With the gift card I got, it is like $8 for 3 of them. I have been waiting to get Klein's with a good deal. But maybe these will do for occasional use?
How bad could these Kobalt pliers be?
- Thread starter qqzj
- Start date
With the gift card I got, it is like $8 for 3 of them. I have been waiting to get Klein's with a good deal. But maybe these will do for occasional use?
RTM
Well-known member
Last Kobalt pliers I bought, needle nose for twisting some wire for a kids craft project, broke in the 7th graders hands. Now that was 10 years ago, but my faith in their product has not increased in the few times I've looked.
Half-fast eddie
Well-known member
$3 each and that includes Lowes profit … shipping … etc. wow
jives
Well-known member
I bought a similar Kobalt set a couple of years ago on sale. Thought I would treat myself and replace my 20 yr old Craftsman Pros that were getting a bit worn. In one week later I sent the Kobalts to the junk tool box in the shed. Sloppy, mismatched jaws, uggh. Also decided I don't like the fat grips, but I reckon that is not the fault of Kobalt.
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duneslider
Well-known member
I had/have some and the blades on the diagonal cutters chipped very easily, can't remember what I was cutting that did it but they are all chipped up. I may have been cutting coat hangers.
four.cycle
Well-known member
There are different grades of cheese, yes. 
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Get the Klein's. You'll feel so much less used.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I'm with you. Why gamble? Buy Klein, channel lock, knipex, name brand.
Unless you're just buying stuff and collecting as a hobby, buy something good that will work well and last. If you're gonna use them for 10 years, who cares if the price doubles?
KnurledNut
Well-known member
If you want cheap, go buy Doyle.
Shocker
Well-known member
I went and bought that set and picked it up today. Haven't cracked them open, just tossed them on the shelf.
Cool. Let us know how it goes.
RTM
Well-known member
are you certain they survived?
Shocker
Well-known member
Hehe, yes they did. I just checked. 
I have one of those Kobalt all the things pliars sets. I've actually been quite content with them.
I probably bought them 8 or more years ago by now but they're decent enough.
I’ve never handled the Kobalts, but on any store brand pliers with 2-part grip handles it’s been the handles that I particularly disliked. But for $10 for 3 that does seem a good deal.
(I’m just at the point now that I’m a bit older and not on a tight budget, so I don’t look for great deals on good trolls but rather good deals on great tools.)
(I’m just at the point now that I’m a bit older and not on a tight budget, so I don’t look for great deals on good trolls but rather good deals on great tools.)
toolenthusiast
Well-known member
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- Jan 21, 2017
- Messages
- 723
Same here. I have an older, larg-ish set that’s quite nice. My Snap-on pliers don’t do anything that my Kobalt pliers can’t
I don't remember if I bought them separately or if they were a Christmas deal thing but my "kit" also has vice grips and needle nose vise grips and such in it. I don't think I would have purchased them separately but maybe I did.Same here. I have an older, larg-ish set that’s quite nice. My Snap-on pliers don’t do anything that my Kobalt pliers can’t
They're all fine. There might be some finer points to the SO but my use case doesn't justify them.
I have even more generic vise grips in the truck.
Coach James
Well-known member
I have a few pais of Kobalts. They work fine, I just don't care for the bulky grips on mine.
Coach
Coach
Shocker
Well-known member
Ok, so I busted them open and took a few pics
Overall fit and finish is pretty good. The pliers open up pretty wide. Zero flex under moderate pressure and nothing wiggles.
There is some gap on the pliers. Example for the needle nose.
Pretty much focuses on the cutting portion.
Overall they are easily worth the 10 bucks for the 3. I don't have a clamping force gauge to really test them. That would be cool to have.
I think these are the only high leverage pliers/cutters I have. I might have a larger HK Porter somewhere...
Overall fit and finish is pretty good. The pliers open up pretty wide. Zero flex under moderate pressure and nothing wiggles.
There is some gap on the pliers. Example for the needle nose.
Pretty much focuses on the cutting portion.
Overall they are easily worth the 10 bucks for the 3. I don't have a clamping force gauge to really test them. That would be cool to have.
I think these are the only high leverage pliers/cutters I have. I might have a larger HK Porter somewhere...
Half-fast eddie
Well-known member
I havev a pair of those. Don’t care for them. The slender nose is convenient, but the wider you open the jaw, the bigger the angle. Difficult to grip most things.
Yeah I don't use them to grab anything with the intention of turning it. Mostly just for holding.
captain14
Well-known member
Back up to $15 still on their “special” price. The $10 was the daily deal for Monday.
Rabid Badger
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- Apr 2, 2018
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- 1,338
Project Farm has included Kobalt in his linesman and needlenose pliers tests. The linesman's did better than expected and the needle nose won overall. They weren't these high-leverage models, though.
ajchien
Well-known member
Sometimes a single poor experience causes me to get biased a lot. I bought a set of Kobalt vise grips a few years ago. They sucked. The teeth flattened with very little use and they never gripped well. Oh yeah, the plastic handles are slipping off. Theyre still around, but used as light duty clamps rather than vise grips now. I don’t think I’ll buy any version of Kobalt pliers again. Buy once, fool me once … Sometimes Im the fool that buys cheap a second time and gets fooled again. Usually I learn after that. Put me in the buy three times, cry three times category.
