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forum thread Posted by socialabortion • Jun 7, 2024
forum thread Posted by socialabortion • Jun 7, 2024

YMMV Kobalt 24-volt Variable Speed Brushless 3/8-in Drive Cordless Impact Wrench (Bare Tool) in the Impact Wrenches department at Lowes.com $59.57

$60

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YMMV zip code 15122 had a few of these in stock and on sale

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-2...1001864238
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YMMV zip code 15122 had a few of these in stock and on sale

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-2...1001864238

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Model: Kobalt 24-volt Max Variable Speed Brushless 3/8-in Drive Cordless Impact Wrench (Bare Tool) in Blue | KRAIW 124B-03

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Jun 7, 2024
447 Posts
Joined May 2014
Jun 7, 2024
BN30
Jun 7, 2024
447 Posts
This is almost as good as Ridgid . After hack I paid 90 for a Ridgid . Definitely a good price .
Jun 7, 2024
28 Posts
Joined Oct 2014
Jun 7, 2024
DiepD5490
Jun 7, 2024
28 Posts
Full price in my area
Jun 7, 2024
87 Posts
Joined Apr 2019
Jun 7, 2024
LavenderFog180
Jun 7, 2024
87 Posts
4
Jun 7, 2024
204 Posts
Joined Jan 2013
Jun 7, 2024
jpd_f550
Jun 7, 2024
204 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jpd_f550

I purchased one of these in March using some gift cards. I have not used it yet, but it is much, much larger than I had anticipated. The size made me question the usefulness of the tool in tight spaces (which it why I bought it in the first place).

This basic theme "too big to be useful" seems to hold true for some of the Kobalt 24V cordless tools I have, including a brushless angle grinder, and a brushless die grinder. The regular 3/8" brushless impact wrench I have is a reasonable size.
1
Original Poster
Jun 7, 2024
47 Posts
Joined Mar 2015
Jun 7, 2024
socialabortion
Original Poster
Jun 7, 2024
47 Posts
Quote from jpd_f550 :
I purchased one of these in March using some gift cards. I have not used it yet, but it is much, much larger than I had anticipated. The size made me question the usefulness of the tool in tight spaces (which it why I bought it in the first place).

This basic theme "too big to be useful" seems to hold true for some of the Kobalt 24V cordless tools I have, including a brushless angle grinder, and a brushless die grinder. The regular 3/8" brushless impact wrench I have is a reasonable size.
It is huge i was surprised when I pulled out of the box. It is longer than my cat lol.
Jun 7, 2024
841 Posts
Joined Oct 2017
Jun 7, 2024
Hartage
Jun 7, 2024
841 Posts
Quote from LavenderFog180 :
I just bot this one
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32...pt=glo2usa [aliexpress.us]
not the same thing, yours is what is called a cordless ratchet. Like a typical ratchet it has a saw tooth gear and a pall that goes back and forth. It has the advantage of control and a small head that can get into tighter places, but torque and speed it does not have. The kobalt in this thread is a right angle torque wrench it goes at drill speed and when it encounters resistance, it loads up and begins it's impacting mechanism. These two things have some overlap in use but really on opposite sides of the spectrum. Your ratchet cannot spin fast and has no torque. You must use arm strength to "break" bolts and then use the motor. The torque wrench uses motor strength and that impacting mechanism to break bolts free. Conversely, your ratchet has a much lower chance of cross threading or stripping bolts and nuts because of the better control and weaker torque. Very different animals.
Jun 7, 2024
841 Posts
Joined Oct 2017
Jun 7, 2024
Hartage
Jun 7, 2024
841 Posts
Quote from jpd_f550 :
I purchased one of these in March using some gift cards. I have not used it yet, but it is much, much larger than I had anticipated. The size made me question the usefulness of the tool in tight spaces (which it why I bought it in the first place).

This basic theme "too big to be useful" seems to hold true for some of the Kobalt 24V cordless tools I have, including a brushless angle grinder, and a brushless die grinder. The regular 3/8" brushless impact wrench I have is a reasonable size.
I have this thing.... love it. the same difference and the same usefulness as a right angle drill vs a regular drill in tight places.

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Jun 8, 2024
87 Posts
Joined Apr 2019
Jun 8, 2024
LavenderFog180
Jun 8, 2024
87 Posts
Quote from Hartage :
not the same thing, yours is what is called a cordless ratchet. Like a typical ratchet it has a saw tooth gear and a pall that goes back and forth. It has the advantage of control and a small head that can get into tighter places, but torque and speed it does not have. The kobalt in this thread is a right angle torque wrench it goes at drill speed and when it encounters resistance, it loads up and begins it's impacting mechanism. These two things have some overlap in use but really on opposite sides of the spectrum. Your ratchet cannot spin fast and has no torque. You must use arm strength to "break" bolts and then use the motor. The torque wrench uses motor strength and that impacting mechanism to break bolts free. Conversely, your ratchet has a much lower chance of cross threading or stripping bolts and nuts because of the better control and weaker torque. Very different animals.
that make sense.
1
Pro
Jun 8, 2024
506 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Jun 8, 2024
CyanPencil512
Pro
Jun 8, 2024
506 Posts
Quote from Hartage :
not the same thing, yours is what is called a cordless ratchet. Like a typical ratchet it has a saw tooth gear and a pall that goes back and forth. It has the advantage of control and a small head that can get into tighter places, but torque and speed it does not have. The kobalt in this thread is a right angle torque wrench it goes at drill speed and when it encounters resistance, it loads up and begins it's impacting mechanism. These two things have some overlap in use but really on opposite sides of the spectrum. Your ratchet cannot spin fast and has no torque. You must use arm strength to "break" bolts and then use the motor. The torque wrench uses motor strength and that impacting mechanism to break bolts free. Conversely, your ratchet has a much lower chance of cross threading or stripping bolts and nuts because of the better control and weaker torque. Very different animals.
"right angle torque wrench" -> "right angle impact wrench"

Torque wrench is yet something different, this is not one, just to clarify.
1
Jun 8, 2024
841 Posts
Joined Oct 2017
Jun 8, 2024
Hartage
Jun 8, 2024
841 Posts
Quote from CyanPencil512 :
"right angle torque wrench" -> "right angle impact wrench"

Torque wrench is yet something different, this is not one, just to clarify.
Lol, sometimes what we want to say or intend to say doesn't quite come out the way it was supposed to...... Yes, I mean impact wrench, even if my fingers were uncooperative and zigged instead of zagged.
1
Jun 8, 2024
262 Posts
Joined Mar 2020
Jun 8, 2024
SkillfulShoe989
Jun 8, 2024
262 Posts
Quote from jpd_f550 :
I purchased one of these in March using some gift cards. I have not used it yet, but it is much, much larger than I had anticipated. The size made me question the usefulness of the tool in tight spaces (which it why I bought it in the first place).

This basic theme "too big to be useful" seems to hold true for some of the Kobalt 24V cordless tools I have, including a brushless angle grinder, and a brushless die grinder. The regular 3/8" brushless impact wrench I have is a reasonable size.
not sure if you have anything to compare it to but I bought the m12 1/2 drive and compared the size. The heads on both are the same size. the kobalt is a tad longer and using anything bigger than the 2 amp will add bulk.
Jun 8, 2024
3,503 Posts
Joined Oct 2010
Jun 8, 2024
brotherhpj41
Jun 8, 2024
3,503 Posts
went to the store and yes it is huge
Jun 10, 2024
204 Posts
Joined Jan 2013
Jun 10, 2024
jpd_f550
Jun 10, 2024
204 Posts
Quote from SkillfulShoe989 :
not sure if you have anything to compare it to but I bought the m12 1/2 drive and compared the size. The heads on both are the same size. the kobalt is a tad longer and using anything bigger than the 2 amp will add bulk.
Unfortunately, I don't have anything else to compare against. I can only compare specifications of other tools.

The Milwaukee you referenced is quite an impressive tool. I'm not sure there's really any comparison between the specs of the Kobalt versus the Milwaukee. Excluding any weight/length the batteries might add, the Milwaukee is 1 full pound lighter, more than 3.5" shorter, 1/2" drive, 60 more ft/lbs of torque, and 1000RPM faster max speed. It seems awesome and I want one!

Comparing those two basically illustrates what I was getting at with my original comment. I don't feel that some of the Kobalt "specialty" tools are engineered very well and as a result, they're larger, heavier, and less capable than other brands of tools that perform the same function. Every similar tool I could find (Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ingersoll Rand) beats the Kobalt on size and weight. That's all expected since the Kobalt is on the budget-end of the tool spectrum here. The Kobalt wins on price (and maybe value?), but that's about it.

Since I had the Kobalt, I felt I had to point out how physically large the thing was.
Jun 15, 2024
1,063 Posts
Joined Mar 2016
Jun 15, 2024
eddie277
Jun 15, 2024
1,063 Posts
Quote from jpd_f550 :
Unfortunately, I don't have anything else to compare against. I can only compare specifications of other tools.

The Milwaukee you referenced is quite an impressive tool. I'm not sure there's really any comparison between the specs of the Kobalt versus the Milwaukee. Excluding any weight/length the batteries might add, the Milwaukee is 1 full pound lighter, more than 3.5" shorter, 1/2" drive, 60 more ft/lbs of torque, and 1000RPM faster max speed. It seems awesome and I want one!

Comparing those two basically illustrates what I was getting at with my original comment. I don't feel that some of the Kobalt "specialty" tools are engineered very well and as a result, they're larger, heavier, and less capable than other brands of tools that perform the same function. Every similar tool I could find (Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ingersoll Rand) beats the Kobalt on size and weight. That's all expected since the Kobalt is on the budget-end of the tool spectrum here. The Kobalt wins on price (and maybe value?), but that's about it.

Since I had the Kobalt, I felt I had to point out how physically large the thing was.
Guess you never saw the torque test channel video awhile back on YouTube. Yes the m12 is not as long but the kobalt has more power. By like 70 ft lbs. Kobalt actually unspecs it while milwaukee overspecs theirs. Kobalt was like 250 ft lbs and milwaukee was 180 lbs. I've owned and used both. The kobalt is stronger. Milwaukee is more ergonomic tho

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