waterboy12
Well-known member
Thinking about giving them a try. Anybody have any experience with them? They seem ok. Cheaper than craftsman sockets where I live. So I'm thinking about getting some. Thanks in advance
Kobalt sockets? Qaulity? Fit? Finish?
- Thread starter waterboy12
- Start date
John316
Well-known member
They are decent. I have a few that have really nice chrome. CM is still cheaper if you buy a larger set and has more sizes available: better to build a set with these. Same warranty, but both companies will probably be selling China sockets in a few years (if not sooner). At least with CM there is a huge used market where you can find a replacement to match the set and vintage you have. With Kobalt, not so much.
OP
waterboy12
Well-known member
I work with truck brand tools while I'm on the clock. But work on heavy equipment and road tractors in my shop at home as a side business. All my big sockets I just use impacts. Thu get the job done just fine. But some of my smaller stuff seemed to have grown legs and walked off, so I'm starting the process of filling in what's missing now.
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
Kobalt sockets are fine, they'll serve you well.
hunterguy86
Well-known member
I have them and they work well. Haven't broke one yet. I went with them because they are readily available where craftsman isn't since sears closed down in my town.
I really like the ratchets.
The hex sockets with the ball end leave something to be desired however. I snapped the ball off a 5 mm while trying to pull valve cover bolts on a lb7 duramax with a 3/8 drive stubby flex head ratchet. They warranty process was very easy though.
I don't like that they don't make certain sizes though. This includes the 10 mm stubby wrench and 15/16 or 1" 3/8's drive, just to name a few.
Also, the color stripe that indicates sae or metric comes off pretty easy.
I really like the ratchets.
The hex sockets with the ball end leave something to be desired however. I snapped the ball off a 5 mm while trying to pull valve cover bolts on a lb7 duramax with a 3/8 drive stubby flex head ratchet. They warranty process was very easy though.
I don't like that they don't make certain sizes though. This includes the 10 mm stubby wrench and 15/16 or 1" 3/8's drive, just to name a few.
Also, the color stripe that indicates sae or metric comes off pretty easy.
woody 73
Well-known member
Back when lowes was doing away with their Kobalt USA sockets I bought a few sets; I think other GJ members also bought them on sale. They seem to be holding up ok for the time being.
fourtythree
Well-known member
IMO, the new stuff is better than the last run of US made tools. I picked up a handful of the US stuff when it was on clearance. I had to be very selective of what I bought. Many of the sockets had issues with the chrome. Some had cracks in them. Many of the ratcheting combo wrenches were seized up, or hard to turn. None of the newer stuff I've looked at had these issues. My only problem with the newer Kobalt stuff is it's little pricey for Taiwan made tools.
wreckercologist
Well-known member
Can't say on the sockets, but the two 10mm ratchet wrenches I bought at Lowes for a specific job were/are fine. Not top shelf stuff, but not priced like it either. I did look over the rest of the current handtool line while there and the sockets "looked" fine. I didn't notice any giant flaws in any of them.
The 12" 1/4" drive, 15" 3/8" drive, and 24" 1/2" drive ratchets were interesting.
The 12" 1/4" drive, 15" 3/8" drive, and 24" 1/2" drive ratchets were interesting.
Decent enough. Price is good for what you get. I prefer the newer taiwan stuff over the US danaher made with the stupid staked detents. Some of it is made in china too. They sets do miss some common sizes though. IIRC the 3/8-7/8 set was missing 13/16.
Like some others, stocked up on USA made Kobalt when Lowe's was clearing it out. Just finished putting an alternator on the wife's van, used the Kobalt 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive ratchets & sockets. Did exactly what I needed them to. No complaints so far.
CORTEZSS69
Well-known member
I bought a 1/4 6pt. shallow set and 3/8 12 pt. deep and shallow set for somewhere around $30.00ish mark last Novermber for both sets. I carry them in my otr bag. So far they have been great I have used them for a couple of car repairs while I was away for my home box. I ditched the box plastic boxes and bought some cheap H/F rails. This helped for more room in the bag. I really like the ratchets very smooth.
Kobalt is about the same as Northern Tool brand. Danaher Tool Group. I'm thinking Kobalt sockets have it, but I know Northern Tool sockets have "Surface Drive". It's a rip off of "Flank Drive". Both brands are Chrome Vanadium. Northern Tool sockets are as good or better than the new Kobalt sockets and cheaper. Northern Tool also offers a lot more sizes than Kobalt. They offer a lot more sizes in the store than online. You can buy incomplete sets to save some money and then fill it in with the singles on the shelf. The metrics are the only size I have in my memory at the moment.
Northern Tool Metric Socket Sizes:
1/4
4-13 6pt Deep (No 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 14mm or 15mm - Not offered in Singles - Kobalt has 4.5mm, 5.5mm and 14mm)
4-13 6pt Short (No 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 14mm or 15mm - Not offered in singles - Kobalt has 4.5mm, 5.5mm and 14mm)
3/8
6-22mm 6pt Deep (No Skips - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
6-22mm 6pt Short (No Skips - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
6-22mm 12pt Deep (No Skips - No set offered - Buy all individually)
6-22mm 12pt Short (No Skips - No set offered - Buy all individually)
1/2
10-32mm 6pt Deep (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
10-32mm 6pt Short (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
10-32mm 12pt Deep (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
10-32mm 12pt Short (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
If Memory Serves... The most inexpensive socket is $2.29 and the most expensive is $5.99
They offer SAE sizes and 3/4 drive in SAE and metric, but I don't remember the sizes offered on those right off.
Kobalt only offers 3/8 and 1/2 drive sockets in 12pt and they don't offer as many sizes as Northern Tool does in both 6pt and 12pt.
Only advantage (IMO) to buying Kobalt over Northern Tool sockets is if you have a Lowes close by for warranty issues, but not a Northern Tool.
Kobalt 1/4 Short Well Metric Set $9.98 (on sale)
NT 1/4 Short well Metric Set $5.99 (regular price)
Kobalt 1/4 Deep Well Metric Set $22.97 (regular price)
NT 1/4 Deep Well Metric Set $7.99 (regular price)
Kobalt 3/8 12pt Short Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
NT 3/8 6pt Short Well Metric Set $8.99
Kobalt 3/8 12pt Deep Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
NT 3/8 6pt Deep Well Metric Set $11.99
Kobalt 1/2 12pt Short Well Metric Set $26.97
NT 1/2 6pt Short Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
Kobalt 1/2 12pt Deep Well Metric Set $37.97
NT 1/2 6pt Deep Well Metric Set $ No Set Available
Northern Tool Metric Socket Sizes:
1/4
4-13 6pt Deep (No 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 14mm or 15mm - Not offered in Singles - Kobalt has 4.5mm, 5.5mm and 14mm)
4-13 6pt Short (No 4.5mm, 5.5mm, 14mm or 15mm - Not offered in singles - Kobalt has 4.5mm, 5.5mm and 14mm)
3/8
6-22mm 6pt Deep (No Skips - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
6-22mm 6pt Short (No Skips - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
6-22mm 12pt Deep (No Skips - No set offered - Buy all individually)
6-22mm 12pt Short (No Skips - No set offered - Buy all individually)
1/2
10-32mm 6pt Deep (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
10-32mm 6pt Short (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - Buy a set and then fill in the rest)
10-32mm 12pt Deep (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
10-32mm 12pt Short (No 26mm, 28mm, 29mm or 31mm - No set offered - Buy all individually)
If Memory Serves... The most inexpensive socket is $2.29 and the most expensive is $5.99
They offer SAE sizes and 3/4 drive in SAE and metric, but I don't remember the sizes offered on those right off.
Kobalt only offers 3/8 and 1/2 drive sockets in 12pt and they don't offer as many sizes as Northern Tool does in both 6pt and 12pt.
Only advantage (IMO) to buying Kobalt over Northern Tool sockets is if you have a Lowes close by for warranty issues, but not a Northern Tool.
Kobalt 1/4 Short Well Metric Set $9.98 (on sale)
NT 1/4 Short well Metric Set $5.99 (regular price)
Kobalt 1/4 Deep Well Metric Set $22.97 (regular price)
NT 1/4 Deep Well Metric Set $7.99 (regular price)
Kobalt 3/8 12pt Short Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
NT 3/8 6pt Short Well Metric Set $8.99
Kobalt 3/8 12pt Deep Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
NT 3/8 6pt Deep Well Metric Set $11.99
Kobalt 1/2 12pt Short Well Metric Set $26.97
NT 1/2 6pt Short Well Metric Set $ Not Listed Online
Kobalt 1/2 12pt Deep Well Metric Set $37.97
NT 1/2 6pt Deep Well Metric Set $ No Set Available
OP
waterboy12
Well-known member
Wow. Thanks for the informative post. And yea I have. Oth a Lowes and Northern Tool close by. I'll Definantly be looking into Northerns socket selection. Thanks CotJockey
OP
waterboy12
Well-known member
went to northern tool today, picked up around 30 sockets for around $70. they all averaged around $3 or so, compared to the $5-$6 average cost of a craftsman socket. the quality seemed good, better than i thought they would be. however they didn't have 1/4 sockets at all. All in all it was a good haul. Thanks again cotjockey
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kippieland
Well-known member
I thought they were made by for them not buy Danaher.....at least thats what I was the guy that insulted me said on a previous thread!
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
they haven't been made by Danaher for at least a year and a half now. As for insults, they are free of charge on garage Journal
kippieland
Well-known member
Is it only the sockets, because the ratchets and ratcheting wrenches say "LG sourcing"......insults aren't free....they have a pay back.....I am stock piling for when he puts something down.....then BAM!
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kippieland
Well-known member
Found this....list of all the foreign companies for Kobalt, including Danaher. It says they make the ratchets.
http://panjiva.com/Manufacturers-Of/kobalt
http://panjiva.com/Manufacturers-Of/kobalt
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
Is it only the sockets, because the ratchets and ratcheting wrenches say "LG sourcing"......insults aren't free....they have a pay back.....I am stock piling for when he puts something down.....then BAM!
everything I have picked up at Lowe's, sockets and ratchets including wrenches have been labeled on the back, KD design or something like that. Lowe's about two years ago maybe even a year and a half ago at a liquidation sale on all the Danaher made Tools.
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
That list is past tense. It used to be Danaher and before that wright that made kobalt tools. Now it is KD design.
kippieland
Well-known member
I just looked at a hex-head socket I bought for my spare box. It says LG sourcing and a K & Design. Nothing about Danaher
shoturtle
Well-known member
Yup, KD now. If it was danaher they would be made in China not taiwan.
kippieland
Well-known member
I thought so.....at least that what the insult that was thrown at me said!
Congrats. I just picked up several sets for a separate cart of tools I'm wanting to build. The 1/4 is only available in sets. Short and Deep well, SAE and Metric. They are not offered individually. I bought a Short and Deep well set in metric. I'm going to buy the 4.5mm, 5.5mm and 14mm in Short and Deep well in Kobalt to complete the set.
they haven't been made by Danaher for at least a year and a half now. As for insults, they are free of charge on garage Journal
All the sockets on the shelf at the Northern Tool I shop at mention that they have "Surface Drive" right on the sticker. Surface Drive is a trademark of Easco which is owned by Danaher Tool Group. So either the sockets have been hanging around forever or you are incorrect.
Is it only the sockets, because the ratchets and ratcheting wrenches say "LG sourcing"......insults aren't free....they have a pay back.....I am stock piling for when he puts something down.....then BAM!
I have no idea about the ratchets. The OP only mentioned sockets and the sockets and wrenches are the only things I have focused on from Northern Tool as of late. Sockets were the only thing I was referring to.
Surface Drive is a registered trademark of Easco Tools, which if I'm not mistaken bought out KD. Easco was bought out by Danaher. Easco is part of the Danaher Tool Group and therefore Northern Tool sockets are made by the Danaher Tool Group.
A Foreign Car Parts store I worked for when I was a young man sold KD Tools when I worked there in 1997. The store still has a lot of KD Specialty tools hanging on the walls that have been around for many years (USA Made). The hand tools rack behind the counter changed to Easco a few years back. All of the Easco sockets, ratchets and wrenches have been hanging around for awhile because they were all made in the USA.
I still buy parts at that store on a regular basis and have been for near 20 years.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123789
Look at the second post.
Here is a picture/ad from Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/additional_images/558251_1_lg.jpg
Most of the sockets I bought (less than 4 weeks ago) state "Made in China". Only a few stated "Made in Taiwan".
The wrenches I bought there also have "Surface Drive" and were all labeled "Made in China".
Example:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200313280_200313280
Coach James
Well-known member
I don't remember Wright ever making Kobalt. When and what did Wright make under the Kobalt name?
Coach
shoturtle
Well-known member
All the ones I seen at lowes recently were all taiwanese. The ratchet and sockets.
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
It may have been williams not wright......
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
I will not quote the world like you did but go to lowes and look for your self.....
Stamped K Design. Also do a search for Kobalt tools on this forum and it will confirm what I said.....
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kippieland
Well-known member
These will help:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1543349&postcount=87
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Global+Sourcing_390635000_
Side note: never get on a forum after working on a computer all day long. I totally missed the "haven't" in the part about Danaher and the sockets. Jesus Christ its been a long day! Sorry Ranger
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1543349&postcount=87
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Global+Sourcing_390635000_
Side note: never get on a forum after working on a computer all day long. I totally missed the "haven't" in the part about Danaher and the sockets.
Jesus Christ its been a long day! Sorry Rangerkippieland
Well-known member
Is this thread not about Kobalt vs. Craftsman. When did Northern tools become the topic?
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
These will help:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1543349&postcount=87
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Global+Sourcing_390635000_
Side note: never get on a forum after working on a computer all day long. I totally missed the "haven't" in the part about Danaher and the sockets.
No problem, I had to resurect brain cells from a year and a half thread I have not read in a year and a half. I was maybe wrong on who made Kobalt before Danaher but I know it begain with a "W"
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RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
....kippieland
Well-known member
No problem, I had to resurect brain cells from a year and a half thread I have not read in a year and a half. I was maybe wrong on who made Kobalt before Danaher but I know it begain with a "W"
I used to get those two missed up all the time as well.
Last I checked, it was made by Danaher. I just thought it was moved from USA production to Chinese/Taiwanese production. I didn't realize they had gotten away from Danaher. Wiki still lists Kobalt as being made by Danaher.
Either way, the point of the post was that IMO, Northern Tool sockets were comparable in quality to Kobalt sockets and were a lot cheaper. Not to get into a tool maker debate.
I'm glad the OP was able to find some sockets he liked at a price he was happy with.
Vinko
Well-known member
The Kobalts I have made by Williams are pretty good. I'm as pleased with them as I have been some of my SO's. Of course, it might be that I'm not using them for discerning jobs.