Kobalt vs Craftsman

[sometoyotaguy]

Kobalt 3/8"-Drive Quick-Release Ratchet

http://www.lowes.com/pd_337308-2232...__s?Ntt=3%2F8+ratchet&facetInfo=#BVRRWidgetID

Are these any good? They don't look bad for $25 and it's a 72 tooth. It's not quite a snappy, but more along my price range to replace my cheapie chinese one in my tool set.

Are any of the lower end Craftsman 3/8 ratchets any good?

 

[Dillithium]

I have the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 kobalt ratchets and I really love them.
I was tied between craftsman and Kobalt for the longest time, but I went with kobalt because they just felt better in my hands. Craftsman is a more established brand, with a wider selection of wrenches and tools but it just didn't feel right, and this will sound weird, but I didn't like the clicks of the craftsman ratchets.

 

[kythri]

The Kobalt appears to be the common Stanley ratchet that's finding it's way into a lot of different brands...couldn't tell you anything other than that it's a Taiwanese or Chinese import, but that doesn't objectively tell you anything about the quality.

As far as the Craftsman goes, it's highly subjective. There's a large group of folks that waste no opportunity to tell you how horrible the Craftsman ratchets are, and there's an equally large group who like them and have no issues with them.

If you want to compare it to a Craftsman, you need to look at the "Thin Profile" or "Next Generation" ratchets Sears sells. Comparing a 72-tooth ratchet to the "low-end" Craftsman ratchets isn't an apples-to-apples.

This would be the equivalent of that Kobalt:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944995000P?prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=G14

When you find it in the store, it'll probably be an import, but you may find NOS US-manufacture.

 

[Dave.R]

I have a wide selection of kobalts, and I like them a lot more. I do have a couple raised panels, and the premium craftsman, I just really like the feel of the Kobalt stuff alot more.

 

[pipsters]

I have the Craftsman thin profiles and like them a lot. They are now Taiwanese but I guess that's similar to the Kobalt so you're still comparing apples to apples. The handles are different on both, you'd need to feel them to see which one you prefer. I preferred the thin profiles, but I can see how people could think they are big and clunky. They have a "heft" to them

The thin profiles are as low as I'd go with the Craftsman stuff. The RP's are good for light duty stuff, I actually prefer them in that use because they are light and easily to flip around. But the mechanism isn't as strong as some of their better ratchets like the thin profiles. Really for heavier stuff you should be using a breaker bar not a ratchet but that's for another discussion.

 

[GoBlue]

I have a 3/8 and 1/4 roto ratchets. They have been great so far. I was not sold on rotos and figured i would try these before dumping the money on Snap ons. I am now sold on rotos but like these so much ill just keep using them!

 

[kartracer55]

I didn't want to like those kobalt ratchets, but I thought they were pretty good given the price. Don't know how they hold up long term but they were definitely enjoyable to use.

The only thing was that the selector lever is opposite from most US made ratchets. IE where snap on ratchets clockwise the kobalt with its lever in the same position goes counter clockwise. Other than that, a nice tool.

 

[CORTEZSS69]

I carry in my OTR bag a 1/4($10.00) and 3/8($19.95) set that was on sale late last year. For the money and all the sizes Im real happy. Most of the time if Im working on something I just pop the trunk and grab my bag. Which is loaded with a lot of stuff that I have added reading the GJ.

 

[mdnelson86]

the craftsman 3/8" standard ratchet isn't too bad. have no experience with the kobalt, but if it's basically a stanley then I'd be alright with that. I like the feel of the stanley ratchets I have.

The craftsman 3/8" tends to be the best out of their standard ratchets though. 1/4" is just ok, 3/8" is decent, 1/2" is horrible. The long handle, flex head 1/2" I have is pretty good though.

 

[cderalow]

I actually like my new 3/8" taiwanese made kobalt more than my old US made ones.

granted, the smoothness is probably the difference between 72 teeth and 36 teeth.

 

[Butters]

It seems like for the same price or a couple bucks more you could get a better ratchet from Williams, Bahco or Gearwrench (all about $30).

Williams

Bahco

Gearwrench

I'm not a huge fan of my 3/8 Craftsman Thin Profile. I don't have it in the 1/4 and would probably like that one better, but I find the 3/8 a bit off balance in my hand. Just personal preference I suppose.

 

[Outlawmws]

Kobalt 3/8"-Drive Quick-Release Ratchet

http://www.lowes.com/pd_337308-2232...__s?Ntt=3%2F8+ratchet&facetInfo=#BVRRWidgetID

Are these any good? They don't look bad for $25 and it's a 72 tooth. It's not quite a snappy, but more along my price range to replace my cheapie chinese one in my tool set.

Are any of the lower end Craftsman 3/8 ratchets any good?

The current lower end RP Craftsman are not well thought of, mostly due to the switch lever which is plastic and easily broken and coarse tooth counts as well. My son's set has these as does my metric road box. Out of the six, we have already had to return one to be replaced...

I had a hard time with the venom people used on Craftsman ratchets when I first got here, but later realized my original Craftsman RP ratchets were also RPFT and QR; one of, if not the best Craftsman ratchet. Problem is they have been out of productions for years now...

I also agree you are probably comparing apples to oranges Kobalt to RP Craftsman. No clue on the Kobalt COO, but I don't think it's USA anymore. If it is Taiwan probably a better bet than is it is ChiCom.

 

[eljefino]

That Kobalt is a winner.

I had a leftover "father's day" 40pc socket kit with a god-awful 36 tooth USA ratchet as part of the deal. I got tired of it auto-reversing and being a PITA so I took it to the store and traded it for that model # you mention. Store was real cool except they couldn't fathom why it looked slightly different. "Is your old one several years old?" they asked. Duh question, you bet it's old!!! I didn't have to sign anything or get a receipt or anything, just put the new one in my pocket. Wierd.

Night and day. Finish is way better, backdrag is less. Only "flaw" is it's 1/2 inch shorter than my old one.

I looked at the price tag, $26, more than I paid for the whole kit on clearance when I got it a couple years back. From one of the nice factories in Taiwan.

 

[exmaxima]

I had a hard time with the venom people used on Craftsman ratchets when I first got here, but later realized my original Craftsman RP ratchets were also RPFT and QR; one of, if not the best Craftsman ratchet. Problem is they have been out of productions for years now...

.

Not sure what you mean by "RP" or "RPFT", but I agree that the current Craftsman ratchets are junk. In the below pic, the Craftsman at the left is a great tool (even has an oil hole), the middle Kobalt I just bought and like it so far but not as much. The Craftsman at the right is total ****---it came as part of a socket set that I bought just for the sockets (about $10), and I dumped it in my junk box.

 

[Altec]

Personally, if I was buying a import ratchet like that, I'd just go to HF...

 

[Outlawmws]

Not sure what you mean by "RP" or "RPFT", but I agree that the current Craftsman ratchets are junk. In the below pic, the Craftsman at the left is a great tool (even has an oil hole), the middle Kobalt I just bought and like it so far but not as much. The Craftsman at the right is total ****---it came as part of a socket set that I bought just for the sockets (about $10), and I dumped it in my junk box.

RP = Raised Panel" and is/was used extensively on ratchets adn wrenches byt craftsman for 50-60 years now.

RPFT or RH FT is RP Round Head Fine tooth, and is a very early fine tooth ratchet, with the then new Quick release. (Button on the back)

My copies, originally bought right around 1970-73

 

[powertrip]

Personally, if I was buying a import ratchet like that, I'd just go to HF...

HF doesnt offer a comparable model.Pittsburgh pro ratchets are nice but they dont have a 72t model like the kobalt one shown. Lowes also offers alot more ratchet styles to choose from than HF but at a higher price. Come to think of it, Lowes has more ratchet selection than sears.

 

[thesilverone]

25 bucks for import ****? head over to harry epstein and get a wright for the same price

 

[kippieland]

The Kobalt appears to be the common Stanley ratchet that's finding it's way into a lot of different brands...couldn't tell you anything other than that it's a Taiwanese or Chinese import, but that doesn't objectively tell you anything about the quality.

As far as the Craftsman goes, it's highly subjective. There's a large group of folks that waste no opportunity to tell you how horrible the Craftsman ratchets are, and there's an equally large group who like them and have no issues with them.

If you want to compare it to a Craftsman, you need to look at the "Thin Profile" or "Next Generation" ratchets Sears sells. Comparing a 72-tooth ratchet to the "low-end" Craftsman ratchets isn't an apples-to-apples.

This would be the equivalent of that Kobalt:



http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944995000P?prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=G14

When you find it in the store, it'll probably be an import, but you may find NOS US-manufacture.

The Kobalt is may look like a Stanley but it is made by Danaher in Taiwan. I have used them and they are nice, but I think they are very over priced for what they are. They do have a lot of teeth but they aren't the smoothest and have a real lag to them.But they are better then the black Home depot stanley's I have in my travel box. I just think they could be bit cheaper.

I have also used all the RP's and have zero problems with them, but they are very coarse and you feel it in the ratchet due to their light weight. But they are a bit cheaper...but now made in China.

I do agree that I don't think you can compare the two...they are at different levels. I have also have the HF ratchet and for the $15 bucks its a good ratchet...just little heavy and not as many teeth.

Personally, I would look online for something like this:

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-45170.aspx

But thats not what the OP wanted to know so I would go with the Kobalt....Taiwan beats Chinese any day of the week, plus they have a lot more teeth then Craftsman.

 

[sleepjeep]

The Kobalts, imho, are nicer then the new craftsman but as others have said are overpriced for an import tool. You can a roto head ratchet at HF for 13.00 dollars (non-roto head at 10.00 and they come with a lifetime warranty too) and you can get an SK superkrome ratchet for around 30 dollars for american made. (one caveat that the others are not fine tooth)

 

[sleepjeep]

Kippieland, I was going to link to that same SK ratchet in my post but you beat me to it.

 

[camarotoolman]

Go on feebay and buy a used Snap on, Mac, s-k, etc.

 

[geologist]

In fairness, my new (2011) Craftsman 3/8 stubby flex-head ratchet is nice, but it was hit and miss. I tried both Craftsman and Kobalt and it was the 2nd Craftsman one that I tried (the other felt a bit wonky).

 

[kythri]

The Kobalt is may look like a Stanley but it is made by Danaher in Taiwan.

Really?

I thought I had read someone's post detailing how Danaher had lost the Kobalt contract? I thought the Danaher Kobalt was an almost verbatim Craftsman copy, save for the handle design.

 

[thesilverone]

Yeah the new kobalts are NOT made by danaher, as discussed here months ago. They are made by LG Sourcing. Perhaps kippieland should go back to posting useless pictures instead of posting fiction.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Global+Sourcing_390635000_
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1543349&postcount=87

 

[kippieland]

Yeah the new kobalts are NOT made by danaher, as discussed here months ago. They are made by LG Sourcing. Perhaps kippieland should go back to posting useless pictures instead of posting fiction.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Global+Sourcing_390635000_
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1543349&postcount=87

 

[fourtythree]

If the Kobalt is the same thing as Stanley, then you can buy that ratchet from Walmart for 12 bucks.

Personally, I like the Duralast 3/8 ratchet. It's not a fine tooth, but it's made well, smooth and tough as nails. It's also only 15 bucks.

 

[kippieland]

Really?

I thought I had read someone's post detailing how Danaher had lost the Kobalt contract? I thought the Danaher Kobalt was an almost verbatim Craftsman copy, save for the handle design.

I was going off of old info...sorry....it happens. I swear there ratcheting wrenches are gearwrench though...maybe a copy.

 

[jethro29]

kobalts are probably about equal to crapsman,either one will probably be ok if youy are a weekend diy'er.

 

[kythri]

I was going off of old info...sorry....it happens. I swear there ratcheting wrenches are gearwrench though...maybe a copy.

Nah, that's cool, I wasn't sure myself - the last time I was in Lowe's and looked at their stuff, the ratchets and what not were no longer the "Craftsman-head-but-different-handle" that they used to be (and definitely Danaher, like the NAPA Hand Tools line currently is), and they looked similar to the Stanley stuff that's making the rounds.

Hadn't seen a Danaher design like the current Lowe's stuff, hence my query.

 

[Lomotil]

If you pay attention to the Hot Deal thread (or your local Lowes ads,) you can find some good deals on their new ratchets - usually in a **-pc set. I bought a 51-pc 1/4" set for $15 or $20 late last year, VERY satisfied with it. The internals on the ratchet are a fine-tooth version of the dual pawl 24-tooth Proto design (each pawl has 3-4 teeth on it,) and the quality surprised me. COO is Taiwan, and the ratchet had NO lube inside it, but that was easily fixed. I actually prefer this ratchet to their previous Danaher offering.

 

[Butters]

I happened to be at Lowes and Harbor Freight today and was thinking about this thread. I was pretty sure, and still am, that the HF sockets and the new Lowes sockets were the same. I wondered if the ratchets were identical too.

Well, they're not.

However, they are both made in Taiwan and the quality seems the same. While I think the new Kobalt ratchets are better than the last generation, I think I'd just get the $11 HF ratchet over the $25 Kobalt and would probably never know the difference. I'd take either over a newer CM raised panel ($15). But really, at $25, you start getting into the price of some pretty good ratchets.

But with Lowes stores everywhere, convenience is worth something too.

 

[PT Doc]

The hf head on the 72t used to be sealed with 3 screws; 2 for the plate and 1 for the gear selector. This has changed to a riveted gear selector so while the plate still has 2 screws you cant take the plate of the head anymore. The Kobalt design is still 3 screws.

Think of it this way, the ratchet will last forever or most people so spend a few bucks and get what you want knowing the limitations of the item.