PEC brand? combo square

[plinker]

So I pick this up tuesday, https://www.proxibid.com/PEC-four-p...-condition/lotInformation/76681924&rfpb=0#Top Not familiar with the PEC brand, but a basic interwebz search said it was a good price.

Also picked up a Knapheide truck tool box for not a lot. https://www.proxibid.com/Knapheide-...-condition/lotInformation/76681573&rfpb=0#Top

 

[darkzero]

Precision Engineering Corp makes good tools. Many people who aren't into machining overlook them, they're kinda like one those good kept secrets kinda things. Great tools for the price & made in USA. I have quite a few PEC tools & have been happy with all of them.

 

[RTM]

Yup, and HJE carried them, sometimes even grind offs, at an even better price.

I have a 4” double square by PEC, and for my woodworking work, it’s as good as the Starrett. Suspect serious machinists may disagree, but that ain’t me.

 

[lardy1]

Yes. Epstein's had good prices on PEC blems awhile back and I upgraded from my older, beat up one and I'm very impressed. Like RTM, I use it for woodworking rather than machining so what impresses me may not be what you're looking for.

 

[slowtwitch73]

They are not made in the USA.

 

[lardy1]

They are not made in the USA.

Mine has Made In USA stamped on the blade. Right next to where the name was ground off. I believe I read that PEC makes their tools in California but the details escape me.

 

[RTM]

They are not made in the USA.

HJE seems to disagree with you, at least on some items.

PEC

PEC

www.harryepstein.com

You might want to alert the FTC if you have facts otherwise.

 

[neophyte]

PEC was likely the OEM for a bunch of the “quality” Combination Squares that were US Made, and not branded by Starrett.
I think one of the woodworking magazines years ago in a review of Combination Squares basically said that PEC made the squares for Mitutoyo and maybe Brown and Sharpe.

I believe the opinion in the magazine combination square review/test, was that the Starretts were higher quality, but the PEC made squares saved you a few dollars.
The test was 10-20 years ago though.

The Starrett and PEC squares were better than the similar Asian made clones using similar materials, and the Combination squares using aluminum or zinc castings were sort of considered junk in comparison.

The current cost of the PEC seconds at Epstein Tools is around what Harbor Freight used to charge for a cast iron Starrett combination square clone (not the ones HF currently caries), and the PEC squares are almost certainly way better made than what HF had.

 

[darkzero]

PEC was likely the OEM for a bunch of the “quality” Combination Squares that were US Made, and not branded by Starrett.
I think one of the woodworking magazines years ago in a review of Combination Squares basically said that PEC made the squares for Mitutoyo and maybe Brown and Sharpe.

Yep I've always suspected that too. I have PEC thread pitch gauges, hook rules, edge finders (for mill), & a sheet metal thickness gauge. The same ones from Mitutoyo look identical and are listed as made in USA. Their basic protractors I suspect are made by PEC also.

Mitutoyo had various generations of combo squares. Older green ones are made in Japan and I think Brazil. Newer light gray ones which is what I have are made in Mexico. But there were bluish ones that I think may be made by PEC?

PEC isn't the highest quality like older Starrett but still pretty good & great bang for the buck for USA made. Sadly for certain things, made in USA doesn't mean all that much to me in terms of quality anymore. USA can make absolute junk too.

 

[RichieP_MechE]

Another satisfied PEC customer here. I've got a 12" combination square kit, 6" double square, and some 24" rules all purchased from HJE. Quality is good. Also have one of these protractors ( https://www.harryepstein.com/pec-rectangular-head-protractor-5170-name-removed-2nd.html ) which was clearly a Mitutoyo with the logo ground off based on the box it came in (peeling up a sticker on the box revealed the Mitutoyo logo).

 

[slowtwitch73]

I was making a tool that I wanted a made in USA dti for. I communicated with PEC a number of times. Long story short, they are very dodgy and opaque about where their tools are made and their marketing concerning 'made in USA'. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

They were removed from the 'made in USA' tools thread here.

Here's a snippet from their site, italics mine. Call the lawyers in to decode it:

"Supplied both domestically and internationally, all PEC Tools are manufactured in the USA with regard to appearance, finishing and function."

This isn't to slam their quality... just beware.