Kobalt tools

[Royce Stephens]

I have had it with these pieces of crap. I was GIVEN some Kobalt hand tools and I still think I paid too much. Their other tools seem to be crap as well. The last straw was today. A few weeks ago I bought a little Kobalt in-line dryer for my paint gun. Today was the day for painting the engine bay. Got everything set, just before cracking open the paint I got out the new dryer and tried to install it. The top end of the dryer HAD NO STINKIN THREADS cut into it. I calmly drove the 25 miles back to my closest Lowe's, traded for another one with both threads visible and happily drove home with just enough time to get the engine bay finished. Got home opened the package only to find the shaft inside the dryer WAS BROKEN IN STINKIN HALF.
I guess I was not supposed to paint today.

Kobalt was supposedly some Snap-on off shoot at one time but later became some Asian import that appear to made from a combination of soda cans and mud.

[fredsterra]

Most tool companies make some tools for each other. I toured the Baldwin plant a few years ago and they were running Thermo King and AC and Fleetguard on the line that day.

I sell Florida Pneumatic air tools and the make most all of the private label brands plus some to CP and Ingersol. Sears wouldn't know how to make the first Craftsman tool. They just buy in big qtys. with the Craftsman name on them.

So I'm sure most of the cheaper comodity items are off shore crap just like every body else. They bring in a container with the Kobalt brand and if 1 out of 100 is bad they don't care.

The buyer dosen't care about how it messed up you day. His boss is on him to cut cost (at all cost).

[guidolyons]

Some of the Kobalt Tools are top notch and others are crap, you just have to check the packages, the supplies come from all over, some are made in USA, Mexico, China, etc.

I have some Kobalt tools that are nice (if you buy the individual tools), but the multi-packs are usually lower quality. I got one of the multi -pack pliers sets for Christmas, and the difference in quality was readily apparent.

[800bman]

Dude that sucks! I know the feeling, when I was in WI it was 25 miles each way to Home Depot. Same situations.

[Fred Demmon]

I am a Dept Mgr in the tool dept for lowes.
They just did a complete swap over on all of the pnuematic tools and most of them are not even coming in yet.
I am sorry for the trouble it caused you.
The hand tools are for the most part a decient quality. and they have the same warranty that Craftsman used to have
"if it fails, return it no questions asked"

[SCscoutguy]

Most of Kobalt's hard line mechanics hand tools are made by Danaher which is the same company that makes Craftsman tool for Sears. You can take the guts out of any Kobalt ratchet and put them in a Craftsman because they are exactly the same. When Kobalt tools first started out they were made by Williams who is a subsidiary of Snap On and they were extremely good quality for the money you paid for them. Now even though they are made in America they are just "decent" but still a good value for the money you spend on them.

[WTB#29]

I feel your pain. With a paint sprayer you are kind of limited. But for basic hand tools I would keep yours eyes open for garage/estate sales and craigslist. You have a vintage ride, why not wrench on it with vintage tools? I picked up a few hundred bucks worth of tools from an estate sale for like $30. All USA stuff. Bonney, Williams, Proto, Armstrong, SK, Channelock, good stuff, made by our grandparents in the USA!

Everything I have seen that is Kobalt is Taiwan. Taiwan is better than the other China, but still not that great. Craftsman is decent, but not what it was thirty years ago. What frustrates me is how brands that we grew up using that were top notch USA made quality are now feature the PRC stamp and are junk. Thorsen is a great example, used to be a good industrial type tool, now Chinese crap. Next time you are at the store look at the label on Visegrip products (or anything from the Irwin line), now all made in China. It sucks man. Husky...Same thing.

Here is what I like. Obviously Snap On, Mac, Cornwell, and Matco are great but way pricey. SK, Mayhew, Armstrong, Proto, (and Craftsman to a lesser extent) are very good quality and not break the bank expensive.

[raleighrugger]

I've had really good luck with my Gearwrench tools. Granted I only have there ratcheting box-end wrenches in various styles, but I've been really happy with them. Especially the x-beam wrenches. It is easier on the palm of your hand when you are trying to break loose all those frozen/rusty nuts and bolts we so often encounter on IH's.

[Alexdal]

Royce, I feel your pain. But honestly brother you had me rollin on the floor - when you said Kobalt had...

"...became some Asian import that appear to made from a combination of soda cans and mud."

soda cans and mud lmao!!

[Fred Demmon]

The Kobalt tools are switching vendors again. We are clearencing out most all of the hand tools and we should have the new ones in place by the first week in June(just in time for Fathers day)

Not sure who the new vendor will be