williams kobalt

[bayoutoolguy]

I was at a flea market today and they had a few williams made kobalt tools, mostly sockets and torx bits brand new in the plastic packaging. I ended up buying a 3/8 dr. SAE 10 pc six point set and a 3/8 dr. 9 piece twelve point metric set. My only concern is that if i ever need to warranty one, ill get a taiwanese replacement, but besides that, how is the quality(as good as snap on)? I havent opened up either set yet.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's not snap on if that's what you're asking. In fact, if you look on the back of the packaging, you'll see the tools were made in Columbus Georgia which is a long waay from Wisconsin. They are strong and durable, and I think they were the best tools to have the Kobalt name.

Yes, the tools are no longer made and if you happen to break one and want a warranty replacement, you'll get PRC or Taiwanese made in exchange.

However, that's the risk you take knowingly buying tools at flea market prices that are longer made. They should serve you well under normal hand use. If the price was right, the risk should be low.

 

[kjbenner]

If you break one, go warranty it and then buy a replacement from whatever top-tier manufacturer (with a warranty) you prefer, and keep the Chinese Kobalt as a spare. You'll save a ton over buying a whole set if you got a good deal on the Kobalt stuff.

 

[BirdMobile]

I've never broken a U.S. made Kobalt socket, and it's not from a lack of trying!

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

This thread has me looking for an original ratchet now. The first tool set I bought was the original Kobalt and when I broke the ratchet as a kid I got a taiwan replacement.

 

[supersteve]

I was at a flea market today and they had a few williams made kobalt tools, mostly sockets and torx bits brand new in the plastic packaging. I ended up buying a 3/8 dr. SAE 10 pc six point set and a 3/8 dr. 9 piece twelve point metric set. My only concern is that if i ever need to warranty one, ill get a taiwanese replacement, but besides that, how is the quality(as good as snap on)? I havent opened up either set yet.

No pictures? I'm kind of disappointed I missed out on the Williams Kobalt era, I would like to live vicariously through your experience.

 

[rusty65]

It's not snap on if that's what you're asking. In fact, if you look on the back of the packaging, you'll see the tools were made in Columbus Georgia which is a long waay from Wisconsin. They are strong and durable, and I think they were the best tools to have the Kobalt name.

Yes, the tools are no longer made and if you happen to break one and want a warranty replacement, you'll get PRC or Taiwanese made in exchange.

However, that's the risk you take knowingly buying tools at flea market prices that are longer made. They should serve you well under normal hand use. If the price was right, the risk should be low.

I know there not made by snap on but all my Williams kolbalt has snap on date codes.

 

[tbaggz]

I know there not made by snap on but all my Williams kolbalt has snap on date codes.

So do my GP sockets.

 

[wild cowboy]

all of these retail stores **** - I buy Craftsman built to a certain standard, with LIFETIME REPLACEMENT warranty, and they want to replace it with China ****, now Lowes is doing the same thing! - is there someone besides the tool truck who will honor their waranty honestly in the future?

 

[BirdMobile]

all of these retail stores **** - I buy Craftsman built to a certain standard, with LIFETIME REPLACEMENT warranty, and they want to replace it with China ****, now Lowes is doing the same thing! - is there someone besides the tool truck who will honor their waranty honestly in the future?

Cheap, Good, Easy to Buy/Warranty.

Choose any two.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I was at a flea market today and they had a few williams made kobalt tools, mostly sockets and torx bits brand new in the plastic packaging. I ended up buying a 3/8 dr. SAE 10 pc six point set and a 3/8 dr. 9 piece twelve point metric set. My only concern is that if i ever need to warranty one, ill get a taiwanese replacement, but besides that, how is the quality(as good as snap on)? I havent opened up either set yet.

Probably as good as the us made williams from that era. Kind of just the way it was/is. They're generally made to the same specs just different stamping and/or finishing (polish). The way I think they figure it is: we can sell way more going through retail though getting less of a markup without watering down the brand or having to deal up front with the warranty issues. It's a win win for the company and the customers. At least with the us stuff, the import stuff might be more risky warranty wise for these companies because their options are 1)return to mfg or 2)throw it out. Enough warranty claims and they're going to have to start building the stuff better anyway because they'll be bleeding money on the warranty claims.

 

[fred d]

all of these retail stores **** - I buy Craftsman built to a certain standard, with LIFETIME REPLACEMENT warranty, and they want to replace it with China ****, now Lowes is doing the same thing! - is there someone besides the tool truck who will honor their waranty honestly in the future?

It is not that they won't honor the warranty, they do

It is just that the replacement is what they currently sell. Depending on when you purchased it could be of different quality

 

[panknuckshovel]

all of these retail stores **** - I buy Craftsman built to a certain standard, with LIFETIME REPLACEMENT warranty, and they want to replace it with China ****, now Lowes is doing the same thing! - is there someone besides the tool truck who will honor their waranty honestly in the future?

The warranty is on the part#, that is why the Chinese stuff has the same part number as the USA stuff.

 

[sberry]

Use it first, then see if there is something to worry about. Aint even opened the package.

 

[frankush]

They're still out there. I have no complaints with any of these sets.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-11pc...759?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4eecab6f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-12pc...20139909?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item5d4cc81685

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-10pc...62459952?pt=US_Hand_Tools&hash=item5b0137d430

 

[cheechi]

This thread has me looking for an original ratchet now. The first tool set I bought was the original Kobalt and when I broke the ratchet as a kid I got a taiwan replacement.

As someone who has had a lot of Kobalt Williams, I would say skipping their ratchets you would do just fine.