Comments on: Kobalt’s Thru-Ratchet Gets Over Long Bolts http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:53:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Luke http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-292482 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:00:28 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-292482 KABO Tool Company (Taiwan) makes many private label tools that are sold in the U.S. under contract for Danaher, Mac, Matco and even Snap-On. I learned this at an international tool and trade show I attended last month. In some cases, the tools are made as blanks and then stamped with the company logo. Some of the names they make tools for were displayed at their booth such as Matco, Mac Tools (Mac Edge), Bluepoint, Westward (Grainger), and even some of the Kobalt line. But if you want true Made in the USA tools with a lifetime warranty and not have to pay though the nose, try Martin Tools. http://www.martinsprocket.com/home.htm One of the places you can get this is though Grainger. KABO Tool Company (Taiwan) makes many private label tools that are sold in the U.S. under contract for Danaher, Mac, Matco and even Snap-On. I learned this at an international tool and trade show I attended last month. In some cases, the tools are made as blanks and then stamped with the company logo.

Some of the names they make tools for were displayed at their booth such as Matco, Mac Tools (Mac Edge), Bluepoint, Westward (Grainger), and even some of the Kobalt line.

But if you want true Made in the USA tools with a lifetime warranty and not have to pay though the nose, try Martin Tools.
http://www.martinsprocket.com/home.htm

One of the places you can get this is though Grainger.

]]> by: WA MAC http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282519 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:47:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282519 Danaher also owns Matco. Matco's wrenches and sockets ect.. are the same as Gearwrench, Armstrong, KD... Talk about a huge mark-up !! Danaher also owns Matco. Matco’s wrenches and sockets ect.. are the same as Gearwrench, Armstrong, KD… Talk about a huge mark-up !!

]]> by: Justin http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282190 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:39:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282190 So are they cheaper than the gearwrench version or the same? Seems like the gearwrench brand would be easier to warranty at a later date based on their current success. Who knows how long Lowes will carry them. So are they cheaper than the gearwrench version or the same? Seems like the gearwrench brand would be easier to warranty at a later date based on their current success. Who knows how long Lowes will carry them.

]]> by: Fred B http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282149 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:15:06 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282149 Same as Gearwrench, I have a Gearwrench set, and the Kobalt driver set that comes with the Flex ratchet handle, the sockets and drivers interchange. Same as Gearwrench, I have a Gearwrench set, and the Kobalt driver set that comes with the Flex ratchet handle, the sockets and drivers interchange.

]]> by: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282131 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:50:59 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-282131 Danaher is much like many other (e. g. Stanley, Cooper, Snap-On) conglomerates in the tool business - who have bought up other companies (sometimes failing ones - where all that was really purchased was the brand names). At my last count the Danaher family of brands included Allen, Armstrong, Easco Hand Tools, Fluke and Fluke-Harris, Gearwrench, Jacobs, K-D Tools, Lea-Way (in China) and Raytek. Danaher is much like many other (e. g. Stanley, Cooper, Snap-On) conglomerates in the tool business - who have bought up other companies (sometimes failing ones - where all that was really purchased was the brand names). At my last count the Danaher family of brands included Allen, Armstrong, Easco Hand Tools, Fluke and Fluke-Harris, Gearwrench, Jacobs, K-D Tools, Lea-Way (in China) and Raytek.

]]> by: Karl http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281940 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:57:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281940 Those friends in the PRC who made that set are owned by Danaher. Danaher owns a whole bunch of companies in China. Those friends in the PRC who made that set are owned by Danaher. Danaher owns a whole bunch of companies in China.

]]> by: PutnamEco http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281802 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:35:05 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281802 Whoops. never mind that last comment. hard to keep track of who makes tools for whom these days. same as gearwrenches. Whoops. never mind that last comment. hard to keep track of who makes tools for whom these days.

same as gearwrenches.

]]> by: PutnamEco http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281796 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:22:39 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281796 If you want a set made in a non Asian country, Try Draper www.drapertools.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=40174 If you want a set made in a non Asian country, Try Draper

www.drapertools.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=40174

]]> by: Old Donn http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281637 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:24:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281637 Was checking this out at my local Lowe's the other week. It's distributed by Danaher, but it's made by our friends in PRC. Was checking this out at my local Lowe’s the other week. It’s distributed by Danaher, but it’s made by our friends in PRC.

]]> by: Stuart http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281601 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:00:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/04/16/kobalts-thru-ratchet-gets-over-long-bolts/#comment-281601 This is likely built for Kobalt/Lowes by Danaher, based off of Gearwrench's pass-thru system. http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/xl_pass-thru_system/gearratchet/ This is likely built for Kobalt/Lowes by Danaher, based off of Gearwrench’s pass-thru system.

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/xl_pass-thru_system/gearratchet/

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