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Craftsman or kobalt, which is better?

hockeybawler

hockeybawler

New member
Alright so I am starting to fill up my new tool chest and was wondering which brand you guys perfer, craftsman or kobalt (or any other brand around this price range that you like and I am not mentioning)? Now obviously Snap on or mac or any of those brands are better but they are out of my price range so they are a no go for now but anyways, lets hear what you guys prefer!
 


i like my kobalt set, but the craftsman tools are replaced for free if they break. not the best out there, but the free replacement makes them worth it in the long run.


and ive found craftsman tools that were broken and just swapped it in for a new one, the best free find was a 1/2 drive ratchet, found broken, traded it in for a nice shinny new ratchet.
 
i would say craftsman, ive had bad luck with kobalt. but hey i wasnt as hard on the craftsmans as i was teh kobalts
 
I have both kobalt and craftsman, and they both work great for me...all depends on what you want. Ive broken a few craftsman sockets but im yet to break any of my kobalt tools
 
I have mainly Craftsman and have no complaints. Free replacement is nice on them too. Have never held a Kobalt tool so I cannot speak for them.
 
ive been using a 1 foot pipe on my kobalt socket for 3 years now, its still works fine. put a pipe on a 3/8 craftsman ratchet, and pop its over fast.

im yet to crack a socket as well on the kobalt set too. where the sears stuff on occasion, they crack.
 


My first ratchet set was a POS one from like Korea or something and I broke like 4 sockets and then my dads like well I'm getting you a Craftsman set so at least you can get replacements for free if you keep this up. lol. I've never really used craftsman power tools though. Just Milwaukee. They seem to be fine from what I've used.
 
I have a mix of cobalt, craftsman, MAC, Cornwell, Snap on, Matco, Proto and Harbor Freight. If it has free replacement, then I like it. As for preference I like the Kobalt tools over craftsman tools. Although I have been told (hear say) that Kobalt is a sub-company of Snap On. Not sure on truth of that.
 
i have to say the kobalt ratchet is round, not squared off, fits my hands nicely. being how ive tested the lever rate on this ratchet for 3 years now, im 6'6" and can do some major pulling on a wrench, and its yet to fail me. if it was made my snap on i would not be surprised at all being how well its done.
 
I would say craftsman for ratchets and sockets, I've even used the ratchets as a breaker bar before and they hold up to a lot of torque.. Everything else they make is trash.
 
i personally like craftsman for one reason.....MADE IN THE USA, well most of their tools lol. cobalt does have some nice things tho, dont own any. my garage sockets and such are craftsman, the sockets and wrenches i have in my work truck for every day use are napa professional, made by danaher, which i believe makes matco tools or mac, i will say its the nicest feeling 3/8 drive set i have ever laid my hands on. i like them better than snapon
 


Id get husky before I got kobalt. They have a lifetime warranty like craftsman. But I'd get craftsman over husky.
 
All my tools are Mastercraft Maximum, not to expensive and lifetime warrenty. However, can only get them in Canada.
 
I think I am going to go craftsman but my uncle works for snap on so I am going to see if I can get him to get me some good deals(very slim chance but worth a shot!)
 
Craftsman guy here, so is my whole family. The no hassle return policy is a big win for me. Just walk in, get it replaced or fixed on the spot and off you go. No receipts, no hunting stores, nothing bad.

I am the same way with Harbor Freight, I dont mind giving cheap tools a shot, just always good having the store about 15 mins away and almost everything is replaced with another.

I got ahold of a few snap on tools from a friend, I sold em for a profit. :)
 
I have a mix of craftsman, matco, snap on and harbor freight. I HATE snap on ratchets. My fav is my craftsman flex head with angled handle. I spent a good deal of money on my craftsman tools and have found my harbor freight tools to work just as well ( with a few exceptions). Any ratchet will break with a pipe on it. I use my harbor freight 3/4 setup for axle nuts. I have a 6' pipe on the end of it and have bad no issues.
 


Lol @ kobalt made by snap on.

Out of the brands you listed i would just buy harbor freight. Cheap and Lifetime warranty. Most of the affordable tools are made in the peoples republic now anyways.
 
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