Comments on: Kobalt’s Thru-Ratchet Gets Over Long Bolts

By: Pat Feltz

Pat Feltz — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:07:46 +0000

I would like to replace socket 11(22141) in Kobalt model 22353 Flex Thru-Ratchet Socket Set. Please tell me how much this would cost and if it can be replaced.

Thanks,

Pat

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:00:28 +0000

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

WA MAC — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:47:07 +0000

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

Justin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:39:18 +0000

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

Fred B — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:15:06 +0000

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

Fred — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:50:59 +0000

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

Karl — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:57:57 +0000

Those friends in the PRC who made that set are owned by Danaher. Danaher owns a whole bunch of companies in China.

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:35:05 +0000

Whoops. never mind that last comment. hard to keep track of who makes tools for whom these days.

same as gearwrenches.

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:22:39 +0000

If you want a set made in a non Asian country, Try Draper

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

By: Old Donn

Old Donn — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:24:17 +0000

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

Stuart — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:00:17 +0000

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/