plenty of power, almost every tool is brushless and they are a true 20 volt (marketed 24 yes) I used them in home projects and my remodel business for just over a year every day. They held up. Great tools the kobalt.
Awesome video! Your comparison and evaluation was very helpful. But mostly the various demos of your projects are super! Good luck on getting a free tool. You deserve it!
I bought the brushless impact driver, 3/8 impact wrench, 1/2 impact wrench, Bauer grease gun and the Earthquake 3/4 Cordless Impact wrench. I can honestly say these are good tools for the price. I m proud to say bauer,Pittsburgh,icon and quin have made/saved me a lot of money . I am a field heavy equipment mechanic I put these tools through a lot of wear and tear, Covered in Oil and Grease, Dirt, Mud, they survived rain storms, snow, dropped from climbing onto equipment and they are still working perfectly fine from day 1 since I purchased them. If they break simply stop by HF and exchange, compared to waiting on my tools to be sent in to be repaired and waiting. No regrets Love HF
Bauer gets the job done. I use it on job sites primarily because they are a lot less likely to get stolen. My Flex, Milwaukee, etc. Is a lot more likely to disappear.
After purchasing HF hand tools, and happy with it, I thought I would try their plumbing Auger, boy what a disaster, I assembled it, used it, and as I was rolling it away, the wheels feel apart, along with little plastic caps for the metal base. I thought to myself, well, "that's what happen when you buy cheap", then I proceeded to clean the "snake", it already showed signs of rust in the barrel that held the snake. Fortunately, it's not too dangerous of a tool, but it's the second time I bought something that's shows signs of defect. The first was the pittsburgh low profile jack, it had shown signs of rust also. Going to try and avoid HF.
I would have instead switched to Ryobi. That's what I'm doing now. They have affordable options and only some more expensive pro options like their HP series. Most importantly, Ryobi is in the TTI family and has been committed to supporting their tools. You can still use their old blue line with the new 18 plus batteries. They haven't changed their battery standard. Ryobi on average performs better than Bauer, sometimes better than Ridgid yet cheaper in price.
@@GoogleDoesEvil Yeah, their HP line which is their semi pro line of equipment is inching up there with the big boys in terms of price. That said it's still decently cheaper and you can still pick them up at a significant discount from direct tools outlet. I hear your point though and it's valid. I just still think Ryobi is the best option for homeowners or someone who may be starting off as a contractor. Since I work at an OEM equipment repair center, I'm able to order replacement parts as well for dirt cheap. If you have a small engine repair shop near you, many Roybi parts are the same as Homelite, so you can usually order the parts with the Homelite prefix and it's much cheaper this way. I ordered some router bases doing this and the parts were like $2-5 compared to
I think having some core milwaukee tools is the way to go in my opinion. The drill/impact driver/ impact wrench needed to be quality, the other stuff can be bosch or ridgid or whatever else.
I think thats actually a pretty solid idea. Just having different battery systems can be annoying. But two isn't bad. Make the main work horses Milwaukee and the "extras" another brand that has cheaper tools. I like it.
Bosch makes better tools than Milwaukee it's not even close. Quality of components, fit and finish. Milwaukee has one schtick and that's the biggest number.
@@jonathangarzon2798 you must be new to tools, because you are wrong on every front. I have tons of both milwaukee and bosch. You can't name an example in you reply, which is telling. I own every single type of tool from both, milwaukee is always better. Always. Go try some milwaukee, then please delete your post from embarrassment haha
@@CraigularjJoeWoodworks we have 4 Milwaukee, 1 makita drills in a metal fabrication shop. One drops bits intermittently, the other is brushed and has not guts, two are broken, and the Makita works fine. The Milwaukee rotary drill constantly stops working so we have a Bosch backup that never fails. Milwaukee Portaband works okay
@@jonathangarzon2798 We had a Bosch 12V impact driver that didn't even last half a year in our auto dismantling shop. Our Milwaukee lasted 4 years before we sent it in for warranty, and they just shipped us a new one. And that was back in the brushed days. The new Milwaukee brushless ones are tanks. I will never buy another Bosch power tool again.
Gets the job done, was gonna replace lost DeWalt tools again. Luckily years ago i was gifted a impact battery+charger combo, so HF had a free tool when purchasing 5ah battery. Looking at the larger impact for lugnuts along with 8ah battery. Waiting for Bauers electric rachet that's coming soon, not even gonna wait for a sale to grab it.
I've been using the bauer impact driver for 6 months now....replaced a dewalt i dropped from 12 feet(accidentally) that snapped in half(right under the motor)......couldn't be happier.... Bought the angle grinder last week...... Thinking about the sawsall next payday....
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects i do demolition so the quality/price is pretty good- removing fuse/beaker boxes, copper pipe,wire conduit and the such(get salvage rights for the jobs so owner can save some money on dumpsters we remove stuff ourselves)
I don't think HF always has a choice whether to continue supporting a product line. If the product is very popular the supplier has an incentive to keep producing them. The suppliers don't only build these products for Harbor Freight.
I use milwaukee for some things.Grinder, impacts, drills, and several others. But got an adapter so I can use the milwaukee m18 6.0s on Bauer tools. This has been great.
I feel your first concern. I switched 20-ish years back when I had a bunch of expensive Dewalt (the cordless king back then) cordless tools that got stolen from a job trailer. Because I didn't have a ton of money, and I didn't want to be able to lose thousands in cordless tools so easily again, I bought Ryobi 18V. Come to find out, they were the ONLY manufacturer to not change their battery form during the switch from NiCad to lithium. Hell, Dewalt changed theirs twice. I still have many blue Ryobi tools, the color they used back in the NiCad days. Those 15-20 year old tools still work fine with batteries I bought this year. I still get a little bit of ribbing for using "home-owner" quality tools, but that's fine. When their Milwaukee tool collection can fit in a bag, and my Ryobi tool collection could fill the bed of my truck, the teasing goes away pretty fast. Especially after the 3rd or 4th time they've borrowed a tool. Or maybe it's when I point out that they're made by the exact same company.
The 90 day warranty can be upgraded for such a little amount gives you an infinite supply...just replace the tool every year and you get a new set every year for life.
Well, I hate being that wasteful as I have had some of these tools for over two years and they work fine, and I see why someone would do that but it's not for me. The extended warranties are where they really make their profits, and so far, I haven't needed a single one of them .
Not all Bauer tools allow you to buy that Harbor freight warranty (e.g., their otherwise excellent 10” sliding dual bevel mitre saw) Milwaukee OEM batteries are excellent, albeit expensive (but no more so than say Rigid or Ryobi)
Greatfully we invested in the extended warranty on our corded Ryobi trimmer. It was replaced when the spool housing shattered after a teenager used it to work on our lawn. The next one started acting up this season with the line loading & feed so it was replaced again. The new one was even worse. I took it back this time instead of my husband. I upgraded to the cordless Bauer. HF credited us with the original cost from the pos Ryobi trimmer. I'll never buy another Ryobi anything if I can avoid doing so. Other items we've owned have not been up to par either. I've got my fingers crossed about this Bauer.
This mentality will drive the price up and can even lead to them dropping the tool. Plus I believe you have to buy a new warranty for the new tool. Ads up A lot of times when you factor in the warranty you're getting in price range of another companies 5yr factory warranty. I like hf though BC u walk in n get the replacement no BS
Just got my 5 amp hour battery yesterday with a little light. I'm loving all my bauer tools and they are running great. I use them over my dewalt tools because they are just more comfortable and because I have more batteries because bauer is just more affordable then a $100 dewalt battery. Love my bauer tools, total fan boy.
@@danielchambers1958 I started getting into dewalt but I felt the quality wasn't even there. If I was to do professional tools I would do milwaukee but I just need simple good working power tools so I love bauer.
I agree that Milwaukee will always be king of the power tools, but for the money, you can't go wrong with Bauer. I work for HF, and I personally have a few Hercules power tools instead, but I am considering switching over to Bauer because it seems that we're coming out with more newer Bauer tools than we are Hercules. We just came out with a brushless multi-tool and a brushless impact driver from Bauer, so I'm honestly wondering if they're just going to phase out the Hercules in favor of more powerful Bauer stuff. If they come out with a brushless 1/2" impact wrench that is around as strong as the hercules one I will gladly switch to Bauer lol. I only got the Hercules mainly for the compact 12v stuff, but they really haven't been expanding on that line all that much.
I think they are fully committed to Hercules but I’m guessing Bauer is in higher demand and so that is their focus. I could be completely wrong though.
For how many drills I have used over 25 years plus money spent they pretty impressive! Im have Milwaukee and Beuar in my box. Beuar keeps up along with a jigsaw and a heater. Work very well!
I have the 1/2" drill, air pump, 1/4" impact brushless, cordless screwdriver. So far, very tough and good enough power for me. I'm a plumber, so I'm not beating on them all day, but they get the job done for a good price.
My concern is, the Bauer has a 90 day warranty on the tool. Milwaukee has 5 yr on tool, and 3 yr warranty on batteries. I've warranted 1 battery in the past 5 yrs and it was easy. I know Bauer is better than what harbor freight use to sell. I have had 0 luck with a lot of the past tools corded/cordless @ Harbor. I still purchase a lot of stuff but basically no power tools unless I'm expecting to throw it away afterwards. I have basically retooled my shop, not commercial, im just a DIYr with Milwaukee 18/12v tools, car garage/wood & metal shop and have basically paid Ryobi prices for the majority because of all the sells/hacks.. Anyway, hopefully they keep working great for you and great video.
Super great comment. Thanks for watching. The old HF power tools in my opinion were tools to be avoided the new stuff is good. It's not Milwaukee or DeWalt but they also don't cost it either. The warranty is one of the worst things about it.
this was a good video i also bought alot of the bauer line i used to own all ridgid tool but my batteries were crapping out and didnt want to spend as much on a single battery as what i could just get a bauer impact battery and charger for plus with how much cheaper the batteries are i do wood working and light home improvement and so far the only tool that has gave out on me is the orbital sander i also have dropped my impact from about 35 feet in the air to concrete and still works only thing that did happen was the lights stopped working and i think one of the screws on the handle broke but to still be using it when i bought it over a year and half ago and use it everyday i have also been very pleased and right now i have (2) impacts (2) orbital sanders ,mouse sander, drill, hammer drill, right angle drill,6 1/2 circular saw and air pump just bought today and the old led light also have 5 chargers and about 7 batteries i have had only 1 battery stop working on me so i do feel the investment is worth it. im hoping they make the battery powered multi-tool and do plan on getting the jigsaw soon sorry for the long rant but glad to see someone else that enjoys them as well
Definitely a SOLID tool brand to get into. Why do you suspect that orbital sander crapped out? Every brand puts out a dud once in a while that just had a little manufacturer defect and even the pro brands are not free from this, though it may happen less often with them. I am seriously loving the price and ease of expanding this tool line.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects not to sure but with restoring and building furniture i use it all day everyday my second one seems to be ok so far but i did decide to get the 1 year warranty just incase lol its actually the first bauer tool i bought and got the warranty for and most of my hand tools i use are also from there and they even hold up great i have only broke one pittsburg ratchet and was nice and easy to walk in and them give me another one with no receipt or questions asked
I used to be of the opinion that hand tools were the only thing I was interested in from there. Them and air compressors. As they have been upgrading stuff and putting out better quality stuff I’m definitely more interested everything there now almost.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects anything wood working related it has been better for me just to buy from harbor freight anymore with there prices and being only 15 min from my house and i do believe there products are getting better
It's damn shame that Harbor Freight is discontinuing the Earthquake XT power tool line. I have the 1/2 inch cordless impact wrench and it's been great for automotive repair.
It's frustrating when they start expanding/growing cordless tool lines just to dump them after 4-6 years. Pretty much screws the consumer. I think Bauer and Hercules are safe though. If they aren't, I'll never buy another power tool from Harbor Freight again.
Agreed! I just hate having to buy another set of chargers and batteries. If their prices climb any more, I'll start looking at some of the name brands.
Getting into mt first home renovation.. got robbed twice, had all my tools stolen once. My bauer tools are doing great, and i was able to afford replacing them! I'm probably going to do anywhere from a few to a couple dozen home renovations in my lifetime, spread across a lifetime, and working with contractors.. bauer works GREAT for me.
I think they will still be there but obviously I am not affiliated with them and cannot promise that. I did speak with a rep from there and he reassured me they'd be on the shelf in 10 years more than likely.
I’ve come back to this time and time again. I like the red and black and have many Harbor Freight tools. I’m a landlord who has all kinds of separate tool boxes set up for plumbing, hvac, electrical, painting, ect…. It’s often easier for me to carry multiple lines because I it helps me know which tools are in what kits when the wife grabs something for the house. I even have home diy auto repair, a woodshop outback, landscaping, and sets down in my sisters place 5 states away (cause I’m the guy, who fixes her house when things go wrong). For perspective, I’m in Rigid Ryobi Ego Makita Milwaukee Bosch What I can’t get past though, is how expensive for me it is to get into the harbor freight platforms. And hear me out before you think I’m crazy. I’ve never gotten into a tool line without some crazy sale (much like you’ve talked about with with Milwaukee), but I always buy the cheap knock off batteries on Amazon. They work the same in my experience and make the major brands down in price. Plus I often buy brushed tools because they are easier for me to repair if they go bad. Since I’ve been doing this multiple set up for 5 years, I have never had a battery or tool fail, I have a hard time justifying what’ll turn out to be a high cost of harbor freight. For example, I am that guy who wants to have a tool set in the house wherever I’m at in reach. So I looked for an upstairs and basement small set. Looked into warrior thinking - hey 18v not bad. Last I priced, $80 was the lowest I could get for 2 tools and two batteries that were trickle charge. I spent $99 on a Bosch 12v kit with the interchangeable head which is like 5 tools in one. Not saying anything is bad because bauer has a great line up, but it’s just the cost of batteries that get me. How many have you found you need after all this time…..?
I’ve not had one single battery go bad. I got into the line for the first time in spring of 2019. So I have been in the line for over 4 years now. And every one of my original batteries are still kicking. The trick to not let them be in really cold or really hot temperatures.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects for your line, I’m guessing 4 Ah’s are probably ok. Do you find that with 4-6 of them that it’s enough? Or do you have more?
Well this video was 3 years ago. HF has invested a lot into the two brands Bauer and Hercules. The value you get with Bauer was enough for me to switch out all my Dewalt and Milwaukee. It cost nearly half the cost and the tools have proven to perform just as well or in some cases better. Of course longevity and coverage are very important and I can see HF taking that seriously if they want to succeed in this massive investment
I bought what you might call a Bauer second gen jigsaw. It isn't cordless and I don't use tools enough worry about cordless. I don't own any cordless because I don't want any tool that is going to become a paperweight simply because of a battery. I don't want to buy battery powered or to replace batteries. That said, I'm not a mechanic or a huge tool user. I think my Bauer jigsaw looks really tight though. I bought a Chicago grinder and a one of those saws for cutting flooring from under a counter. The tools pay for themselves as compared to having people work on your house. That's how I look at it. Plus, learning to do stuff for yourself makes you competent. We can't all be stooopid all the time.
You do get what you pay for... "buy once, cry once." The low price of a poorly designed & made tool isn't worth the frustration & lost productivity of struggling with it. I began investing into the Milwaukee M12 & M18 lines in 2008 and haven't regretted it one bit... and now have over 30 of their tools... I appreciate how well designed and struggle-free their tools are. I'm a residential remodeler.
Best decision you ever made! For the money the quality is far superior. I'm still beating the ever living shit out of my Bauer drill after 6 or 7 years, and when I say beating, I'm not exaggerating, I frequently use it with wire wheel attachments bogging it down for extended periods of time. I will admit the driver you get now isn't the same as the one I have, the chuck is heavier and thicker metal, not the cheapo black metal they seem to use today
Harbor Freight battery line longevity is a valid concern given their history of adding and dropping lines. That said, it's only a concern if you are committed to using OEM batteries. There are adapters between just about any tool brand out there for about $20 on Amazon. I'm already too heavily invested in another battery platform to justify switching all my tools at this point, but I also don't want to pay brand name premiums on occasional use tools. For those tools, I own a handful of Bauer brand stuff that run using a DeWalt battery via an adapter. Once HF drops Bauer (which given recent expansions to that platform, I don't think is anytime soon), my tools will still run off any other battery platform via an adapter.
I think Bauer is here to stay for a long time. It’s already like 8 years old roughly. Maybe 6 or 7. I bought my first Bauer stuff around spring 2018 so that’s over 6 years old and I think it was out well before I bought into it. I’m confident at this point the brand will be around in at least another decade.
I have a full set of Hercules tools and they are awesome. I would prefer to have a full set of more expensive tools but the thing is, they are expensive and I can't afford to do that lol. All of them work well. I have a lot of grinders and my favorite grinder is a Hercules corded paddle switch model.
@@nickbazzett263 a bit late, but I have the 20v 1/4" hercules impact. Used it to drive lags into cement, used for general construction, etc. Has plenty of power, kept up with my coworkers that had DeWalt and Milwaukee. The batteries EASILY last for days on end without extremely heavy use. Even on heavy use days it usually still had half charge on top of not being charged from days of infrequent use before that. It just now passed a year's age, and I have the two year warranty on it. It has clearly taken a beating, still works great. I am thoroughly impressed with the level of quality I received from my 20v 1/4" Hercules impact. Edit-almost forgot to mention, they charge fast too! Usually stays in the back of my van heat or cold, no issue with temperatures that I have noticed.
I must have had a gen 1 version of the Bauer angle grinder because I couldn't do with mine what you were doing with yours in the video. Just not enough power. I also had gen 1 versions of the Hercules drill + impact- awesome value, triggers eventually went bad. The new stuff does look better, they would do well to advertise each generation of tool. FWIW I'm almost entirely on DeWalt at this point, I live in a small space and just don't want to mess around anymore.
Thanks for your feedback. I have several blank cordless tools, they all work great. The part that I don’t like is all the different chargers & batteries that I have. I was considering selling what I have & buying a complete set of Bauer. Do you have the impact tools? How do they hold up? Do the batteries stay charged for a long time without use?
Hey, I just come across this video and thanks for sharing your experience with the Bauer line. Last summer I sold off all my Dewalt tools and went with the Bauer line. The cost of the batteries was the number one driving force behind me making that decision. I love the Bauer tools. Btw, the Bauer tool line uses the same cells in their batteries as the Dewalt 20 volt line.
@@kittywolf1903 if I had a lot of Dewalt tools I could see that, but I wasn't that deep yet, I only had the drill and 1/4" impact with two batteries and a charger. However, I am not knee deep into Bauer with the 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" impacts, the drill, and a air pump with two 1.5ah and three 3ah batteries and one charger. I plan on buying the extreme torque 1/2" drive impact when they come out with that. I also recent picked up the 3/8" brushless impact.
This is so interesting 🤔 . I like that you tried this experiment even though I wouldn't ever think of doing with my dewalt gear and can see why this is so unpopular. But I'm fascinated
When you buy anything that comes with a warranty, part of the money you pay at the register is for that warranty. Bauer could do the same thing, instead they make it an add on. That said, I invested in Rigid because of their lifetime warranty. I wasn't worried about the tool but rather the battery. When I compare Bauer batts to Rigid the price difference is ridiculous. Obviously a huge part of the money Rigid charges for batts goes into their "warranty slush fund"
What Harbor Freight does is better, your items has a 3 month warranty, Harbor Freight gives you an option of a replacement plan, which is not a warranty, it's covers normal wear and tear, but more importantly it's covers those incidentals you don't account for, you can buy a $20 tool, the replacement plan is maybe $2, for as long as you renew that plan, that tool will only cost you a $2, I'd rather have my tool replaced, as supposed to maybe having to send it off to a repair shop or make sure I'm in compliance with the restrictions of a warranty, to even qualify based on the terms of the warranty to get the tool replaced, everything I get from Harbor Freight that offer the replacement plan I get, saves you money in the long room for your items to me it's a NO BRAINER.
I have been using Bauer for about three years, and they work no matter what I do. I also added to my Bauer power tools, with Skil core 12v and 20v, for the price and performance; you can't beat them. My philosophy is to save money and get the same performance from the tool. I am good, and who cares what people think. Besides, most people can't tell the difference while working with power tools. Nearly all the big brand names are made in China, just as Bauer and Skil.
The batteries can be repacked with better or at least better chemistry cells in them. The cells are common and easy to source once you open them up. the battery packs are easy to open in that they are held together with screws. I had to repack my batteries already and put in some much better and higher Ah cells as well. Its cheap and easy to swap them.
That's what a lot of people said but I still have benefitted from switching just by having far more affordable tools to buy than most of the Milwaukee stuff is.
This Friday to Sunday big Father's Day Sale. Got two 5 AMP Bauer batteries for $74. Meanwhile two 5 AMP Milwaukee batteries at Home Depot are on "sale" for $199.
I'm restoring an older car and it's dirty nasty work. I bought HF tools to do this job because I'm going to beat them up and use the piss out of them. Run them hard. I've bought Bauer, Chicago Electric, pretty much all of their brands for what I need. 2 years in and nothing has failed to my surprise. My Dremel brand tool was a workhorse for years with other projects, it finally took a crap on me so I bought another Dremel. It died within 2 weeks. So I bought the cheap Chicago Electric rotary tool to replace it. It's been a year now. Still running strong. I'm actually pretty impressed with the HF stuff.
I had the porter cable brand but you had to ship them the broken tools to use the warranty and even then they would sometimes not honor the warranty but at harbor freight the warranty is no questions asked swap right there in the store and there is a store in most of the cities I work in.
Just my 2 cents, tool quality is a big consideration. And so is BATTERY QUALITY. By accident, I went with Hitachi (now Metabo) years ago. The quality of their tools are excellent. Their tool line-up lags behind the competition. But, their lithium batteries are excellent. I have 1.5ah batteries that are 15 years old that still perform. In fact, I've never retired one of their batteries. From my understanding, they have used LG's top of the line cells, at least in the past. Milwaukee & DeWalt certainly have a great lineup of tools. Their batteries from my experience have not withstood the test of time in comparison to Hitachi/Metabo. Would really love to see someone do a battery cell tear down of the main players. I suspect Bauer is not using top of the line cells based on their price point. Then again, who knows for sure?
I have a couple of Milwaukee M20 tools and so far after (I would guess) five years they still perform well. I did manage to drop one of the batteries cracking the case open, wrapped it with duct tape and so far so good. As for yard tools, I purchased just about every tool Ryobi makes in the 40-volt series. I'm amazed at the power these tools have and how long a tool can be used between charges. However, don't ever let those batteries sit on a bench in a dead state. Or at least what appears to be dead. They are not. But the circuitry in Ryobi batteries is such that if the voltage falls below a certain limit, the battery is junk. I learned this the hard way three times. I'm sure most brands have similar limitations to keep them from burning the garage down. So far, no issues like that with the Milwaukee or Porter Cable. Which I also find to be very good tools.
@@Georgiagreen317 If your Ryobi (or any) battery falls below the charge state, find another similar battery and jump it like you would a car battery. + to +, - to -. Let it stay connected for 10 min or so and monitor the battery heat (disconnect if it starts to get hot). You should then be able to charge your battery as normal since the voltage should exceed the charger's low bat threshold. You may need to get creative on how you jump the batteries depending on the terminal type. Alligator clips and butter knives are usually in that picture. Just be sure to place an insulator (like a towel) between the connections to avoid arcing the terminals.
@@Georgiagreen317 some of the newer battery chargers have a feature to bring old cells back to life. It hit them with a light pulse/trickle charge until the battery gets to a certain point and the internals click and let the battery charge again. I charged sorry old cr123 batteries and brought them back to life. It took awhile but it worked.
I bought the leaf blower;works great.Also have the 10" chainsaw.My problem w/the chainsaw is the "proprietary" chain bar design,and problems with the chain coming off.What's wrong with the tried and true "nuts and washers" on a chain bar?. And if you need a new chain bar,you can't go to any other outlet but HF....P.S. HF nails you on the high-priced batteries,which I avoid by buying new ones on Ebay.
I have found the batteries to be some of the most reasonable of any tool brand around. I like the chainsaw. I do wish it used a standard nut design. I used to have problems with the chain falling off but I usually just hit the tensioner once in a while when cutting and it keeps it together.
I think the general, common-sense consensus is that if you are a professional craftsman who uses his tools everyday, all day, you shouldn’t buy “mid-priced” tools like Bauer and expect them to hold up & perform like higher priced professional tools. Great video!
I’m about to ditch a “respectable” brand for Bauer because I had to wait 6 weeks to get a drill replaced under warranty. If only I’d had something professional grade like Bauer, I could have gotten a same-day replacement (if you add the cost of a 2-year plan to the MSRP of the tool).
Bauer is just fine. I went with Ryobi because current 18v batteries are still compatible with tools starting in 1996. I don't feel like they're ever going to leave anyone stranded.
As a pipe welder and heavy industrial welder.. im sad to say I've seen countless Milwaukee tools and battery die inexplicably. The company and clients have money so they just keep buying replacements. My nearly twenty year old Makita stuff is still going strong. I can't afford to show up to a job site with what I know are brand new tools only to have them fail out of the blue..
I switched from ridgid to bauer also. Commercial havcr and cooking equipment. It's been about 4 months and I've put them through hell being covered in cooking oil or taking falls and of course using the drills for hammer when needed. No issues at all. So far I have the impact driver, drill/hammer driver, shop vac, multi tool, grinder, rotary hammer drill, lights and will be buying more
Imagine the low IQ required to switch from free lifetime replacement to bargain trash
I don't like the vac...Ryobi is way better! I have a 1/2" drill that seems to work fine though!
I clicked on this video thinking "wtf? ditch the milwaukees for HFT? this is gonna be crap," but this was actually a really well thought out, composed, unflinchingly honest and articulate look into the HFT ecosystem of tools. Thanks man, I know this is 18 months late, but really solid video. 👍
HF is the better tools
@@colemahaney4208 you are smoking crack, no debate.
@@colemahaney4208 nah, but they will get the work done cheaper.
I’m an oilfield mech I use Bauer daily and all my Bauer tools get the job done and perform excellent
Yeah buddy... me too. I'm in the bakken. Pay the extra 10-20$ bones get the extra 2 yr extended warranty. Keep track of the time u purchased the tool and when u near ur 2 yr extended warranty... take it to store n get new one. Pay the 10-20$ extended warranty on replacement tool.... peace of mind. And fast tool fix/ replacement. And affordable too. Versus dewalt, milwaukee, strapon, etc. All askin to send ur tool in to be inspected to see if they gonna repair it or send u some refurbished piece of shytttt. Harbor freight u go in with a fuqd up tool, you come out with a new tool and feeling like an alter boy who lost his virginity 😂 jus sayin. I L9VE HARBOR FREIGHT!!! Some review talking trash how a certain tool sucks or broke etc.. have ya'll tried goin back to the store with said item to see how they'll make it right? Obviously not... b4 any of u dog on harbor freight u might wanna actually try them out b4 passi g judgement. Jus sayiin.. also when u got employees who don't take care of tools n treat them like shyt simply cuz they didn't pay for them, why would u put a high end power tool in their hands anyway?
I just finished building the handrail on my deck ruclips.net/user/postUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z and used this great little router to clean up the top rail before the final sanding and stain. It was light weight but packed lots of power. Either size battery didn't seem to make it top heavy and I'm a 64 yr old women so I really appreciated how easy it was to use...................... CORDLESS only way to go !!
If your a DIYERS, theres is no need for a lot of milwaukee tools, but if you're going to use it everyday for work I would choose milwaukee over Bauer.
Basically the way I see it. Thanks for watching.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Try the Hercules brand. IDK how long the manufacturer will stay in business but we'll see.
not me i would take the Bauer any day
@@charkee167 they're also Harbor Freight tools and basically old DeWalts
I use a few Milwaukee 12v tools for work but the batteries only seem to last for maybe a year before they start discharging really quickly. Its a shame cause I love the drills, drivers, impacts and ratchets, but its actually cheaper for me to buy a new bundle kit every year on Cyber Monday than purchase two or three standalone batteries
I have both Bauer and Milwaukee. It seems to me that typically the Bauer tools have more vibration and less power. The first time I used a Milwaukee drill after owning a comparable Bauer for a couple of years, I was very impressed with the torque the Milwaukee put out as it dang near twisted my wrist. I think if I were to use such tools daily as in a commercial setting, the Milwaukee would be hard to beat...other than it is more likely to be stolen. Having been in the automotive repair industry for over 50 years, I still think high quality tools pay off in more ways such as longevity, comfort and reliability. For casual or infrequent users the lesser quality tools are fine. One learns to appreciate smooth running tools, especially once you reach 70. At least some of the cheaper brands seem to be getting better as the years go by even though I have tossed away some of them over the years.
I am a full time farm mechanic and I bought the 1/2 drive impact and the grinder 2 years ago and they are great tools. They take a beating on the farm. Especially for the price. Just bought the 3/8 drive impact today to add to my Bauer line of tools.
I love my Bauer tools. Perfect for homeowner tasks. The cordless air pump lives under the back seat of my truck. The weedwacker is perfect with the 5 ah battery. I've used the circular saw to rip 2x4s. The USB charger is amazing. The handheld vacuum is great. All one the same batteries!
I’m pretty satisfied with my Bauer tools for sure!
You might think Cheerwine is good if you've never had Coca-Cola too.
Great video sir. I’m an electrician and Bauer has served me well on all of my jobs. They are tough tools man. The apprentices make fun of me but they are broke all the time buying Milwaukee merch. Lol. Bauer have came out with some brushless tools that are amazing.
Ya man the brushless are fantastic. Bauer’s good.
I've been using Bauer for over 3 years . I have most of the 20 volt tools . I've had great service from them . The new 8 amp hour battery is unbelievable .
What tools do you like to use 8amp battery on?
Happen to have some experience with the 20v router? Looking to do some light milling with it.
Derek, I am a Milwaukee fanboy and really like their tools but I have to admit Bauer tools are great! I love the 20V Chainsaw, string trimmer, and leaf blower. Their air compressor is lightweight and my wife could pick it up and use it. I hope Harbor Freight continues with the Bauer line as I have many Bauer tools. The drills are as not professional as Milwaukee but they do work well and I built a shed under a porch using Bauer power tools. Thank you for your honest reviews of this line of tools.
I am a fan boy of both. I still have a pile of M12 tools I use regularly. Hard to beat either brand really! Bauer for low cost and Milwaukee for performance and quality!
For DIY homeowner level I love that lil chainsaw. Wife even used it a tiny bit.
It seems like if HF is going to keep supporting a brand it’s going to be the bauer lineup as it always seems like they are adding new 20v tools to it and honestly it seems like one of the largest cordless lineups available as there are even some niche things others done have.
I think the only thing really holding me back from fully committing to the lineup is the selection of the lawn care tools. If something similar to the atlas lineup was on yhe 20v platform I’d probably be set.
For me it’s wanting a string trimmer that has 2 sides for the strings and then a lawn mower.
Craftsman seemed to have pulled it off really well on their 20v lineup where the lawn mower uses 2 5ah batteries and people seem to rave about the runtime for it. Right now the 6 tool bundle with 2 batteries, a charger, and a bag is on sale for 200 bucks. That is extremely hard to beat even with the Bauer lineup.
Currently the only 20v Bauer tools I have are the hammer drill and the inflator/air compressor. That inflator/compressor is ridiculously useful and even though I’m only using the 1.5 ah battery when they reccomend at least the 3ah one, it does a great job. Always carry it in my car and with the 12v power cable it’s not even a big deal if the battery dies, however with the battery if I’m traveling with an air mattress that’s what I’ll use to inflate(also at home as well).
The drill has worked great too. It feels very solid and is holding up well for normal work around the house. Really couldn’t beat the tool, battery, and charger for 60 bucks.
The batteries are pretty cheap as well. And with most tools being sold without the battery it seems real easy to add on to what you already have
My very first 18V set was Milwaukee. Ever since, I was never interested in trying out different brands of power tools. I'm more interested in making money in my business, than trying to see which batteries last longer. In my honest opinion, Milwaukee > All HFT power tool brands
I was an HVAC install tech “helper” (apprentice) shortly after high school and my first set was also Milwaukee, the tools I mentioned here. I had them for over 7 years when I decided to sell them and switch to Bauer. I moved away from HVAC and worked as a plumber for a number of years and used my M18 tools through that time too. I eventually decided I wanted to get a college degree and stopped working in the trades. Well I did school part time and did plumbing full time for about 6 months. Company stopped having enough work for us, so I just moved on.
Fast forward to starting a YT channel. I’m no longer working as a pro of any kind. I work on all my own stuff. Never pay anyone to do anything, and being that I’m a full time student at a university, I didn’t have the need for the professional level tools. My batteries started going out. Not hardly holding much of a charge or delivering much power to the tools. So I decided to get into something much more affordable to not only have more capability but also to maintain in terms of batteries as well.
If you think this video is about me saying HF cordless tools are better than Milwaukee or that I made the switch to see what batteries last longer, either you didn’t listen well, or you’re trolling me. Which is surprising seeing as how you are also a content creator.
I have no business outside of creating videos on tools, products, and projects in my DIY shop. If this channel ever makes me enough money to consider different tool brands as an investment to make content on in which pays me back more in ad revenue than I spent on the tools, then I will do that. But for now, Bauer tools it is.
Finally, I agree with you. Milwaukee is no doubt the king of the cordless (and probably corded even) power tool market. It’s no doubt the best tools for contractors that I know of. I have a M12 cordless ratchet and intent on expanding that line. Bauer 20v is a super good option at a much more affordable price than Milwaukee M18. It’s not a better tool, and that wasn’t my point.
All in all, thanks for watching, I do fix/flip a few outdoor power equipment items every year for fun and extra cash so I’m going to check your channel out.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Yeah no it's your decision on the switch and nobody should tell you if it was right or wrong. And no I don't troll and would never want myself to be trolled. Sorry if it sounded like I was trying to. Not ever my intention. Thanks for the reply 👍
@@fillslawncare I took your original comment at best as unpolished criticism, and at worst a possible troll comment. It's always so hard to know what people mean behind written communication, especially on short comments over the internet. Thanks for clearing that up!
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects no problem. Just checked out your channel. Good stuff. Subbed. Keep up the content 👍
Hey man I'm a m18 guy myself. And I feel you on the batteries. Hopefully within the next month I am going to be buying the 12 dual bevel slide mitre saw the 8 1/4 table saw the rear handle 7 1\4 inch circular saw and a new super sawzall. Now hopefully my wife doesn't leave me or kill me as those 4 tools alone are almost 1800 before taxes but I will also be needing at least 3 and if I'm buying 3 might as well buy 4 because I have 4 new tools so I should technically have 7 probably 8 but the other 3 or 4 are just going to have to wait lol of the m18 12.0 ah batteries. And at $249.00 each battery there's another 750 really need 4 so 1000 bucks lol. Damn how does she keep from choking me in my sleep lol. And like I said another 3 really need 4 later on but need them very soon more batteries and let's not forget the $180.00 super charger possibly way more if I can find a multi battery super charger so that I can charge those 12.0 ah in 1 hour instead of waiting on the job site for 3 hours with the regular charger. Also hence why you should really have 2 batteries for each tool. So yea definitely feel you there man. I have actually thinking really hard about the Hart brand brushless stuff for around the house stuff and I would say for the wife but if I spent that much money on 4 new tools and end up with 7 hopefully 8 new batteries then hand her a Walmart hart brand she will definitely be using the brushless hart tools to saw me in to lil pieces lol. 2000 in batteries and 1800 before taxes on 4 new tools. Yep she would definitely be adding more coverage to the life insurance and accidents will rain down on me lol
I have several Bauer 20v tools. Bought the first drill and impact kits at a parking lot open box sale at half price to try them out. They meet my needs. I've gotten a couple other tools from parking lot open boxes, like the sander, grinder, and the circ saw, but most of the others I've paid full price (using a coupon for probably 10% off most times). They've worked fine for me. I have a Porter Cable 20v set as well, and the Bauer is about as good or better. The Bauer batteries are definitely cheaper, and Porter Cable seems to have quit coming out with any new tools. I like the price because I can leave my Bauer in my truck and my Porter Cable at home. The only caveats I have are the on/off switch on the grinder is a bit gimpy, and a couple adjustment knows on the circ saw are cheap plastic. Otherwise I think all the other tools are nice. Wish the warranty was longer - not that I've needed one.
Yup, I agree with pretty much everything you said. I have also gotten at least two of my tools open box, most of them 10% off, some of them a little more, but almost everything has been on sale.
Just picked up the 5AH battery for my Bauer circular saw, and was able to cut several sheets of 1/2 and 3/4 inch baltic birch sheets, then using the battery on the impact drill for another project. Getting the angle grinder next, and I hope they make an oscillating tool soon too. Thanks for the video. Thus far I'm very happy with the bauer tools I have.
It's not the best cordless brand out there but it's also not priced to be. For what most tools and batteries cost, I am pretty satisfied with it. Thanks for watching and commenting man! Really appreciate it.
I've been using my bauer impact driver, flashlight, torque impact, and hammer drill since 2017...no problems whatsoever.. I'm very satisfied with the tools.
I wouldn't be concerned about Harbor Freight abandoning the Bauer battery platform as these tools can easily be modified to accept overpriced yet ubiquitous Dewalt batteries and then be powered by inexpensive (Cheaper than even Bauer), better performing THISS batteries. If HF were to abandon, I'd pick up all the 2nd hand spares I could from distressed sellers.
They have something on the website that says coming soon. Brushless oscillating multi tool…
@@Ciana_Baby ooooh I hope soon
Great video Derek . . . I think your analysis was spot on. I need to take a look at the Bauer line of tools . . . good idea about showing the tools in use while talking!
I bought the 3amp battery, charger, and leaf blower I haven't used in my line of work yet, but I gotta say I'm pretty impressed with it so far
Definitely impressive tools for the cost of some of them.
I stumbled onto your channel. Its very refreshing to see a dude like you NOT knocking a brand but taking the time to point out the good. Very few do that. Most folks dont need expensive tools. Most will do very well with Bauer. I own one Bauer tool. Its the plug in reciprocating saw. As much as i use it… its perfect. Harbor Freight stuff implies junk. They really need to work on that. I am totally with you in regards to the 90 day warranties. That speaks volumes in the confidence they have in their tools. In the 90 days i used my new Bauer saw maybe twice? So at say 8 months i use it and something goes SNAP…. I am really screwed. Keep up your good work my man. Keep us up to date. Thank You.
I've had a pretty good experience with my 20v Bauer tools. I have the circ saw, hammer drill, Sawzall, and impact. The drill, in particular, has seen a lot of hard use. The only problem has been the hardware on the circular saw adjustments failing. I can still use it and did again today.
The reason I chose this brand was due to the good reviews, and the fact that everything is being made overseas anyway. If you think you're getting a superior tool because of the name, you might be fooling yourself. It could very well be made in the same factory.
Anyway, I have only been pleasantly surprised at the performance and I've been using them for a couple years now.
Pretty much exactly my experience.
Using the impact a lot this weekend on my rusty old car. It has been a life saver.
To say that because tools by every brand are made overseas therefore there is no difference in quality is surely not anyone's opinion. My dewalt gear is much more powerful, reliable and robust than the ridgid's, the harts and such when and if I ever see them on jobsites.
Edit: I reread the original comment this wasn't what you said but seemed to imply. I only say this to save someone the frustration of having features of their tools breaking or failing due to cheap quality products people fool themselves into believing aren't any different.
Hi, I have both Bauer 1/4 and 3/8 impact and they are awesome and gets the job done well, I’ve always been a hilti and Milwaukee fan, I’m semi retired now and don’t require top quality tools anymore, just my opinion, ty, Bob,
I agree. Bauer works good for the DIYer.
I switched from the M18 line to the Hercules line. I thought about Bauer but I like the 5 yr warranty and the brushless options on the Hercules line, and the power from all the Hercules tools is unmatched, especially for the price! I do have a few Bauer tools that are not made in the Hercules line and I really like them.
Cool. I just started getting into the m12 line. Also, never wear gloves when using grinders because it is an entrapment hazard. The glove can get caught between disc and guard and get pulled in (with your fingers).
Thanks for the tip.
Yeah, but who uses the guard?
@@histguy101 I do.
Clearly you've never met a welder lmao
@HAPPY ENDING MASSAGE How is it more dangerous to have a guard? Please explain.
I got the Bauer leaf blower because it was really well-recommended, but wound up giving it to my son when his broke down. We recently moved to house with a big yard and I've been caring for the lawn on my own, so I went and got the Ego stuff. I'm a Milwaukee guy, but I'm not a purist. I still have some Makita and Ryobi and even a Craftsman nailer that was the cheapest option when I needed one. People don't buy Milwaukee because it's three times better than Bauer, because it's not. They buy it because they can, just like they buy an Unlimited F150 instead of an XL. People will spend more money for more sizzle.
Are you happy with Ego ?
@@jaimebedolla989 sure am. I still don't like string trimming but it's nice to auto wind and auto discharge line.
My Bauer impact driver for over 2 years now, and it still drives screws perfectly, my circular saw is almost 2 years old and still cuts great, several of my batteries are 2 years old and still holding a charge fine. All my Bauer tools are still working just fine! I think in total to buy the tools and batteries I have not on sale would be around $458.00, but I bought most of them on sale. I have several Bauer corded tools now as well including the 3 gallon shop vac, which is super handy. Their corded tools are just as good as the cordless, and I would definitely recommend them, my garage is slowly getting more and more red with Bauer. One of my new favorite Bauer tools I have. is the little 20v flashlights, I have two of them now and they keep coming in handy, I was using one to light up my grill the other night. I keep one in my pantry closet which doesn't have a light, I think I put that thing in there almost 2 months ago and it still hasn't run the battery down yet.
I have come across one Bauer product that I need to return though, I recently grabbed the USB charger because it's handy to have a charger that runs off my power tool batteries since I am really diligent about keeping them charged where as we always forget to plug in the portable battery banks we have to charge phones with. One of the USB ports on the charger does not work, so I need to take it back to exchange it, but harbor freight is really good about exchanging or returning things, I tried out the base level miter saw a month or two ago and wasn't happy with it and ended up returning it for a full refund with no hassle. I've even seen the people at my local store exchange a tool that was three years old for a guy without a receipt, anyway I am pleased with my tools and excited that they are still coming out with more tools to add to the lineup.
Nice comment . . . I will have to check out the Bauer line . . . .thanks!
I have lots of the corded grinders. I definitely agree, their corded tools are a great deal and my shop is also filling up with Bauer tools. I haven’t checked out the vacuum but project farm did a video on one of the Models and it outperformed similar vacuums at a much smaller price, he doesn’t really make recommendations but sort of did at the end of the video.
I wouldn’t be surprised if every now and then someone opens a dud Bauer tool but my philosophy with HF power tools is that if you use them pretty good when you first open them and they work well, they probably are going to last. Seems like most duds break out of the box. It’s inconvenient but I think it doesn’t happen often.
Yeah HF customer service can be pretty dang good. Last night a bought a new welding cart trying to save some space in my shop by getting rid of another tool box and down sizing, the dude gave me 20% even though my coupon didn’t work on it.
As far as Bauer vacuums go, I’m waiting for a cordless vacuum to come out for cleaning my cars. I have a big rigid shop vac, it would just be much more convenient for it to be cordless.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects yeah dud tools are going to happen occasionally no matter what brand you buy, when I worked at Lowes I saw plenty of name brand tools come back broken. I try to at least test everything I buy from HF the first day I have it, make sure at the very least they turn on and function even if I don't use them that day. So far everything has been good, I only returned the miter saw because it wasn't accurate, and one of the USB ports does work, so I can use it, just want both to work.
Definitely. That make sense. I saw the Bauer miter saw last night, pretty impressed with the build quality I’d have to say, bummer it’s not accurate though. I don’t know why HF has that admiral brand, seems like they could just rebrand the saw Bauer and call it good. They have like 4 different miter saw brands now?
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects oh no, wasn't the Bauer saw that I bought, that thing has the makings of a fantastic saw! I would love to have one! No the saw I bought was the 10" Chicago electric non slider. I bought one because my sister in law got one for free, cause some dumbass tried to return it al lowes then left it there. The one she got was a different model number than the one I got. Hers is great, the numbskulls who bought it put the blade on backwards, so yeah it probably wasn't cutting very well! It had a model number which started with a 6. The one I bought had a model number starting with a 5, the mounting for the pivot was not machined well and loose, so every time you went to cut the blade would wander, hence why it wasn't accurate. I ended up scoring a used Craftsman for $50 at a garage sale and returning the Chicago Electric.
I went with ryobi and hilti because ryobi's big stationary stuff like lights and pumps and fans are very cheap and rugged while hilti's handheld tools are fun quiet and safe(anti-kickback brakes on the bigger stuff)
It's also because hilti's 12v stuff all barely exceeds 1-2 pounds fully assembled and are tiny enough to fit in pajama pockets 😁
That and when a RUclipsr called vuaeco started using their ryobi stuff with 24v kobalt batteries I immediately stopped caring about ANY of the 18v platforms and hilti/kobalt were the obvious 24v choices at the time. I even handmade wooden adapters that allow me to simply use hilti batteries on the ryobi stuff and the ryobi stuff absolutely sings on hilti batteries 👍🙋♀️
And since the batteries are managed internally just like ryobis, there's no danger of undercharging them
Yeah, I like thinking in absolutes. My logic is to just go for the cheapest biggest batteries possible(ryobi) for the stuff that never gets moved(no movement = no wear&tear) and the most well-built stuff for things that DO get taken everywhere(hilti). I believe It'd be silly to go for anything inbetween
Wow, probably one of the most interesting / different takes on the subject of cordless power tools I have ever read/heard. Good luck with it all!
When companies come out with something new, then come out with something better shortly after, it’s because they listened to customer’s feed back on how to make things better, actually listened, and made them better. When coming out with a new product, you can’t make it perfect the first go around. So they put out what they have, and improve with customer input. Which they did. And grateful that they listen and put better product out as fast as they did.
There is nothing new about HF's business plan. Have the boys in China clone every good tool in the cheapest possible manner, haul them over here by the boatload and undercut good quality goods. Sometimes that junk is so bad they have to come up with a different model, usually, under a new name, nobody has ever heard of. Milwaukee has been around since at least the 60s. And many of those tools are still in operation today. Who ever heard of "Bauer" until a few months ago? The truth is, nobody goes to HF for quality, they go there for the price.
I’m also upgrading my power tools to battery. I’ve been a lifelong Craftsman fan, but like you, I have switched to Bauer. Within the last five years I have bought almost all my tools from Harbor Freight. I’m very upset with HF for not giving you at least a gift card for promoting Bauer over Milwaukee.
Thanks for the great video.
We have since fixed it. They occasionally send me a tool I request.
A follow up video. I like it 👍
Also. People keep buying Bauer, and they keep building the tool line. They would be fools to drop Bauer.
If they do, I’m definitely switching to Ryobi, their line up is unmatched, for the price. Thou I hate the color.
You and me both dude. I have nothing to complain about Ryobi other than I can't stand the way it looks haha. Speaking in terms of performance, I am sure they are great. And I was recently reassured by a social media marketing manager at Harbor Freight that this tool line is NOT going anywhere any time soon. I am still optimistic!
"If" they dropped Bauer, I'm sure the aftermarket would step up and make batteries. They did that for Craftsman among others.
I think HF has sold enough of these tools that might be the case. Aftermarket is never as good in my experience but at least it would be an option.
I picked up the Ryobi 6 pc set for $199 this year at Home Depot. I’m impressed, but also don’t care for the color….
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Yeah I don't see them going anywhere because Harbor Freight actually owns them unlike the Lynx.
I just bought a bauer drill driver 20v yesterday and used it today. It worked great and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg , we'll see how it hold up but im happy with my purchase. It came with a nylon bag , charger, battery, drill and two bits all for 54.99 on sale. I don't buy tools for work or anything just to do stuff around the house.
Bauer is a really amazing line up. Got a bunch my self and they are definitely underrated tools
Ya they are definitely underrated. Not the best system in the business but its certainly performs at or above its price.
Yeah for sure not the best but still definitely performs above the price. Especially the lawn care tools.
So far, I have (2) 1.5Ah, 3Ah, and a 5Ah batteries along with drill/driver, 3/8 impact, string trimmer, leaf blower, shop blower, and the 20v shop vac (which is supper convenient). Have to say I’m pretty satisfied with the Bauer system.
Not a bad system at all.
The rep at Harbor Freight turned me on to Bauer after my Ryobi drill shit the bed. So far I love it! I got the 3A battery and the fast charger. I doubt I'll regret it.
I think its a pretty good system for what it is.
You can always have the batteries rebuilt (Batteries Plus etc) if they stop carrying the Bauer brand.Bauer is a good money maker for then so I highly doubt they'll phase them out
I'm thinking they are here to say. Good tip on the rebuilding batteries.
The newest versions are going brushless and seem solid. If you want the 5 year warranty Harbor Freight the Hercules line is for you. The new high torque is great.
I have Makita cordless tools and love them and would love to expand my kit but it is so expensive to do. A few weeks ago i needed to cut a tree down and bought the Bauer pole chainsaw and ended up loving it. From there things went down hill in a good way i bought the Bauer weed eater, rotohammer, grinder, impact driver, corded shop vac 6 gal, corded sawzall and have future plans to buy some other tools. I also bought the adapters so i can use my Makita batteries so i dont need batteries anytime soon.
Harbor Freight doesn't always stick with the same brands. A "better deal" comes along, and they switch.
I actually got into contact with a social media marketing manager at HF. They told me they'd be very surprised if both big cordless tool brands were not still being sold in the store in 15 years. They said that they can't make any promises in that sense, but he assured me the Bauer and Hercules lines were safe in that sense.
Almost all items in HF are from their own brands, so whatever the reason they switch, it’s not because of a better deal.
I have many Bauer tools. I love them all
Right on man! Good tools!
When I started as a plumbers helper all my power tools were Bauer and worked well. I eventually switched to milwaukee because they worked better than what I had. The thing that concerns me is more to do with harbor freight I was invested in their old Chicago electric cordless power tools that no longer exists, I still have three batteries left over and four broken power tools
One thing I like about the bauer too line is how large the tool line is. Everything from impact gun to a drill to a fan to a light to an electric chainsaw to a weedeater to a radio to a heatgun an even more and they all use the same battery. You could get all those tools and not need thousands of dollars in diffrent batteries and chargers
I own the Bauer hammer drill, purchased because the Tool Bear said it was high quality, and it isn't as strong as some of the Ryobi, Hart or Black and Decker drill drivers; not even other hammer drills. I gave it to my wife and wished her well.
I disagree. The "first gen" Bauer tools were not as good as the "second gen" but both generations of Bauer tools were no doubt better than anything B&D has put out in the last 30 years. I would say it is easily as good if not better than base level Ryobi in my opinion. I find it to be good quality for the price. You can spend a lot more and get about the same durability and performance with apples to apples tools. Either way, thanks for watching dude!
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects I own both the Black and Decker, Bauer and even Hercules. I can actually get the Black and Decker to do more than the Bauer. Bauer just isn't a good quality tool. I respect your opinion, even if I strongly disagree. I have contemplated posting a video showing the difference in quality and power between several of the brands. My only concern is that the Bauer was smoking within 10 minutes of my using it.
@@ToolswithSoAlz sounds like factory defective. Should of tried to replace
@@nickabel8279 replaced it twice with the same result. Bauer just isn't a reliable line.
I have been looking into switching platforms and had my eye on Bauer. I asked a HF employee how they are and he said it depends on what youre doing. Light, around the house stuff it does fine but doesn't last with abuse like the big names do.
I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to try them and still might.
I would say he is under selling it a little. It’s not Milwaukee, DeWalt, or Makita. It probably not even Kobalt or Rigid. But having used both brands, it’s at least as good as Ryobi.
I thought Hercules was the "pro" series?
It’s supposed to compete with the “DeWalts” of the market.
Mspeed I would personally go with the kobalt tools man. I had about 15 of the tools and 9 batteries bug and small. NEVER let me down, plenty of power, almost every tool is brushless and they are a true 20 volt (marketed 24 yes) I used them in home projects and my remodel business for just over a year every day. They held up. Great tools the kobalt.
Awesome video! Your comparison and evaluation was very helpful. But mostly the various demos of your projects are super! Good luck on getting a free tool. You deserve it!
Thanks a bunch for watching and the positive comments, I really appreciate comments like yours!
I bought the brushless impact driver, 3/8 impact wrench, 1/2 impact wrench, Bauer grease gun and the Earthquake 3/4 Cordless Impact wrench. I can honestly say these are good tools for the price. I m proud to say bauer,Pittsburgh,icon and quin have made/saved me a lot of money . I am a field heavy equipment mechanic I put these tools through a lot of wear and tear, Covered in Oil and Grease, Dirt, Mud, they survived rain storms, snow, dropped from climbing onto equipment and they are still working perfectly fine from day 1 since I purchased them. If they break simply stop by HF and exchange, compared to waiting on my tools to be sent in to be repaired and waiting. No regrets Love HF
Bauer gets the job done. I use it on job sites primarily because they are a lot less likely to get stolen. My Flex, Milwaukee, etc. Is a lot more likely to disappear.
After purchasing HF hand tools, and happy with it, I thought I would try their plumbing Auger, boy what a disaster, I assembled it, used it, and as I was rolling it away, the wheels feel apart, along with little plastic caps for the metal base. I thought to myself, well, "that's what happen when you buy cheap", then I proceeded to clean the "snake", it already showed signs of rust in the barrel that held the snake. Fortunately, it's not too dangerous of a tool, but it's the second time I bought something that's shows signs of defect. The first was the pittsburgh low profile jack, it had shown signs of rust also. Going to try and avoid HF.
I would have instead switched to Ryobi. That's what I'm doing now. They have affordable options and only some more expensive pro options like their HP series. Most importantly, Ryobi is in the TTI family and has been committed to supporting their tools. You can still use their old blue line with the new 18 plus batteries. They haven't changed their battery standard. Ryobi on average performs better than Bauer, sometimes better than Ridgid yet cheaper in price.
Ryobi isn't cheap anymore though.
@@GoogleDoesEvil Yeah, their HP line which is their semi pro line of equipment is inching up there with the big boys in terms of price. That said it's still decently cheaper and you can still pick them up at a significant discount from direct tools outlet. I hear your point though and it's valid. I just still think Ryobi is the best option for homeowners or someone who may be starting off as a contractor. Since I work at an OEM equipment repair center, I'm able to order replacement parts as well for dirt cheap. If you have a small engine repair shop near you, many Roybi parts are the same as Homelite, so you can usually order the parts with the Homelite prefix and it's much cheaper this way. I ordered some router bases doing this and the parts were like $2-5 compared to
They’re ok tools for intermittent use! No comparison with Milwaukee on power and quality! At the end of the day you get what you paid for!
I think having some core milwaukee tools is the way to go in my opinion. The drill/impact driver/ impact wrench needed to be quality, the other stuff can be bosch or ridgid or whatever else.
I think thats actually a pretty solid idea. Just having different battery systems can be annoying. But two isn't bad. Make the main work horses Milwaukee and the "extras" another brand that has cheaper tools. I like it.
Bosch makes better tools than Milwaukee it's not even close.
Quality of components, fit and finish.
Milwaukee has one schtick and that's the biggest number.
@@jonathangarzon2798 you must be new to tools, because you are wrong on every front. I have tons of both milwaukee and bosch. You can't name an example in you reply, which is telling. I own every single type of tool from both, milwaukee is always better. Always.
Go try some milwaukee, then please delete your post from embarrassment haha
@@CraigularjJoeWoodworks we have 4 Milwaukee, 1 makita drills in a metal fabrication shop.
One drops bits intermittently, the other is brushed and has not guts, two are broken, and the Makita works fine.
The Milwaukee rotary drill constantly stops working so we have a Bosch backup that never fails.
Milwaukee Portaband works okay
@@jonathangarzon2798 We had a Bosch 12V impact driver that didn't even last half a year in our auto dismantling shop. Our Milwaukee lasted 4 years before we sent it in for warranty, and they just shipped us a new one. And that was back in the brushed days. The new Milwaukee brushless ones are tanks. I will never buy another Bosch power tool again.
Gets the job done, was gonna replace lost DeWalt tools again. Luckily years ago i was gifted a impact battery+charger combo, so HF had a free tool when purchasing 5ah battery.
Looking at the larger impact for lugnuts along with 8ah battery. Waiting for Bauers electric rachet that's coming soon, not even gonna wait for a sale to grab it.
I've been using the bauer impact driver for 6 months now....replaced a dewalt i dropped from 12 feet(accidentally) that snapped in half(right under the motor)......couldn't be happier.... Bought the angle grinder last week...... Thinking about the sawsall next payday....
Yep, these tools are definitely worth checking out. They aren't all that many of the "professional" brands are but they also are usually 1/3 the cost.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects i do demolition so the quality/price is pretty good- removing fuse/beaker boxes, copper pipe,wire conduit and the such(get salvage rights for the jobs so owner can save some money on dumpsters we remove stuff ourselves)
I don't think HF always has a choice whether to continue supporting a product line. If the product is very popular the supplier has an incentive to keep producing them. The suppliers don't only build these products for Harbor Freight.
Good point. Hopefully HF secured a good long term contract to build these tools.
I’m a professional Cabinetmaker and used some Bauer. I eventually settled on Hercules (upscale line from Harbor Freight).
How's their router hold up on long duration uses?
I use milwaukee for some things.Grinder, impacts, drills, and several others. But got an adapter so I can use the milwaukee m18 6.0s on Bauer tools. This has been great.
I feel your first concern. I switched 20-ish years back when I had a bunch of expensive Dewalt (the cordless king back then) cordless tools that got stolen from a job trailer.
Because I didn't have a ton of money, and I didn't want to be able to lose thousands in cordless tools so easily again, I bought Ryobi 18V.
Come to find out, they were the ONLY manufacturer to not change their battery form during the switch from NiCad to lithium. Hell, Dewalt changed theirs twice. I still have many blue Ryobi tools, the color they used back in the NiCad days. Those 15-20 year old tools still work fine with batteries I bought this year.
I still get a little bit of ribbing for using "home-owner" quality tools, but that's fine. When their Milwaukee tool collection can fit in a bag, and my Ryobi tool collection could fill the bed of my truck, the teasing goes away pretty fast. Especially after the 3rd or 4th time they've borrowed a tool. Or maybe it's when I point out that they're made by the exact same company.
The 90 day warranty can be upgraded for such a little amount gives you an infinite supply...just replace the tool every year and you get a new set every year for life.
Well, I hate being that wasteful as I have had some of these tools for over two years and they work fine, and I see why someone would do that but it's not for me. The extended warranties are where they really make their profits, and so far, I haven't needed a single one of them .
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects i hear you...but for a little more money and an annual visit, you will have new tools for life.
Not all Bauer tools allow you to buy that Harbor freight warranty (e.g., their otherwise excellent 10” sliding dual bevel mitre saw) Milwaukee OEM batteries are excellent, albeit expensive (but no more so than say Rigid or Ryobi)
Greatfully we invested in the extended warranty on our corded Ryobi trimmer. It was replaced when the spool housing shattered after a teenager used it to work on our lawn. The next one started acting up this season with the line loading & feed so it was replaced again. The new one was even worse. I took it back this time instead of my husband. I upgraded to the cordless Bauer. HF credited us with the original cost from the pos Ryobi trimmer. I'll never buy another Ryobi anything if I can avoid doing so. Other items we've owned have not been up to par either. I've got my fingers crossed about this Bauer.
This mentality will drive the price up and can even lead to them dropping the tool.
Plus I believe you have to buy a new warranty for the new tool. Ads up
A lot of times when you factor in the warranty you're getting in price range of another companies 5yr factory warranty.
I like hf though BC u walk in n get the replacement no BS
Just got my 5 amp hour battery yesterday with a little light. I'm loving all my bauer tools and they are running great. I use them over my dewalt tools because they are just more comfortable and because I have more batteries because bauer is just more affordable then a $100 dewalt battery. Love my bauer tools, total fan boy.
You are right about the Dewalt prices for batteries . . .
@@danielchambers1958 I started getting into dewalt but I felt the quality wasn't even there. If I was to do professional tools I would do milwaukee but I just need simple good working power tools so I love bauer.
@@countryhandyman1064 yea . . . no pro over here . . . just need good working tools!
Nice! You need to post some videos!
Hercules batteries can fit into a dewalt, look it up
I agree that Milwaukee will always be king of the power tools, but for the money, you can't go wrong with Bauer. I work for HF, and I personally have a few Hercules power tools instead, but I am considering switching over to Bauer because it seems that we're coming out with more newer Bauer tools than we are Hercules. We just came out with a brushless multi-tool and a brushless impact driver from Bauer, so I'm honestly wondering if they're just going to phase out the Hercules in favor of more powerful Bauer stuff. If they come out with a brushless 1/2" impact wrench that is around as strong as the hercules one I will gladly switch to Bauer lol. I only got the Hercules mainly for the compact 12v stuff, but they really haven't been expanding on that line all that much.
I think they are fully committed to Hercules but I’m guessing Bauer is in higher demand and so that is their focus. I could be completely wrong though.
For how many drills I have used over 25 years plus money spent they pretty impressive! Im have Milwaukee and Beuar in my box. Beuar keeps up along with a jigsaw and a heater. Work very well!
Amen dude, Bauer is worth it for the money. It may not be the best in the business but its a solid option when you consider the price.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects Im a big fan bang for buk for automotive and commercial abuse.
Great video. Enjoyed watching you use all the tools as you spoke. Thank you for posting.
Joining the club just got rid of all my Ridgid tools and now have about 40 Bauer tools and I am loving it so far.
I have the 1/2" drill, air pump, 1/4" impact brushless, cordless screwdriver. So far, very tough and good enough power for me. I'm a plumber, so I'm not beating on them all day, but they get the job done for a good price.
I used to be a plumber. I’m surprised you’re not with Milwaukee? They have ALL the plumbing tools a plumber could want. Why Bauer?
My concern is, the Bauer has a 90 day warranty on the tool. Milwaukee has 5 yr on tool, and 3 yr warranty on batteries. I've warranted 1 battery in the past 5 yrs and it was easy. I know Bauer is better than what harbor freight use to sell. I have had 0 luck with a lot of the past tools corded/cordless @ Harbor. I still purchase a lot of stuff but basically no power tools unless I'm expecting to throw it away afterwards. I have basically retooled my shop, not commercial, im just a DIYr with Milwaukee 18/12v tools, car garage/wood & metal shop and have basically paid Ryobi prices for the majority because of all the sells/hacks.. Anyway, hopefully they keep working great for you and great video.
Super great comment. Thanks for watching. The old HF power tools in my opinion were tools to be avoided the new stuff is good. It's not Milwaukee or DeWalt but they also don't cost it either. The warranty is one of the worst things about it.
Ryobi ate great tools.
this was a good video i also bought alot of the bauer line i used to own all ridgid tool but my batteries were crapping out and didnt want to spend as much on a single battery as what i could just get a bauer impact battery and charger for plus with how much cheaper the batteries are i do wood working and light home improvement and so far the only tool that has gave out on me is the orbital sander i also have dropped my impact from about 35 feet in the air to concrete and still works only thing that did happen was the lights stopped working and i think one of the screws on the handle broke but to still be using it when i bought it over a year and half ago and use it everyday i have also been very pleased and right now i have (2) impacts (2) orbital sanders ,mouse sander, drill, hammer drill, right angle drill,6 1/2 circular saw and air pump just bought today and the old led light also have 5 chargers and about 7 batteries i have had only 1 battery stop working on me so i do feel the investment is worth it. im hoping they make the battery powered multi-tool and do plan on getting the jigsaw soon sorry for the long rant but glad to see someone else that enjoys them as well
Definitely a SOLID tool brand to get into. Why do you suspect that orbital sander crapped out? Every brand puts out a dud once in a while that just had a little manufacturer defect and even the pro brands are not free from this, though it may happen less often with them. I am seriously loving the price and ease of expanding this tool line.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects not to sure but with restoring and building furniture i use it all day everyday my second one seems to be ok so far but i did decide to get the 1 year warranty just incase lol its actually the first bauer tool i bought and got the warranty for and most of my hand tools i use are also from there and they even hold up great i have only broke one pittsburg ratchet and was nice and easy to walk in and them give me another one with no receipt or questions asked
I used to be of the opinion that hand tools were the only thing I was interested in from there. Them and air compressors. As they have been upgrading stuff and putting out better quality stuff I’m definitely more interested everything there now almost.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects anything wood working related it has been better for me just to buy from harbor freight anymore with there prices and being only 15 min from my house and i do believe there products are getting better
Batteries always dead when I need them. Plug in always work!
It's damn shame that Harbor Freight is discontinuing the Earthquake XT power tool line. I have the 1/2 inch cordless impact wrench and it's been great for automotive repair.
It's frustrating when they start expanding/growing cordless tool lines just to dump them after 4-6 years. Pretty much screws the consumer. I think Bauer and Hercules are safe though. If they aren't, I'll never buy another power tool from Harbor Freight again.
Agreed! I just hate having to buy another set of chargers and batteries. If their prices climb any more, I'll start looking at some of the name brands.
Getting into mt first home renovation.. got robbed twice, had all my tools stolen once. My bauer tools are doing great, and i was able to afford replacing them! I'm probably going to do anywhere from a few to a couple dozen home renovations in my lifetime, spread across a lifetime, and working with contractors.. bauer works GREAT for me.
You brought up the same think I thought about whether batteries would be available in the future like 3 years from now
I think they will still be there but obviously I am not affiliated with them and cannot promise that. I did speak with a rep from there and he reassured me they'd be on the shelf in 10 years more than likely.
If not you can get adapters... Other brands might fit as well. Check it out...
Whats your thought on cordless dewalt line up?
I’ve come back to this time and time again. I like the red and black and have many Harbor Freight tools.
I’m a landlord who has all kinds of separate tool boxes set up for plumbing, hvac, electrical, painting, ect…. It’s often easier for me to carry multiple lines because I it helps me know which tools are in what kits when the wife grabs something for the house.
I even have home diy auto repair, a woodshop outback, landscaping, and sets down in my sisters place 5 states away (cause I’m the guy, who fixes her house when things go wrong).
For perspective, I’m in
Rigid
Ryobi
Ego
Makita
Milwaukee
Bosch
What I can’t get past though, is how expensive for me it is to get into the harbor freight platforms. And hear me out before you think I’m crazy.
I’ve never gotten into a tool line without some crazy sale (much like you’ve talked about with with Milwaukee), but I always buy the cheap knock off batteries on Amazon. They work the same in my experience and make the major brands down in price. Plus I often buy brushed tools because they are easier for me to repair if they go bad.
Since I’ve been doing this multiple set up for 5 years, I have never had a battery or tool fail, I have a hard time justifying what’ll turn out to be a high cost of harbor freight.
For example, I am that guy who wants to have a tool set in the house wherever I’m at in reach. So I looked for an upstairs and basement small set. Looked into warrior thinking - hey 18v not bad. Last I priced, $80 was the lowest I could get for 2 tools and two batteries that were trickle charge. I spent $99 on a Bosch 12v kit with the interchangeable head which is like 5 tools in one.
Not saying anything is bad because bauer has a great line up, but it’s just the cost of batteries that get me.
How many have you found you need after all this time…..?
I’ve not had one single battery go bad. I got into the line for the first time in spring of 2019. So I have been in the line for over 4 years now. And every one of my original batteries are still kicking. The trick to not let them be in really cold or really hot temperatures.
@@DereksWorkshopAndProjects for your line, I’m guessing 4 Ah’s are probably ok. Do you find that with 4-6 of them that it’s enough? Or do you have more?
And by the way, great videos, I really appreciate your candor and the way you do reviews. Especially the angle grinder talks you’ve had….
Well this video was 3 years ago. HF has invested a lot into the two brands Bauer and Hercules. The value you get with Bauer was enough for me to switch out all my Dewalt and Milwaukee. It cost nearly half the cost and the tools have proven to perform just as well or in some cases better. Of course longevity and coverage are very important and I can see HF taking that seriously if they want to succeed in this massive investment
I bought what you might call a Bauer second gen jigsaw. It isn't cordless and I don't use tools enough worry about cordless. I don't own any cordless because I don't want any tool that is going to become a paperweight simply because of a battery. I don't want to buy battery powered or to replace batteries. That said, I'm not a mechanic or a huge tool user. I think my Bauer jigsaw looks really tight though. I bought a Chicago grinder and a one of those saws for cutting flooring from under a counter. The tools pay for themselves as compared to having people work on your house. That's how I look at it. Plus, learning to do stuff for yourself makes you competent. We can't all be stooopid all the time.
You do get what you pay for... "buy once, cry once." The low price of a poorly designed & made tool isn't worth the frustration & lost productivity of struggling with it. I began investing into the Milwaukee M12 & M18 lines in 2008 and haven't regretted it one bit... and now have over 30 of their tools... I appreciate how well designed and struggle-free their tools are. I'm a residential remodeler.
I’m a DIYer, these tools have been working great for me for 3 years now.
Best decision you ever made! For the money the quality is far superior. I'm still beating the ever living shit out of my Bauer drill after 6 or 7 years, and when I say beating, I'm not exaggerating, I frequently use it with wire wheel attachments bogging it down for extended periods of time. I will admit the driver you get now isn't the same as the one I have, the chuck is heavier and thicker metal, not the cheapo black metal they seem to use today
I'm for sure DYi, but love my Bauer 20v tools and line voltage tools as well.
Good video thanks for sharing
Waiting on Bauer to make the imitation of the Milwaukee tire inflator that’s really good the M18 one!
Harbor Freight battery line longevity is a valid concern given their history of adding and dropping lines. That said, it's only a concern if you are committed to using OEM batteries. There are adapters between just about any tool brand out there for about $20 on Amazon. I'm already too heavily invested in another battery platform to justify switching all my tools at this point, but I also don't want to pay brand name premiums on occasional use tools. For those tools, I own a handful of Bauer brand stuff that run using a DeWalt battery via an adapter. Once HF drops Bauer (which given recent expansions to that platform, I don't think is anytime soon), my tools will still run off any other battery platform via an adapter.
I think Bauer is here to stay for a long time. It’s already like 8 years old roughly. Maybe 6 or 7. I bought my first Bauer stuff around spring 2018 so that’s over 6 years old and I think it was out well before I bought into it. I’m confident at this point the brand will be around in at least another decade.
I have a full set of Hercules tools and they are awesome. I would prefer to have a full set of more expensive tools but the thing is, they are expensive and I can't afford to do that lol. All of them work well. I have a lot of grinders and my favorite grinder is a Hercules corded paddle switch model.
how good are the batteries?
@@nickbazzett263 a bit late, but I have the 20v 1/4" hercules impact. Used it to drive lags into cement, used for general construction, etc. Has plenty of power, kept up with my coworkers that had DeWalt and Milwaukee. The batteries EASILY last for days on end without extremely heavy use. Even on heavy use days it usually still had half charge on top of not being charged from days of infrequent use before that.
It just now passed a year's age, and I have the two year warranty on it. It has clearly taken a beating, still works great.
I am thoroughly impressed with the level of quality I received from my 20v 1/4" Hercules impact.
Edit-almost forgot to mention, they charge fast too! Usually stays in the back of my van heat or cold, no issue with temperatures that I have noticed.
Love my Bauer tools. Would like to see revues. Accasional do it your seller. If I was a pro would have Milwaukee but feel like you.
Awesome. Thank's for watching/commenting.
I must have had a gen 1 version of the Bauer angle grinder because I couldn't do with mine what you were doing with yours in the video. Just not enough power. I also had gen 1 versions of the Hercules drill + impact- awesome value, triggers eventually went bad. The new stuff does look better, they would do well to advertise each generation of tool. FWIW I'm almost entirely on DeWalt at this point, I live in a small space and just don't want to mess around anymore.
Thanks for your feedback. I have several blank cordless tools, they all work great. The part that I don’t like is all the different chargers & batteries that I have. I was considering selling what I have & buying a complete set of Bauer.
Do you have the impact tools? How do they hold up? Do the batteries stay charged for a long time without use?
Hey, I just come across this video and thanks for sharing your experience with the Bauer line. Last summer I sold off all my Dewalt tools and went with the Bauer line. The cost of the batteries was the number one driving force behind me making that decision. I love the Bauer tools. Btw, the Bauer tool line uses the same cells in their batteries as the Dewalt 20 volt line.
Seems to me you could've bought a Bauer to DeWalt adapter and saved a lot of money. Just buy using Bauer batteries with your DeWalt tools.
@@kittywolf1903 if I had a lot of Dewalt tools I could see that, but I wasn't that deep yet, I only had the drill and 1/4" impact with two batteries and a charger. However, I am not knee deep into Bauer with the 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" impacts, the drill, and a air pump with two 1.5ah and three 3ah batteries and one charger. I plan on buying the extreme torque 1/2" drive impact when they come out with that. I also recent picked up the 3/8" brushless impact.
This is so interesting 🤔 . I like that you tried this experiment even though I wouldn't ever think of doing with my dewalt gear and can see why this is so unpopular. But I'm fascinated
When you buy anything that comes with a warranty, part of the money you pay at the register is for that warranty. Bauer could do the same thing, instead they make it an add on. That said, I invested in Rigid because of their lifetime warranty. I wasn't worried about the tool but rather the battery. When I compare Bauer batts to Rigid the price difference is ridiculous. Obviously a huge part of the money Rigid charges for batts goes into their "warranty slush fund"
I said the exact same thing in a recent review/update on this tool line. I've changed my mind on this topic a little since making this video.
What Harbor Freight does is better, your items has a 3 month warranty, Harbor Freight gives you an option of a replacement plan, which is not a warranty, it's covers normal wear and tear, but more importantly it's covers those incidentals you don't account for, you can buy a $20 tool, the replacement plan is maybe $2, for as long as you renew that plan, that tool will only cost you a $2, I'd rather have my tool replaced, as supposed to maybe having to send it off to a repair shop or make sure I'm in compliance with the restrictions of a warranty, to even qualify based on the terms of the warranty to get the tool replaced, everything I get from Harbor Freight that offer the replacement plan I get, saves you money in the long room for your items to me it's a NO BRAINER.
I have been using Bauer for about three years, and they work no matter what I do. I also added to my Bauer power tools, with Skil core 12v and 20v, for the price and performance; you can't beat them. My philosophy is to save money and get the same performance from the tool. I am good, and who cares what people think. Besides, most people can't tell the difference while working with power tools. Nearly all the big brand names are made in China, just as Bauer and Skil.
More capabilities? But you get bauer?
The batteries can be repacked with better or at least better chemistry cells in them. The cells are common and easy to source once you open them up. the battery packs are easy to open in that they are held together with screws. I had to repack my batteries already and put in some much better and higher Ah cells as well. Its cheap and easy to swap them.
That's what a lot of people said but I still have benefitted from switching just by having far more affordable tools to buy than most of the Milwaukee stuff is.
This Friday to Sunday big Father's Day Sale. Got two 5 AMP Bauer batteries for $74. Meanwhile two 5 AMP Milwaukee batteries at Home Depot are on "sale" for $199.
I'm restoring an older car and it's dirty nasty work. I bought HF tools to do this job because I'm going to beat them up and use the piss out of them. Run them hard. I've bought Bauer, Chicago Electric, pretty much all of their brands for what I need. 2 years in and nothing has failed to my surprise.
My Dremel brand tool was a workhorse for years with other projects, it finally took a crap on me so I bought another Dremel. It died within 2 weeks. So I bought the cheap Chicago Electric rotary tool to replace it. It's been a year now. Still running strong. I'm actually pretty impressed with the HF stuff.
I had the porter cable brand but you had to ship them the broken tools to use the warranty and even then they would sometimes not honor the warranty but at harbor freight the warranty is no questions asked swap right there in the store and there is a store in most of the cities I work in.
Just my 2 cents, tool quality is a big consideration. And so is BATTERY QUALITY. By accident, I went with Hitachi (now Metabo) years ago. The quality of their tools are excellent. Their tool line-up lags behind the competition. But, their lithium batteries are excellent. I have 1.5ah batteries that are 15 years old that still perform. In fact, I've never retired one of their batteries. From my understanding, they have used LG's top of the line cells, at least in the past. Milwaukee & DeWalt certainly have a great lineup of tools. Their batteries from my experience have not withstood the test of time in comparison to Hitachi/Metabo. Would really love to see someone do a battery cell tear down of the main players. I suspect Bauer is not using top of the line cells based on their price point. Then again, who knows for sure?
I have a couple of Milwaukee M20 tools and so far after (I would guess) five years they still perform well. I did manage to drop one of the batteries cracking the case open, wrapped it with duct tape and so far so good. As for yard tools, I purchased just about every tool Ryobi makes in the 40-volt series. I'm amazed at the power these tools have and how long a tool can be used between charges. However, don't ever let those batteries sit on a bench in a dead state. Or at least what appears to be dead. They are not. But the circuitry in Ryobi batteries is such that if the voltage falls below a certain limit, the battery is junk. I learned this the hard way three times. I'm sure most brands have similar limitations to keep them from burning the garage down. So far, no issues like that with the Milwaukee or Porter Cable. Which I also find to be very good tools.
@@Georgiagreen317 If your Ryobi (or any) battery falls below the charge state, find another similar battery and jump it like you would a car battery. + to +, - to -. Let it stay connected for 10 min or so and monitor the battery heat (disconnect if it starts to get hot). You should then be able to charge your battery as normal since the voltage should exceed the charger's low bat threshold.
You may need to get creative on how you jump the batteries depending on the terminal type. Alligator clips and butter knives are usually in that picture. Just be sure to place an insulator (like a towel) between the connections to avoid arcing the terminals.
@@Georgiagreen317 some of the newer battery chargers have a feature to bring old cells back to life. It hit them with a light pulse/trickle charge until the battery gets to a certain point and the internals click and let the battery charge again. I charged sorry old cr123 batteries and brought them back to life. It took awhile but it worked.
I bought the leaf blower;works great.Also have the 10" chainsaw.My problem w/the chainsaw is the "proprietary" chain bar design,and problems with the chain coming off.What's wrong with the tried and true "nuts and washers" on a chain bar?. And if you need a new chain bar,you can't go to any other outlet but HF....P.S. HF nails you on the high-priced batteries,which I avoid by buying new ones on Ebay.
I have found the batteries to be some of the most reasonable of any tool brand around. I like the chainsaw. I do wish it used a standard nut design. I used to have problems with the chain falling off but I usually just hit the tensioner once in a while when cutting and it keeps it together.
How’s the blower holding up?
@@jaimebedolla989 So far so good....and it is powerful.
I think the general, common-sense consensus is that if you are a professional craftsman who uses his tools everyday, all day, you shouldn’t buy “mid-priced” tools like Bauer and expect them to hold up & perform like higher priced professional tools. Great video!
I'd say it's even situational, if you're going to use and abuse them and especially if you're worried about theft Bauer can be worth it for pros too.
I’m about to ditch a “respectable” brand for Bauer because I had to wait 6 weeks to get a drill replaced under warranty. If only I’d had something professional grade like Bauer, I could have gotten a same-day replacement (if you add the cost of a 2-year plan to the MSRP of the tool).
Bauer is just fine. I went with Ryobi because current 18v batteries are still compatible with tools starting in 1996. I don't feel like they're ever going to leave anyone stranded.
Totally agree, if your just a weekend warrior / hobbyists… HF tools will do the job 👍
They have the brushless Bauer lineup now. Try those out and make an updated version of this video
I update this video every year.
Nice video, I like your commentary while you are using the different tools.
Really appreciate you watching and the comment. Thanks!
As a pipe welder and heavy industrial welder.. im sad to say I've seen countless Milwaukee tools and battery die inexplicably. The company and clients have money so they just keep buying replacements. My nearly twenty year old Makita stuff is still going strong. I can't afford to show up to a job site with what I know are brand new tools only to have them fail out of the blue..
FYI, the cordless outdoor tools, trimmers etc made by Atlas , no worries. Atlas Industries is Bauer Tools.