I recently reviewed the Kobalt Direct Drive gearless ratchet, and really liked it. It’s definitely worth checking out, once the displays hit stores in November.
The standard set 14pc Kobalt Direct Drive ratchet set comes with the ratchet, a 1/4″ socket adapter, and 12 1/4″ and 3/8″ Multi-Fit universal spline-style sockets.
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There will also be a 15pc ratchet set that also comes with a free bonus 1/4″ Kobalt gearless palm ratchet. At least it looks like a free bonus, as the 14pc and 15pc sets are the same price.
Usually, Kobalt’s holiday-timed flagship tools are released in two versions – one that’s sold in-stores, and one that’s sold online with a free bonus bit set, holster, or other accessory. It looks like this 15pc set will be the online-only special promo set.
You wouldn’t think that the palm ratchet would be gearless, due to how it’s used, but it is! The Kobalt gearless palm ratchet will also be available separately, for $10.
Both Kobalt Direct Drive ratchet sets will probably drop in price a little as the holiday season kicks off in November, so check back for the latest price. Now, both sets are each priced at $30.
Buy Now(15pc Set via Lowes)
Buy Now(14pc Set via Lowes)
Buy Now(Gearless palm ratchet via Lowes)
As far as semi-gimicky holiday tool releases go, this is one of the best and more useful ones that I’ve seen in recent years.
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Henry
That sounds really promising. I went back and read your review, hoping for a “how does it work, for dummies”, and was not disappointed. Thanks for dumbing that down!
I’ve had quite a few experiences where you don’t have much, if any, room for backswing with the ratchet, and this would be a great help.
fred
Limited backswing capability can be a problem in metal fabrication (e.g. aircraft assemblies) and this style ratchet has been popular for years for installing Hi-Lok fasteners.
http://omegatec.com/hi-lok-installation-tools.aspx
Stu Douglass
Omega Tech makes nice quality tools for aerospace and is a leader in that category. The reverse feature on their roller ratchets requires the operator to manually insert the driver from one side of the head to the other. The new generation roller wrenches have the reversing switch on the back of the head. This is more convenient than the pop-thru or insert style reverse.
Michael
Looking forward to seeing it in the store
Patrick
The future is here, now, and on April 21, 2015, I will go to Lowe’s and purchase several more 14 piece sets, so that I can have one in every vehicle tool box!
They are on sale for $9.98, which is way less than just a ratchet, in any brand, that is
good enough to actually use. My set’s sockets and the Direct Drive handle are all
flawless! I do miss the 12mm and 15mm sockets, that seem to be necessary on so many vehicles.
I know it is made in China, and bless those tiny little children for their work!
But, since I was 7, I have had to work, (USAF for 20 years, too), and, now, at 68,
there is still much I must do, to make ends meet!
These smooth, effortless, tools, which I just discovered yesterday, are saving of my energy at 68… If you have and maintain any machines, you NEED this set!
Hang Fire
Given the low, low resale value of spline sockets and wrenches on eBay, I wonder how long vendors will take to give up on pushing them. Here we see they’ve already descended to Holiday Gift status, but people will buy them just for the gearless ratchet. Perhaps this is a last-ditch attempt by marketers to get someone to try splined sockets.
Stuart
DIYers, homeowners, and even some weekend warriors and professionals like universal-style spline sockets. So many brands have come out with sockets like these because people keep buying them.
I recently bought a couple more Proto spline ratcheting wrenches, and they’re pretty decent. I would take 6pt over spline for sockets, but for wrenches, spline box ends could be decent alternatives to 12pt ones.
jesse
What I don’t like is the dual-sized sockets, i.e. one socket for both metric and SAE, which I call one-size-fits neither (except for sizes like 3/4″ and 19mm). Dual sizing necessarily involves a compromise in fit that varies with the particular metric and SAE sockets being melded into one.
Hang Fire
One question, what is the COO for the ratchet?
Stuart
China.
steve m
it is a gearless ratchet, very usefull in lot of works, most of ratceht is 32 teeth, it is zero degree, any position you can turn,I am looking to buying one
Mike
I’m guessing these are not exactly selling well and Lowe’s has taken extreme measures to get them moving before the holidays. Twice tonight I’ve seen a commercial for these, one of those cheesy “As seen on TV!” type commercials that touts this set as the greatest thing ever invented. And if you call the 1-800 number right now, you get the bonus palm ratchet at no extra charge!
There’s some kind of editing error in the commercial, too. For about 1 second after the commercial ends there’s the tail end of another commercial for children’s bandages with cartoons on them. Bizarre.
Stuart
Lowes usually spends on TV commercials for their flagship Kobalt and holiday tool offerings.
Mike
This was different. Lowe’s itself wasn’t ever even mentioned in the commercial. The ad was only for this one set and only able to be ordered via a 1-800 number. It had the same format and quality as those for things like egg extractors, hat protectors, hurrycanes, etc. Same voice, too, I swear there’s only one guy who does all those voiceovers.
Sledgecrowbar
I’ve been looking to pick this up at my local Lowes for a while now, they don’t seem to have sent them out to any stores yet, which seems odd as they totally missed the big shopping weekend just now. I really don’t care to order online when Lowes is close and I get charged tax anyway, but I can’t even choose “ship to store” for pickup. I guess since shipping is free it’s essentially the same but I like going to the tool section, Lowes was becoming my new Sears but they jumped the shark on this.
Stuart
There are plenty at my local Lowes, but not *this* set. This set has the free bonus palm ratchet, the in-store sets do not.
For some reason, you cannot buy the in-store version online.
Mike
If you haven’t already, try asking where they are at the store. I’ve seen these in two Lowe’s stores and in both cases they were in the seasonal gift area, not in the tool isles. I don’t know about all the stores, but the ones near me have the tool area kind of sectioned off and there isn’t any place to put additional displays for items like these.
Patrick
April 20th, 2015, Walked into a Lowe’s, to price some dowels for a pasta drying rack,
and, finding that they are $4 each, vs. Walmart at 57 cents to $1.97, though made from the same poplar, probably by the same child slaves, in China…
So, as I perused the tools section, there were two end caps with plenty of these 14 piece sets on sale for $9.98 per, in rows of four box displays, on two shelves, each.
Mine works perfectly, smoothly, This set is a great bargain, for my truck travel tool boxes. I didn’t see any 15 piece sets with palm tools offered.
My Kobalt Direct Drive tool in set 0607975 is
Stamped with{ 607403 Pat. Pending
[ 0814
with the second line stamped in a smaller font type.
The numbers are all stamped similar to the stamping on every socket, so, I assume
the numbers are actually the part or SKU numbers.