I have the plunge router and cordless trim router,they work great for my needs! Hercules tools have impressed me with quality for price,and a store nearby helps.😀
Nice unboxing. Also 5yr warranty on the tool, and 3yr on the battery. Can’t beat the deal, $99 for charger, 5Ahr battery, and charge. For that money, but one as a backup for your primary tool.
I am hoping to catch the sale this evening (hoping the store will still have it in stock by the time I can get there). I have been using the Hercules 12" DC sliding miter saw for a couple of years and it has performed great so I wasn't really hesitant about the purchase but your review is very helpful. Thank you.
@@oldave100Sorry to bother but it may prove relevant if you do a follow-up review. I did catch the sale and did a practice cut last night. 3/8 roundover on pine. Didn't like the sound of the motor. Noticed there is deflection in the shaft. Less than 1/16 I think. I wouldn't think that is normal but I've never had a trim router so I don't know. That may account for the chatter you spoke of. Given the ill fitting battery connection, it makes me wonder if their engineer was off a little and the bearing housing is out too.
i like your base. it gave me the idea of making a like 3x8" one with a hand plane handle and round knob in the front. i have 2 makitas dewalt and milwaukee so i can leave that setup different for each one.
Just bought one as well on the same $99 sale. It looked like you guys really opened up the router when you installed that other baseplate...do you have a video that shows exactly what you do with them? This hercules is pretty crowded in that area and I have to remove it from the baseplate to install/remove the bit. I have a ridgid one and it is much more open. I think this hercules is more powerful than the ridgid....I mostly run roundover bits for cleaning up plywood or 2x4's for misc projects around the house. Bought a second router so I can set and forget a 1/8 roundover and 1/4 roundover bit and went hercules to get into the hercules system (wanting to add their 7 1/4 saw and 5" cut bandsaw later) Thanks!
Here you go buddy! We don't have one specific to this model so this is a link to our blank base plate makeawoodsign.com/products/acrylic-router-base-plate-blank-5x7-5
Looking for a starter router and was wondering if I should get this one for $69 (already have a couple 5ah batteries) or get the Dewalt 20v dwc600b) for $145? Thoughts as to which to get. Building a box for back of car with drawers and need something to round the edges and create a groove for drawer bottom so I can add soft close glides. Would the Hercules be best bet since it comes with a guide,etc and for Dewalt I would have to buy something for extra $$
Well, the DeWalt is definitely a better router in my opinion. But if you already have the batteries and you're not beating it up super bad I don't see any reason the Hercules wouldn't work for you.
Just watched your review on the kobalt. Wondering how you think they compare, I'm about to get one of them, similarly priced for me. The Hercules seem to have a few different features like the flush guide and a different base plate? But maybe the kobalt is more powerful? Hard to tell.
I don't think there's much of a difference in power at all. Me personally, I don't care for the Kobalt as much. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I think the Hercules is more comfortable in the hand.
@@oldave100 thank you for the response. I just picked up the kobalt for $60. In my mind that's the same as the Hercules deal at $99 with 5ah battery and charger. But in my use case, raw power is probably more important (cutting circles in up to 3/4" ply). Think speaker box building. So if they are about the same in performance then I'm ok with the kobalt. It's probably heavier though. I think the Hercules is more of a direct copy of the DeWalt. So it might just feel nicer in the hand because of that!
Howdy Mr. Eric and Mr. Ryan. Albeit convenient to not need a a power cord or a generator if you're doing shows at a Market sort of thing.....BUT, in the shop??? NOPE!!! Battery powered routers are a No Go for me. What's the point? I have a power source and it's unlimited. Battery powered routers...As soon as you turn that on, that "Power" diminishes gradually. Doesn't matter if it's a 2amp, 4amp 6 Amp hour. It's gonna go bye bye. The placement of that battery makes the router unstable and very very top heavy which makes for doing fine detail where you tilt in a bit for sharp angles very difficult to control. Now, in you video, you showed the use of a FRESH battery and did maybe a few minutes of routing. That's not much of a test with an actual carving of say, an Eagle with feather lines n stuff that takes a few hours of off and on with the battery router. I've been there, done that. As the battery is used, you don't have "full power". So, the cutting potential of the bit gets cut in half and depending on what you're carving, this Diminished "Power" causes tear out cause the router is no longer spinning the bit at prescribed RPMs. Battery powered Routers are NOT meant for "Long" time use such as carving. They were never designed for that purpose. Therefore, they are NOT a good choice for "Carvers" especially when you can get a Colt thats corded for roughly the same price. Can they slap on a chamfer along 4 sides of a board? Absolutely!! Turn on, spend a few minutes and add that edge. Carving an Eagle. Or for that matter, MULTIPLE Eagles along with other Signs hours on end???? NOPE!!! Your gonna need 3 batteries, not 2. And more than one charging station. My last point of order here... You've lost track of time, cause, well, you've been busy carving. You turn off the router and set down so you can brush and air blow and inspect your carving. You grab your router, hit the power button and NOTHING. Dead battery. Ya got to swap batteries. But, it was working not 30 seconds ago. What happened? To tangent that paragraph. These 4aph or 6aph batteries. NOPE!!! It's all Marketing. They will NEVER last 4 or 6 hours. 2 hours, TOPS!!! Again, I speak from experience, not my rear end, lol. I have SEVERAL battery powered routers....let's just say...A Green one, yellow one and a Red one. You can decipher the brands associated to those colors. ABSOLUTELY Fantastic Routers.....for tossing on a chamfer to the bottom of legs for a table or for a last minute touch up of a round over on the edge of whatever. GREAT TOOLS too have. Carving a Sign???? Nope!!! Save your money and buy a corded router. Sooo. You said you would put that router through its paces over the next few months. I agree. Do it. BUT, use Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi battery powered routers as well. And when you are doing these signs. Don't do just those simple "Happy Camping" signs that takes maybe 10 minutes. Do MULTIPLE "Army Eagle.....Son/Daughter I love You and Proud of you" signs/plaques. Count how many times you (Well I guess Ryan mostly, hahaha) stop and take a Beer break....or even a "Rest my hands" break from the poor balance of a the battery sitting ontop the router. Gotta Rest them forearms....I KNOW. Sometimes, even while wearing glasses, I've got to stop and walk away for 15 minutes with my glasses OFF and rest my eyes. In the end, to save face here...cause I DEFINITELY am not trying to put down your tool review.... From the video, that Hercules battery powered router looks decent enough. $99 bucks...Hey, if I didn't already have several, Sure, I'd give it a try. But for "Sign Carving"???? That's a BIG NOPE!!! Buy a Corded Colt or Dewalt instead.
I wish you had explained more about the bits. You can't use the template guide with a chamfer bit. And what is the template guide for? Also, why wouldn't they send a screwdriver for the base screws? I'm a super beginner and am very literal and basic. Thank you for the info you gave. It definitely helped.
Thanks Ruthie! Here's a video on all the bits we use and what for ruclips.net/video/pBjXaTSAg38/видео.html If you have any questions, you can always email me ryan@makeawoodsign.com and I'm happy to help
![Hunxho - Ball Forever [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nki9ZTF9Uls/mqdefault.jpg)
I have the plunge router and cordless trim router,they work great for my needs! Hercules tools have impressed me with quality for price,and a store nearby helps.😀
They honestly have really upped their game in the last few years
Does the plunge base fit the cordless?
Nice unboxing. Also 5yr warranty on the tool, and 3yr on the battery. Can’t beat the deal, $99 for charger, 5Ahr battery, and charge. For that money, but one as a backup for your primary tool.
Completely agree!
I went out and bought it. So far, so good.
For the price, I definitely think it's worth it!
I have had it a couple of weeks ago and so far so good!!
It's a nice router for the price!
I am hoping to catch the sale this evening (hoping the store will still have it in stock by the time I can get there). I have been using the Hercules 12" DC sliding miter saw for a couple of years and it has performed great so I wasn't really hesitant about the purchase but your review is very helpful. Thank you.
Any time, buddy! You should hopefully be able to catch the sale
@@oldave100Sorry to bother but it may prove relevant if you do a follow-up review. I did catch the sale and did a practice cut last night. 3/8 roundover on pine. Didn't like the sound of the motor. Noticed there is deflection in the shaft. Less than 1/16 I think. I wouldn't think that is normal but I've never had a trim router so I don't know. That may account for the chatter you spoke of. Given the ill fitting battery connection, it makes me wonder if their engineer was off a little and the bearing housing is out too.
Thank you for the informative video. I may consider that for my next addition to my router collection
You can always use one more, HAHA
i like your base. it gave me the idea of making a like 3x8" one with a hand plane handle and round knob in the front. i have 2 makitas dewalt and milwaukee so i can leave that setup different for each one.
Right on, man! let us know how it works
Just bought one as well on the same $99 sale. It looked like you guys really opened up the router when you installed that other baseplate...do you have a video that shows exactly what you do with them? This hercules is pretty crowded in that area and I have to remove it from the baseplate to install/remove the bit. I have a ridgid one and it is much more open. I think this hercules is more powerful than the ridgid....I mostly run roundover bits for cleaning up plywood or 2x4's for misc projects around the house. Bought a second router so I can set and forget a 1/8 roundover and 1/4 roundover bit and went hercules to get into the hercules system (wanting to add their 7 1/4 saw and 5" cut bandsaw later) Thanks!
Sure thing, man. Here's a short we made a while ago ruclips.net/user/shortsdL_N9N-AeZc
You just need a 2" hole saw, hack saw, and some sort of file
You guys gave that previous Bauer router a rightful thrashing. 👍
Can definitely trust your router and sander reviews. 🤣
😂😂
Looks good EZ E. I saw the sale myself and was going to get a drill also to have as spares but hate having to get a new battery system...🤘🤘🤘
Ya, that does suck. But you can't really get into a new system for much cheaper than that,
Okay, you've sold me! Just like clamps, you can't have too many trim routers! Right???? 😉
😂😂 Absolutely!!
@@oldave100 I went to Harbor Freight and got the trim router deal. I also got more clamps! 😆
@@gaylewilliams7353 oh heck ya!!
looking for base plate for Hercules Model HCB043
Here you go buddy! We don't have one specific to this model so this is a link to our blank base plate makeawoodsign.com/products/acrylic-router-base-plate-blank-5x7-5
Looking for a starter router and was wondering if I should get this one for $69 (already have a couple 5ah batteries) or get the Dewalt 20v dwc600b) for $145? Thoughts as to which to get. Building a box for back of car with drawers and need something to round the edges and create a groove for drawer bottom so I can add soft close glides. Would the Hercules be best bet since it comes with a guide,etc and for Dewalt I would have to buy something for extra $$
Well, the DeWalt is definitely a better router in my opinion. But if you already have the batteries and you're not beating it up super bad I don't see any reason the Hercules wouldn't work for you.
Just watched your review on the kobalt. Wondering how you think they compare, I'm about to get one of them, similarly priced for me. The Hercules seem to have a few different features like the flush guide and a different base plate? But maybe the kobalt is more powerful? Hard to tell.
I don't think there's much of a difference in power at all. Me personally, I don't care for the Kobalt as much. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I think the Hercules is more comfortable in the hand.
@@oldave100 thank you for the response. I just picked up the kobalt for $60. In my mind that's the same as the Hercules deal at $99 with 5ah battery and charger. But in my use case, raw power is probably more important (cutting circles in up to 3/4" ply). Think speaker box building. So if they are about the same in performance then I'm ok with the kobalt. It's probably heavier though. I think the Hercules is more of a direct copy of the DeWalt. So it might just feel nicer in the hand because of that!
Hey just a question when will you drop the update review ?
We like to wait 4-6 months to really get a feel for the router and see how it holds up with some serious use.
@@oldave100 thank you for responding I’ve really been thinking about purchasing due to being the in Hercules cordless line already
I am a FLEX guy, but I realize Harbor Freight is not what it used to be. The products seem to be better over the years.
Flex is 💯 the better tool, but this is a good cheap backup or starter router
@@oldave100 Understood.
Have you tried the kobalt 24v trim router? How does it compare? They are similarly priced for me
What size collet in this? Is it 1/2 in?
No, this is a 1/4" collet
👍👍👍Great review.Thanks boys
Any time, Pete!
so if you get Hercules or Dewalt for 99 wish would you chose
Definitely the DeWalt. It's a better router, no doubt
Howdy Mr. Eric and Mr. Ryan.
Albeit convenient to not need a a power cord or a generator if you're doing shows at a Market sort of thing.....BUT, in the shop???
NOPE!!!
Battery powered routers are a No Go for me. What's the point? I have a power source and it's unlimited.
Battery powered routers...As soon as you turn that on, that "Power" diminishes gradually. Doesn't matter if it's a 2amp, 4amp 6 Amp hour. It's gonna go bye bye.
The placement of that battery makes the router unstable and very very top heavy which makes for doing fine detail where you tilt in a bit for sharp angles very difficult to control.
Now, in you video, you showed the use of a FRESH battery and did maybe a few minutes of routing.
That's not much of a test with an actual carving of say, an Eagle with feather lines n stuff that takes a few hours of off and on with the battery router.
I've been there, done that. As the battery is used, you don't have "full power". So, the cutting potential of the bit gets cut in half and depending on what you're carving, this Diminished "Power" causes tear out cause the router is no longer spinning the bit at prescribed RPMs.
Battery powered Routers are NOT meant for "Long" time use such as carving. They were never designed for that purpose. Therefore, they are NOT a good choice for "Carvers" especially when you can get a Colt thats corded for roughly the same price.
Can they slap on a chamfer along 4 sides of a board? Absolutely!! Turn on, spend a few minutes and add that edge.
Carving an Eagle. Or for that matter, MULTIPLE Eagles along with other Signs hours on end????
NOPE!!! Your gonna need 3 batteries, not 2. And more than one charging station.
My last point of order here...
You've lost track of time, cause, well, you've been busy carving. You turn off the router and set down so you can brush and air blow and inspect your carving. You grab your router, hit the power button and NOTHING. Dead battery. Ya got to swap batteries. But, it was working not 30 seconds ago. What happened?
To tangent that paragraph. These 4aph or 6aph batteries. NOPE!!! It's all Marketing. They will NEVER last 4 or 6 hours. 2 hours, TOPS!!!
Again, I speak from experience, not my rear end, lol. I have SEVERAL battery powered routers....let's just say...A Green one, yellow one and a Red one. You can decipher the brands associated to those colors.
ABSOLUTELY Fantastic Routers.....for tossing on a chamfer to the bottom of legs for a table or for a last minute touch up of a round over on the edge of whatever. GREAT TOOLS too have.
Carving a Sign????
Nope!!! Save your money and buy a corded router.
Sooo. You said you would put that router through its paces over the next few months.
I agree. Do it. BUT, use Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi battery powered routers as well.
And when you are doing these signs. Don't do just those simple "Happy Camping" signs that takes maybe 10 minutes.
Do MULTIPLE "Army Eagle.....Son/Daughter I love You and Proud of you" signs/plaques.
Count how many times you (Well I guess Ryan mostly, hahaha) stop and take a Beer break....or even a "Rest my hands" break from the poor balance of a the battery sitting ontop the router. Gotta Rest them forearms....I KNOW. Sometimes, even while wearing glasses, I've got to stop and walk away for 15 minutes with my glasses OFF and rest my eyes.
In the end, to save face here...cause I DEFINITELY am not trying to put down your tool review....
From the video, that Hercules battery powered router looks decent enough. $99 bucks...Hey, if I didn't already have several, Sure, I'd give it a try.
But for "Sign Carving"????
That's a BIG NOPE!!! Buy a Corded Colt or Dewalt instead.
Well, to each his own HAHA
I wish you had explained more about the bits. You can't use the template guide with a chamfer bit. And what is the template guide for? Also, why wouldn't they send a screwdriver for the base screws? I'm a super beginner and am very literal and basic. Thank you for the info you gave. It definitely helped.
Thanks Ruthie! Here's a video on all the bits we use and what for ruclips.net/video/pBjXaTSAg38/видео.html
If you have any questions, you can always email me ryan@makeawoodsign.com and I'm happy to help
safe to say, Flex - DeWalt - ?? -??
Not sure what you're asking but personally I think FLEX is the best router, then DeWalt.
@@oldave100 so to buy one now would you use FLEX over the DeWalt or something else for some just starting
If your budget allows both are the best we have. If you want a less expensive option then I like the new craftsman cordless from Lowes.
@@oldave100 oh no more options lol so the craftman over herc? thank you for always taking time to reply