Lowe's thinks people will buy a chinese wood handle hammer for $9.98 or $14.98 that's regularly $24.98
Are those kobalt roloc-looking sand pads on clearance at your lowes? if so whats the part # lowes search *****.
Knipex and channellock clearanced at lowes
- Thread starter Brownsfan
- Start date
Are those kobalt roloc-looking sand pads on clearance at your lowes? if so whats the part # lowes search *****.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I'm still trying to figure out why the Channellock 420s cost more than the 430s at the Lowes I go to lol
cburnscrx
Well-known member
From what I can tell, Lowes is trying to turn Kobalt into the be all end all for tools in their stores. It's hard to find a tool not available in the Kobalt brand. I've noticed they've increased their selection in a big way in the last few years while dropping other national brands. I suspect the average Joe homeowner won't care a bit. Truthfully, I own a bunch of the stuff too and while their pliers aren't as nice as my Wilde's, for the price they've held up well. Right now at Lowes you can get a 12", 10", and 8" tounge and grove pliers for $9.99. Thats for the set, not each! That's tough to beat, even at HF.
bowmard
Well-known member
I've seen that to, especially on the newer Craftsman red and blue screwdrivers. The tips are for sure softer because when you get a good grip on one, the tip will twist/bend whereas in the old days it stood a good chance of breaking off a corner. That tells me that the manufacturer has eliminated or is skimping on the heat treat process. Or has switched to a material that is not heat treatable.
The low end Craftsman drivers went from a hot forge process to a cold forge process on their blades a few years back.
wannab20hatch
Well-known member
Went by lowes this afternoon. Didn't see any deals I couldn't live without.
archirelic
Well-known member
FWIW, at my Lowes they seem to also be trying to move & get out from under their stock of Greenlee handtools. Everything has been deeply discounted for quite a while & nothing new is showing up on the pegs. The Knipex & Channellocks that are also in that little electrical aisle are also disappearing.
The only thing I've seen being put into place is some totally wanky & really crappy looking brand being put on the pegs in the electrical section.
The only thing I've seen being put into place is some totally wanky & really crappy looking brand being put on the pegs in the electrical section.
Nick Danger
Well-known member
Thanks for the thread. I realized that I was still using wire cutters that I found while hiking with my Dad in 1969. I decided it was time for an upgrade.
Each Lowes store in the area had different Knipex tools at 35% off. I checked the prices in each one online, and then went to a couple of stores to get what I wanted.
Each Lowes store in the area had different Knipex tools at 35% off. I checked the prices in each one online, and then went to a couple of stores to get what I wanted.
Granted this is a thread about Knipex & Channellock, so this might sound like much more of an odd question than normal. I've seen many people complain about Kobalt pliers, then compare them to Wilde. Or Knipex. Or Channellock.
Comparing apples to apples, are there better cheap pliers than Kobalt?
Comparing apples to apples, are there better cheap pliers than Kobalt?
mrbreezeet1
Banned
went to 2 lowes today, 1st. one,all they had was the linemans pliers. $29.00 something IIRC.
The other Lowes, had some cobras, and they had 1 pair of 8" needle nose Pliers, marked down from $27.00 something to $25.00 something. Big Deal.
I went to CS and asked for a manager, told her can they take a little more off, told her they were closing them out. Nice Pliers. She called somebody, and he said $20.00, so I took them for $20.00 & tax.
Nothing earth shattering in the Nicholson files, price wise.
The other Lowes, had some cobras, and they had 1 pair of 8" needle nose Pliers, marked down from $27.00 something to $25.00 something. Big Deal.
I went to CS and asked for a manager, told her can they take a little more off, told her they were closing them out. Nice Pliers. She called somebody, and he said $20.00, so I took them for $20.00 & tax.
Nothing earth shattering in the Nicholson files, price wise.
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cburnscrx
Well-known member
I won't bore you with the details as to why...but I have owned (or still do own) the old school Kobalt pliers (blue and yellow), the newer pliers, and Wilde and Channellock so I can speak from experience not hypothetical. Are the Kobalts as nice as the Wilde or Channellocks...no. Are the Kobalts very usable tools? Yes. I even used the first set of Kobalts when I was working in a professional environment. Held up fine and did exactly what I wanted them to do. At no point did I ever go..."damn if only I had better pliers". Just didn't happen. Again, are they Wilde, Channellock or Knipex...of course not.
Traveling Toolbox
Old School Kobalt
How about your last couple Snap On, Mac, Matco, and Armstrong? Or do prefer to compare apple to oranges?
mrbreezeet1
Banned
see thats what I was really after, but out of stock. I would have snapped them up for $14.00.
Gee, I didn't realize that when making generalized statements about the whole of one country's engineering and production capabilities to another country's engineering and production capability I had to go on a case-by-case analysis. If you read what I wrote, I said that America can and does make some of the finest products, be it Snap On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, pre-64 Winchesters, Ford GT, McIntosh stereos, whatever. But the US also brought us the Pinto, Chevette, Vega, Pacer, Gremlin, and some pretty unusable Craftsman tools. We have the ability, just not always the interest, to make the best.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I did notice the Greenlee stuff was on clearance but I am not impressed with their hand tools.
what's wrong with them? i've never used them so just wondering..
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
They seem to be clones of all the Klein stuff except made in Taiwan or China.
I do have a Greenlee fish tape and an old set of knockout punches. They make most of the larger conduit bending machines the electricians use as well.
I do have a Greenlee fish tape and an old set of knockout punches. They make most of the larger conduit bending machines the electricians use as well.
so, what's wrong with them? you said you weren't impressed with Greenlee....
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I am not impressed with the HAND TOOLS. Pliers, screwdrivers, etc.
They just look like poorly made clones of Klein and others' products. That is what I am saying.
They just look like poorly made clones of Klein and others' products. That is what I am saying.
oh ok... what do you mean by poorly made clones? i understand maybe they copy the design or something like that, but is the metal too soft? handles uncomfortable? fit and finish poor?
cburnscrx
Well-known member
It doesn't sound like he's actually used them "they look like poorly made clones", vs. they are poorly made clones. My contractor buddy has them and is happy with them. He's not exactly gentle on tools either if you know what I mean. If I remember correctly the cable cutters were made in Japan, not China or Taiwan.
Gregg33
Well-known member
Lowe's has seemed to go downhill, even since they have came to Canada a few years back. I used to like the Danaher Kobalt tools, not SO or Gray quality by any means, but they were made in the USA and a good value for tools I only use rarely like stubby wrenches. I found the prices reasonable too. Lately it seems they have more offshore tools than Home Depot or RONA (Canada only store). Unless I'm returning left over materials for my boss or droppping off paint for recycling, I almost never go to Lowe's anymore and I used to go at least 2 or 3x a month, in fact I used to look forward to going there.
i don't really think that's a Lowe's specific thing... the entire industry is shifting and the same pattern is seen almost everywhere, Home Depot, Sears, Dixieline, etc... the proportion of tools made in US vs other places has been shifting for many years. given that, if you know what you're buying, you can still find quality tool that are made outside the US. these German knipex pliers seem to get good reviews, and most of the sockets/ratchets from Taiwan have been holding up in professional shops for years now.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
JSBriggs, those Knipex bolt cutters are AWESOME!
hifi_hokie
Well-known member
The $45 price is right - I have one sitting in my Amazon cart for that much 
Farmall450
Well-known member
I picked up the 8" mini bolt cutters for $36.78 I think the were originally $45.
-Jeff
Now I want them...!
It was one of those 'on a whim' purchases. I was there to get breakers, but as I glanced at the tools, I noticed the Knipex was all yellow tagged. Not to sound ungrateful, but the twin pack of alligators on clearance a couple years ago was a better deal. I got 2 sets. Still havent opend the 2nd set.
-Jeff
-Jeff
Well I went back and picked up the 8" diag cutters. Just couldn't resist as I don't have a good pair of larger dykes. Still eyeing the 10" alligators for $15, but I have a lot of Channellocks and dont really see a use for the alligators. I was really wanting those bolt cutters too, but passed.....for now.
allinon72
Well-known member
Still have a pair of 12" Cobras for $26 at my store. Online says $40 for some reason.
fflintstone
Well-known member
No joy at my lowes, yellow "clearance" tags but the price is the normal price.
10" high lweverage cutters were $33, only $32 on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4MPAQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
10" high lweverage cutters were $33, only $32 on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X4MPAQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
MattPersman
Well-known member
Yes mine had them for $26 I decided to get a pair they were the best discount
cburnscrx
Well-known member
Someday somebody can explain to me why people aren't buying the Craftsman adjustable pliers...made by Knipex, and a reduced cost.
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-2-pc-adjustable-pliers-set-7-in/p-00945433000P
They go on sale for $29.99, and that's what I paid for that set.
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-2-pc-adjustable-pliers-set-7-in/p-00945433000P
They go on sale for $29.99, and that's what I paid for that set.
Boost Creep
Well-known member
i checked a local lowes today and the 12" cobras were still 40. even had em scan em to double check. you can get em on amazon at that price any day. wasen't too awesome of deals on anything else left and i didn't really need any of what they had left so i walked out with nothing.
if you get a more recent "mover's pack" from the post office, they no longer have the coupon directly in there. instead, you get a code that you have to use to register online and in about 2-3 days they email you the coupon. it's a big pain in the **** as you have to plan 2-3 days ahead of your purchase... doesn't help when you're trying to get something on clearance that might be gone in 2-3 days.
i can't explain it to you. i can only say that I bought that craftsman set for the sale price. however, having picked up the knipex original ones, i can say they did cut a corner here and there to make it cheaper for Craftsman.