Lets talk about Kobalt

[l_bilyk]

So lowes finally made it's way into Canada. I was in there tonight looking over the Kobalt line. It's made in USA but overall the fit and finish seemed a bit sub-par. Does anyone here have any tools from this line? How do they hold up?

[Deafautotech]

most of kobalt hand tools are made by danaher which same with craftsman tools... i dont have any kobalt so i cant explain how good that tools are... sorry ..

[l_bilyk]

See up here craftsman tools are made by danaher but they are made in china, and are overall bad quality. The US and Canadian craftsman lines are different.

[Coach James]

I have a set of Metric Kobalt wrenches when they were made by JH Williams and they are excellent. I also have some of the newer Kobalt wrenches made by Danaher. They are not bad and not great. They look exactly the same as Danaher's Allen brand. The finish is more of a matte and textured than a full polish. I like them ok. Main drawback is that they are, in my opinion, over priced just like Kobalt sockets and ratchets.

Coach

[mhoffm911]

Off topic slightly....do a search on the Forums for Lowes coupon. When you follow the link to register, they will e-mail you a 10% off coupon. You can use it on Kobalt.

I own the Kobalt pliers set and really like their appearance and grip. The ARE made in China (says so right on them). I am not a mechanic, so don't care as much as some of the guys here do about it. They work for my needs and the price was right at the time - and allowed me to get rid of a bunch of mismatched ones for one matching set.

[eschoendorff]

I have a set of Metric Kobalt wrenches when they were made by JH Williams and they are excellent. I also have some of the newer Kobalt wrenches made by Danaher. They are not bad and not great. They look exactly the same as Danaher's Allen brand. The finish is more of a matte and textured than a full polish. I like them ok. Main drawback is that they are, in my opinion, over priced just like Kobalt sockets and ratchets.

Coach

What he said. The Kobalt (Danaher) wrenches that I have grip fasteners really well, though. Otherwise, Kobalt is just overpriced Craftsman/Allen stuff.

[Rabbit]

Not as expensive as the truck brand and do the same exact job.

[Danglerb]

Kobalt seems to me more like Husky from Home Depot, than Craftsman.

Are the Canadian Craftsman tools stamped Craftsman the same as US tools? Same part numbers? or is it maybe like the Companion "cheap" line at Sears since getting Kmarted?

Lots of the time I agree, a wrench is a wrench, but other times your flat on your back reaching up into the guts of something, bolt between two fingers, flashlight between your teeth, and a wrench with perfect balance, that just fits your hand, that you can change your grip one handed without dropping, has its value around the second time your cheap wrench drops on your head.

[l_bilyk]

Yes, canadian craftman is stamped the same, but i think the part numbers are different.

I think I am going to buy a set of 3/8 metric 12pt deep sockets. I don't think I have any deep 12 points. They only cost like 23 dollars.

[TNToy]

So lowes finally made it's way into Canada. I was in there tonight looking over the Kobalt line. It's made in USA but overall the fit and finish seemed a bit sub-par. Does anyone here have any tools from this line? How do they hold up?
Unfortunately, you didn't get to see Kobalt tools when they were truck-quality tools, years ago. Some of the guys I used to work with have been using their wrenches often for years, and they're still holding up.

Nowdays, that's not quite the case. :)