Kobalt hand tools

[Brownsfan]

So is it confirmed that Kobalt is out of the hand tool business. I was just at a lowes that had the tool world reset and ALL mechanics tools are Craftsman. Individual sockets and all. There is no Kobalt to be found in the store. There are a few pliers and screwdriver sets still on the shelves but even single screwdrivers are now Craftsman. The Kobalt power tool area was pretty expansive compared to before. Actually had a endcap and a entire aisle dedicated and plenty of stock. Makes me feel a little better about my 24v Kobalt purchases. Which by the way are really fantastic tools. No regrets there. But it looks like lowes is all in with Craftsman hand tools. Wonder how warranty on Kobalt hand tools will be handled. Because there is nothing left.

 

[dar24601]

craftsman pushing out Kobalt

kobalt clearance prices


Not confirmed but the writing is on the wall seems they are slowly and quietly closing out Kobalt hand tools. I’ll be taking some trips to my local Lowe’s to see if prices drop in my area

 

[Flyordie]

Its entirely possible. I know Stanley was looking at bringing craftsman back to the USA on its hand-tool production eventually as they have the resources to do it using their Proto plant in TX.

 

[bonneyman]

craftsman pushing out Kobalt

kobalt clearance prices


Not confirmed but the writing is on the wall seems they are slowly and quietly closing out Kobalt hand tools. I’ll be taking some trips to my local Lowe’s to see if prices drop in my area

Agreed! I needed an excuse to brave the parking lot at my local loco Lowes (pun intended).

 

[Jtels85]

Not a fan of the new Craftsman line. Gunmetal tools just come across as “gimmicky” and the screwdrivers & pliers look and feel cheap. I’m sure some of their new stuff is nice, but SB&D worstened the brand more than Sears, IMO.

I don’t expect them to have USA made tools, especially right off the bat... but they could have done better than this. Until they come out with something half way decent and appealing, they won’t be earning my business.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Not a fan of the new Craftsman line. Gunmetal tools just come across as “gimmicky” and the screwdrivers & pliers look and feel cheap. I’m sure some of their new stuff is nice, but SB&D worstened the brand more than Sears, IMO.

I don’t expect them to have USA made tools, especially right off the bat... but they could have done better than this. Until they come out with something half way decent and appealing, they won’t be earning my business.

For years I've seen the term "gunmetal" used to describe finish on tools, never once have I ever seen a gun with a darkish grey chrome finish

 

[jgromada]

Just came back from my Lowes just now.

Yes it is becoming almost all Craftsman.

But none of the Kobalt stuff is being reduced or so it seems

 

[nichocha33]

Yep I had just made a post about them hopefully letting the Kobalt 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 tool line live on as I love mine as well, talked to a manager the other day he said he hadn’t heard they would be letting it go, that in itself was some relief as mine are only about a year or so old


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Wes Tex]

I was in the local Lowes yesterday and it appears the amount of Kobalt hand tools is increasing. The Craftsman hand tools are confined mostly to end caps with very little selection. Maybe all the disappearing Kobalt tools from other stores are being shipped to Texas. Nothing, nothing is being marked down in price.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Not a fan of the new Craftsman line. Gunmetal tools just come across as “gimmicky” and the screwdrivers & pliers look and feel cheap. I’m sure some of their new stuff is nice, but SB&D worstened the brand more than Sears, IMO.

I don’t expect them to have USA made tools, especially right off the bat... but they could have done better than this. Until they come out with something half way decent and appealing, they won’t be earning my business.

The gunmetal chrome finish Made in Taiwan hand tools actually seem to be quite nice. Definitely an improvement over the Made in China stuff Sears is currently selling. Some say the western forge screwdrivers ever since the shafts were not forged anymore have become garbage and that the HF Pittsburgh Pro ones are actually better. The Made in Taiwan hard handled screwdrivers can't be that bad. As for Stanley making more Craftsman hand tools in the USA, I highly doubt that's going to happen. If you go look at what's happening with other Stanley brands, you'll notice that there's Made in USA with global materials labels on power tools, tape measures, knives, and toolboxes. None of this stuff is actually Made in USA. At best for hand tools you might see this label on a Craftsman branded version of those Dewalt cushion grip screwdrivers. When I was at my local Dewalt factory repair centre, I asked if they had any quarterly Proto flyers after they ordered me a Proto universal joint to replace my broken Craftsman one. The guy told me no and told me about other Stanley brands. My impression from this is that they weren't interested in pushing Proto and would rather you buy higher margin Made in Taiwan and China tools they had under other brands. If this doesn't give you a reality check, I don't know what will.

 

[Professional Tool User]

So is it confirmed that Kobalt is out of the hand tool business. I was just at a lowes that had the tool world reset and ALL mechanics tools are Craftsman. Individual sockets and all. There is no Kobalt to be found in the store. There are a few pliers and screwdriver sets still on the shelves but even single screwdrivers are now Craftsman. The Kobalt power tool area was pretty expansive compared to before. Actually had a endcap and a entire aisle dedicated and plenty of stock. Makes me feel a little better about my 24v Kobalt purchases. Which by the way are really fantastic tools. No regrets there. But it looks like lowes is all in with Craftsman hand tools. Wonder how warranty on Kobalt hand tools will be handled. Because there is nothing left.

I saw Kobalt single sockets being up on clearance and grabbed a few. I asked about warranty and was told if they were discontinued, they can't help me.

 

[javyLSU]

The clearance prices are not in all stores. I stopped at my local Lowe’s yesterday to get some security bits, and after seeing this I walked out with a digital torque wrench as well...


Out of curiosity I stopped at three other Lowe’s here in southern CT and none of them had the same clearance prices on these torque wrenches. I did notice however that all of them had next to nothing left of Kobalt hand tools. It’s clear they are making room for something, presumably Craftsman.

 

[Chucktin]

For years I've seen the term "gunmetal" used to describe finish on tools, never once have I ever seen a gun with a darkish grey chrome finish

You have to look at handguns circa 191n, WW1, era. BIL showed me a Luger, Artillery model, that was in Gunmetal finish. Probably 'Bluing" was less involved per piece and supplanted Gunmetal.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Butler / Mt Olive NJ store has nary a craftsman to be seen unless you want a lawn tractor or cordless drill.

Seriously. Was up there on Monday. You couldn't buy a screwdriver if you wanted to... And the few CM tools in stock are odd, like a 24" combo wrench.

I took pics, can post later...

Zero kobalt in that store marked down and/or blown out.

 

[Dookie2122]

Found a few Kobalt items at my local Lowe's, mainly extensions, at 70% off, scooped them up even though I didn't need them all...also most Irwin impact bits are also 70% off.

 

[powertrip]

According to Kobalt on their FB page , the 24V line is being expanded. The hand tools will be warranted online or by phone and they are still producing but will be mainly online purchases. Lowes must have entered into an agreement with Stanley that Craftsman have major floor space in the stores, therefore Kobalt being phased out of the stores. I'd imagine they will keep Kobalt going but online since it is still Lowes house brand and who knows what Stanley plans to do with Craftsman. At this point and after looking at the new craftsman in Lowes I would take the Kobalt stuff. The new Craftsman is as bad or worse than the Sears China Craftsman. All socket sets made in China, lobster claw wrenches, horrible screwdrivers and pry bars. I'm a Craftsman fan but this line looks bad. Stanley will not be bringing USA made Craftsman hand tools to Lowes. It's not going to happen. They are selling these tools based on the name only, not the quality. Not impressed.

 

[neophyte]

So is it confirmed that Kobalt is out of the hand tool business. I was just at a lowes that had the tool world reset and ALL mechanics tools are Craftsman. Individual sockets and all. There is no Kobalt to be found in the store. There are a few pliers and screwdriver sets still on the shelves but even single screwdrivers are now Craftsman. The Kobalt power tool area was pretty expansive compared to before. Actually had a endcap and a entire aisle dedicated and plenty of stock. Makes me feel a little better about my 24v Kobalt purchases. Which by the way are really fantastic tools. No regrets there. But it looks like lowes is all in with Craftsman hand tools. Wonder how warranty on Kobalt hand tools will be handled. Because there is nothing left.

My Lowes in South Philly redid the Tool section completely within the past month or so, and while there is a large display of Craftsman, there is still a large display of Kobalt ratchets and sockets etc, on the oposite side of similar display of Craftsman tools.
The tools in other section are mixed, or separate by brand but with similar tool types together.
Fir instance, the hammer section has a row of Estwing, and a row of Vaughan, with a few Plumb hammers, several Craftsman hammers and some cheap hammers.
All the Pneumatic tools except nailers appeared to be Kobalt branded.
There was a complete separate section of Kobalt cordless tools, and separate sections for each other brand of cordless tools as well, including Hitachi, Bosch, Black & Decker, and Craftsman.
Corded tool brands were mixed but separated by type.
About the only tools really separated exclusively in their own brand section were the Craftsman, and there it was mostly the sockets wrenches and ratchets etc, with other odds and ends like inspection mirrors thrown in. But there was still a Kobalt section.

 

[Nineeightyone]

I really hope Kobalt hand tools stick around in some denomination, as far as low-cost tools go I've been preferential to them.

Over the weekend I compared the Husky 100-tooth, Kobalt 90-tooth, Kobalt 72-tooth, and Pittsburgh Pro 1/4" ratchets (in a few flavors), and the 72-tooth Kobalt won out for me with a combination of a smaller head, less backdrag, and a nicely sized handle for my gorilla hands. It'd be a real shame to see them go, I'm big on being able to paw tools before I buy them (which is the only thing that has kept me from going full Tekton, as I don't have a retailer near me).

 

[Chucktin]

Our local Lowe's, Ocala Florida, has 99% converted to Craftsman. Some Kobalt stuff lurking in darker corners. ACE Hardwares that I have visited, Brevard county and Marion county, have been handling Craftsman for some time.

 

[Brownsfan]

Also noticed jow expensive the Craftsman stuff was. It was even more than the equivalent Kobalt stuff at regular price. I dont see this being at all successful because the mechanics tools were very expensive for what they were in my opinion

 

[uncwstudent]

Good riddance. I remember buying a pair of Kobalt pliers and after using them a hand full of times, the teeth were totally ground down. I used them to hold a nut. Of course, I could take them back but why deal with that again?

 

[LNKMK8]

Not a fan of the new Craftsman line. Gunmetal tools just come across as “gimmicky” and the screwdrivers & pliers look and feel cheap. I’m sure some of their new stuff is nice, but SB&D worstened the brand more than Sears, IMO.

I don’t expect them to have USA made tools, especially right off the bat... but they could have done better than this. Until they come out with something half way decent and appealing, they won’t be earning my business.

That's because they are no longer made by Pratt & Reed, Western Forge, or Wilde. Those manufacturers made the majority of their screwdrivers and pliers over the past few decades and were good quality, USA made tools. The new stuff is China junk... at least a lot of the Kobalt item was made in Taiwan, but either way they are swapping out one cheapo brand with another (in my opinion), but most people that buy it don't know the difference and will recognize the Craftsman brand name. Seems like a smart move for Lowe's, but I have no reason to buy anything there. I prefer estate sales

 

[AceofSpad3s]

You have to look at handguns circa 191n, WW1, era. BIL showed me a Luger, Artillery model, that was in Gunmetal finish. Probably 'Bluing" was less involved per piece and supplanted Gunmetal.

I've seen marking literature in old magazines where they refer to gun metal finish as well as bluing in the same ad interchangeably. They look more darkish grey than traditional blue but they are still the same basic idea, probably just differences in chemicals or the type of bluing process (hot salts, vs rust etc) to cause the change in color.
I meant more in reference to calling chromed items gunmetal, because when I hear gunmetal I think bluing, but the tools are chromed, so it just annoys me a bit.

 

[Chucktin]

Sure, and AFAIK "gunmetal" and blueing we're employed simultaneously until gunmetal fell off the map. I _think_ the reference was to naval guns and the way they were finished during WW1. The term is even used in Ian Flemming first Bond story.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Here's a couple shots of the Butler / Mt Olive NJ Lowes store as of Monday 4-1-19

The pliers wall had the most CM handtools of anywhere in the store. Basically nothing. There was a lone 16oz hammer in that section and not even a single #2 phillips to be found anywhere.

They have some power tools in stock, seemed like big piles of cordless.

But if you want a Craftsman lawnmower? Weed whacker? Tractors? Endless piles abound!

Like I said in my other post, no Kobalt is/was marked as clearance. Maybe oddly, seemed like all or most of the Hitachi power tools were yellow tagged & marked down.

 

[Brownsfan]

Here's a couple shots of the Butler / Mt Olive NJ Lowes store as of Monday 4-1-19

The pliers wall had the most CM handtools of anywhere in the store. Basically nothing. There was a lone 16oz hammer in that section and not even a single #2 phillips to be found anywhere.

They have some power tools in stock, seemed like big piles of cordless.

But if you want a Craftsman lawnmower? Weed whacker? Tractors? Endless piles abound!

Like I said in my other post, no Kobalt is/was marked as clearance. Maybe oddly, seemed like all or most of the Hitachi power tools were yellow tagged & marked down.

Your store has not started to closeout yet. Because most of those Kobalt pliers are gone and replaced with Craftsman.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I was at one of the local stores today, lots of craftsman, but hardly and kobalt marked down, 95% of it still regular price

 

[MarvinBerry]

Your store has not started to closeout yet. Because most of those Kobalt pliers are gone and replaced with Craftsman.

I dunno what they're doing over there & given past experiences (bad) have real doubts about the store management.

There was more CM stuff in November/December but still not a ton. That store is a bit of a haul for me, 40 minutes but is the closest location so don't get there too often. Really need a reason to go...

What'll be interesting is a new Lowes is going up about 4 miles from my house that I drive past a few times a week. Big signs say opening in spring 2019 so we'll see what winds up there... All the walls are up & they're cranking away at it.

 

[Citation]

I picked up a set of metric flex sockets for $9. They are kind of on the large size but for $9 I figure I can take that risk. Yet to try them.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Meh, don't really care about Kobalt. I prefer craftsman/Husky, the current craftsman roll out is ok. They have some good tools but very little variety, something that I miss from Sears.

 

[finn]

Our local Lowes still has a small display of Cobalt hand tools, but it looks like Craftsman has pretty well taken over the shelf space.

Porter Cable power tools are down to a few items, as are Bosch. Craftsman dominates shelf space, with Dewalt a close second.

Metabo-Hitachi has a small offering, with Kobalt and Black and Decker there for the budget homeowner.

 

[Chucktin]

Spring sale at local Lowe's features Kobalt Electric trimmers, leaf blowers and mowers.

 

[powertrip]

Our local Lowes still has a small display of Cobalt hand tools, but it looks like Craftsman has pretty well taken over the shelf space.

Porter Cable power tools are down to a few items, as are Bosch. Craftsman dominates shelf space, with Dewalt a close second.

Metabo-Hitachi has a small offering, with Kobalt and Black and Decker there for the budget homeowner.

The Kobalt 24v line is not a budget homeowner brand although it may be displayed that way in your store. Local central Ohio stores have Kobalt and Craftsman cordless tool displays that are the same size and are back to back on the sales floor.

 

[Toold_up]

I'm really hoping that SBD starts making Craftsman tools in the Proto plant. I think that Craftsman is going to be consumer grade tools and DeWalt will be pro grade and Proto/MAC will be pro/industrial.

I found this interesting because I just bought a new Craftsman 26" tool chest/cabinet from Lowes:



DeWalt 26" 6 drawer:

https://www.dewalt.com/products/gea...n-wide-6drawer-rolling-tool-cabinet/dwst22760

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/det-dwst22760

Craftsman 27" 5 Drawer:
https://www.craftsman.com/products/26-wide-5-drawer-rolling-tool-cabinet-red-and-black?taxon_id=6713

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-...wer-Steel-Rolling-Tool-Cabinet-Red/1000462557


Same specs for the most part with DeWalt having an extra drawer (which I really wish the Craftsman had). I sent Craftsman customer service an email asking if they would be making intermediate boxes to complete these stacks but they said not at this time an redirected me to Waterloo to see if they could offer something. I haven't called the phone number the gave me yet but I think I found something that should work with that stack.

So far I really like the tool boxes but wish there was an extra inch or two in all directions and a few extra drawers. I can't really complain though because each drawer holds 100 lbs and the whole set was under $400 on sale.



**EDIT**

Oh yeah here is a Stanly 26" middle box that looks pretty promising (85lb drawers but no soft close):

https://www.stanleytools.com/produc...26-in-w-2drawer-middle-tool-chest/stst22625bk

I hope that they roll these out in Craftsman with the soft close drawers and 100lb capacity.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Looks like the fears were greatly exaggerated.

 

[BillMoney]

Just you guys wait they are doing the transitions starting last week doesn;t mean every store will get them all at once some of my local stores are like ghost towns with how little product they have right now with kobalt I'd say 70% gone so far

 

[dar24601]

So is it confirmed that Kobalt is out of the hand tool business. I was just at a lowes that had the tool world reset and ALL mechanics tools are Craftsman. Individual sockets and all. There is no Kobalt to be found in the store. There are a few pliers and screwdriver sets still on the shelves but even single screwdrivers are now Craftsman. The Kobalt power tool area was pretty expansive compared to before. Actually had a endcap and a entire aisle dedicated and plenty of stock. Makes me feel a little better about my 24v Kobalt purchases. Which by the way are really fantastic tools. No regrets there. But it looks like lowes is all in with Craftsman hand tools. Wonder how warranty on Kobalt hand tools will be handled. Because there is nothing left.

So kobalt is not going away but rather they are transitioning kobalt to an online only brand. Seems that SB&D is forcing craftsman on them so Something had to go.

 

[javyLSU]

Spotted at the Lowes’s in Norwalk, CT. It’s official...

 

[Brownsfan]

Looks like the fears were greatly exaggerated.

Just means your store hasn't done the reset yet. Some still look like this.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Just means your store hasn't done the reset yet. Some still look like this.

my store looked Red before, so this is actually new. Anyway, SBD needed floor space for craftsman to mimic sears in a way. Lowes should become the main Craftsman hub, it's in their interest to do it.