The hand-tool market is so competitive that any good idea is bound to breed copycats. Take the new Craftsman Dog Bone and Black & Decker ReadyWrench socket wrenches. Both tools feature essentially the same design—so how did the dueling doppelgängers make their simultaneous debut?

Two new weed whackers recently ditched the traditional gas/oil fuel mixture. One switched to propane, the other to lithium-ion batteries. The new tools seem capable, but how do their cutting-edge designs compare to the veteran petroleum blend?

PM’s last blender test had a clear winner, but it still wasn’t the blender of our dreams. This time around, we went in search of the top blender on the market, no matter what the price. Shouldn’t a blender be able to handle a whole fruit apple, orange or banana? Read on for the full results.

A single measuring tape calculates the lengths of everything from lumber to copper, but when it comes time to mark those measurements, the tool to use depends on the material. Keeping the line clear and legible is one of the keys to an accurate cut. Stow these items in the toolbox and you'll be read...

Popular Mechanics teamed up with the Science Channel’s Brink to scour, staple, drill and melt safety glasses. Here's how these three pairs of eye protection held up to our abuse. (Published in the September 2009 issue)