Kobalt Universal 1/4" drive spline sockets

[cycle61]

So I have this set of Kobalt 1/4" drive spline sockets I picked up on a work trip years ago, and they've long been my absolute favorite small sockets. Easy to read, easy to handle, and they seem to grip weird or damaged fasteners better than anything else I've tried. I would love to add a set of metric as well as deep sockets, but they seem to be no longer available. Lowes still shows singles available on their website, but that's an expensive way to go and a kit seems to be unobtanium. Open to equivalent suggestions or anybody with better google-fu?

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Similar looking (maybe the same?) ones were sold under the Craftsman name. Spline sockets with the same knurled band and black finish on the non polished parts, and sizes from 5-13mm. Here's a set on ebay though the seller seems to be suffering from Craftsman-o-mania with that price. But just giving you one more option to search for.

Craftsman Spline Metric Socket Set 1/4" Drive 9pc 5-13mm HTF | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Craftsman Spline Metric Socket Set 1/4" Drive 9pc 5-13mm HTF at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[cycle61]

Similar looking (maybe the same?) ones were sold under the Craftsman name. Spline sockets with the same knurled band and black finish on the non polished parts, and sizes from 5-13mm. Here's a set on ebay though the seller seems to be suffering from Craftsman-o-mania with that price. But just giving you one more option to search for.

Craftsman Spline Metric Socket Set 1/4" Drive 9pc 5-13mm HTF | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Craftsman Spline Metric Socket Set 1/4" Drive 9pc 5-13mm HTF at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Appreciate it, I’ll take a look. Those do appear similar/identical.

 

[cycle61]

Dang...appears they're still available as part of the 200-piece mechanic's took kit in a molded case. $249 through and a bunch of **** I don't need.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Universal-200-Piece-Standard-SAE-and-Metric-Black-Oxide-Mechanic-s-Tool-Set/1000366583

 

[darkzero]

I was always hesitant to try them. First I personally seen them was at Sears like 25 yrs ago. I get that they work better on damaged heads but what about undamaged heads & high torque. Will they bite into the head & mark them up & sort of get stuck? That was always my fear but I never ran into anyone around here that had em to try, only Metrinch.

 

[darkzero]

BTW, there's a few of the Kobalt sets on ebay as well as individuals. Don't know if their prices are reasonable though.

 

[cycle61]

I was always hesitant to try them. First I personally seen them was at Sears like 25 yrs ago. I get that they work better on damaged heads but what about undamaged heads & high torque. Will they bite into the head & mark them up & sort of get stuck? That was always my fear but I never ran into anyone around here that had em to try, only Metrinch.

For 1/4” drive, I’m not too worried about putting a ton of torque on them.

 

[darkzero]

For 1/4” drive, I’m not too worried about putting a ton of torque on them.

Yeah, good point there. I was mainly thinking about 3/8". Sorry for unintentionally trying to hijack your thread.

 

[cycle61]

BTW, there's a few of the Kobalt sets on ebay as well as individuals. Don't know if their prices are reasonable though.

Spotted one too, and I purchased it a few hours ago. ***** that Kobalt calls these “universal” since that’s a pretty useless search term.

Now to keep an eye out for deep versions

Edit: Snap-on will sell me a set for roughly $950. lol.