lowes Kobalt tools

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sheerdartattack

sheerdartattack

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any one use them , i need new tools and i dont have snap on or mac money #-oso i was looking at them and i see most are made in the usa
 
Kobalt is the higher end of the "cheap tools" in my opinion. I've been using the same 3/8 kobalt rachet since 2002 and it has not skipped a beat. I've gone through probably 10 craftsman rachets since then. I think you'll be satisfied. Husky isn't too bad either anymore. I still prefer kobalt over husky though. Both have lifetime warranties.
 
I use them too, bought a cheap 500 piece set and they seem like good tools. I did notice that they skipped a lot of key sizes so make sure the kit has everything you need size wise.
 
Anybody else having troubles with Craftsman ratchets like I am?
 
Try exchanging a broken Kobalt tools at Lowe's.
Receipt of purchase required by me.
So much for Lowe's Kobalts "hassle free lifetime warranty"
No receipt and it's store policy to ask for photo ID, making difficulties in any future returns, as the amount of times your ID is used , it's recorded and held against you.
 
Craftsman is even cheaper and about the same quality or even better, IMO.
 
I have never had that issue with a return. I have their torque wrenches and love the fact there is no cheap plastic in them. Also cant beat their tape measures. If they break you just hand it over and walk out with a new one.
 
MiradaMegaCab said:
Try exchanging a broken Kobalt tools at Lowe's.
Receipt of purchase required by me.
So much for Lowe's Kobalts "hassle free lifetime warranty"
No receipt and it's store policy to ask for photo ID, making difficulties in any future returns, as the amount of times your ID is used , it's recorded and held against you.
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I can not say anything about the hand tools.

But, I have bought two retractable measuring tapes (16 Ft and 30 Ft) after a sales person told me about the free lifetime replacement.

I have now over the last three years broken and replaced at no cost, the 16 ft tape 3 times and the 30 ft tape once.

I have NEVER ONCE been asked for an ID or receipt at the Lowes here in Hot Springs Arkansas.

Herb
 
If you want good cheap tools then go into any pawn store.

There are so many awesome brand name tools at super cheap prices it's head spinning.

Don't forget to beat them down on their asking price.

Have fun shopping.
 
momoparman said:
If you want good cheap tools then go into any pawn store.

There are so many awesome brand name tools at super cheap prices it's head spinning.

Don't forget to beat them down on their asking price.

Have fun shopping.
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don`t buy their vises, or air comp. , sorry I did=cheap chinese junk!
 
I am talking about decent used hand tools like snap on, craftsman, kobalt, etc...

You can get them for pennies on the dollar.
 
I've gotten great deals from pawn shops too. Cause anything with a lifetime warranty still carries it. So even if it's damaged, I still get it.
 
got a set a few years a go very nice compared to my dad's broken craftsman ratchets

but i have gotten some odd ball sizes 1 1/32, 1 1/16, and 1 1/4 for 2 bucks at an swap meet.
 
Bought a set of kobalt ratcheting wrenches from Lowes with 10% vet discount. Really like them great deal but didn't come with a 3/4
 
Ive got alot of Kobalt tools, I prefer them to craftsman these days honestly. Not to mention with the military discount that Lowes gives it saves me a bit of dough. Although the customer service isnt the best at lowes (If Lowes had Harbor Freight's customer service I would be in heaven!!!)
 
I have some. Never had an issue except for a 6 in 1 screwdriver but they replaced it for free. So... Yeah. Go for it. Craftsman sucks, now
 
I have one of Kobalt's small gravity feed spray guns. The screw on cap broke so I took the cup back to see if I could get a replacement. I told those idiots 3 or 4 times the gun was not in warranty. Two guys go behind the counter in customer service to get on a computer terminal. One guy asks me a question and since I couldn't hear him, I walked back behind the counter. They acted like I was trying to steal something. After about a minute, some heifer jumps all over my *** about being behind the counter. I told them to gimme my damned spray gun back and to go to Hell.
Came home and called the Corporate office in Wilkesboro, NC. Talked to a really nice young man who told me that they could have ordered the cap, no problem. He even had one put in the mail and shipped to me, no charge.
It all depends on the individual store. Although, if there was a Home Depot near, I wouldn't set foot in Lowe's.
BTW, I really like the Kobalt gun for small jobs.
 
I've picked up their 1/4" drive sockets when they were on sale for 10 bucks. I think they are very niece tools.
 
I bought their impact/ drill motor set when it was on sale for $130 4 months ago. I just retired my Ridgid set which lasted about 8 years. Hoping these go pretty far. I am not nice to my drills. I use the batteries as hammers if I have to. I got the $14.00 one year no questions asked replacement through lowes and have the receipt stowed away.

I've never bought anything else from them. I will tell you this - the wedges on Kobalt hammers SUCK. I busted 3 22oz and one 19oz Kobalt head off and kept having them replaced till I finally just went back to my Vaughn California framer and that thing has been around for 10 years and abused. I still have a brand new one I haven't even used yet. They're also cheaper than Kobalt hammers. Just an insight to what I experienced from Kobalt. For wrenches I've always used Snap-On. Everything else breaks under my abuse, and at least Snap on honors everything.

RustyRatRod said:
I've gotten great deals from pawn shops too. Cause anything with a lifetime warranty still carries it. So even if it's damaged, I still get it.
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I buy a lot of broken tools like that and exchange them. If the owner didn't use the lifetime warranty, then I will.
 
Pretty much have all their hand tools as well as their large rolling toolbox. All have served me well, and I will continue to use them.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I've gotten great deals from pawn shops too. Cause anything with a lifetime warranty still carries it. So even if it's damaged, I still get it.
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Not too fair to the guy like me that has to replace the tool under warranty that you bought at the pawn shop. I don't get reimbursed for the time it takes me to replace and process the return tool and I have to personally pay for the replacement until I get credit for the warranty return when I send a box of broken tools in each month. I don't get reimbursed for the return freight or the Saturday afternoon I spend checking off and boxing up a broken tool return either. The next time you "cheap out" by buying brand name tools from a pawn shop, think about the guy you're screwing as you do so. toolmanmike
 
Does it really make a difference who returns a broken tool? The second owner is just doing what the first owner would be doing if he still had them. Good tools get passed down from generation to generation. That's why we buy them.
 
Unless they changed, Kobalt was a division of J.H. Williams, which is/was owned by Snap-On
 
I feel I am hard on my tools as well and Craftsman has served me well. I haven't bought any newer ones though. Screw drivers break easily though.
 
magnumdart said:
Does it really make a difference who returns a broken tool? The second owner is just doing what the first owner would be doing if he still had them. Good tools get passed down from generation to generation. That's why we buy them.
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Actually, the "lifetime warranty" is not your or my lifetime but the life of the tool. If the tool is worn out or used up, it's life has expired and a new tool should be purchased. The manufacturers can't stay in business if they make a quarter on a 1/2" socket back and 1964 and replace it to the customer a dozen times in 50 years. Many of the manufacturers are discontinuing tools, making changes to them and re introducing them with a different part number and a shorter warranty. Our hard line tools are still lifetime (sockets, ratchets, wrenches, etc) but some of the soft line, especially tools manufactured by another companies, have made changes. tmm
 
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