Kobalt tools

[socalrappy700]

So what do you guys think of Kobalt?  I love any tool that has a no questions asked lifetime warranty.  I was just helping out a friend today work on his truck and he has a set of kobalt ratchets, seemed to be a nice set.

[Colorado700R]

Kobalts are good tools.  Still love my Craftsmans though.  Plus you'll find them at pawn shops etc in fine condition for cheap, and if they break, no biggy, go to sears and get a new one for free

[Geo]

jonnesway is wut i use

[Spartan]

Craftsman ftw, but I have had no issues with the few Kobalt tools that I've had and used. Their socket sets looks to be about on par with Craftsman also, with a few nice designs.

[Peelz]

no issues with Kobalt. I have a few things.

[Alkire193]

Ok, here's my opinion of a few brands.

Craftsman - the company makes nice tools, but the Craftsman name has gone downhill in recent years. Some of their products are still quality. I like their socket sets, and bit sets. Smaller tools that are hard to mess up, those are good. But Craftsman has a lifetime warranty and their quality sucks, so you buy the tool and end up having to exchange it over and over.

S&K - Makes tools for Craftsman, a sub-company that went on strike and stopped producing tools as of late 2009. Im not even sure if they make tools anymore. I personally thought that S&K put out a good product, better than Craftsman. But who knows if they are around anymore.

SnapOn - Got an empty credit card? I LOVE SnapOn tools! When they advertise a product, it does what its told and then some. Overpriced, yes they are, but if you can afford a SnapOn tool set, they are my favorite to use. Also, if you are missing a tool, they ship it to you or a SnapOn salesman will drive right to you and drop it in your hands at no cost.

Husky - I'd rank Husky right under Kobalt for tool quality. Ive broken some breaker bars over the years due to poor design. They dont live up to their rated usage.

Kobalt - I like Kobalt for the basics. I HAD a lot of tools by them and when you are doing simple tasks like removing a lag bolt from your deck, they work out fine. But in a tight space, when you need your half inch rachet wrench to work without a 30 degree pull on the handle between each turn, it doesnt hack it. Durable, but not meant for every occasion that you may need them for. I also broke many sockets, and stripped out their screwdrivers. I thought they could do better overall.

Harbor Freight Tools - After 5 months of beating them to death, every tool from Harbor freight was exchanged for SnapOn tools. The alan keys stripped, screwdrivers slid out of the screws, sockets didnt fit up correctly, rachets broke internally (and occasionally missed a tooth and raked my knuckles). When I got to my site with a Harbor Freight tool set the guys started laughing right away. And they were right.

Proto - The Army uses Proto, and for some of my tools, so did I. I like their tools, very durable. My company now provides us will Proto replacements everytime we break our Westward tools. I think they are really known for their torque wrenches or sockets. A bit pricey, cheaper than SnapOn sometimes. But they take care of their customer.

Buy a good quality, lifetime warranty tool set from the start and you will never need to purchase another replacement tool.

[socalrappy700]

A few things about snapon.  They make a great tool but WAY overpriced for the average Joe and good luck getting a truck to come to you.  So much turf war they never show up anymore.  My friend works for the fire department and most of his guys are switching to matco since they never see a snapon truck.  For the average joe craftsman is hard to beat since they do make ok hand tools and they hold to their lifetime warranty.

[Firemann32]

I pretty much have all Craftsman, I have a set of SAE open end wrenchs from S/K since 90' but they hardly get used anymore, what a shame.

I'd love to have Snap-on or Matco but I don't wrench for a living and because of that I can't justify the price.........


On a side note, anyone have any experience with the Harbor Frieght big rolling tool boxes, I have two of the Craftsman smaller ones (a tool chest and a rolling chest with a workbench top) I'd like to have one big Craftsman tool chest but you can get a HF one for about $400 less.

[Colorado700R]

I would be skeptical of buying any Harbor Freight item for long term use.  IMHO, you can find nice rolling tool boxes on craigslist that will out last anything from HF for the same $$$ or less.

[Colorado700R]

IE. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/tls/2047878298.html

Not as pretty as a new HF setup, but I bet it lasts longer.

[phucker]

All I do is wrench on shit. I have two sets of tools one set is my good shit comprised of snapon and mac and matco. All work flawlessly. My second set is craftsman and I use them as disposable tools, like when you have to cut a wrench in half or heat it with a torch or grind the shit out of it to make it fit.

For normal people I always suggest they get a xraftsman socket set and then buy snapon wratchets. For wrenches the gearwrench or the snapon equivelant is good.

[disco]

I have Craftsman but a mechanic at work said after your Craftsmans lets go on you enough times you'll step up to Snap On, Mac, etc.

I'd put Kobalt and Craftsman on the same level, good enough for my recreational wrenching.

Lowes or Home Depot does have a decent looking stainless roll away for $1000 that I've been tempted to buy.  I have two smaller Craftsman boxes but that bigger box will hold everything I have in those two boxes with room for more.

[Krandall]

DId you ever get this?

http://www.raptorsource.com/forum/index.php?topic=6190.0

[dick-84]

Not to sure about Kobalt. I am a Snap-on guy all the way. Damn near evey tool i have is Snap-on. I have a few Mac and Matco tools and like them also. I prob have around $20,000-$25,000 in Snap-on/Mac/Matco tools.
About the Snap-on truck, Any time i need anything i can call him and meet him some where close to me. If it is on the weekend i can just drive to his house.
I am wanting to buy a bigger box. Not to sure what one i want but i have been looking at this one.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=77150&group_ID=20013&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
and this one
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=78852&group_ID=20547&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
What one do u guys think i should get?

[socalrappy700]

Not to sure about Kobalt. I am a Snap-on guy all the way. Damn near evey tool i have is Snap-on. I have a few Mac and Matco tools and like them also. I prob have around $20,000-$25,000 in Snap-on/Mac/Matco tools.
About the Snap-on truck, Any time i need anything i can call him and meet him some where close to me. If it is on the weekend i can just drive to his house.
I am wanting to buy a bigger box. Not to sure what one i want but i have been looking at this one.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=77150&group_ID=20013&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
and this one
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=78852&group_ID=20547&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
What one do u guys think i should get?

I don't wrench for a living so it would be stupid for me to put that much money into tools.  I'm just your average joe weekend warrior.