4 Harbor Freight Bauer Tools Worth Buying (And 1 To Avoid)

Hardware retailer Harbor Freight doesn't just have one house brand – it has several, including Hercules, Icon, Predator, and Warrior. Bauer is a solid mid-range brand that's also owned by Harbor Freight, with a focus on 20V power tools, such as drills and saws. Bauer makes dozens of cordless tools that use the same interchangeable batteries and chargers and share a distinctive red and black design.

This is similar, but not the same, as the red and white aesthetic of Milwaukee Tools and the differences don't end there — while Milwaukee offers powerful professional-grade tools that can withstand daily use for heavy-duty applications, Bauer tools are better suited for more casual DIY projects and occasional home repair. However, Bauer tools are typically much more affordable than premium brands, as are their batteries and chargers. Because of this, it's a popular choice among Harbor Freight customers looking for useful, well-made power tools for less demanding projects and tasks. Like any brand, though, not all of Bauer's tools are built the same, and just because you may have a great experience with one doesn't mean you necessarily will with another.

Here are four Bauer tools worth buying at Harbor Freight, as well as one you should definitely avoid, based on user experience and ratings. More information on how these Bauer tools were evaluated can be found at the end of this list.

One of the best-rated Bauer tools on Harbor Freight's website is the brand's 20V Cordless ¼-inch Hex 3-Speed Impact Driver, and buying one is a no-brainer if you're building a casual DIY kit. Based on nearly 700 customer reviews, the tool has a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 average user rating, with 99% of surveyed customers recommending it.

The brushless motor of Bauer's 20V impact driver allows it to deliver up to 3,200 rpm and 3,750 ipm, as well as up to 2,000 in-lbs of max torque, which is enough for drywall, sheet metal, subflooring, and more. It uses a variable-speed trigger with three speeds for more versatile use and has a compact design for work in tight spaces. It's also lightweight enough to be used for extended periods with minimal fatigue and features a quick-release ¼-inch hex chuck and on-board LED work lights.

Some redditors on r/HarborFreight say they prefer Bauer's brushed impact driver, but the overwhelming majority of reviews for the brushless model are five stars nonetheless, with one customer reporting that it worked just as well as a Milwaukee driver and that they "ran it hard for two days and it held up great, with comparable battery life." Another user calls it "practically bulletproof" even after using it "almost daily for almost 5 years and recently it was thrown down on the floor in anger."

Harbor Freight sells the Bauer 20V Cordless ¼-inch Hex 3-Speed Impact Driver (model 2181CR-B) for $39.99.

An often-overlooked addition to anyone's toolkit is a good work light. Harbor Freight offers several lighting solutions for job sites and other work areas, including the Bauer 20V Cordless 2,500-lumen Spotlight.

Combining seven LEDs to produce 2,500 lumens of bright light, the spotlight can last up to 5-½ hours on a full charge. With its 8-½-inch height and 6-3/4-inch length, it's also compact and highly portable. It weighs just 1.6 pounds. Other lights from Bauer are also highly rated by users. You might find it worth buying Bauer's Dual Power Work Light for indefinite illumination, though it has lower brightness.

A second battery would pretty much let you use the 20V spotlight all day, and no other Bauer lights have higher than the 4.9 out of 5 average customer score boasted by its 2,500-lumen spotlight. Over 430 users contributed to this score, and 99% recommend the tool. One customer describes themself "as a flashlight freak" and finds the spotlight to be "one of the most powerful lights I've ever owned. It lights up a 250-foot driveway like daylight. Would also be great for night fishing for blue crabs." Another user highly recommends the work light, but says that the "only negative I find is that it's not water resistant."

The Bauer 20V Cordless 2,500-lumen Spotlight (model 1917C-B) is available from Harbor Freight for $24.99.

In SlashGear's ultimate buyer's guide to Bauer power tools, we note that the brand offers a wide selection of products. In addition to drills and drivers, Bauer also makes lawn and garden equipment, including a 20V Cordless 200-mph Compact Workshop Blower that works just as well in the garage as it does outside it. Debris like sawdust can easily be cleared from your workbench or tool components with the handheld blower, which weighs less than 2-½ pounds.

Capable of up to 120 cfm, the blower includes a 3-speed selector and variable-speed trigger so you can deploy a lighter touch when hurricane-force wind isn't necessary. Its compact size not only makes it easier to handle but also better for clearing narrow, hard-to-reach places. Its nozzle is crush-resistant and fits adapters that allow the blower to be used as an inflator as well, whether it's for air mattresses or pool floats.

Over 1,400 Harbor Freight customers have scored the Bauer 20V Cordless 200-mph Compact Workshop Blower an excellent 4.8 out of 5, with 97% recommending the product. More than one user mentions using the tool for cleaning their patios, including a homeowner plagued daily with pine needles, saying using Bauer's device "blows them away in minutes without getting tired due to how small and powerful and light it is." Another customer who uses it in their workshop says it "compares to major brands" and that they "always wanted one and glad I made the purchase." One buyer says they "wish it had a longer nozzle" for better reach, though still found the blower worthy of a 5-star review.

The Bauer 20V Cordless 200-mph Compact Workshop Blower (model 1916C-B) sells at Harbor Freight for $39.99.

One of the many Bauer power tools worthy of your home garage is its 20V Cordless Variable-Speed Oscillating Multi-Tool, which can be used for all kinds of applications, including cutting drywall, removing grout or old flooring, trimming door jambs or PVC, and many other tasks. One reason Bauer's multi-tool is so versatile is that it's compatible with a wide range of accessories from other brands, including other Harbor Freight names such as Hercules and Warrior as well as competing companies like Milwaukee, DeWalt, Dremel, and more.

The brushless tool sports a 2.9-degree oscillation angle, and offers six different speeds and a variable-control dial. It also features an on-board LED work light and a rubberized grip for more comfortable use. When Consumer Reports subjected the multi-tool to its renowned expert lab tests, it found the device to perform very well with wood, metal, sanding, and grout applications, but that it was particularly exceptional when dealing with plastic.

The publication also noted that its operational noise wasn't an issue. That's good to know, because its volume level isn't something that's often mentioned by Harbor Freight customers. These users give the multi-tool a 4.8 out of 5 score, with 97% recommending it. Many reviews single out the device's power and long battery life, with one noting that it worked great when it was used "to cut roots around a lawn irrigation pipe." Another 5-star review that calls the oscillating tool "awesome" says "it can handle the workload," though called it a "bit bulky versus my Milwaukee."

Harbor Freight sells the Bauer 20V Cordless Variable-Speed Oscillating Multi-Tool (model 21101C-B) for $39.99.

Bauer tools are generally well-rated by Harbor Freight customers, but there are exceptions. For example, the Bauer 5-Amp Variable-Speed Drywall Screwdriver with Adjustable Nosepiece (model 1793E-B) is one of the few Bauer products with an overall user rating that's under 4 out of 5 stars. Its customer score is a 3.9 based on over 160 reviews — not abysmal, but considering it's rare to see a Bauer product rated that low, enough to raise a red flag. 

While many customers admit it has a great price ($49.99, which is nearly $100 less than DeWalt's similar tool), far fewer have anything good to say about its power. Other issues pointed out by disappointed customers include the bit holder not staying in the drill, the depth limiter locking up, and difficulty regulating the speed of the driver. One 1-star review says that it repeatedly stripped bits because it would start too fast, including one that "stripped instantly and shot steel fragments everywhere even getting past my goggles and into my eye."

There are also reported instances of the tool malfunctioning or falling apart either right out of the box or soon after, including one instance where, after just two hours of use, started "started spraying metal fragments out of the vents" before smoking and burning up. While these more serious complaints make up a minority of user reviews overall, they're concerning enough to consider another drywall screwdriver. Another reason you might want to avoid this product is that it's corded. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to whether corded vs. cordless power tools are better, but a lot of folks won't find a heavy corded screwdriver worth using if they already keep several other Bauer 20V cordless tools in their kit.

Only tools that are generally practical to use and have something useful to offer were considered for this list of Harbor Freight Bauer tools worth buying. All the recommended tools included on this list have very strong customer feedback to verify their quality and that their features work as advertised. Each recommended Bauer tool has an overall customer score of 4.8 or 4.9 out of 5, with at least 97% of surveyed customers recommending it to others.

Each overall score is based on at least 430 user reviews, if not hundreds more. With so many users weighing in, any outlier reviewers made in bad faith (whether positively or negatively) won't have much impact on the rating average, making these customer scores more reliable. To determine which tool or tools are worth avoiding, customer scores based on at least 150 reviews were compared to the general trend of those of other Bauer products. In addition to feedback from Harbor Freight customers, additional research was conducted using online forums like Reddit and reputable publications such as Consumer Reports. This additional vetting was used to supplement the claims, good or bad, made by customer reviews for the recommended Bauer tools.