Kobalt Speedfit Tool

[mcp6453]

A year or more ago, I purchased a Kobalt Speedfit tool that has a drill bit and countersink in one position and a screw driver bit in the other position when the bit holder is flipped. The tool is not showing up on the Lowes website, and I could not find one in the store yesterday.

The pilot bit broke. It's a 7/64" with a flat side on the shank. Lowes doesn't have one, and they are the exclusive reseller of Kobalt tools, as far as I know. The 7/64" bit I bought is too long. It will not let the insert lock into the tool when it is flipped around so that the screwdriver bit is showing.

Are there any options other than trying to cut part of the shank off of the replacement bit?

[dpb]

On 2/24/2012 8:00 AM, mcp6453 wrote: ...

That's the obvious solution -- just use a Dremel or abrasive cutoff wheel or even grind it down slowly if that's all you've got to use.

On the exclusive Lowes thing, I saw some Kobalt stuff in the last Northern Equipment catalog. Whether that's a widespread burgeoning trend or Northern bought up a surplus supply of something, I've no clue...thought it interesting when I saw it 'cuz I'd thunk the same up 'til then.

[mcp6453]

Problem solved. Even though Kobalt said they didn't have replacement bits, a helpful employee at my local Lowes store found the replacement bits -- in the wrong department.

Once I found the bits, I found the tool on the Lowes website:

The tool is apparently sources by Jore Corporation, Ronan, Montana, and sold under the Kobalt brand to Lowes. It is apparently a regular item and not a seasonal item, as Kobalt said. The strange part is that of the 5 stores that show up in a Lowes search, mine is the only one with low or no stock on the tool or the bits.