Garage Gazette

TOOLS AND THE SHOP => MECHANIC HAND TOOLS WE USE => Topic started by: coolmercury on August 18, 2020, 07:25:17 AM

Title: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: coolmercury on August 18, 2020, 07:25:17 AM
These were in the bottom of a box lot and are a complete set (including a 1 3/16").  They have a good finish and have been very lightly used, so are they any good?  Made in Taiwan.
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: Rusty on August 18, 2020, 07:32:40 AM
I've had good luck with PM stuff. Some of the old USA items were .ade by EASCO.
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: hickory n Steel on August 18, 2020, 10:50:36 AM
They were a Walmart house brand in the 90's or something I believe, and I've heard the tools were usually decent.
I have no experience with the sockets but I've got a US made PM tape measure that I use often.
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: goodfellow on August 18, 2020, 11:33:35 AM
Decent tools. As Rusty stated, PM had contract branded tools manufactured by EASCO for many years. In fact at one time the same forging designs and marks on wrenches sourced from EASCO also showed up on NAPA and PM tools Except for the lettering, the wrenches were identical. Although the prices were often much less on the PM branded tools than their NAPA or EASCO brethren. Later on PM switched to Taiwanese manufacturing sources and the quality was still very good.
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: DeadNutz on August 18, 2020, 03:12:43 PM
I have some PM wrenches from 5/16 to 5/8 that came in a box I bought. They are Taiwan made.
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: bonneyman on August 18, 2020, 06:41:17 PM
Heck, I'd steal 'em and throw them in the truck box!  :lol_hitting:
Title: Re: PM sockets (popular mechanics)
Post by: jim m on August 22, 2020, 07:27:53 PM
Where we lived in California there was only Kmart (Bench top) and Walmart (Popular Mechanics). So I bought a lot of there tools. the nearest Sears was 1 1/2 Hrs away. That was Like back in the 80s. I still have most. I have a long handle Bench top 1/2 drive Ratchet that is a beast. Still use it.