Lowes Hansen socket tray breaking?

[2JZGTESC300]

Where are the Lowes brand "Hansen" socket tray made from? Location wise?

I've bought a few set about 3 months ago and started to use them. They came in 3 per box which includes a 1/4'' Drive, 3/8'' Drive and 1/2'' Drive Tray for Shallow and Deep Sockets.

Earlier today, I started to use them so I took them out of the new box it was in the whole time. Upon taking it out, it looks very nice and glossy blue. So I proceeded with loading my sockets on there and putting them on a moving cart so I can service some cars outside the shop. It gotten really busy today.

Upon about 2 hours of using the Lowes brand "Hansen" sockets tray, 4 tabs broke from the 1/4'' and 3/8'' tray. On the 1/4'' tray 3 tabs broke off and on the 3/8'' tray just 1 tab broke off.

Keep in mind these were bought 3 months ago and just stored until it was used today.

All I can say is what a piece of ****.

Anyone experience this before?

 

[kippieland]

They are made in Taiwan. I have them but I am DIY. Not sure if they are still making them...for some reason, I recall something about them being stopped.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

I'm not sure if it's the heat from towing the push cart outside the shop that cause it crack in some way but from being new just out the box is just not right.

I wonder if I can still return this, I've lost the receipt already since it's been a few months ago.

I didn't know anything about Hansen products at that time, all I know was that I needed to store some sockets and that's what I've bought.

If I had knew these would break that easily, I wouldn't even spend a penny on it.

 

[Toolhorder]

Are they truly Hansen trays or knockoffs? I've had the same hansen trays for years and haven't had any break yet.

 

[kippieland]

These are not Hansen products.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

I think it's an knockoff. I'm going to try to epoxy glue the tabs back in place since it broke at the very bottom where it meets the tray and try to use it for the time being until it breaks again or breaks more elsewhere. Pass it onto my apprentice technician maybe? lol

 

[Toolhorder]

real Hansen trays are cheap anyway. you won't be disappointed

 

[catsass]

Hansens are made by Hansen. These are branded as Kobalt. They do have the exact same sizes as the Hansens and look to be the same quality. I checked some out today for the first time and they were priced pretty good. I would think the heat and how much maneuvering you did may have been a culprit. Also, the amount of baby food they put in their plastic over there may have made them weaker. I'd take them back and raise hell.

 

[2JZGTESC300]

I still have 2 sets that's un-open from the box with 1/4'', 3/8'' and 1/2'' Drive trays. I'll see how the epoxy glue held up tomorrow.

When I bought them 3 months ago, I was hoping it will come in handy one day. It proven itself not so good.

The sockets wasn't pushed together or anything. I was just a simple find size, lift up, and position back into place when not in used. How the tabs broke is clueless to me. I was thinking the heat.

I bought them awhile go, forgot how much it was per box.

 

[OEXL16B]

Why not just get your money back from Lowes and go buy the Hansens?

 

[bluechevy94]

The Lowes trays are the same as the ones from harbor freight just different colors.I wouldn't buy the trays from Lowes when you could get the same style from HF for less money.I have the ones from HF and am very satisfied with them.I would take them back to Lowes and get my money back and get some Hansen's or the ones from HF for 7.99 a set.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have a few sets of the lowes trays. So far they have held up well. I did notice when I bought mine there were some broken ones on the shelf.

Lowes is good with their no hassle warranty on broken hand tools. I'm not sure where the socket trays fall in

 

[Mr Ratchet]

The Lowes/Kolbalt trays are not the same as the HF trays. The Lowes/Kobalt are more like the Hansen trays. The Hansen trays have better quality than the Lowes/Kolbalt with stronger pegs.

I often remove the whole trays in std and mm in both 1/4" and 3/8" drive. They may go into my cart or just be carrier by hand. No problems with my Hasens with all the moving around and in and out of the main box. I see the Lowes/Kolbalt trays broken in the stores all the time. I've never seen a broken Hansen in the cople of different stores that had them.

In addition to the glue, you could try some small screws (thin, but longer) through the bottom of the tray into the broken pegs.