Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Hawk "

[Wangstang]

Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Hawk "

So I've been seeing more and more "Blue Hawk" branded tools at Lowes and noticed that they are clear out the Task Force branded tools. I noticed that some of the Task Force branded ratchets appear to be the same as the new Blue Hawk line.

I know other retailers like Walmart sell Task Force branded tools.

Is the new Blue Hawk line simply an exclusive Lowes in-house re-branding of Task Force tools?

My general impression is that Task Force tools aren't all that great, that said, I do keep a few of them around for minor around the house jobs when I don't want to haul something out to the shop to service/repair.

With the above noted, I'll add that the Blue Hawk ratchets had a nice handle and overall size to them, but they are made in China...so I don't know that they are anything to look into buying.

I get that they won't be a Anap-on/Matco/USA made tool. Every once and a while I'll pick up a batch of cheap tools from somewhere like Harbor Freight to keep some spare tools on a farm tractor/truck or whatever other beater/loaner tool situation I may have come up, so I'd be looking at these for a similar application.

So, any one have some experience/info to share on these tools?

Thanks
Wes

 

[blackz26]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

I've only seen them at Lowes. That's all I can say. I would however spend the extra on kobalt or something else judging by the feel and looks of them.

 

[cheechi]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

The Blue Hawk router & table is a good 'my first router' kit. Friend of mine got it and he likes it.

 

[Wangstang]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Any one else?

Thanks
Wes

 

[DirtRoad]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

I've looked at them.

Prefer kobalt

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

sounds like more Cheap Toy Tools

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

All of it sounds like import **** to me.

 

[markduncan93]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

All of it sounds like import **** to me.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[DS_03]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

TaskForce, like Kobalt, is a private label of Lowes and therefore only sold there. You saw Gear-Force at Wal-Mart, its trade dress is black and red as well. Check this picture out, BlueHawk is most definately replacing TaskForce as Lowes entry-level private label.

Or click their links while they are still active;

Task Force Router

Blue Hawk Router

 

[CWP1616L]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

I read some bad reviews about Blue Hawk drywall screws; apparently they break real easy.

 

[gtlaw]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

I think blue hawk is just branding by lowes I have blue hawk paint brushes made in usa buy Wooster and some of the drywall screws made in taiwan which I haven't had any problem with but I did notice the low end tool line being branded as blue hawk needless to say I would probably avoid that stuff

 

[box]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

I won't even buy that **** for my 6 year old to lose, I prefer he lose the higher end import stuff like Kobalt

 

[Brownsfan]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Same **** different name. The blue hawk name is popping up everywhere in the store. I saw 2 ratchets one blue hawk one task force. EXACTLY the same just different name. They pretty much just changed the name that's all

 

[John in OH]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Use of a name like Blue Hawk sounds like a sleezy way to get some unearned mileage by ripping off the Blackhawk name (which is a far better tool line).

 

[03protege]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

They have to keep changing the names of these **** tool brands so they can keep ripping off the same idiots over and over.

An uninformed buyer will only get ripped off by "taskforce" junk for so long before he decides to go somewhere else.

 

[MattPersman]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Same stuff same SKU numbers even. Just rebranding of names. I don't think the avg Lowes shopper knows what Blackhawk tools are. Not sure what the appeal of the name blue hawk would be either. Other than kobalt is blue, the lowes color is blue and blue hawk is just adding to the blue branding?

Home Depot changed there stuff to HDX recently too.

 

[fourtythree]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

They had then hanging side by side at my Lowes when they were phasing out task force. Exact same thing. Same tools, same plastic case, same ****, different name.

 

[thesilverone]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Lowes loves polishing turds lately

 

[cole_CT]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Just spend a little extra and go with Kobalt

 

[cburnscrx]

Re: Any experince with Blue Hawk tools? Lowes phasing out "Task Force " for " Blue Ha

Yea, it's been interesting watching Lowes and their branding ect. over the years...

When I first started buying tools at Lowes, Kobalt was USA and Task Force was their entry brand, but still pretty good stuff for the price. The Kobalt was made by Williams, and I am not sure who was making the Task Force stuff. I have some old Task Force Nut Drivers that were USA made, and the ratchets I have were made in Tiawan. The nut drivers have done everything I've asked them to do, and the ratchet (while not my every day use ratchet) is much better than the China versions they have now.