Hercules 20V Impact Driver’s Budget-Friendly Design Impresses Against Pro Brands
Tons of people shop at Harbor Freight. Between their low, low prices and the store’s general accessibility, Harbor Freight and its house brands have gained a lot of traction with a lot of people. But because the tools are so cheap, questions arise about their tools’ power and long term quality. Tools like the brushless Hercules 20V Impact Driver are part of a line with that’s targeting users willing to spend a little more to get a better tool.
We recently wrapped up testing the best impact drivers from brands you know and trust, and we couldn’t resist including Hercules with its impressive claims. So with that in mind, we put it to the test to see how it stacks up against these well-known models from brands and help you decide if it’s the right choice for your tool arsenal.
Hercules 20V Impact Driver Performance
- No-Load Speed: 3,600 RPM
- Impact Rate: 4,400 IPM
- Max Torque: 2,200 in-lbs
- Collet: 1/4 in. hex
- Motor Type: Brushless
Speed and Power
Hercules claims that this is their most powerful impact driver yet, and the numbers back that claim entirely. At its heart, this impact driver houses a brushless motor that produces up to 3,600 RPMs, 2,200 in-lbs of torque, and an impact rate of 4,400 IPM. These are all improvements over the previous model, the HC81K1, the most significant being a 29% increase in top speed.
| HC81 (old) | HCB81 (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| No-Load Speed | 2800 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Impact Rate | 3200 IPM | 4400 IPM |
| Max Torque | 1500 in-lbs | 2200 in-lbs |
| Motor Type | Brushed | Brushless |
As you can see, this next-gen model exhibits improvements across the board, including the addition of a brushless motor. Clearly, this is much more than a simple incremental upgrade!
Speed Modes
The Hercules HCB81 features three speed modes ranging from 1,800 RPMs up to 3,600 RPMs, and two Assist modes. In forward, the Assist mode is designed to drive self-tapping screws and will stop rotation once the tool begins to impact. In reverse, it will automatically stop rotation once the fastener is loose to help prevent it from spinning off and getting lost or causing accidental injury.
| Mode | Top Speed | Impact Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1800 RPM | 1200 IPM |
| 2 | 2700 RPM | 3400 IPM |
| 3 | 3600 RPM | 4400 IPM |
Hercules doesn’t specify an exact speed for the self-tapping assist mode, but after listening to the tool operate, it seems to fall somewhere between speeds 2 and 3. During my testing, I found that the speed was more than sufficient for driving self-tapping screws with little effort, and the auto-stop function prevented us from stripping or overdriving the screws.
Hands-On Testing
To put these numbers into practice, we ran our standard impact driver tests to see how it compares to other tools we’ve tested. These tests showcase this tool’s driving abilities, as well as its brute strength when breaking loose nuts and bolts and driving large lag bolts.
We started by setting up our OSB test block and driving three 8-inch GRK structural screws until they were flush. On average, the HCB81 drove these screws in 7.78 seconds—this put it in a mid-pack 6th place, right behind the DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver.
For our first strength test, I torqued eight 1 1/2-inch semi-truck lugnuts down to 150 ft-lbs to see how fast this impact driver could break them. The cumulative time for all eight nuts was 15.66 seconds, or 1.96 seconds on average. On this test, the Hercules came in 4th place behind Milwaukee, Flex, and Ridgid.
To finish our testing, we set up our OSB test block and drove a 10-inch by 1/2-inch lag bolt for 30 seconds. Results are judged by how much of the bolt is remaining proud after the time is up. The HCB81 came in 6th place with 2.75 inches remaining. This may seem like a lot, but it’s actually just north of the median remainder with Flex leaving 0.63 inches and Metabo HPT with 4.38 inches left.
After analyzing these results, it’s obvious that Hercules made some real and impactful (pun intended) improvements to this tool. Granted, it still lagged behind the premium models during our testing, but it also wasn’t a total blowout either. With that in mind, the HCB81 offers an incredible value proposition and a competitive performance level to boot.
Hercules 20V Impact Driver Design Notes
- Model: Hercules HCB81
- Power Source: Hercules 20V battery
- Weight: 2.30 lbs (bare tool), 3.75 lbs (with 4.0Ah battery)
- Head Length: 4.75 in.
Size and Weight
Weight is an important consideration when it comes to most tools, even though most of the impact drivers we tested aren’t overweight. Hercules is one that doesn’t overburden us. Without the battery, it weighs in at 2.30 lbs. Attaching the 4.0Ah Extreme Performance battery brings the total weight up to 3.75 pounds, which is very reasonable.
As far as footprints go, this Harbor Freight impact driver measures 4.75 inches from tip to tail, and stands 7.75 inches tall without the battery attached.
The grip sports a textured rubber overmold with large grooves to channel away sweat and debris. Moreover, the overmold extends over the foot and around the motor housing to give it some extra impact protection.
Tri-LED Lights
One of my favorite features are the tri-LED lights that surround the collet. These lights provide shadow-free illumination directly onto your work surface and are much more effective than foot-mounted lights. s
Additional Features
- One-handed bit instertion
- Belt hook
- Compatible with all Hercules 20V batteries
Hercules 20V Impact Driver Pricing
The Hercules HCB81, just like we’d expect from all Harbor Freight brands, excels in the value category. The kit includes the tool, one 2.5 Ah battery, and charger for a cool $97.99, while the bare tool is only $69.99. This makes it one of the least expensive impact drivers in the 18V/20V class to still hold some ground against Pro models.
What’s even more impressive is that Harbor Freight offers a 5-year limited tool warranty and a 3-year limited warranty on the battery and charger. While Hercules is still proving whether it has long-term durability, this certainly offers some confidence for budget-minded shoppers!
The Bottom Line
It’s safe to say that the Hercules impact driver pleasantly surprised us with its performance against the big boys. It delivers more than enough driving and bolt-breaking power to handle most tasks, and is a clear upgrade from the previous model.
Ultimately, this is where we see its sweet spot: in the hands of the DIY/weekend warrior, or backup for a Pro. It’s got a decent amount of power, but it did still lag behind the premium Pro-grade brands during our testing. With that said, it’s really hard to argue with Hercules’ price tag. So, if stretching your dollar is high on your priority list, the HCB81 is a home run.
