Coach James
Well-known member
I noticed in our Lowes that they are filling a lot of the socket/ratchet space now with Stanley. This started about a month ago. Anyone seeing this in their Lowes?
Coach
Coach
New tools at Lowes.
- Thread starter Coach James
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If I had to guess, I'd say they are probably China with China materisls. Lol
I will stop by a Lowes later today and check it out.
I saw, it's pretty cheesy stuff, def a step down from taiwan kobalt. Some decent closeouts on kobalt at my store though. Can't wait to see what the next step down will be, williams made to danaher to taiwan to stanley, the next line will be formed from dog turds.
jn50308401
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That's too bad, when I started buying tools the Williams made Kobalt was very nice stuff. I wish I had have bought more. My SAE combo wrenches are all Williams Kobalt and they have held very nicely of the last 16 years.
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I agree with this post, and feel like this everytime I stop by a lowes. I think I'm going to do most of my shopping through an internet source nowadays. It seems like the more I buy, the more they brake... These Chinese manufacturers produce these tools with no testing in the field, and then we buy them and test them ourselves to find out they ****. Unless Lowe's steps up their inventory, I'm on strike.
Kensgarage
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Why spend the money on a field test when you can make a ratchet for $1.50, sell it to some 'mercan for 29.99 and let him test it ?
Buy some more ! They might not.....ummm"brake".
Look how good Harbor Freight did with that method !After tens of millions in ratchet sales they finally found a supplier that sends them a damn near indestructible product.
Thanks for your support
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I saw it too. And for some reason it's all 12pt as well. Looks like it's replacing the blue hawk stuff. Many of the new Kobalt tools are China made now . I wonder if they switched suppliers to Stanley instead of the previous Taiwan stuff. It's weird the 227pc set is Taiwan and the 300pc is China
OP
Coach James
Well-known member
Our Lowes had the Kobalt Extreme Grip or whatever it's called on closeout for very cheap just before adding the Stanley. I would see people buy the Kobalt sockets and ratchet sets, especially when on sale. I never saw anyone buy the Bluehawk.
I thought all Stanley wrenches and sockets were made in China now. Made in Taiwan would be a nice change.
Coach
I thought all Stanley wrenches and sockets were made in China now. Made in Taiwan would be a nice change.
Coach
SMKS
Well-known member
Does it appear Stanley is displacing Kobalt, or are they just adding Stanley stuff and keeping Kobalt and the cheap Blue Hawk -or whatever it's called- line?
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Looks like they are adding Stanley. But a lot of Kobalt is now made in China. Instead of the Taiwan stuff. Example is combo wrenches. Now China. Many of the new Kobalt tool sets are now China. I was wondering if they (Lowe's ) switched suppliers to Stanley Made in China instead of the former Taiwan supplier. Which was decent quality tools.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Well, I have reserved the Hand Twool Chection at Lowes as a GPS location for a reality check; and a good place to exercise my side to side neck muscles.. I expect nothing but dime store level goods, and leave with relaxed muscles and a wallet that stays in my pocket.... Great place to visit for these reasons..
The Kobalt Security Torx bits are still made in Taiwan and sells for $10
I recently purchased the $10 Kobalt plier set, pretty decent quality, but Made in China. They should last as long as my Channellocks though.
I recently purchased the $10 Kobalt plier set, pretty decent quality, but Made in China. They should last as long as my Channellocks though.
Titanium Steel
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Probably 100% made in China. Much of what Stanley sells these days is that way sadly. Heck, fewer and fewer items are even made in USA of global components anymore.
Real shame, as not that long ago, that wasn't always true. Generally if this sold at Lowes, Home Depot or any giant retailer, chances are made in USA doesn't matter to them or most the shoppers. Most only seem to care about price.
1950mercury
Well-known member
Last as long as channellocks? Yea maybe if u never use them....
Radical540
Well-known member
A lot of the "Asian" hand tools are becoming better quality; unfortunately, or fortunately however you look at it.
Many of us don't want to pay the exorbitant price of a Knipex, Channel-Lock, Snap-On or Klein tool. (though I am partial to Knipex)
(incidentally, Snap-On's "bluepoint" series is made in Taiwan.
Many of us don't want to pay the exorbitant price of a Knipex, Channel-Lock, Snap-On or Klein tool. (though I am partial to Knipex)
(incidentally, Snap-On's "bluepoint" series is made in Taiwan.
cm_osu
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I don't think I've ever heard Channellock described as exorbitant.
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Empty Pockets
Well-known member
Over time, the quality of CM stuff was going down hill. Now it's China made, and they lost me.
Kobalt, until recently, has been decent. I suspect that now that they are making them in China, the quality will suffer and they'll lose me, too.
It seems the way of the world
Kobalt, until recently, has been decent. I suspect that now that they are making them in China, the quality will suffer and they'll lose me, too.
It seems the way of the world
That is NOT 100% true...
Blue Point is a name that Snap On uses for tools that they don't make. Blue Point tools are made up of many different manufacturers. So yes, some of Blue Point's stuff is made in Taiwan, but not everything. I've seen Blue Point tools from all the common tool manufacturing countries, including the USA.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
If they start forming them out of dog turds, the guy in the picture is now 90 pounds, and he can pay his way.
Radical540
Well-known member
It's a consumer driven world we live in. Capitalism at it's finest.
Radical540
Well-known member
Well I guess you're right. Compared to Knipex, Channel-Lock is a bargain.
Kensgarage
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Stanley is at least big enough to honor a warranty.I'll buy their cheapo stuff over the other lesser known stuff. I actually have a fair amount for anyone and everyone to use.
Stanley is solid and isn't going anywhere.If I ran Looze that's the brand I'd market.
The Depot has DeWalt hand tools now. Guess who that is ?
Never a problem
Stanley is solid and isn't going anywhere.If I ran Looze that's the brand I'd market.
The Depot has DeWalt hand tools now. Guess who that is ?
Never a problem
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I stopped into a Lowes this afternoon to check out the tool section. There was a woman employee working in that section reorganizing the tools and price tags and there was a bunch of new Stanley items being stocked right where she was working. I asked her if the Kobalt name was going away and being replaced by Stanley. She said no. I picked up one of the Stanley socket sets and looked on the back label.... Made in China.... no surprise.
AceofSpad3s
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I wouldn't worry about it, the stanley stuff looks is replacing the blue hawk stuff from what I saw at my store.
John in OH
Well-known member
If this is true, then the Stanley is a step up!! That Blue Hawk stuff was pretty crappy.
Replacing the blue hawk **** so a step up. Kobalt seems to have switched suppliers on some tools. I noticed the new xtreme access line when I was there last time. They changed the design and much smaller kits now.
Like many others I moved onto Kobalt mechanics tools after most of the Craftsman line started going downhill, but I haven't been too impressed with any of their other hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, etc.) With the Blue Hawk stuff taking over so much, I haven't bought any of their tools in quite a while.
For the first time in almost two months I wound up at a Lowe's tonight while my wife and I were Christmas shopping. Because of this thread, I went and checked out the Kobalt tool aisles and noticed a ton of Xtreme Access sets on clearance, along with a lot of the single sockets. I thought about buying a set or two for work, they had plenty to choose from at this location, most at 50% off. The side of the aisle not pictured was full of Stanley tool sets, as others mentioned. I'm sure they're going to be better than the Blue Hawk stuff they had before, even if it is made in China.
So, the XA aren't going away, they've just changed the design? I've heard some complaints about how easily the sockets and extensions fall off of the ratchet, so I wonder if they've improved that. If they are making changes to the Kobalt line, I'm going to hope for the best. With any luck I'll have a reason to buy some more Kobalt tools again. Maybe even a more complete mechanics tool set while they're at it... [emoji41]
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That's very generous of you, it would be a step up to be crappy. I had multiple opportunities to buy the sets for under $3 and I didn't bother. They felt like they were made out of paper mache covered in aluminum foil.
I was under the impression that indeed the Stanley stuff was going to replace Blue Point. Kobalt will remain, not sure if that line is making any major changes...other than some of their boxed sets are now Chinese made. Previously those Chinese socket sets were in blister packs.
anndel
Well-known member
ABC = Anything But China
Askme42
Well-known member
If hate to see what you think a cheap tool is.
They should last if I constantly and meticulously maintain them; keeping them away from all of the other pliers in the draw. I'd have to lubricate them even though Lowes claims the pliers are already coated with rust inhibitors and such, lol. At least I can kick around the Kobalt Pliers and not have to worry about leaving streak marks and damaging the tool itself. For $10 for '5' tools, its a no-brainer
Very few Craftsman tools manufactured by their contractors in the US.
Also, I purchased Knipex Cobra pliers under the Craftsman name to make the warranty easier. At the end of the day, I know they are still genuine pliers made by Knipex in Germany so I'm content with that.
Home Depot has some Made in USA Husky Screwdriver sets on sale as well as Klein Tools in the clearance section.
Also, I purchased Knipex Cobra pliers under the Craftsman name to make the warranty easier. At the end of the day, I know they are still genuine pliers made by Knipex in Germany so I'm content with that.
Home Depot has some Made in USA Husky Screwdriver sets on sale as well as Klein Tools in the clearance section.
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Askme42
Well-known member
They should last if I constantly and meticulously maintain them; keeping them away from all of the other pliers in the draw. I'd have to lubricate them even though Lowes claims the pliers are already coated with rust inhibitors and such, lol. At least I can kick around the Kobalt Pliers and not have to worry about leaving streak marks and damaging the tool itself. For $10 for '5' tools, its a no-brainer
$2 per tool is not a not brainer for me. Use them once or twice a year sure maybe. Use them every day or close to it and I'd say you'd be lucky to get a few months out of them.
Radical540
Well-known member
"Pittsburgh" by Harbor Freight.
Very few Craftsman tools manufactured by their contractors in the US.
Also, I purchased Knipex Cobra pliers under the Craftsman name to make the warranty easier. At the end of the day, I know they are still genuine pliers made by Knipex in Germany so I'm content with that.
Home Depot has some Made in USA Husky Screwdriver sets on sale as well as Klein Tools in the clearance section.
I completely agree with you on the Knipex Cobras. I have the Craftsman versions for the same reasons. They're the best new Craftsman tool I've gotten in a while! [emoji1]
Thanks for the tip about the USA Husky sets and the Klein clearance tools. I'll have to check that out today! [emoji106]
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OP
Coach James
Well-known member
Raising a dead thread, I know, but I was at Lowes today. Some of the Stanley wrenches and sockets they just started carrying are already on mark down.
Coach
Coach
hangover for retailers.