cookiemonster
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How do you think this ratchet stacks up compared to others?
Kobalt 72 tooth 3/8 drive ratchet
- Thread starter cookiemonster
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tweedlestan
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Smoother than a Snap on F80, but has a thicker head and QR. Excellent for the money.
OP
cookiemonster
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Do you own one?
tweedlestan
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I actually own two of them.
OP
cookiemonster
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Would you use it over craftsman raise panel or thin profile or professional?
ihateminimumwage
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I love this ratchet:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_337325-2232...tchet&pl=1¤tURL=?Ntt=ratchet&facetInfo=
It's my go-to ratchet besides my Snap-On Dual 80. I have the Kobalt 'low profiles' in 1/4" & 3/8" and love them. I also have the standard 72T 1/2" drive ratchet, which I just don't like the feel of the body.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_337325-2232...tchet&pl=1¤tURL=?Ntt=ratchet&facetInfo=
It's my go-to ratchet besides my Snap-On Dual 80. I have the Kobalt 'low profiles' in 1/4" & 3/8" and love them. I also have the standard 72T 1/2" drive ratchet, which I just don't like the feel of the body.
Conductor562
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I have the long handled 3/8 flex head and the 1/2 standard ratchet and they are very nice tools. They are smooth, comfortable to use, and the overall quality is excellent. I hate to speak so highly of an Asian tool, but it is what it is. I'm willing to go as far as saying you won't find a nicer ratchet at that price and there's no question they're the nicest of the store brand ratchets. They're made for Lowe's by Rotar who also makes Toptul and Titan ratchets. You'll not be disappointed in them. If they said USA on them instead of Taiwan they'd be the most recommended ratchet on GJ.
tweedlestan
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Well, it's certainly a lot smoother than either of those, which I also own. (I have more ratchets to compare than any human should be allowed...)
The Craftsman Premium is a great ratchet, but arguably overpriced compared to the Thin Profile or Kobalt. That being said, I love mine.
The Kobalt has a great finish, seems to be very strong, and for the price I don't think it can be beaten. And the warranty is great it you ever have to use it, it's truly trouble free.
CobraBronco
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Is this ratchet the same as the HF composite without the plastic covering? They look pretty similar and both 72 tooth.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-composite-ratchet-66313.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-composite-ratchet-66313.html
Dillithium
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I have it in standard size, and long flex and love both. My only nitpick is that the springs for the reverse lever are soft out of the box. You can flip it a bit too easily, so I upgraded them with stiffer ones from he battery springs from an old tv remote( AA batteries). After that upgrade, I just can't stop using them. I did this for all my kobalt ratchets.
fourtythree
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I think its essentially the same 72 tooth ratchet being sold by several companies.
Brownsfan
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I have all three sizes. They held up to heavy use and still look and work great. My nephew and I were doing a custome lift and engine swap on a 96 blazer that had been off road a bunch of times before we started. It was rusty and muddy and these ratchets broke every thing loose. We were using hf composites before that and they slipped on me a few times and look they had been a pit bulls chew toy. That's when I got the kobalts. I also own a number of snap on and Cornwell ratchets but these I still grab the most.
shoturtle
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No, the kolbalt has a much better selector switch then the composite. I have the composite form HF, and broke the selector switch on day 3. The kobalt is a much better ratchet.
Also the kolbalt low profile linked earlier is a smaller head then the HF one.
OP
cookiemonster
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Hows the kobalt stack up against duralast ratchet?
tweedlestan
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I have 4 Duralast ratchets, and they're very good. Comparable to the Snap on 936 series. But they're only 36 tooth, and nowhere near as smooth as the Kobalt. Strong, but not very smooth. Just like the Snap on 936.
OP
cookiemonster
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Thanks, tweedlestan
Guess I know who to ask ratchet question too. I might bite the bullet and pick up kobalt ratchet.
Guess I know who to ask ratchet question too. I might bite the bullet and pick up kobalt ratchet.
matt1977
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Anyone know if the oem for kobalt is the same as bluepoint/jh williams? They're all made in Taiwan and some of it looks pretty similar.
Conductor562
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J.H. Williams is made in Taiwan? Rotar makes the socket tools for Kobalt as well as Toptul and Titan. I have no clue about BluePoint as I don't own any, and I wasn't aware of any Williams stuff being made in Taiwan.
sberry
Banned
Napa must be made by the same outfit that makes the Sears Cman ratchets, they have a big polish but have the same faulty feel.
matt1977
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J.H. Williams has a line made in Taiwan that is identical to blue point, and they also have a line made in USA.
tweedlestan
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You're quite welcome. I don't think you can go wrong with that choice.
idculbertson
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as far as i know williams is now all asian outsourced, the sets look identical to blue point, wich is also Taiwan.
sberry
Banned
I would like to pack up the 2 napa I have and a couple Cman and send them right to a factory that made them and easch has been replaced, look like new, the day they were made and were not worth a **** then. I really dont care all that much about the 1/2 as I have several more than currently needed but the 3/8 I am getting ready to add a couple, might go for the Lowes.
idculbertson
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NAPA's pro line is now all taiwan also
Conductor562
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Well I'll be damned, I had no idea. I'm a Proto guy so I don't follow the Snap-On/Williams/BluePoint stuff much, but I thought Williams was still all USA made.
SMKS
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Not correct.
As posted previously, Williams has two tool lines, a USA line and an imported line. Most tools are available in both USA and imported versions.
If you're curious whether a tool is imported or USA made, check the online version of the catalog. It clearly indicates which items are USA made.
http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com
You're correct that many of the Williams imported tools are identical to Blue Point tools.
Last edited:
idculbertson
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sorry, i stand corrected. All of the williams i have seen online through amazon and other venders were not USA, did't know they still had a USA line.
rlitman
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It is no way as smooth as my F80, but my F80 is well broken in, and this one I have is not. Still, it is very smooth, but neither even comes close to my Bonney T707.
The contours of the handle with the finger grooves are VERY comfortable, and the fit and finish are superb.
OTOH, I'm not a fan of the handle offset. Perhaps that is because if I want an offset, I reach for a deep socket. If you only have shallow sockets, it may not bother you.
ihateminimumwage
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Yup, Blue Point and Williams Taiwan are the same sockets with different logos stamped/etched in.
The Williams USA sockets are actually Snap-On sockets with different stampings. I've bought individual Snap-On sockets to fill in gaps, and one of my Williams USA sets actually arrived with a Snap-On socket mixed in!
matt1977
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Yup, Blue Point and Williams Taiwan are the same sockets with different logos stamped/etched in.
The Williams USA sockets are actually Snap-On sockets with different stampings. I've bought individual Snap-On sockets to fill in gaps, and one of my Williams USA sets actually arrived with a Snap-On socket mixed in!
Haha nice. I remember seeing an episode of "how it's made" where they were showing how wrenches are made, low and behold there were supercombos being made right next to the snap on wrenches.
RedFordTruck
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Unless its one of the specialty ratchets, never buy single-stock ratchets at Lowes.
These sets go on sale all the time for $20-25 and five feet away the single ratchet is $24.98.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_338525-2232...rentURL=?Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo=
These sets go on sale all the time for $20-25 and five feet away the single ratchet is $24.98.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_338525-2232...rentURL=?Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&facetInfo=
Harrison2
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agreed, picked up the 51 piece 1/4" set half price a few months back for 25 bucks, the ratchet alone was up for 27
alpinewhite
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Sell the sockets on fleabay and make the ratchet even more inexpensive.agreed, picked up the 51 piece 1/4" set half price a few months back for 25 bucks, the ratchet alone was up for 27
shoturtle
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not if you want their low profile. That ratchet is not in any sets.
matt1977
Well-known member
Agreed, sets are definitely the way to go with kobalt tools. I just bought a 3/8 socket set for $60 that if I had pieced together from open stock would have cost over $100.