expired Posted by Rokket | Staff • Oct 5, 2024
Oct 5, 2024 3:51 PM
Item 1 of 1
expired Posted by Rokket | Staff • Oct 5, 2024
Oct 5, 2024 3:51 PM
277-Piece Kobalt SAE & Metric Polished Chrome Mechanics Tool Set w/ Hard Case
+ Free Store Pickup$99
$179
44% offLowe's
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I purchased this set, at this price during a previous deal maybe 2+ years ago. It is very hard to beat considering what you actually get for the price. Unless you are completely oblivious to what makes a really good/high quality tool vs a very good value tool, this is the latter.
The number of sockets and wrenches you get for the price is great for folks who just need it want to have standard tools on hand for the occasional use. Likewise, you can easily live with this storage solution if you can manage to keep it organized and stationary with random DIY jobs for homeowners but it does take a little bit of work because of the poor nature of the plastic mold drawers.
Those same drawers that keep all of these many many pieces organized may be the worst designed storage unit ever created. Kobalt needs to completely change this design. Honestly, I would rather have a cardboard box containing individual plastic trays than this style of storage container. The molds of the entire housing almost never fit together properly and it causes the drawers to stick and snag. This also happens to cause sockets and tools to get caught and hold the drawers in place. The only way to get it open is to force the drawers out which, inevitably, will jerk and jumble or scatter some of the contents.
The metal latches that secure the top down for carrying purposes are not rust resistant and should not be kept in a vehicle or non-climate controlled area for long periods of time or you will see rust develop quickly. They are also cheap, thin clasps that can come off easily if you move the top around while open and you may not even realize it because of all of the other sounds from loose items from other drawers and shelves.
There have been many times where I went to get a socket, wrench, adapter, etc and cursed the day I bought this set as everything I needed became stuck or scattered around my shop.
HOWEVER,
as someone who is not a professional auto-mechanic but is an avid DIYer, I would still rather have this set, for this price, than not have access to all of these tools. Most of my shop contains higher end model tools and I have a healthy appreciation for using a really good tool vs a piece of Wal-Mart junk. These types of sets are really just something I need to have on hand rather than something I need to use daily so I'm totally fine with this level of quality, as will many other Slickdealers.
Ultimately, the portability feature of the container is a highlight in theory but it is not enjoyable to utilize once you get to where you are going. At some point (when I get all of this 'free time' I hear people talk about), I think I will just make a small cabinet to custom fit these plastic mold shelves and that have wood shelves on drawer slides to keep these socket trays in for much more convenient access. I can always keep the actual travel case around in case I need to take the entire set somewhere. Until then, I am glad I have this set (for this price) but will freely admit that it is a pain in the butt to use.
Edit - the PF tool set is a different set, but it is extremely similar and several reviews talk about the issue with the drawers.
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Now I just use a digital torque adapter on a regular wrench. Much easier compatibility. Much easier piece of mind.
What happens is if you over torque the bolts get a little stretched and curvy and could snap. Or in other words, "It'll be very hard until it gets very easy and then that's very bad."
To steal from James May, I used the grunt scale. One or two firm grunt force pulls is usually good enough for most things of a regular size.
But having a torque adapter makes it pretty easy. But you'd have to get them as you use them, they're per size too. More expensive than a cheap torque wrench that'll do the one-off job and then you still need a ratchet to adapt to.
Exactly! In my experience they are never NOT locked. Always have to go in from the top and fix it enough to open it. Decent collection of sizes though. The blow molded tool box is just heavy on the blow....
Since the target market for this set seems to be "general tools for tasks around the house", I would propose:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/BENTIS...irect=
Ya. I know. Vevor. But for general tasks around the house, you'll find this set will help way more often than the Kobalt set at half the price.
Add this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/171-Pi...irect=true
to round out your "usable tools for general tasks around the house" and out the door, you are still under the total price for the Kobalt set.
I wouldn't build a house, or restore a car with any of these tools. But you'll get your brakes changed, keep your lawn mower running, etc.
But if you are looking for a good set of sockets/wrenches to do more advanced level stuff around your house, pay another $100 to get a better distribution of usable tools.
In summary, my opinion is those two Vevor sets are a better way to spend $100 on "around the house" tools than the Kobalt set.
More context: I bought the Vevor socket set. Can't tell you how many Husky sets go missing from job sites. . .Found this set that had way more tools for $60 than husky. Our tools get lost/stolen faster than they wear out, so we don't need really good stuff. I call this good enough stuff. Side by side, these tools have worked just as well as our Husky tools. There's just more and the carrying case is adequate. Holds all the tools and sockets well. Except one. There's one socket that won't seat in its spot. It stays were it's supposed to when the case in closed (and even dropped). But it won't snap into position.
But, Project Farm the YouTube reviewer found one of the Kobalt sets to be one of the highest quality that he tested. (There are many different sets and packages he didn't test this exact one but it would be assumed that the tools would be of similar quality)
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