Kobalt Crossform wrenches ?
- Thread starter WR250F
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Stuey
Well-known member
I bought a set just yesterday but didn't try it out yet. So far so good, though, they look reasonably well made.
Update: I've attached an image of what they look like. And here's the related Crossform deal post on ToolGuyd. I actually forgot about my own post when I saw them in store. I thought in my head "wow, that's a crazy good deal", and picked up a set for review and to gift to a friend.
Update: I've attached an image of what they look like. And here's the related Crossform deal post on ToolGuyd. I actually forgot about my own post when I saw them in store. I thought in my head "wow, that's a crazy good deal", and picked up a set for review and to gift to a friend.
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Let me preface this by saying that I normally love Kobalt tools...
I was looking at a set tonight but decided against it. Compared to my Craftsman full polish crossbeam wrenches, I thought the Kobalt felt pretty inferior- I swear they're smaller, the polish and cast isn't as good, and I didn't think the box wrench end looked nearly as good. My philosophy is that you can never have enough wrenches though, so I may still pick up a set (at $25, how wrong can you be?).
They also had a deep socket 3/8" drive version of Craftsman's universal sockets- I decided to pick up a set (at $10, you can't beat it)- but I can tell they're not nearly the quality that the Craftsman set is. These Kobalt ones look like they were rushed out the door- the finish is horrible (fingerprints in the coating itself, black oxide coming off, etc.), which in itself doesn't really mean anything, but I use it as a rough screen for initial quality. If they can't even be bothered to present their tool well, why should I think they bothered to make their tool well?
They also had their line of Kobalt universal wrenches- again, I would say far inferior to the Craftsman line. They were much lighter and thinner and just in general felt weaker- even when using the tool on their display- I wouldn't want to put my hand on that wrench when trying to break a bolt loose.
All in all, I would say that Kobalt is cashing in on their name as it appears that these tools were rushed to the front to sell for Christmas.
-Techniker
Ric in Richmond
Well-known member
Bought both metric and SAE. Finish seems fine, balance is nice.
Have only used a couple of times so far.
For the money they are a deal.
Have only used a couple of times so far.
For the money they are a deal.
Stuey
Well-known member
I was heavily considering the universal wrenches as well. Sockets were $10, but I couldn't see myself ever really using them. But the wrenches looked pretty decent. Until I took a closer look. They were oiled up to the extreme and I couldn't quickly find a set without defects. There were mars in the finish, so I told myself to wait a couple of more weeks and come back to the decision.
I really wanted to pick up a set for review, also considering that I ordered a Craftsman universal version a few days ago for the same reasons, but something just kept holding me back. I really do like the flat and smooth design vs. Craftsman's raised panel design, but it does seem like they were rushed a little. There are huge displays with these wrenches, but in both of the stores I've been to, they're sort of hidden. Maybe Lowes plans to run a mid-month promotion? I can see the wrenches dropping in price from their reg. price of $30 and sale price of $20 to perhaps $10, but the sockets at $10 from their supposedly regular price of $30 cannot possibly go any lower.
While going back and forth, back and forth, I spotted the Crossform and instantly picked 'em up.
I do have a few loose Craftsman CrossForce and Gearwrench X-Beam to compare them to. I bought and returned a Craftsman set a while back since too many of the wrenches had flawed chroming.
ishiboo
Well-known member
I like the Kobalts as well... the regular combination wrenches are great, but I passed on the cross-forms. I'm not sure when I'll ever need to put a lot of leverage on something that's sufficient to hurt my hand and at the same time want to go to a weaker wrench, which all of the cross-forms seem to be.
In addition, I agree the box ends look weird. I think it's because the splines come straight out the top on the angled part of the wrench, which looks funky. I think a lipped and straight box with a polished hole would make more sense, like the GW reversibles have.
I bought a couple sets and am impressed with them. The finish seems much better then the Flex Gearwrenches I bought at Sear's yesterday.
I like the box end of these Crossforms because they're almost like a socket with lots of contact to the bolt.
In the end I don't know if these wrenches are a "must have" but the price was right and I'm a sucker for different wrench styles.
greenepa76
Member
I went by Lowe's last night to check these out again. I couldn't do it. The design of the open end looked pretty useless. They taper/ pinch too fast towards the tips. Its as if the rest of the wrench was normal thickness and the tip just went really thin, but not the "thin" to reach limited access fasteners. That could cause the ends to spread more easily. I had to pass on these.
I'm debating on the cross forms, but I can't see having enough clearance to really need a cross form on a 8-12mm bolt that, it's that over torqued.
I also want to try the multi fit, but just as I thought, even on the little trial bolts it seems like the hex just has way to much space to round it eventually. It's a minuscule amount, but just enough.
I also want to try the multi fit, but just as I thought, even on the little trial bolts it seems like the hex just has way to much space to round it eventually. It's a minuscule amount, but just enough.