Coming Soon Mac Tools Fine Tooth Pear Head Ratchets.
- Thread starter Bryanthegreat
- Start date
OP
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
Yes, it looks like the lower one is without the comfort grip.
Interesting.. That Bevel around the housing edge is similar to the GW Xp's and I believe Apex has a factory in Dallas. 
With that said.. I would find it odd that Mac would stray so far away from the Stanley/Proto alliance on a Domestic made tool.
With that said.. I would find it odd that Mac would stray so far away from the Stanley/Proto alliance on a Domestic made tool.
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With the exception of the facom design ratchets, it took them long enough to get fine tooth ratchets, its 2014.
This looks like a sign of them trying to turn around their image, first those screwdrivers, now these ratchets
This looks like a sign of them trying to turn around their image, first those screwdrivers, now these ratchets
phil du jour
Well-known member
My question is how thin will the head be? I am very interested in buying Matco's 88t ratchet based mainly on the thin head and the comfort grip, as I have not been able to find any manufacturer that sells anything similar with a comfort grip. I can't tell from that picture if the head is thin or not. Also, how much will it cost? It better be around $140 or less to be competitive. Even Snap-on's high tooth count, locking flex head ratchets are cheaper than what Matco offers.
OP
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
They look nice, and appear to be low profile. I still don't know that I would invest in Mac ratchets unless I had a really stable Mac dealer to back them up.
Interesting.. That Bevel around the housing edge is similar to the GW Xp's and I believe Apex has a factory in Dallas.
Looks like its the exact same profile that has been used on the 45 tooth Proto Premium Pear Head ratchet since they came out ~6 years ago. Those are made in Stanley works facilities. My guess is the heads are largely the same with an upgrade to the mechanism. I was hoping they'd adopt the 45 tooth Protos under the MAC badge for awhile but i'll take an upgrade.
Would be nice if the comfort grips are finally replaceable as well.
Bryan can you post the Part numbers up from the second image?
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Maybe it's the photos, but I don't recall the protos having that defined of a bevel. As previously mentioned, a outsourced domestic Mac ratchet goes against the grain, but possible I suppose.
Ill wait for someone here to grab one and take some internal/external pics.
Just to confirm, you're talking about the chamfer around the head, yes? Proto's have them. Just looking at the head shape, especially of the 1/2" versions, I can tell you they aren't the same as any Apex product. Too round of a head, they look nearly identical in profile to the premium pair head.
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Just to confirm, you're talking about the chamfer around the head, yes? Proto's have them. Just looking at the head shape, especially of the 1/2" versions, I can tell you they aren't the same as any Apex product. Too round of a head, they look nearly identical in profile the the premium pair head.
The bevel or chamfer if you prefer looks more defined to me on the Mac, again.. The pictures are a bit fuzzy, I can't even make out the selectors on my iPad, As I stated earlier, a Stanley/proto family ratchet definitely makes more sense.
OP
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
They are:
MR690PA 1/4 drive 6" comfort handle.
MR690FPA 1/4 drive 6" comfort handle flex.
MR690FK 1/4 drive 6" metal handle flex.
MR590K 1/4 drive 5" metal handle.
XR1890FPA 3/8 drive 18" comfort handle flex.
XR1390FPA 3/8 drive 13" comfort handle flex.
XR1390PA 3/8 drive 13" comfort handle.
XR1390FK 3/8 drive 13" metal handle flex.
XR1390K 3/8 drive 13" metal handle.
XR1390FKS 3/8 drive 13" bent metal handle flex.
XR990FPA 3/8 drive 9" comfort handle flex.
XR990PA 3/8 drive 9" comfort handle.
XR790K 3/8 drive 7" metal handle.
VR2690FPA 1/2 drive 26" comfort-grip flex.
VR1890FPA 1/2 drive 18" comfort-grip flex.
VR1890FK 1/2 drive 18" metal handle flex.
VR1890PA 1/2 drive 18" comfort grip.
VR1890K 1/2 drive 18" metal handle.
VR1190K 1/2 drive 11" metal handle.
Typed as they are written on the page. Hopefully no typos.
MR690PA 1/4 drive 6" comfort handle.
MR690FPA 1/4 drive 6" comfort handle flex.
MR690FK 1/4 drive 6" metal handle flex.
MR590K 1/4 drive 5" metal handle.
XR1890FPA 3/8 drive 18" comfort handle flex.
XR1390FPA 3/8 drive 13" comfort handle flex.
XR1390PA 3/8 drive 13" comfort handle.
XR1390FK 3/8 drive 13" metal handle flex.
XR1390K 3/8 drive 13" metal handle.
XR1390FKS 3/8 drive 13" bent metal handle flex.
XR990FPA 3/8 drive 9" comfort handle flex.
XR990PA 3/8 drive 9" comfort handle.
XR790K 3/8 drive 7" metal handle.
VR2690FPA 1/2 drive 26" comfort-grip flex.
VR1890FPA 1/2 drive 18" comfort-grip flex.
VR1890FK 1/2 drive 18" metal handle flex.
VR1890PA 1/2 drive 18" comfort grip.
VR1890K 1/2 drive 18" metal handle.
VR1190K 1/2 drive 11" metal handle.
Typed as they are written on the page. Hopefully no typos.
If you can zoom in on his first photo later you'll convince yourself entirely, the reverse selectors are identical to the Proto, much wider than an Apex and there is no undercut to make the lever flush. Dallas Tx is where they make the vast majority of their tools as well.
I have 4 of the Matco 88t ratchets and love them. The Matco locking flex head has become my go to 3/8 ratchet and my Snap On flf80 rarely leaves the box now.
I did break the drive on the 1/4 in ratchet but the thing has an 8" handle and I was putting way more torque on it that I should have.
You started this thread, we will need full detailed pictures on day 1 of the release.
Very possible and for the third time, definitely, extremely plausible and common for Mac to share "domestic" made tools across the board.
90 tooth gear,Quite a jump up from the old 30T models. I wonder if these will phase out the older 30T models, or just another option. Looks like quite a line up. I wouldn't mind trying one out. Maybe MAC is listening to us after all. To bad they only list the 26" ratchet in the comfort grip.
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Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Very nice!!! 90 teeth just like my Carlyle ratchet. 
I'm anxious to get the Proto version but, the Mac version looks good. I'm not too sure about the comfort grip handle shape though.
What's not to love? yet another ratchet choice
Now, if SK would only consider making a finer toothed ratchet ........
I'm anxious to get the Proto version but, the Mac version looks good. I'm not too sure about the comfort grip handle shape though.
What's not to love? yet another ratchet choice
Now, if SK would only consider making a finer toothed ratchet ........
FiendFX
Well-known member
Thought MAC died? Haven't seen a MAC truck around for years..
Wamsutta
Well-known member
It looks like they put some lines on the metal handle for grip.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I wasn't implying that the new MACs were Carlyle clones, I found it funny that Mac would pick 90 teeth. Perhaps they found a way to make the current premium Proto 45 tooth into a 90 tooth platform.
OP
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
It is hard to tell if they are locking or not. I prefer a locking flex myself. I would guess they are just the ball style. I will see next week if my Mac guy has any more info. He didn't mention them while he was there and I found them in the catalog after he left.
I wasn't implying that the new MACs were Carlyle clones, I found it funny that Mac would pick 90 teeth. Perhaps they found a way to make the current premium Proto 45 tooth into a 90 tooth platform.
My post was not a response to your post.
I wasn't suggesting that you were implying that they were Carlyle clones.
Just so happens I was typing my post before you posted, but your post hit the thread before mine.
Just coincidence. ;-)
Mastermind
Well-known member
18" flex head 3/8" drive...been waiting for the snappy version of this...might have to get one of these
Just to let you know if you didn't already. Matco and GW ratchets are the same ratchets but with different guts and labeling. I saved a whole bunch by getting some GW ratches and putting Matco 88 guts in them. Love them.
superautobacs
Well-known member
It's nice to see MAC is finally offering an upgrade to their oh-so-out-dated pear heads. I was once offered one for free from a co-worker but I declined as I didn't care for them at all! The detents for the flex-head was so...uninspiring.
Based on the photos I don't think they share the same head and selector from the Proto premium (which btw, is a **** ratchet).
Does anyone else think the comfort handle is injection molded? Look at the end of the handle--it looks like there's metal there.
I have a feeling that the flex heads are going to be a locking type? ...seems to be some black object at the pivot point.
Based on the photos I don't think they share the same head and selector from the Proto premium (which btw, is a **** ratchet).
Does anyone else think the comfort handle is injection molded? Look at the end of the handle--it looks like there's metal there.
I have a feeling that the flex heads are going to be a locking type? ...seems to be some black object at the pivot point.
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Man, Mac has been putting out some nice new products the last few months......it's too bad they took the last 10-15 years or so off. I used to buy almost all Mac stuff (including a brand new Macsimizer).....and its almost all worn out, been replaced, traded off or sold save their 1/4 & 3/8 locking extensions that I really like & a 15 yr old air hammer that doesn't get used much. Its a shame, they really had a solid product line in the mid-late 90s.
stroh
Well-known member
Can anybody confirm if Proto is going to have these as well??
rjohnson
Well-known member
And USA made to boot. I'm very happy to see Mac is coming around.