WallyMart Clearance-Popular Mechanics Tools

[samiam]

Went in my local Wal-Mart today and they seem to clearing out all Popular Mechanics Tools. I have a bunch of these tools and they are excellent quality.
They had the 8 piece ratcheting combination wrenches in SAE and Metric for $7.00 and other good tool deals.

These always have lifetime warranty meaning you can take them back to Wal-Mart for replacement, but now they're not going to carry them.
Never had to replace one myself.
Good luck

 

[soupwizard]

I got a set of Popular Mechanics tools + carrying case last fall at Wal-mart, 50% off - PopMech was changing their logo, so the old stuff had to go. Maybe the same thing is still going on.

They're great tools!

 

[amdskip]

I actually work in the hardware department. The deal is that we are getting Stanley hand tools in place of Popular Mechanics. Not all walmarts are discounting Popular Mechanics because our store is not.

 

[CURLYnoodle]

I dont want to get into a tool war, but as a heads up... Popular Mech tools are the biggest pieces of sh!t out there.... I would go to the "dollar store" and buy some tools if you are actually considering jumping on this.....

regards,

noodle

 

[samiam]

CURLYnoodle - I think the heads is ups your curly.

Now how could I resist a goodnatured upurs to the broadass statement you made.
I don't want you to leave the impression there's any substance to what you said.
These are forged vanadium steel. Now what do you want? Are you a Primative Pete that keeps breaking your tools?
No two tools of the same make and type, are exactly the same, but I'll bet if you inspect the machining differences between Popular Mechanics brand tools, you will find fewer differences than with Proto of the same type. These are really damn fine tools.

I hate to piss and hit the sack, but they are execellent, excellent, +........... are too, are too,+..........................

P.S. You ought to buy some these, just so you can try to break them. and then you can take them back - hey, that's an idea

 

[amdskip]

The difference in tools is basically how much "meat" (the amount of metal that makes a strong wrench) the wrench has. This is important to me because we dragrace and sometimes there isn't exactly too much room to get a wrench on a tight bolt.

 

[CURLYnoodle]

Sorry Green Eggs,

Honestly, I could care less if you bought those tools. My point was for those that may not know any better about the types and quality of tools. But in hindsight, I guess it was a worthless post on my part, since those that use tools on a regular basis would already know better than to purchase them.

regards,

noodle

 

[larrymoencurly]

I wouldn't call Popular Mechanics tools garbage because years ago, Consumer Reports tested hand tools and rated them highly, not at all like the AllTrade junk. I think they tested only socket sets and adjustable wrenches.

 

[bustAmove]

I have a socket set that has been great. I dont use them too often but when I do they have worked well and if I have a problem I am very close to Walmart and they have exchanged them immediately. My brother in law is a mechanic and he hates them. They break on him all the time so he is buying better and paying for it. So weigh it on your use!
BustAMove or BustAKnuckle

 

[brxndxn]

It all depends... I have a Popular Mechanics wrench set which could be built better. I also had a Popular Mechanics tape measure which came apart after very little usage (perhaps it just happened to be a bad one).. I didn't know I could have taken it to get replaced, though...

 

[amdskip]

The tape meassures are junk though.

 

[DEFIANT1]

Aww hell....! Let's get the party started! Go buy yourself a good old-fashioned set of Craftsman's and pretty much forget about replacement worries! The warranty policy on these is almost as good as a Zippo lighter! I've had wrenches that were sitting in the bottom of my tool box for 10 years getting rusty replaced with no hassle whatsoever.......

Of course if you can afford a REALLY hot deal, approach your local Snap-On truck driver about buying repo'd tools.......They kick ass!

 

[BuckMaster]

I have ALOT of tools! I own mostly craftsman tools. But I did buy a 10 piece set of misc screwdrivers at Walmart last year. They are Popular Mechanics they might of been a higher end set reason being I like them better then my craftsman screwdrivers; believe it or not. The Popular Mechanics have a steal weight on top and have magnic tips.

I havnt had to return many Craftsman tool but when I did no hassle here either. But I do remember when I use to work at a steel factory many years ago I use to work on a shear that cut steel. I bet I returned over 10 tapes a year because of accidently cutting my tape off in the shear forgeting to move it before the shear cut down It was nice going to sears and just replacing it for free!

I agree snap on tools are very nice but your going to pay 3+ times the price of the same craftsman tool. Snap on tools are mostly used by machnics they work on cars for a living because they hold up better on a everyday use.

 

[db]

I had to return a Craftsman 3/8" deep socket that was probably older than lots of folks on this board--anyway, the replacement was a crummy cheaper-made Craftsman deep socket. So quality is relative, even within brands.

 

[Ace4]

I have the two sets of popular mechanics allen wrenches, and they're holding up well. Then again, allen wrenches are pretty basic and don't see the abuse wrenches do. But I know a few people who have some wrenches of theirs and they are holding up fine.

Nothing beats the craftsman warranty policy tho, I love having no fears about using one of my small screwdrivers to pry, because if I bend the hell outta it I can just exchange it.

Snap-on or MAC are definately the way to go if you have the money to spend.

Ace4

 

[larrymoencurly]

I know something that beats the Craftsman warranty policy -- the Home Depot warranty policy, which not only replaces their Husky hand tools for life but also covers Craftsman and Snap-on. You bring them a broken Craftsman or Snap-on, and they exchange it for a Husky.

 

[Wik]

I do not care for the Popular Mechanics Ratchets at all. The gearing inside of the rachets really suck. Take a PM 1/2 inch drive and try to tighten a hard to reach bolt. You have to have the thing started damn tight as the PM ratchet does not ratchet very smooth. Also the size of the head too damn big. Sure they are strong, with that much mass they would have to be. The only good use for my 1/2 drive PM ratchet is as a hammer. I stick to Craftsman Pro series or Snap-on. If you have to use hand tools all day you tend to get picky I guess.

 

[amdskip]

Craftsman will take 30 year old tools back, been there, done that

hint for all u auction goers, buy them old craftsman tools cheap and get new ones for free