1/2 Impact: Kobalt 24v or Milwaukee M18

[AreYaSerious]

My impact is currently a craftsman and is under powered. It's trash so I'm looking to upgrade.

I narrowed it down to the Kobalt 24v or the Milwuakee M18.


So the Kobalt has everything and the batteries are dirt cheap. The Milwaukee doesn't have a charger and replacement batteries are a little salty. So it would add $35 to the price. Both have the same warranty.

So my question is the Milwaukee worth $100 more?

I am not a pro so it wouldn't be used on a daily basis. Milwaukee has the rep behind the name, but anyone that owns the Kobalt.. Do you like it and happy with it's performance?

Also, I'm also open to suggestions.

 

[Handyandy23]

I don't own either, but I wouldn't touch a Kobalt tool with a 100ft pole right now. Only a matter of time until Lowe's completely phases Kobalt out in favor of their new Craftsman cordless tools they're pushing.

On the other hand, the M18 line is looking like it'll be around for years to come. And their warranty seems to be top notch. I'd absolutely spend the extra money in this case.

 

[rmsg0040]

^^ What he said, does Kobalt have a future? I know Milwaukee does

 

[AreYaSerious]

^^ What he said, does Kobalt have a future? I know Milwaukee does

I truly don't think Kobalt power tools aren't going anywhere.

 

[Skin]

Its 650 foot pounds to 1400 foot pounds break away. What you should be asking yourself is if you want to spend the extra for the power. Im sure either would be fine for tire rotations if that's the extent of its use.

 

[rmsg0040]

I checked lowes.ca vs lowes.com, CAN vs USA

Not much in terms of Kobalt 24V, USA a little bit more of a selection

 

[wait4me]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...attery-and-18-Volt-Charger-R86011SB/303037082

I have this little guy. 620 ft/lbs in reverse with an octane battery. Cheaper than either of your previous options with a better warranty. Also smaller and lighter.

 

[Handyandy23]

I truly don't think Kobalt power tools are going anywhere.

If Lowe's is putting so much effort and marketing into pushing their new Craftsman line, why would they keep Kobalt around? You've already seen them axe Kobalt hand tools, which seems like even more reason to drop the line altogether.

Could be wrong, this is all speculation, but I don't think it's worth $100 difference in price to risk it.

 

[AreYaSerious]

If Lowe's is putting so much effort and marketing into pushing their new Craftsman line, why would they keep Kobalt around? You've already seen them axe Kobalt hand tools, which seems like even more reason to drop the line altogether.

Could be wrong, this is all speculation, but I don't think it's worth $100 difference in price to risk it.

The hand tools, they're dropping porter cable power tools for craftsman but I truthfully think you make a valid point, and what is $100 in the grand scheme of things? Thank you.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I sold my 1100 ft lb M18 for about $30 less than I paid for the 1400 ft/lb one. I just don't see that happening with a cobalt tool.

 

[AreYaSerious]

I sold my 1100 ft lb M18 for about $30 less than I paid for the 1400 ft/lb one. I just don't see that happening with a cobalt tool.

Valid point as well

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

The beauty of the M18 line is once you have the batteries and charger(s), you have such a great selection of tools that work off of the same platform. I've gotten rid of the mismatched chargers and batteries from several different manufacturers and gone exclusively with Milwaukee M18. From impacts to drills to lawn & garden, now I have the single platform that takes a common battery. A no brainer in my book - wish they had come out years ago! YMMV.

 

[powertrip]

I own some Kobalt 24v tools and am very pleased with them. They are for home use but after reading several reviews on protools reviews and a few other review sites I can see they would hold up in a contractor/mechanic environment. I was honestly going to go with Milwaukee for a large impact wrench but I stumbled upon a Kobalt 24v impact like you are debating for $75 at Lowes. I couldn't pass it up. Then I found the kit that has the drill, radial saw, led light, usb charger adapter and 2.0 battery and charger for less than $100 new at Lowes last year on a special online sale they had to compete with Amazon Prime days. It was normally around $250 I think. Then I found a Kobalt 24V sliding miter saw with a new 6.0 & 4.0 battery for $160 on FB marketplace. The saw was used for maybe 50 or so cuts for a project. I needed it for some trim and the fact that its dual bevel sold me. I also got the compact 1/2" impact wrench too, this thing pulls off lug nuts no problem and its very small. So I'm a bit invested into this line up for very little $. I am pleased with the warranty time frame, price of batteries and overall power and quality of the tools. Nothing against Milwaukee because if the prices weren't this low and I didn't luck into the deals I got, Milwaukee was my next choice. I have spoken to Kobalt reps online and although they are scaling back the handtools in store, they are expanding the 24v line. I think they have put out 4 new tools this year so far. The tools are made by Chervon for Kobalt. Here's a review that may help you answer the question of how well the 24v impact holds up in long term use. Either the Milwaukee or the Kobalt will serve you well. It just depends on how much power you need and do you want to take advantage of all of the other tools in that battery platform lineup.

https://www.protoolreviews.com/tool...-torque-impact-wrench-long-term-review/44356/

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have a friend who uses both the Kobalt 3/8 and 1/2 drive cordless impacts and he likes them, but at this point I'd go with Milwaukee. Both for the future outlook of the brand and the great customer support & warranty, as well as the amount of different tools you can get on the same battery system.

I have the M18 mid-torque and it's been plenty for what I've needed, and I never felt that I needed the high torque. Though now, I'm really itching to get one of the M12 stubby impacts..

 

[u118224]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...attery-and-18-Volt-Charger-R86011SB/303037082

I have this little guy. 620 ft/lbs in reverse with an octane battery. Cheaper than either of your previous options with a better warranty. Also smaller and lighter.

I just bought the Ridgid Octane $159 package but haven’t really used it yet. How do you like yours?

 

[Kenskip1]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...attery-and-18-Volt-Charger-R86011SB/303037082

I have this little guy. 620 ft/lbs in reverse with an octane battery. Cheaper than either of your previous options with a better warranty. Also smaller and lighter.

Just a bit of information=Craftsman,Rigid, and Ryobi are all the same manufacturer. I like you have the Craftsman and it's done everything that I put in front of it.I can't say about the batteries.

 

[mrvm]

Go Milwaukee and don't look back. CM, Kobalt are fine products but Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita Bosch etc take it to another level. IMO Ryobi has stepped up their game and should be a contender over the Kobalt.

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

Can't lie, I already had the brushless Ridgid impact wrench, but because of this site (damn you GJ!!! I kid, I kid!!), I purchased the compact 3/8" and 1/2" Kobalt impact wrenches a few months ago when Lowe's had them on sale for $69.00/piece. Picked up the 4.0 ah batteries (yes, plural) and charger locally for CHEAP. Then, I was able to get the larger 1/2" version on Offer Up for CHEAP! With all of that being said, I'm pretty impressed with the Kobalt's, they do everything I ask of them, no regrets. I like the Ridgid too, no complaints there either. Oh, I'm NOT a professional mechanic either, just a heavy user DIY'er. Buy what you want, use 'em! My $0.02!!

 

[powertrip]

Just a bit of information=Craftsman,Rigid, and Ryobi are all the same manufacturer. I like you have the Craftsman and it's done everything that I put in front of it.I can't say about the batteries.

Sorry, but wrong. Craftsman is made in 2 varieties right now. What's sold at Sears and what's sold at Lowes (Stanley/B&D). Older Craftsman C3 was different and had the same manufacturer as Ryobi but that was years ago. TTI is the parent company that owns Ridgid, Milwaukee and Ryobi among others but that doesn't mean they are made the same.

 

[powertrip]

Go Milwaukee and don't look back. CM, Kobalt are fine products but Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita Bosch etc take it to another level. IMO Ryobi has stepped up their game and should be a contender over the Kobalt.

The strongest Ryobi impact wrench is only 300 ft lbs. and not brushless.

 

[Handyandy23]

Go Milwaukee and don't look back. CM, Kobalt are fine products but Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita Bosch etc take it to another level. IMO Ryobi has stepped up their game and should be a contender over the Kobalt.

I bought my dad the Ryobi impact because all he does on his own is change his wheels seasonally. It has the power to remove lug nuts no problem, but it's also not in the same power class as the mid or high torque M18's. The same can be said for the Kobalt, Craftsman, and Bosch's weak impact offerings.

Really the Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita offerings are a big step above the rest in terms of impacts and power. They're all also all very stable battery platforms with a wide range of quality tools otherwise. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them. If you don't need a lot of torque and want to save some money, I agree the Ryobi would be my choice of the rest, taking the battery platform as a whole into account.

 

[wait4me]

I just bought the Ridgid Octane $159 package but haven’t really used it yet. How do you like yours?

I love it, but its also my "home" impact. Its done everything I've asked of it.
I did bring it to a job once, but I also have 3 milwaukees for the jobsite. 1/2, 3/4 and 1".

 

[powertrip]

I bought my dad the Ryobi impact because all he does on his own is change his wheels seasonally. It has the power to remove lug nuts no problem, but it's also not in the same power class as the mid or high torque M18's. The same can be said for the Kobalt, Craftsman, and Bosch's weak impact offerings.

Really the Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita offerings are a big step above the rest in terms of impacts and power. They're all also all very stable battery platforms with a wide range of quality tools otherwise. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them. If you don't need a lot of torque and want to save some money, I agree the Ryobi would be my choice of the rest, taking the battery platform as a whole into account.

The weak Kobalt is 650ft lbs. The Midtorque Milwaukee is 600ft lbs.

 

[Kenskip1]

Sorry, but wrong. Craftsman is made in 2 varieties right now. What's sold at Sears and what's sold at Lowes (Stanley/B&D). Older Craftsman C3 was different and had the same manufacturer as Ryobi but that was years ago. TTI is the parent company that owns Ridgid, Milwaukee and Ryobi among others but that doesn't mean they are made the same.

Powertip,If you look at the tool mentioned it has three LED lights on the front of it.My Craftsman has the same. So does Rigid and Ryobi.I have both of the Craftsman that you mentioned. One is standard and the other is the heavy-duty.I bought both of these from Sears. The only difference that I am aware of is the battery configuration.Ken

 

[powertrip]

Powertip,If you look at the tool mentioned it has three LED lights on the front of it.My Craftsman has the same. So does Rigid and Ryobi.I have both of the Craftsman that you mentioned. One is standard and the other is the heavy-duty.I bought both of these from Sears. The only difference that I am aware of is the battery configuration.Ken

Not trying to argue. I owned the craftsman but sold it. I have used the Ryobi (I have about 15 Ryobi tools) and have read up on the Ridgid. I did alot of research and was set on the Milwaukee before I found the cheap deal on the Kobalt. The Ryobi and Craftsman C3 are very similar. The Rigid is more powerful, but they are not all the same. The C3 craftsman, the Sears craftsman and the Lowes craftsman are all different from each other and do not share an interchangeable battery. My point is this, TTI is the parent company of Milwaukee, Ridgid and Ryobi, but they are not made the same with the same internal components. The C3 line is no longer made.

Sent from my SM-G935V using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Jason280]

I don't own either, but I wouldn't touch a Kobalt tool with a 100ft pole right now. Only a matter of time until Lowe's completely phases Kobalt out in favor of their new Craftsman cordless tools they're pushing.

This, no question about it....Milwaukee all the way.

 

[bcradio]

Any reason for cordless on this? You can get a corded electric that will last a homeowner the rest of his life and never need batteries.