As a reminder, Hitachi tools are now going to be branded Metabo HPT.
Ben posted about the new Metabo HPT MultiVolt cordless power tools that are now available, and I wanted to briefly remind you about the other tools that making the conversion over from Hitachi to Metabo HPT.
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Over at Amazon, there are a bunch of Metabo HPT air nailers, a miter saw that’s listed with a January 2019 release date, an 18V cordless framing nailer that’ll be released in a few days, and an air compressor.
The listings all remind:
Same tools. New name. Hitachi power tools has renamed to Metabo HPT.
Frankly, I love the tools, but not the name; I favor the new international HiKoki brand name a bit better. Anyway, if you’re looking for say a Hitachi air nailer, compressor, cordless power tool, or any other Hitachi tool, and you can’t find it online (or in stores?), look for the Metabo HPT brand. Model numbers should remain the same, so you can try searching for that instead.
P.S. The grinder kit, shown above, is on sale for $30 again. The Hitachi kit was on sale for $30 last month.
Buy Now(Grinder Kit via Amazon)
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Joe
I hate the name too.
Raoul
I like the Hitachi and the Metabo name. Not the new hybrid name. Metabo HPT basically means ” I wish I had a Metabo”.
Stacey
Me too. Hitachi sounds much better.
AL
How DO you say the name? Me-tay-bow?
Stuart
Me-tah-bo.
I’ve also heard met-abo, but it doesn’t seem to sound right.
Corey
Meh-tab-oh is the only way I’ve heard it and consequentially the only way that sounds normal to me lol
logan
muh-taw-bow
Rx9
Fun fact: metabo is actually a Japanese slang word for a fat person.
Kent
Me-tay-bo, me-tah-bo, let’s call the whole thing off.
John
HiKoki is a much trendier name.
logan
$30 grinder lol
Frank
I have one of these at work, its not that bad. Very capable of whatever you would use a grinder of this size for. The grinder isn’t even $30 if you factor in some kind of price for the five included wheels.
Whittyman
You’d be better off going to HFT.
Mattyice
Just to make sure, metabo batteries won’t work with these cordless tools correct?
Stuart
That is correct.
OhioHead
I noticed these showing up @ Menard’s 2 weeks ago in Ohio, I wish they would use the “old” Metabo green vs. the Hitachi green.
Greg
Well technically, they’re still the hitachi tools, just the name has changed, so it makes sense to stick to the hitachi green. The proper Metabo tools, still have the darker Metabo green.
Joe
Metabo hpt is just right. Hitachi has a solid following, and metabo also….no need for another name and none wanted in the construction world. .,of course diy may like another name , hoping for cheap tools..
Some other Ray
This is a dumb decision to change the name to a hybrid, Hitachi has made some great tools and made some dumb changes to design, i.e. the Green flame effect era. Personally I don’t like trends and wish they would just focus on the products.
eric schiller
The name change was not about a trend. It was a legal thing. Link in this blog post about it.
Bonson
My first real drill was a Hitachi…18v NiMH. Coming from a Black and Decker, the Hitachi could snap my arm off. Fell in love with it immediately. Never owned another Hitachi power tool but you always remember your first.
fred
Their chop saws have a decent reputation for no-frills solid tools at the low end of the price spectrum
Stuart
Me too! Except for the “never owned another Hitachi power tool” part.
Lyle
My first Hitachi was an 18V impact driver (NiMH) and at the time it was the best in its class. I sold it a year or two ago. It was awesome. I also had the 10” sliding compound miter saw and that thing cut great until I saw a Kapex. I bought the Kapex and gave my friend the Hitachi. At the time I also had a Panasonic drill which I loved. I got tired of having too many battery platforms so I got rid of all that and went with 20V DeWalt, and then some 12V DeWalt, and some Bosch 12V, and Milwaukee 12V, and some Ridgid 18V. So basically I’m back to my original too many battery platform problem.
Toolfreak
The re-branding should mean nice clearance prices on the Hitachi-branded tools, but that hasn’t really been the case so far.
Lowe’s still has a ton of Hitachi stuff, at regular and “sale” prices.
CT
Lowe’s has no incentive to take the loss just because Hitachi decided to change their name, especially when it’s just a rebranded version exact same tool. They’ll just replace stock as they go like they are doing with Stanley and PorterCable getting replaced by Craftsman.
John
I’ve got 2 of those grinders. In the heat of Thailand they get super hot after 5 minutes of work. Plus I have 2 x Bosch and 2 x AEG’s as well….which are good for a few extra minutes.
No sense in burning out tools for no good reason.
Juergen
For everyone who wants to know how Metabo is pronounced properly (I am german and know this brand for ages):
it is Me like in metal, tah, bo
It is actually one of the best brands in Germany for metalworkers, like Fein.
Corey
You, sir have just validated my morning ?
Blythe
Not to be a broken record but I hate the name too. It will be confusing to people with battery compatibility, but overall it’s just a dumb name. Should have done a little more focus group research
Mike
They should stick with the Hitachi name. Most of their tools are good quality, and the name is well known. No one is going to know who the hell Metabo is. Sounds and looks like a crummy HF brand.
Matt
This is a bad branding call for both companies. Metabo will appear cheapened by being attached to Hitachi. Hitachi users won’t know what happened. Some pro users will probably be disappointed when they get a $30 grinder from a company and expect pro-level quality. People will be confused and buy the wrong batteries/tools assuming they will work for their current setup.
Bad call all around. If they were going to do this, they should have changed Metabo’s regular line to Metabo Pro or something like that so there is a clear delineation. Also doesn’t help that they’re maintaining the Hitachi power-tool green, which is just barely a shade lighter than Metabo green. Hitachi should have become yellow or orange or something more clearly differentiated from the Metabo upscale line.