Kobalt cross form wrench set

[Fedwrench]

I strolled through Lowes the other day picking up one of those $9.98 stubby wrench sets, when I noticed a set of wrenches on sale on an end cap display. Kobalt currently has what they call their "Cross Form Wrench Set" on sale for $24.98. It's an 8 piece set that has 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 18mm plus a wrench rack. SAE is also available.
I played with one wrench on their demo block and felt that the wrenches were different. These are not your x beam or cross force wrenches. These are a little unusual. Its' like they took the open end from a FACOM 440 series wrench and mated it to a partial socket boxed end. The boxed end isn't bent 15 degrees like a regular combination wrench. It's more like a socket. Depending on the wrench size, there's like 3/16 of an inch between the bottom of the boxed end and the base of the wrench beam. The wrenches aren't real long. The 13mm comes in at 6 7/8 overall. The beam of the wrench is comfortable. It's not bulky. There's a slight curve in the beam by the open end that feels like a natural place for thumb or fingers. The jaws of the open end are tapered for improved access. The finish and chrome of the wrenches is very good. Yes, like other current Kobalt tools, Taiwan is stamped on each wrench. The crappy pictures below compare a Craftsman 13 mm cross force wrench to a 13 mm Kobalt Cross Form Wrench to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. These wrenches probably won't make you give up your existing wrenches but, they are different. Next time you're in Lowes, play with the one on display. Try not to turn this into a Taiwanese made tool bashing event and talk about the wrenches.

 

[Caleb T]

I also ran across those/played with them at lowes today. Thought they were actually kind of interesteing. And IMHO I think Kobalt tools are of a decent quality!

 

[IBJanky]

I like them, and bought a set in both metric and SAE.

For $25/set, they're a good looking addition to my tool collection

myke

 

[greasemonkey44]

very interesting thx

 

[Skin]

Looks interesting, cant go wrong for the money but i dont think it would replace my Cross Force wrenches or snap-on knife blades..err extra long combos in tight access situations. They seem to have skimped on material in order to make the beam more of a box shape instead of wide. I also appreciate any extra leverage i can get.

I'd of been more interested if they were ratcheting!

 

[Ritter4.0]

It looks like the box end takes some cues from the old Barcalo design. I'm not sure Barcalo was the first to use this type of box end, but the Barcalo wrenches seemed ahead of their time, IMO.

Here is a Powr-Kraft wrench that was made for Montgomery Ward by Barcalo.

I have a few Cornwell, Plomb, and Fleet wrenches that all have that same design, minus the teardrop look on the opposite side.

 

[DavidB]

I've been looking at them since they're on sale but I still can't make up my mind if they'd be useful or would just sit around unused.

 

[ridestreet]

I've been looking at them since they're on sale but I still can't make up my mind if they'd be useful or would just sit around unused.

i am in the same boat, saw them thought they were neat but wasnt sure i would use them

 

[toolman1967]

I am always on the lookout for a new and interesting tool to add to the collection. I think they might be a nice combination to have around. I always seem to try to compare actual use to uniqueness, if its just going to sit around I usually pass. These might fit the bill for certain applications.

 

[sk farmer]

Bam, shaking up this old thread. Had an opportunity to use these this week at a buddies house. They worked great in the application. If anyone has an sae set i would be willing to buy them.possibly even a metric set.

 

[retDAC]

Bam, shaking up this old thread. Had an opportunity to use these this week at a buddies house. They worked great in the application. If anyone has an sae set i would be willing to buy them.possibly even a metric set.

This style has been made under Armstrong, Craftsman, Matco, Kobalt, Gearwrench, Westward, and Astro Pneumatic brands. Only last three are in current production. There are/were some other brands but I can't recommend them at all. Here are known better options:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270090&highlight=kobalt+wrenches
Some years back Lowes carried these but I guess they weren't popular. Don't understand why because they are so much more comfortable as you found out.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_od...e,"Cross-Force")+++(wrench,wrenches)&_sacat=0
Remember you can reset the list for lowest price first. Also Cripes sometimes has different items on their own website.

https://www.searsoutlet.com/Craftsm...e=seeAll&itemSelectionType=all&invId=36145759
Seems to be the last one Sears has and it's only at Outlet store(s) though they do ship apparently.

http://www.gearwrench.com/search/show/50?q=xbeam
Widest selection of styles and sizes.

https://www.grainger.com/search?searchBar=true&searchQuery="Twist+Handle"
Learned something new today.

http://www.astrotools.com/catalog/p...0-offset-box-open-end-wrench-set/category/48/
Metric only at present.

I don't know your preferences but you might be better off piecing together what you need. Any questions?

 

[sk farmer]

thanks for the investigative work. i should have been more specific.

first off. i don't want or need the ratcheting feature. too bulky

second. i need the offset, socket like box end like the kobalt. the astro is right but sae is my first choice.

third, i like the european shape of the handle.

if you look closely at the op's pics you can see what i mean.

i have saltus wrenches, but they don't fit over long threads and the facom/craftsman l wrenches are nice but would be a second choice even though i would like a set of them as well.

 

[LXCam]

Well today's your lucky day SK. At SEMA I spied these from a tool company I hadn't heard of before. But after checking out a few of their offerings was kinda of impressed. It just soooo happens that style wrench caught my eye and I snapped a picture. Depending on price, I might get a set to try out myself.

 

[sk farmer]

t and e tools?

i have a somewhat local store that has them. some of their stuff looks very good and some of it as not too good. at one time t and e dabbled in overstock, bankrupt and or discontinued stock.

i have seen sk, facom, gearwrench and i think truecraft as well as others reloaded in a t and e package.

 

[sk farmer]

my real hope is that someone here bought a set of the kobalts and has no need for them.

i know they closed them out but i would pay more than the 25 if needed.

 

[LXCam]

t and e tools?

i have a somewhat local store that has them. some of their stuff looks very good and some of it as not too good. at one time t and e dabbled in overstock, bankrupt and or discontinued stock.

i have seen sk, facom, gearwrench and i think truecraft as well as others reloaded in a t and e package.

Ya they seemed to be an odd mixture of decent Taiwan tools and junk chicom stuff. The difference was very noticeable too. But these wrenches seemed to be very decent. Also I noted that unlike a lot of oddball designs that have a limited spread of sizes these wrenches covered a wide selection, whatever that means.

 

[Fedwrench]

This style has been made under Armstrong, Craftsman, Matco, Kobalt, Gearwrench, Westward, and Astro Pneumatic brands. Only last three are in current production.

I don't know your preferences but you might be better off piecing together what you need. Any questions?

It might be time to get you eyes checked

The Kobalt wrench in question was never made or sold by Gearwrench, Craftsman, or Armstrong. Although those brands produced a similar type wrench, all of them lacked the socket type boxed end. Only the Astro version is correct.

As for the T&E brand, I think the one at SEMA was a diferent version of T & E Tools. I too, have seen a variety of closeouts packaged as T & E. However, the ones at SEMA this year were all Asian manufactured. Some may be promising but, some of it looked loke ****

 

[retDAC]

thanks for the investigative work. i should have been more specific.

first off. i don't want or need the ratcheting feature. too bulky

second. i need the offset, socket like box end like the kobalt. the astro is right but sae is my first choice.

third, i like the european shape of the handle.

if you look closely at the op's pics you can see what i mean.

i have saltus wrenches, but they don't fit over long threads and the facom/craftsman l wrenches are nice but would be a second choice even though i would like a set of them as well.

Here's the only set I found: https://offerup.com/item/detail/138962930/

Would the Facom like these work? https://catalogue.facom.com/uk-en/c...-series/produit/440-inch-combination-wrenches
If so, try PM'img member ultgar.
I know there are other brands having that box head style, but I can't recall any at the moment.

 

[retDAC]

It might be time to get you eyes checked

The Kobalt wrench in question was never made or sold by Gearwrench, Craftsman, or Armstrong. Although those brands produced a similar type wrench, all of them lacked the socket type boxed end. Only the Astro version is correct. ...

He did not specify he wanted only that particular box head style and I run into so many people who generalize.

 

[LXCam]

Here ya go SK, they call them dolphin wrenches.

http://tetoolsusa.com/products/13102-12pt-metric-dolphin-combo-wrench-set.html

Not a bad price but not a price I'd throw on the table just to try them out.

 

[geartow]

my real hope is that someone here bought a set of the kobalts and has no need for them.

i know they closed them out but i would pay more than the 25 if needed.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/xyz-7117/overview/

 

[LXCam]

Well hot damn geartow, that's exactly the kind of price that'll get me to bite. Thanks!

 

[sk farmer]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/xyz-7117/overview/

that is a good deal. too bad it is metric.

nobody has an sae set laying around that is taking up too much space?

 

[LXCam]

So they came in today. It's an interesting design to say the least. What I'm not sure about is the tapered open end. And these all though I'm sure they're identical to the T&E's seemed to have sharper edges to the body. But I'll try and put these to work this weekend and see what they're really like.

 

[sk farmer]

i think i better order a set. i really want the sae as about 75% or better of what i work on is not metric. but for the price.

please give us more input asap.

 

[Lucky13don]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/xyz-7117/overview/

thanks for the link, just bought a set.

 

[metaldad]

hey s-k, facom made a saltus kinda wrench pass thru.

 

[LXCam]

hey s-k, facom made a saltus kinda wrench pass thru.

I want a set of those. Not sure why, but I'm gonna get me a set someday.

 

[metaldad]

I want a set of those. Not sure why, but I'm gonna get me a set someday.

you find a use for them, please let me know.
i have saltuse wrenches, every size , sae and metric, and haven't used any yet

 

[LXCam]

you find a use for them, please let me know.
i have saltuse wrenches, every size , sae and metric, and haven't used any yet

Well I can tell ya from my bike wrenching days over 30yrs ago a couple of the sizes would have been handy for valve adjustments. But that's about it that I can think of.

 

[sk farmer]

hey s-k, facom made a saltus kinda wrench pass thru.

don't forget craftsman

 

[Ign]

Damn you guys, I just ordered 2 sets of the 7115's from Summit. It was $9.95 shipping for 1 or 2 (and maybe more, didn't try), so I figured it's actually cheaper to order two, right? Right....................

Interestingly, there's a dutch ebay auction at $39.50 for a set shipped, also shipping from Ohio. Still a few bucks more than you'd pay at Summit, though:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Astro-Pneu...058828?hash=item4661d4fc0c:g:yfoAAOSwSypY95K~

(not my auction, no affiliation)

 

[sk farmer]

i have located a gently used set of the kobalt cross form wrenches, 8 pc sae 5/16 to 3/4.

now to see about the astro wrenches from summit. anybody put them to use yet.

the kobalt wrenches are stamped and my issue with the astro wrenches is the laser etching. i don't mind laser etching but don't skip the stamping as well.

 

[Jim C.]

don't forget craftsman

The Facom made for Craftsman sets aren’t cheap. They’re more like collectible sets now, instead of user tools. There’s a set of Craftsman metric wrenches on eBay right now. The starting bid is $219.

Jim C.

 

[Ign]

i have located a gently used set of the kobalt cross form wrenches, 8 pc sae 5/16 to 3/4.

now to see about the astro wrenches from summit. anybody put them to use yet.

the kobalt wrenches are stamped and my issue with the astro wrenches is the laser etching. i don't mind laser etching but don't skip the stamping as well.

Mr Trejo is that you? “If you can get this picky w your wrenches....”.

 

[sk farmer]

i assume that is some type of sarcasm. am i being picky? well maybe. i suppose i could have ordered the t and e sets but they were more money. i had used the kobalt version and knew what they were. i was doing a repair to my combine and they worked very well in thwe application because of length, shape and angle. i also know from experience that laser etching can lighten and or wear over time. it can also be tough to see when tools are dirty.

i think searching for the sets i want at the price that fits me and my needs is not being picky, it is being a smart consumer.

 

[Stuey]

I want a set of those. Not sure why, but I'm gonna get me a set someday.

Those are pics of my tools. I only have them in a few sizes, but they're incredibly handy.

http://toolguyd.com/facom-angled-socket-wrench-review/

I've also seen 12pt, but I've never had issue with access with my 6pt ones.

 

[sk farmer]

my sae kobalt set arrived today. i am glad i found it. the set is used but like new. nicely finished wrenches. the stamping is clear and easy to read. 5/16-3/4 a few pics to show them a little better. not for every job but unique and comfortable enough to see regular use i think.

compared to a snap-on oex168 in some of the pics

 

[sk farmer]

more comparison pics top to bottom

bonney 23716
craftsman professional 44925
sk c-16
kobalt 359593
snap-on oex168

not as short as some suggest. notice the tapered open end?

 

[Jason280]

I bought a bunch of these a couple years back, they are very handy for stubborn fasteners that really need extra torque....may still have some singles left over, need to check the extras box.