Husky vs Kobalt vs Craftsman

Hello there.

I am a hobbiest at best that recently moved back to the US and don't have many tools to work on the Taco. I was looking at the vairious tools sets from Home Depot, Lowes, and Craftsman.

I am a hobbiest mind you and NOT a professional mechanic nor will I ever be just for working on the truck and bike and a few other hobbies so Snap-On, MAC, and Matvo are not within my world or budget.

Just want to guage everyone's feedbacks.

Looking at around $500.00.

Thanks and enjoy the day!!!!

 

I prefer craftsman. Sears is really close if a tool breaks. The hand tools have a life time replacement. For power tools it gets selective for me.

 

I have a set of kobalt and craftsman sockets etc (200 piece plus kit). My craftsman is rusted to shit (just surface) and my kobalt is still shining.

 

I used to be a really big fan of craftsman as they were an affordable made in us tool company, that is until they moved overseas. However it's hard to beat craftsman's warranty on tools, so I'd just go with craftsman.

 

I believe all the brands you listed have lifetime warranties. Buy it once, you break it, they replace it. Other than that, it's all personal preference. My personal preference is Craftsman.
Truth be known, the quality is probably the same across the board for the given list. I'll probably catch hell for that statement.
Shop around find the best deal.

 

I build engines for cummins. I can honestly tell you I have a wide assortment of tools. I prefer Mac, but every cobalt socket and rachet I have have held up great! Nothing wrong with kobalt tools. They are actually produced by snap on. Also look into gear wrench, for the money I think they are the best tools on the market.

 

I totally agree on this this one Husky and Kobalt have life time a warranty craftsman is not the king of the home tool box anymore. I have all of the above and they all work the same IMO

I say any of the choices in hand tools will serve you well.

 

They all carry lifetime warranties now.

I'm an electrician and heavily use my ratchet wrenches when building pipe racks, hanging panel boxes, etc. I have a set of gear wrench that I got as a gift. I wasn't sure how they would hold up, but they've held up great with many years of constant use. I think they're sold through sears, but I'm not sure.

 

+1 on the GearWrench, definitely get a set of those.

I haven't really used a lot of Husky or Kobalt, but I have some really old Craftsman tools that still work great.

 

Honestly, some of my HF sockets and ratchets have held up better than my craftsmen stuff. HF also gives a lifetime warranty and it's no questions asked, stuff can be clearly abused and they just tell you to grab a new one

 

Kobalt has a deal called "Sockets for life". They replace sockets for the cost of shipping and handling even if you LOSE them.

I'm going into a motorsports career so I've been buying a lot of stuff from the mac and snap-on guy but I've been thinking about picking up some kobalt sockets just because of that deal.

http://www.kobalttools.com/sockets-for-life.html

Kobalt also makes decent tool boxes, IMO

 

Buy the cheapest unless you have a secure way to store them....
...if not buy more expensive.
Also check at pawn shops...
There's usually a high inventory of used tools.

 

I'm a novice wrencher; grew up with craftsmans tools around the house and Sears always has prices I can afford. I like the quality and feel of a craftsman tool.

 

This too Harbor Freight hand tools are great as well. I have tons and they are just as good as the other brands in the big box stores.

 

I've got tools from all three you listed, plus Snap On, Matco, MAC, etc.

I'm really starting to like the Kobalt hand tools more and more.

 

This is actually not a bad tool set for the money. I carry it in my truck! Plus you can find coupons for it all the time.

 

The only reason I stay away from husky is that I have had bad experiences with their screw drivers. They strip easy, bend ( yeah I pry with them, not their job and on and on whatever) but the craftsman seem to take a little more abuse. I have two craftsman sets, 290 piece and 309 piece, and those both serve every need I can come up with and I am constantly rebuilding my banshee motor, working on my truck, lifts etc. I'm craftsman all the way, especially when they have sales and their scratch and dent section (clearance items) are fantastic

 

is the scractch and dent section an in store only thing or is it online as well? Just asking because I'm stationed in Germany at the moment and the PX doesn't really have much to chose from.

 

I have had a Kobalt set for 10 to 15 years and have only had two warranty claims/issues. Both instances I took the tool to the store, went back to tool world and picked out a replacement, and walked out with absolutely NO hassles, receipts, etc. I've done this at two different stores in two entirely different regions so it's obviously a Lowe's policy to swap out Kobalt tools under the lifetime warranty hassle free....

Any of the above are good and probably about the same. I actually have some Husky and Craftsman stuff in my tool chest and don't have any complaints....

 

There are precious few Craftsman tools made in the USA anymore. It will be stamped on the tool or the card it hangs on. I have a shit ton of Craftsman tools and only broke one wrench, which was replaced free. I have some Kobalt and Husky, no issues there. The only tool company that I know of that still is 100% made in USA is Channelocks, and I've got alot of their stuff.

You can troll eBay and there are guys on there that have brand new Craftsman stuff that was made in the USA as well, I selectively buy whatever I think I may need from them. GearWrench is good, again there are guys on eBay that sell individual wrenches much cheaper than Sears. It's all in how much effort you want to put into it.