Lowe's has
297-Piece Kobalt SAE & Metric Polished Chrome Mechanics Tool Set w/ Hard Case (53414) on sale for
$99.
Shipping is free, otherwise select free store pickup where available.
Thanks to Deal Hunter
jk6812 for sharing this deal.
- Note: Availability for pickup may vary by location.
About this Item:
- This set includes three (3) 90-tooth ratchets, over one hundred (106) SAE and metric 6- and 12-point sockets, thirty-six (36) bit driver sockets, six (6) SAE and metric stubby combination wrenches, ratchets and a broad assortment of hex keys, insert bits, nut drivers and a magnetic driver handle.
- Case measures 9.25-in H x 16.5-in W x 12.2-in D and weighs 24.65 pounds.
Top Comments
The KOBALT is STEEL and will rust ... The Craftsman is CHROME
The KOBALT is fine if you do NOT need any wrenches .. I think it comes with 6 total ...
The Craftsman has like 21 or something like that .... I find myself reaching for wrenches much more than sockets initially
SO if you are planning in doing virtually NO wrench work and you don't mind getting very upset everytime you need to open the container to find a tool - then I guess the KOBALT is fine -- but again - the case is sooooo poorly made after about 3uses you're going to just want to buy a Tuppaware container and dump them all in that instead ...
IF I had to do it all over again - I would 100% go for the CRAFTSMAN ... NO RUST, pretty good case, tons of wrenches, and NOT allot of thrown in parts that you will never use like the KOBALT did ...
27 Comments
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I just keep it in my office so I don't have to run to the garage for tools. Works well in that situation, but if I needed something more reliable, I would pass.
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The KOBALT is STEEL and will rust ... The Craftsman is CHROME
The KOBALT is fine if you do NOT need any wrenches .. I think it comes with 6 total ...
The Craftsman has like 21 or something like that .... I find myself reaching for wrenches much more than sockets initially
SO if you are planning in doing virtually NO wrench work and you don't mind getting very upset everytime you need to open the container to find a tool - then I guess the KOBALT is fine -- but again - the case is sooooo poorly made after about 3uses you're going to just want to buy a Tuppaware container and dump them all in that instead ...
IF I had to do it all over again - I would 100% go for the CRAFTSMAN ... NO RUST, pretty good case, tons of wrenches, and NOT allot of thrown in parts that you will never use like the KOBALT did ...
The still bigger questions should be:
- What components do you think you need?
- What components are included?
- Are they 6-point, 12-point, or deep sockets?
- Other than the sockets, do you need the other pieces?
- Do you really need a giant set like this?
There are probably a dozen of these $99 250+-piece toolsets out there for the holidays. Lowes is confusing the issue by releasing new versions with slight tweaks.This set appears to be new, presumably because they are in a "piece count war" with Husky, Craftsman, Pittsburgh, and various Chinese-made brands, so they went from 277 to 297 pieces. I can't find a PDF listing the components of this set, so it's hard to say whether it's a meaningful difference.
If you have a fixed workshop and you work on machinery like cars, then these sets are a great value (though not the top quality for the heaviest torque needs).
If you aren't that guy, and you just want tools in the closet for the occasional times when you need to put together furniture, open the air handler, or tighten the garage door hinges, then honestly I don't think you need a nearly 30-pound behemoth set like this. I'm partial to the Husky 94-piece set that's on sale for $49 (it doesn't have a 1/2" ratchet, but it's got a full range of sockets and a bit driver and a well-designed compact case and weighs 20 pounds less than these giant sets).
This set appears to be new, presumably because they are in a "piece count war" with Husky, Craftsman, Pittsburgh, and various Chinese-made brands, so they went from 277 to 297 pieces. I can't find a PDF listing the components of this set, so it's hard to say whether it's a meaningful difference.
If you have a fixed workshop and you work on machinery like cars, then these sets are a great value (though not the top quality for the heaviest torque needs).
If you aren't that guy, and you just want tools in the closet for the occasional times when you need to put together furniture, open the air handler, or tighten the garage door hinges, then honestly I don't think you need a nearly 30-pound behemoth set like this. I'm partial to the Husky 94-piece set that's on sale for $49 (it doesn't have a 1/2" ratchet, but it's got a full range of sockets and a bit driver and a well-designed compact case and weighs 20 pounds less than these giant sets).
I think the HUSKY set you recommended is a little TOO small for the weekend warrior though .. its really just a basic ratchet set .. I think that most weekend warriors will need wrenches and hex keys and screw drivers, etc as much as just ratchets ...
BUT YES .. agree that we are going to see a Parts NUMBER war pretty soon ... Have no idea why KOBALT keeps tweaking everything but their case ... seriously -- this poor ass case has cost them more sales then made ... There has to be a Chinese company that can make them a reasonably good case for $5.00
I just keep it in my office so I don't have to run to the garage for tools. Works well in that situation, but if I needed something more reliable, I would pass.
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Also those 72 tooth entry-level Craftsman ratchets are trash. At about the 9:40 mark, Project Farm tests just the ratchets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G...zw&
The 90-tooth Kobalts are better.