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Kobalt tools sold at Lowe's are made in China. They are two steps above junk.

Most of Cobalts Hand Tools are made in Las Vegas, Nevada. They offer Free replacement and are about where 41 Specialdelux showed them on his list as far as quality, Fourth.

I sold mechanics hand tools since 1977. Began with Mac and switched to Matco in 1979 when they came along.
99% of professional mechanics won't use a Craftsman tool for several reasons. One of the things is the general feel of wrenches etc. Snap-on probably has the best wrenches. Sockets are about the same for the main brands. All the big companies have certain items that are better than the others. The majority of the mechanics purchase most of their tools from the dealer that gives the best service, is dependable and nice like me.

I love Mac & Matco...Snap-on wrenches I'd be afraid I drop one and "ding" the chrome...I'm still a Williams fan...

If by Williams you mean SK (they dropped the Williams years ago) they are medium quality. SK went broke a few years back and were bought out by a different company. They are almost the same price as the three major professional brands now and still made in the US.

Matco and Mac were together and split apart in 1979. Mac went broke and Stanley bought them out. Stanley tools and Mac tools are not the same.

Matco is owned by the Danaher Corp. They also own KD, Gear Wrench, and Jacobs Chucks and a few other compainies.

The Williams wrench sets I have are so old the chrome is nearly gone...I pick them up at "flea markets" when I see them...I collect all old Proto, Williams, Armstrong, etc...Wrenches, when I see them...I keep a list in my billfold, as to the ones I'm missing...Some of my Armstrong Wrenches are huge...There just wall hangers...

"Of all the kobalt tools at LOWE'S only 7 types of tools are made entirely in the USA, the rest are either made with parts from other countrys or made in China.
The air compressors are made in the USA with the motors coming from Mexico.
Two screwdriver sets are made entirely in the USA.
The 3rd set labeled "professional" is made in China.
All of their power tools are made in China (except the air compressor).
All the mechanic associated tools like jack stands, ATV lifts, bottle jacks and the 3 ton jack combo. rolling tool chests are made in USA, as are the mechanics tools like the socket sets and wrenches. However, their locking pliers and all other kinds of pliers are made in China."

I prefer the made in China tools. They bend, not break saving your knuckles. Besides the ladies like those bent ones for jewelry, bracelets and do-dads.

Actually I have a bunch of Craftsman tools. My favorite is the fine tooth ratchet wrenches handles. Don't think they have made them for many years. Work well in tight places and hold up relatively well. Second favorite is 7/16" 8-point sockets. A really handy tool for 20s and 30s Chevys with all those square nuts. A lot of their new stuff is pure junk.

China means: Cheap, Handy If Nothing else Available. Crap Highly Intelligent Nerds Abhor. Careful Hands Injured Nearly Anywhere. I am sure there are more and better ones.

I have had several elcheapo socket sets from foreign lands, Great Neck Pittsburg etc., etc. I took them on jobs or tours where I really didn't expect to do a complete engine teardown and rebuild. mainly they are shiny, crude and barely functional, if I lost a socket in the dirt no big deal. My first sockets and wrenches were WWII surplus, Oddball but mostly very good quality.
My "real " sockets have always been S-K my first set of 1/2 inch (12 point)drive are from 1953, my 3/8 inch are 1955(12 point) and my 1/4" set is 1980 only my 1/4" set came with long and regular sockets all my S-Ks are SAE size. I like the way they are made and how easy the ratchets can be taken apart for cleaning and repaired, if ever necessary.
I have a couple of Thorson metric sockets bought for my 1995 Silverado. I also have an old set of my Dad's old 1/2" hex drive 8 point sockets without a ratchet, just a hex L handle. I had a set of 3/4" S-K sockets I gave my dad, he promptly sold them after he quit working on pump jacks and large gas engines. He told me he got $100 for them. I think I paid about $250 for them new. That did break me from leaving my "stuff" with him for safekeeping.
Several years ago, when I was on a work trip to North Dakota I bought a set of Lowes Kobalt 1/2" drive sockets, ratchet, breaker bar and sockets. They are acceptable. I like the Williams tools my Dad had. He bought them from an oilfield supply store. We used Proto tools when I worked the field for Halliburton back in the 1960s and 70s. They were top of the line.

Mr Mac, your number of posts makes a good card hand. (11111)

I just remembered the old wooden handled screw drivers I got from my grandfather...The tips are fantastic...Never wear or break...And I never let anyone "borrow" them. I recall the time I left some Craftsman tools in my boat, while a "friend" did some work on it for me ( he's a Snap-on guy ) when I got the boat back I asked him where my tools were...? He said he threw them away...

I also get those "freebie" screw drivers from H.F...Have tons of them...There cheap, but I always have a screw driver handy for use around the house...Same with their tape measures...

This is really interesting and informative.

The list I posted had a "MAC something". I see now that it was supposed to be MATCO. I couldn't think of the name at the time.

I didn't know that MAC tools had gone out of business. Mercy! They had good stuff.

I see the testimonials about Williams tools. I'll be sure to pick them up at the flea market when I run across them.

I still have a few Snap-on and Craftsman tools my dad had back in the forties and fifties. The Craftsman back were pretty good quality. Seems they had less bulky shoulders around the business ends. You know what I mean.

I have been buying any MAC or Snap-on tools I come across at the flea market.

I recently picked up a GoodYear Impact Lug Nut Driver for 60 bucks. It has the various lug nut size sockets and works great. It's 24 volts and came with a charger and carrier. I just used it on the 41 coupe when I was filling the shocks.

Someone told me about three years ago that hacksaw blades made in China were some of the best. Can anyone verify that.

Charlie

Mac Tools did not go out of business. Originally it was a family owned business. In about 1982 it was going under and the family sold it to Stanley - who owns it now. They had deeper pockets to get it back up to speed. Mac is alive and well.

He probably heard it on the Internet... I do know that some of the finest machine tool cutters come from Israel...Kinda weird...

A freind just took and old 3/8 craftsman rachet in for replacement and they would not give him a new one, they took his old one and he waite for several days for a rebuilt replacement.

That's out and out nuts...I would have demanded to see the manager...Tell him I need that tool today...What kind of outfit is this...?

Here's another Craftsman story...I saw an ad in the local newspaper for 50% off on those small wrench sets, and when I got there they said that was for a different store 50 miles away...Geez.

I have SK half & 3/8 ratchets that I've abused for 50 years and never broke. Love them.

Yeah, S&K are great...I just don't use the sockets for my impact wrench in a bind, and your all good...

I also had that happen I took a 1/4" racket in and had to wait for a rebuild. My first set of tools was from western auto in 1960 I was 16 and the store manager let me pay 5 dollars a week in layaway I think they were around 30.00 I still have most of them and are used a lot (wizard brand) not sure if there made any longer.

As for impact sockets...I have a set from H.F....Chinese made "Pittsburg"...Can't find anything wrong with them...They get the job done for "cheap'os"...

I bought my first set of 1/2" drive from Western Auto in '62. I set 'em aside, in the tool box they came in around '73 when I bought a more complete (1/2", 3/8" & 1'4")set of Craftsman.

They did a good job. I gave 'em to my favorite nephew about 10 years back.