Kobalt tool chests?

turnipgreen · 11-26-02, 06:08

I'm going to be in the market for a serious tool chest in the next few months. I've just started looking, but I know I want a base that rolls on casters, and the drawers to be on ball bearing slides. I have a friend who works for Snapon, but I quickly figured out that unless he ended up with some mis-ships that I wasn't going to be able to justify the cost. He pointed me to the Kobalt brand that is being sold at Lowes, as he says Snapon makes these. He went further to say that the Kobalt stuff was of higher quality than like the Craftsman from Sears.

Just wondering if any of you had comments.

BradE · 11-26-02, 06:25

I own some Kobalt tools, including one of their tool chests. Kobalt is made by J.H. Williams, which is the industrial hand tool division of Snap-On Inc. There tools are VERY high quality, much better than Craftsman IMO. Make no mistake Kobalt IS NOT the same as Snap-On, but for the normal DIY'er it's as close as you are going to find. The quality for the price is outstanding.

The tool chests are very nice. They use heavier gauge metal than Craftsman and all units come with ball bearing drawer slides, etc. They are pretty nice toolboxes, I own one myself. They are not quite as good as Snap-On, but are light years better than Craftsman. Do a comparison for yourself, check out the Kobalt box and then go look at a Craftsman box of equal. It's not even a challange, the Kobalt box will win hands down.

On a side note, I hear rumblings that Lowe's is dropping the Kobalt line because they can't seem to get along with Snap-On over pricing, availability, etc. Many of the Lowes are running very low on stock of tools and the toolboxes are quickly going bye-bye. I think Snap-On has stopped shipping to Lowes. My local Lowes is almost totally out of everything and I know Adamah was looking for a toolbox as well but can't find any in his area. So, if you want one and can find it I would buy it before it's gone.

If you have anymore questions about Kobalt stuff fire away, or you can PM me if you want.

Adamah · 11-26-02, 06:28

Kobalt tools are made by Snap-On. The quality of their tools blows Craftsman away. They make very solid, good handling tools. I'm not lucky enough to live near a Lowes that carries the Kobalt tool chests so I cant attest to the quality but I know ShowroomLincoln just bought one and I think the loves it. Maybe shoot him a PM about it.

Adamah · 11-26-02, 06:28

Heh, he beat me.

BradE · 11-26-02, 06:32

Here is the Kobalt box I have, it's 43'' tall and was about $230.

turnipgreen · 11-26-02, 08:40

Any rumblings about who would pick up the Kobalt line if Lowes stopped carrying it? My Lowes only had a couple of the larger pieces, and neither was what I wanted. I didn't ask yet about getting pieces they don't have.

Just wondering how the lifetime warranty would work if Lowes stopped carrying them and nobody nationwide picked it up.

turnipgreen · 11-26-02, 08:53

I was just browsing the online Lowes Kobalt selection, and the dimensions listed don't seem right. They list the width on a top chest that looks like it would go on top of the tower you have at 16 inches. Surely this is the depth. How wide is your tool chest?

BradE · 11-26-02, 11:01

Last rumor I heard the Kobalt line would be absorbed into Williams and Snap-On industrial and would no longer be available for retail sale.

My tool chest is about 28" wide and 43" high.

turnipgreen · 11-27-02, 06:42

I emailed my friend from Snapon, and he said he had heard the same rumors you mentioned. He said that he didn't know all of the issues, but that the relationship between Kobalt and Lowes was not guaranteed. He went further to say that while visiting a Lowes he noticed the slim inventory of Kobalt.

For my benefit though, he said that if I bought Kobalt and ran into any warranty issues, he would swap me Snapon as replacements! Can't beat that, if I can get what I want from Lowes as far as Kobalt goes.

BradE · 11-27-02, 07:16

turnipgreen,

Thanks for the confirmation. I had heard just rumors and have not had any type of confirmation. I know most of the stores around the Cincinnati area don't have much, and Adamah can't find any of the tool chests where he lives.

I hope they can work things out, Kobalt is probably the best band for the buck in the DIY'er tool market today.

Thanks again for the info.

turnipgreen · 12-10-02, 02:36

I haven't been able to find much as far as Kobalt chests locally either, even though they have been advertised in the Sunday paper every week. I finally found a 800 number (actually 888) and called to see what story they would give. According to the lady at Kobalt, they are low in stock at Lowes at the moment due to them redesigning their line, and a new line will be out in mid January. She wouldn't give me any details other than that.

I guess I'll wait til mid January and either see their new stuff, or call back and see what the updated story is.

BradE · 12-10-02, 05:28

Wow, that sounds interesting. I hope "Redesiging" does not mean cheaper quality at same price.

From what I heard mid-January was the time Lowes and Kobalt were set to split.