Heads up. Big time tool sale at Lowes
 

It seems like all the Kobalt mechanic tools are on sale big time. Seems like everything is 75% off.

$8 sockets and wrenches for $2

$40 power steering pulley tool for $10

If you have any missing pieces from your tool set, now is the time to get it.

Wow! Wonder if that is nationwide, or just a local thing? Guess I'll go check it out!

Ahh yes there is a reason. From the Tool Forum

Lowes' Kobalt tools were made by Williams, who is a subsidary of Snap On, somewhere in Georgia (Snap On is made in Kenosha Wisconsin).

That relationship has come to an end. I don't know why, but I'll speculate that the use of "Snap On" in Lowe's advertising has been part of the problem (Snap On has a new corporate policy that if it says Snap On it has to come through a truck-dealer, none of the other divisions can state they are Snap On unless they are directly distributed on dealer trucks like mine).

The new Kobalt tools will be made by somebody else and be much cheaper. Much lower quality too.

I hope the new Kobalt tools will not be made by the Harbor Freight guys

I agree - there is some very attractive pricing going on:D Don't forget your 10% off coupon from Wed. Paper.

kobalt at lowes is made my danaher (same as craftsman) hasnt been made by snap on... and if you look, alot of the items are very similar, danaher makes a ton of tools under a ton of names.

this has been discussed extensivly on garagejournal forum... there are photos there if you have doubts.

heh, I work on the computers at danaher. MAN IT"S LOUD IN THAT PLACE!!! I've got a lot of pictures of the place, and the presses where they hammer out the sockets. wild.
Right here in GASTONIA NC!

Is this a secret sale? I don't see anything about the sale on their web site...

Now if only lowes sold spring compressors... :( pipes dream

Below is what I bought.

I do not know if they are a good buy or not as over the years I have replaced my US made stuff that has gotten lost or I did not have with non-USA stuff.
The prices are on the pics.
3/8" and 1/2" Deep Metric Sockets, Metric Allen Sockets the US made Cresent made adjustable wrench is not a Kobalt.

Not all of the Kobalt stuff was on sale and some of the Kobalt stuff is not made in the US. All of the stuff I bought is made in the US but I had to look to be sure.

When I was leaving they were re-pricing the individual Sockets at a lower price.

I did not see anything like the Power Steering Puller there. Just normal hand tools.

I went to 2 stores. The one store had all of the Boxed Socket Werench sets sold.

I went and picked up the 1/2 drive torque wrench for 54.00 a set of long handle metric combination wrenches, a set of long reach ball end allen sockets, and a few socket sets...
pretty good haul for me. I'll have plenty of sets soon.
I noticed the MASSIVE toolboxes they usually have in the tool section are gone.

...or ball joint presses...:rolleyes:

I should check it out, my hand tool situation has gotten pretty dismal over the years.

I hit the new Lowes in San Jose behind the air port. bought about 6 deep sockets between 12mm and 27mm I was missing, or thought I was missing.

they had a display in the center of the store in one of the main isles for the memorial day sale. may have also said something about fathers day. had some good prices for the combination wrench sets, and socket sets. almost bought some, then thought, just how many do I need of these things/ I have a ton of sockets and box/open ends already.

what I need is the 1/2 inch extentions, and they only had one 6 inch. they had the Gear wrenches marked way down on the individual ones. think about 1/2 price. complete sets for $49.

The new gear wrench that has the flat side you pull against instead of the edge, were all gone. that whole section was cleaned out. only one left was the one on display set up to turn the nut.

I did notice a lot of the packages said, "made in china" or "Taiwan".

I can do as well going to swap meets picking up used Craftsman and other good tool brands. sometimes they are brand new and a little less than retail.

charlie

I went back yesterday and bought a set of 12 pt 3/8 drive Metric Deep Sockets under $10. It was made in Taiwan.
But, it had more sockets (11) in the set than the US made set did. So that was less than $1 each for the Sockets.

Harbor Freight has shifted buying some of their tools from China to India.

I would rather buy tools from Taiwan, India or Mexico if I have to buy cheap imported tools than China which I view as an possible enemy State.