HERCULES 20V Brushless Cordless Variable-Speed Surface Conditioning Tool

[dpearce]

I get the Harbor Freight flyer about everyday, and sometimes they have something that makes you go "hmmmm".

At the beginning of the week, I got this (just happened to be going through previous emails and saw it):

HERCULES 20V Brushless Cordless Variable-Speed Surface Conditioning Tool

I just wonder what that would do for grill grate cleaning! Kinda pricey, but has some interchangeable media options. And obviously could be used for other applications. Maybe even cleaning the gook out of the cooker?

I dunno? Anyone using this thing or something similar? What's your thoughts...

[Hulagn1971]

That's pretty cool! I could really get the grates on my Blaze gasser sparkling clean again with that thing.

[dpearce]

I mean it's going to make a mess, that's for sure, but if you've got space to work, or maybe using it in the yard, I would think it would make quick work of grate cleaning! Course, with CI grates, I can see it "might" strip off the seasoning as well.

[Skip]

It looks to me like a good Grate Cleaner. As much as some grate cleaning tools cost it may not be that bad if it works really good. Following.

[realdocBBQ]

Great for bar grates - if you have expanded metal, it'll eat that drum up fast.

[Uncle Bob]

New abrasive replacement drums are $30. That may or may not be reasonable depending on how long they last. It's probably a crap shoot with HF. I've used 5" discs with similar looking material from 3M to strip paint to bare metal. Very effective. I did a Model A coupe body (not fenders or any other component) with just 4 discs and the 4th still had effective material left on it. HF can have some quality stuff, or it can have low value junk. It would be nice to know which category this one lives in. BTW the corded version is $50 less.

[dpearce]

We didn't call it Horror Fright for nothing! I have bought a few tools there in the last couple of years, for one-off things. I will say, their quality has gotten better. Still, I doubt they're as good as the trusted name brands.

[realdocBBQ]

I've got one of those, it's a handy tool. Mine is a 'Bauer' brand, the red line at Harbor Freight, but late last year, I think, they changed the case on it and now call it Hercules.

Same tool.

Anyways, I've used it quite a bit, it's handy for some things. The 40-grit drums ARE expensive, but if you take good care of them, they will last a long time. Use it on flat surfaces, don't try to mold it on corners, use even pressure, etc. I'm still on my first 40-grit drum. I definitely recommend this tool.

[dpearce]

realdocBBQ have you tried using it on grill grates yet? Inquiring minds want to know!

[realdocBBQ]

Noooooo... I don't think I would... I don't want grease thrown back on me, lol. It rotates away on top and toward on bottom, so it's going to sling black grease EVERYWHERE. I guess if you are wearing a disposable apron or something. lol. I use it mostly for stripping rust off of plate and square/rectangle tubing. Since I have to keep my metal plate and such outside, it gets rusty pretty quick.

[realdocBBQ]

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[Duanessmokedmeats]

Nice looking back scratcher...