kobalt tools...??

[fordracing200]

I heard once Kobalt was originally a spin off of snap-on made for Lowes then got sold off as a seperate divison. They have a sweet 3/8 long handle flex head I was considering, the c-man one is too damn ugly, looks like a breaker bar with a large tooth ratchet head, and snap on stuff is too hard/inconvient to get warrantied. Any reviews on kobalt?

 

[Stuey]

I believe that most newer Kobalt tools are made by Danaher. Kobalt's USA tools are decent and comparable to Craftsman in quality.

 

[ImportTuner]

The older Kobalts were made by Williams .. I have the entire sockets, wrenches and ratchets sets ..

 

[fordracing200]

yeah it looks really nice, heres the link
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=60850-1074-22801

 

[alex71]

Kobalt wrenches used to be made in Snap-On's Kenosha, WI plant back in the early 90s.

 

[fordracing200]

well now that I know they are as reputable as gearwrench or the like (pretty good imo) do any of you own any kobalt tools? would you buy them again?

 

[MisterCMK]

I have a 3/8" craftsman impact extension that has Kobalt faintly stamped on it.

 

[Stuey]

Yes, I would buy Kobalt again, but only certain ones. I would NOT buy the Kobalt pear-head ratchets that resemble Craftsman's ones.

 

[krooser]

I had a set of Kobalt combo wrenches... got stolen out of my truck. I loved 'em and, for the price, they were very good. I don't like the newer ones so I'm still looking for a deal on a matching set of quality wrenches.

I have Kobalt 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive ratchet sets... good stuff IMHO.

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

I have two Kobalt universals that I might have slipped on an impact a few times. They seem to be holding up well and are still somewhat tight.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have both the SAE and metric (not sold as a complete set, missing the 18mm ) wrenches, and while better quality then they are now, they aren't comfortable. The stubbies are alright (both sets), and the line wrenches are golden. I took them to the shop one day as I needed a metric size the shop didn't have, they thought they were Snap-on. If one ever broke, Kobalt no longer carries them.

If they brought back the old stuff, the line wrenches would be the first thing to go for, and the impact sockets, probably the second. (local Impact socket selections, pretty much ****)

 

[BigK600]

yeah it looks really nice, heres the link
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=60850-1074-22801

Thats the same ratchet as a KD which is the same as a Allen which is the same as a Craftsman raised panel, just different handle and logo on each. Same guts, its all Danaher.

As far as Long Handle Flex head ratchets go I really like this Gearwrench set, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI93G6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Its 60 tooth with comfort grip. Gearwrench is also made by Danaher however there made is China not USA.

 

[Kevin54]

I have a lot of Kobalt tools and I actually like them better than the Craftsman tools. Recently they had the 3/8" rotator head ratchet on sale and I picked one of those up. May not be the quality of SO but nice non the less.

 

[BigK600]

I have a lot of Kobalt tools and I actually like them better than the Craftsman tools. Recently they had the 3/8" rotator head ratchet on sale and I picked one of those up. May not be the quality of SO but nice non the less.

Those roto ratchets are nice there the same as Gearwrench but with a fatter handle which is kinda nice for using more like a nutdriver vs. a thiner handle.

 

[Merkava_4]

I heard once Kobalt was originally a spin off of snap-on made for Lowes then got sold off as a seperate divison.

Snap-on hasn't made Kobalt wrenches for very long time now; if you buy a Kobalt wrench today, it will be a Danaher made product.

 

[autoace]

Those ugly Craftsman, 1/2 inch drive, flex head ratchets are pretty good. I prefer the round head, fine tooth....the tear drop ones cleanup pretty good with the Permatex lube.

 

[Scooterfish]

Can anyone post some sample pics of the early Kobalts made by Williams? They are bound to start showing up in the "secondary market". It would be nice to know what they look like.

 

[HandyManny]

You'll see the older Williams made Kobalt stuff posted on ebay a lot. The non-impact chrome sockets were actually very professional looking and quality wise when compared to the newer Dahahner stuff. In my opinion Lowes prior to about 2002 or 2003 was one of the last times you chould walk into a big-box store and buy an industrial grade socket or wrench off the shelf.

I have a Kobalt combo wrench set, 3/8 drive ratchet/socket set, set of SAE 1/2 drive 12pt sockets, and one 1/2 drive breaker bar. Seem to work great, though I use my Proto, Cman, and Wright tools most often. With the Kobalt sockets though you just don't have the variety in sockets that you have with Craftsman. 6pt single sockets are only sold in 1/4 drive. For 3/8 and 1/2 drive in 6pt they can only be bought in the set. Kobalt impact sockets are not sold single either.

I really like the older Williams made Kobalt combo wrenches, but wouldn't hesitate to buy or use the newer satin finished Dahaner made Kobalt wrenches. I'd still buy some occationally but only as longa s it's USA made. The rest of the newer Kobalt stuff is nearly all China. Their screwdrivers are made by Great Neck Saw and I've had only terrible experiences with anything Great Neck as far as tool quality.

 

[RRmech]

I have a set of 1/2" drive, Kobalt metric deep sockets that I've been satisfied with.

Steve

 

[jshillin]

I have a set of Williams made Kobalt 3/8" Impact sockets that I picked up cheap. Nice sockets for the money!!

 

[Mike83]

I too have the older Williams made Kobalt deep 1/2" drive sockets. The chrome is great on them, and the price was excellent on ebay.

That ratchet will have the same internals as a C-man. The overall design is also just like Allen found at Menards and Fleet Farm for cheaper than $30 I imagine. I got an FLF936 for $50 on ebay, go for that before the Kobalt!

 

[ImportTuner]

Can anyone post some sample pics of the early Kobalts made by Williams? They are bound to start showing up in the "secondary market". It would be nice to know what they look like.

Here are some pictures of my Kobalt wrenches I took awhile back ..

 

[Scooterfish]

Thanks importtuner, I`l keep an eye now that I know what they look like. Look great to me

 

[fordracing200]

very interesting. I don't have a fleet farm or mernards near me, I'll snag the kobalt next time I'm at lowes. Very sweet looking ratchet.

 

[fordracing200]

I do have another question though, you guys with long handle flexheads, do you ever wish it was a fixed head long handle? does the flex fall off the bolt alot, or just the opposite?

 

[fordracing200]

anybody? ??

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

I would buy both. They each serve their purpose and will get their fair share of use. I use the long handle when I need the extra leverage and have plenty of room to work. Otherwise I get out the flex-head to get around any obstacles. I have Snap-On ratchets and with the flex-head there is no retention device to keep the head in place, so yes it can get frustrating at times when it doesn't want to cooperate.

 

[fordracing200]

craftsman has a longhandle 3/8 and 3/8 stubby flexhead for 39.99, the longhandle alone is 32.99 and the stubby is 22.99 seperate, so if I get that craftsman combo and that kobalt I'll be in good shape.

 

[Tlag]

I have a 3/8" craftsman impact extension that has Kobalt faintly stamped on it.

That deserves a photograph!

 

[MisterCMK]

I will provide a picture of it when I get back from Arizona

 

[rhp]

Older Kobalt = good
Newer Kobalt = fair to flimsy

 

[lbgradwell]

I will provide a picture of it when I get back from Arizona

Surely you're back by now! Let's have a look...

 

[lbgradwell]

Kobalt wrenches used to be made in Snap-On's Kenosha, WI plant back in the early 90s.

Not to the best of my knowledge...

The J.H. Williams plant in Columbus, GA.

 

[superautobacs]

I think this thread is a good reference as well:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33401&highlight=kobalt+snap-on+danaher&page=2

 

[Vinko]

Kobalt wrenches used to be made in Snap-On's Kenosha, WI plant back in the early 90s.

I just heard this from my SO driver as well. Though perhaps as someone else in this thread claims, it was Williams.

Anyway, reviving this thread in the event that anyone has photos of the sockets that were manufactured by Snap-On and/or Williams?

I'd love to get a whole set of the 1/2 drive of Kobalt/Snap-On. I think there was some 6 point chrome. Though industrial finish would be great too.

Any photos out there?

 

[novadude]

I worked for a company that had a large test lab in WI back in the mid-90s. Snap-on in Kenosha had contracted them to do a lot of test work from time-to-time, insluding Kobalt tools when they were developing for Lowes. Anyone recall the commercial where they had a NASCAR car sitting on a wheel lift, where the wheels were supported on "ramps" made of Kobalt wrenches spaced 2" apart? I saw this "lift" being built at the test lab. Not sure who makes them now, but I am certain that at one time, Snap-on did at least some of the Kobalt stuff.

 

[crewchief888]

I do have another question though, you guys with long handle flexheads, do you ever wish it was a fixed head long handle? does the flex fall off the bolt alot, or just the opposite?

i use a3/8 dr flexhead because i need it to clear obstructions, and it gets my hand out of harms way

 

[nolatoolguy]

The modern Kobalt tools in stores ****. They are one step above HF but a step bellow the screwdrivers you buy at the dollar store. I hat kobalt tools and do not reccomend them to anyone. Maybe for props in movies there good, but other then that there worthless. There boxes also ****. My buddy got one of those big boxes that look like stainless steel. It works a few weeks for him.

 

[a390st]

You can't compare the Kobalt mechanic tools like wrenches, ratchets, and sockets to the other Kobalt junk. The mechanics tools are good quality and are currently Danaher. The picture above shows the Williams made wrenches, which are no longer available at Lowes. The Danaher wrenches are satin, not polished chrome, and are pretty similar in appearance to KD wrenches. I have/had a fair bit of the Williams made Kobalt and the Danaher versions, and both are good quality. The Williams was finished better, but the new combo wrenches are still fine, just not high-polish. The sockets are fine quality, too. Just avoid any of the foreign garbage. It really irritates me that Lowe's sells so much junk under the Kobalt name, and I really hope they keep the mechanics tools made in the USA. I still have some of the Williams combo wrenches new in the packaging, and they specifically say made by "J H Williams, a division of Snap On Tools".

 

[Coach James]

The current Kobalt wrenches look like Allen clones. Not suprising since both are Danaher. I have a few of them and they work fine. The Kobalt screwdrivers that look like Craftsman have been fine for me as well. I bought a Kobalt 4 in 1 (or something like that) screwdriver last year to keep in my desk and the Phillips tip bent when I tightened up the cover plate on a light switch!

Coach