Anyone tried Kobalt Sockets?

[ckadams00]

I on a "CMan" budget vs. "Snap On". . . so my question is for those who speak my language. I have mostly Craftsman sockets, but was at Lowes today and their Kobalt (not "Task Force") look really good and have a lifetime warranty. Anyone use these? How do they compare against CMan? (NOT SnapOn, etc).

In sets they are about 1/2 what the store retail (non-sale) prices of CMan are at Sears . . .

 

[el tanque prohibido]

Are they any better than Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Professional?

That's the question.

 

[walwalka]

What happened here?

That is a valid question, I personally don't have a problem with the HF sockets. I haven't found any issues with quality with the owns I've purchased.. The 12mm chrome socket regularly gets used on my impact wrench..

I have a 1/4 inch set of them and the ratchet is by far my favorite 1/4 ratchet. Sockets are really nice: good chrome, casting is good as well. I prefer them of CMan everyday, only thing I don't like is all the deep well sockets are 12 point. I haven't found any 6 point kits yet.

I'm right here with you, I'm not on a snap-on budget by any means. Not for sockets at least. Kobalt sockets are consistent in quality and perform well..

 

[Guns R Tools]

HF Pittsburgh Professional and Kobalt both made in Taiwan. Probably close in value.
HF = require receipt for warranty (IIRC)
Kobalt = no receipt

 

[ckadams00]

Are they any better than Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Professional?

That's the question.

You raise a GREAT point.

Is there anyone here who could rank quality of different brands? Of course it's subjective, but lets say HF is at the bottom and SO is at the top - what do you think is in the middle?

 

[iroc409]

I have a couple Kobalt impact sockets. I think they are a little nicer looking than HF's, but not as beefy as Craftsman USA models. I would consider picking up more, as they are priced exactly where the appear to fall--between HF and Cman.

 

[walwalka]

I have a couple Kobalt impact sockets. I think they are a little nicer looking than HF's, but not as beefy as Craftsman USA models. I would consider picking up more, as they are priced exactly where the appear to fall--between HF and Cman.

If you pick up the CR-MO impacts from HF they feel great, smooth finish. Better yet I've not broken any of them. My local Sears doesn't have any US made metric impact sockets left, they have them in SAE though..

 

[geologist]

You raise a GREAT point.

Is there anyone here who could rank quality of different brands? Of course it's subjective, but lets say HF is at the bottom and SO is at the top - what do you think is in the middle?

Subjectivity could be removed somewhat by letting data speak for itself. A series of tests could be developed quite easily using a couple of common sizes for comparison. Almost every aspect could be thoroughly tested. I'd love to throw a Craftsman, Kobalt, Snap-on, and Pittsburgh ratchet and polished wrench into a cement mixer full of sand and gravel for half an hour, then pull them out and compare. Better yet, I'd like to take the result and immerse them in saltwater for a week and see how they fare.

Tests like that are what we need...a virtual torture test for tools in which subjectivity is eliminated. The mixer doesn't give a damn if it's Snap-on or Great Neck - it will ravage them thoroughly regardless.

 

[madbasser]

True, but that would only test the longevity of the socket. How about the precision? After all that's what we all care about right? That it fits the fastener "perfectly" and it doesnt flex or give under pressure. So that the fastener is not deformed or the socket broken under load.
That's what I care about anyways.

After a few rolls down the driveway or a few leaps from the engine bay, any socket with anytype of finish will see damage. I just want to still pull the bolt without stripping it!!

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

Here's an objective opinion:

Kobalt has a better finish than Craftsman. The chrome is nearly as nice as Snap on.

I have no problem with Kobalt tools, they are well built and will provide you with many years of service.