Kobalt Review: Is It a Good Tool Brand?

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In North America, Kobalt is a fairly well-known make of tools. Although it may not be a recognized make anywhere else in the globe, equally far as North America goes, it is quite popular. If you are looking to upgrade your arsenal of tools, and you lot want some fancy new equipment for all of your building and repair needs, information technology is a brand that you might want to consider.

Today, we want to accept a closer await at Kobalt as a tool brand, including its history, the quality of the products, the product portfolio, and more. Let's figure out if this is the right brand for you.

Long Story Curt…

Kobalt

Kobalt is a power tool line of Lowe's, a well-known hardware store. Its tools are mainly targeted at DIYers.

As a brand, Kobalt is non particularly old. It was kickoff introduced in 1998, and it was created by Lowe's and its manufacturing partner, J.H Williams. For those of y'all who don't know, Lowe's is one of Due north America'south largest hardware, dwelling improvement, and appliance stores.

In fact, Lowe's was created equally the firm make of tools for Lowe's Habitation Improvement chains, and even so remains as such to this day.

What is interesting to note is that the Kobalt tool brand was created with the intention of being a direct competitor to other major retailers and their ain business firm brand, specifically to compete with Home Depot and their brand, Croaking, as well as Sears and their brand of tools, Craftsman (no longer owned by Sears). These tools are sold exclusively at Lowe's Domicile Improvement stores in North America and can likewise be purchased online.

At this time, the Kobalt headquarters are located in North Carolina, USA. The majority of products that Kobalt produces and sells are manufactured by the Danaher Corporation. The main focus of Kobalt can be divided into v major categories, which include power tools, hand tools, storage equipment, and mechanic's tools, as well as outdoor equipment to a sure degree.

In terms of the size of Kobalt as a company, it is respectable, although not huge, particularly not when compared to some of the really major tool brands across the world. When it comes to acquirement, the estimated almanac revenue of Kobalt is between $490 and $600 1000000.

Kobalt Drill in Use

Kobalt Tool Quality Overview

When it comes to Kobalt, these tools and various pieces of equipment are seen as beingness anywhere between boilerplate and above average in quality, especially when compared to some of the world'south leading tool brands and retailers.

Although Kobalt may not be a massive make in the grand scheme of things, they practice appear to produce some fairly decent products. Now, what does need to be said here is that Kobalt tools can be classified as good or pretty good, but most would agree that they are nothing excellent or special.

The general consensus most Kobalt tools is that they work well plenty for basic building and repair jobs, that they usually have skilful battery life and decent internal components, and that they tend to exist adequately versatile, too as comfortable to hold and simple to use.

However, when information technology comes to overall durability and whether or not they will last for many years to come, this is questionable. While Kobalt tools tend to perform fine in moderate atmospheric condition, if they are faced with farthermost tasks or daily heavy-duty work, or adverse atmospheric condition such as extreme heat and cold, they tin can start to vesture out rather chop-chop.

For this reason, Kobalt tools are more often than not marketed towards homeowners, small-time contractors, basic repairmen, hobbyists and DIYers, and for general tasks around the business firm. That said, you are not likely to see many large contracting companies or building firms using Kobalt tools, as for the nigh office they simply aren't durable enough for anything heavy-duty.

On a side note, Kobalt's hand and mechanic'due south tools are regarded as being the best of the bunch, probably because there are no moving components that can pause. And so, in the m scheme of things, Kobalt tools are fine for most purposes. Something else worth noting here is that Kobalt tools are not overly expensive.

Kobalt Mini Reciprocating Saw

Manufacturing

The vast majority of Kobalt tools are produced in China. Now, with that beingness said, as far as tools fabricated in China go, they are viewed every bit some of the improve ones. People tend to exist pleasantly surprised by the level of quality here, considering that the tools practice come from overseas.

However, not all of Kobalt's tools are made in People's republic of china. Specifically, the mechanic's tools are fabricated in the USA, which is probably another reason why they tend to be very high in quality, meliorate than the ability tools and other items sold past Kobalt. There are also a select few products that are manufactured in Germany, but these are few and far in between.

Warranty

In terms of Kobalt warranties, these are extremely diverse, and what sort of warranty you lot get depends on the exact production. Some of the most common warranties that you lot can look from Kobalt include satisfaction guarantees, three-yr and five-year limited guarantees, and some tools come with lifetime hassle-free guarantees. Considering that Kobalt tools are non too expensive, the warranties are pretty decent.

Kobalt Product Portfolio Overview

When it comes to the types of products Kobalt makes, these tin can by and large exist divided into a few dissimilar categories, as can be seen on Lowe'due south website. Let's take a wait at each category to discover out what can be expected in terms of product option.

Kobalt Power Tools

Kobalt does produce quite an extensive line of power tools, with most of them being battery operated, all just the biggest ones, such equally some of the larger saws. Kobalt produces a variety of saws, including portable table saws, various types of miter saws, jigsaws, circular saws, and other related types. Kobalt besides produces a variety of drills and drivers, hammer drills, sanders and polishers, and routers. You can also purchase some combo kits. It's not a massive selection, only more than plenty for basic use.

Kobalt Power Tools

Kobalt Air Tools

Kobalt does as well produce a solid diverseness of air tools, non too many, but the ones they do have are regarded as being fairly good. Here you lot can expect to find a variety of air compressors, air touch wrenches, air grinders, and assorted accessories.

Kobalt Air Tools

Kobalt Manus Tools

Every bit mentioned before, one of the virtually pop Kobalt tool categories is hand tools. Here you tin can wait to discover a diversity of mechanic tools sets, such as wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, and various household tools. In terms of selection, Kobalt has more mitt tools than everything else put together, or pretty close to it.

Kobalt Hand Tools

Kobalt Storage

Kobalt does besides produce some storage equipment, including tool chests and tool cabinets, as well every bit tool boxes and tool boxes for pickup trucks.

Kobalt Outdoor Power Equipment

Finally, Kobalt too produces a variety of lawnmowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, string trimmers, and more outdoor tools. However, keep in mind that they are all battery-powered. This brand does not produce gas-powered equipment.

Kobalt Outdoor Power Equipment

Is Kobalt a Good Brand?

Yeah, we would say that Kobalt is definitely a good tool brand. No, it'southward not the all-time in the world, simply absolutely above average. If you desire a decent selection of tools that come in at bully prices, and yous don't plan on being too crude with them, it's a perfect brand to consider.

How Does Kobalt Compare with Other Brands?

If you are non convinced Kobalt is the correct brand for you, make sure to also read my detailed comparison putting it next with other popular brands:

  • Black & Decker
  • Craftsman
  • DeWalt
  • Croaking
  • Milwaukee
  • Porter-Cable
  • Ridgid
  • Ryobi

Summary

At the end of the day, if you are planning to buy new tools, as long as you lot don't plan on using them for extreme purposes and yous don't plan on using them for twelve hours per day, every day, they should perform fine and terminal quite long also.