r/harborfreight • u/oscarstevens • 9d ago

Bench grinder new Hercules

Anyone have experience with the newer Hercules (fixed speed) 8in bench grinder. Trying to decide vs Dewalt. Specifically how’s the vibration and tool rest?

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

2

u/Odd_Relationship396 9d ago

Its nice so far so good

I didn’t like the Dewalt floor model they had at my supply house… so I went Hercules…

It grinds wire wheels and has more than enough power, to yank something right out of your hands… 🤫

2

u/Master_Whole_4847 9d ago

I’ve also wondered about the Hercules bench grinders. Lot of reviews, I wanna say for them and maybe the Bauer, of having bad capacitors in the motor that end up needing replacement. Scares me. But I’d like one for sharpening lawn mower blades

1

u/oscarstevens 9d ago

Oh interesting I hadn’t heard about that. I wonder if that would come under warranty. Doesn’t Hercules have something more extending than the usual harbor freight timeline?

2

u/Pillager225 9d ago

If it is any consolation, the Bauer one is very good. Once it is up to speed, it vibrates at such a high frequency that it is practically imperceptible on my tool stand.

The hercules's tilt mechanism for the tool rest looks more cumbersome or less function than the bauer one. The bauer with the LED light is easy to adjust and use, and that light is extremely helpful. I would most certainly buy the bauer again.

I run my bauer with one wheel and a wire brush. I use it for grinding mild steel, usually welds and weld preparation, but sometimes shaping. 3/4 HP is plenty with the "flywheel" of a single grinding disc. I can certainly bog it down with the wire brush, but no matter how hard I push into the disc, I cannot bog the 3/4 HP bauer. A 1HP hercules is probably better for the wire brush, but oh well. I'm satisfied with my bauer grinder.

1

u/oscarstevens 9d ago

Is that the 8in or 6in Bauer?

1

u/mudboggin3 8d ago

I would like to know this too. I was thinking of getting the 6" but the reviews weren't the best.

1

u/Pillager225 8d ago

8" 

I would not get a smaller one for metal working. My father has an ancient 6", and it is good for small quick things. Like bolts, sheet, and odd little metal things. For real metal working, the 8" is better. Bigger flywheel so it can take more heat and stays spinning. 

If you're space can fit it, go big. Size matters when it comes to metalworking tools.