House-brand tool boxes at Lowe's/HD: Any Good?

[LarryG]

How's the quality of the house-brand mechanics' tool boxes and rollaways at Lowe's and Home Depot (Kobalt and Husky, respectively)? Are they any good? Equal to, better than, not as good as Craftsman?

Also, should I only look at the models with ball-bearing slides, or are the plain metal slides okay for non-professional use?

[JSUPreston]

I don't know if it is still the case (or even true for that matter), but I hear from a reliable source about 2 or 3 years ago that the Kobalt tools @ Lowe's were actually made by the same people that had the Craftsman contract at the time. IIRC, Snap-On was also contracted out to the same group.

[Curly Qsawn]

I bought the Husky ball bearing. Heavier guage steel than similar Craftsman in price range. Certainly not the Professional quality though. They were on sale and an extra discount for floor model with scratch and dent. All in all I saved several hundred over Sears. For holding tools in the garage they are great. I don't think the Kobalt is as good a box as the Husky, but just my opinion.

[Pappy]

I will differ on the subject. I am looking at replacing the cheap WallyWorld specials that I have and am going with the Kobalt from Lowe's. The roller bearing slides are smooth and I think the only way you are going to get better, heavier steel is to shell out the $$$ for pro quality boxes. 2 other selling points. First, the bottom units come with a plastic top that has pockets to hold small parts while you are working. The other thing I like is the choice of sizes and drawer configurations so you have the ability to customize the package to suit your needs.

I, too, heard the Snap-On / Kobalt claims but the slide adjust cresent style wrench I picked up on clearance recently say "Made in China". As far as I know, Snap-On is made in the USA.

[LinuxRandal]

Kobalt tools, used to be made by JH Williams (an old tool maker, and a division of Snap~on). JH Williams is great stuff. After Lowes aquired FULL rights to the name and trademark, they kept JH as the contractor producing it for a bit. When Lowes decided that JH was producing fast or cheap enough, they contracted it to Dahaner (makers of Craftsman, Armstong, Allied, Matco, etc, (USA Made) and SATA (China made)). The ratchets and sockets, are supposed to be the same lines as Craftsman (haven't bought and rebuilt one yet), while things like the pliers and screwdrivers are made in China.
All of my Kobaltm is the old stuff (especially the flare nut wrenches, they no longer sell, that were quality comparable to Snap~on's at a MUCH lower price).
The toolboxes, were switched about two years ago, to Waterloo, I believe (85% sure). Waterloo makes Craftsman boxes as well as their own and several others.
Last I knew, the low end Husky boxes, were Stanley, and they did have someone else making the high end ones (never knew who).
Ball bearing verses non, really depends on how much weight, you want to put in them (personal preference, and numbers and weight of tools),

For an easy way to compare the old Kobalt tools, to the new. The old were smooth and polished chrome (look at the Kobalttools.com website), the new, have a rougher finish.

[vaking]

After buying few things from Sears lately with 75% defect rate - I would take Husky or Cobalt over Craftsman.