MAC sockets

[VWinTHEblood]

I'm probably meeting up with the local MAC dealer next week to get a 3/4 drive extension warrantied and I was thinking of upgrading a few of my "high use" metric 3/8 drive chrome sockets. Most of the ones I have now are Craftsman and I sometimes notice they are a bit sloppy. How do you guys feel about MAC sockets, are they on par with Snap on?

 

[Fedwrench]

The short answer is no. However, Mac has two main versions of chrome sockets these days. They have the Mac edge line from Taiwan that has ridges in the walls of the socket to grip damaged fasteners. They also have their regular sockets that are still made in the USA. They're nothing fancy. I would look at them and draw your own conclusions about their quality, fit, finish, and feel.

 

[Crawlin]

All of my 6pt sockets are mac, Got a full set, all drives and deep and shallow. The quality is way better than my few craftsmen 12 points, but I never use 12pt so thats why I have craftsmen for those.

 

[autoace]

The short answer is no. However, Mac has two main versions of chrome sockets these days. They have the Mac edge line from Taiwan that has ridges in the walls of the socket to grip damaged fasteners. They also have their regular sockets that are still made in the USA. They're nothing fancy. I would look at them and draw your own conclusions about their quality, fit, finish, and feel.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^good answer

 

[Merkava_4]

My little MAC socket is the real deal USA.

 

[wrenchr]

About 1/2 of my sockets are mac and they have held up great!!!

 

[autoace]

My little MAC socket is the real deal USA.

Wow, you used that one, I can see some wear.

 

[Merkava_4]

The USA made MAC sockets are EXCELLENT.

 

[wrenchr]

I even have a set of 3/8 mac edge metric sockets and they are very good.

 

[krusty the clown]

i'll pass on MAC sockets...........

 

[Merkava_4]

i'll pass on MAC sockets...........

You can't make a statement like that without telling the whole story ... some of the new dudes are probably thinking WTF.

 

[billymade]

I don't have much if any mac chrome sockets but I do have quite a few Mac impact sockets, extensions etc. and I have been impressed with their USA made impact related products! I just picked up a set of 3/8" impact swivel sockets in metric with the metal tray; used them today and they work really well! Again, I agree mac hardline never has seemed particularly fancy or high tech but historically, I have picked up their hard line way cheaper then Snap-On and that is why I have a decent amount of their tools.... including tool boxes, service carts, air tools, etc etc. I wouldn't exactly call them a "stealth brand" compared to Proto/Plomb but they do seem to resale for cheaper, at least in my area.

 

[krusty the clown]

You can't make a statement like that without telling the whole story ... some of the new dudes are probably thinking WTF.

at least the chrome finish is pretty

 

[Skyline]

While pretty much all my tools are Snap-on, we have all sorts around the house for my son's eBay sales. I do find the USA MAC stuff quite nice. The design seems good, the chrome quality is excellent as well. I would think the deciding factor should be the quality of your local dealer; and who is going to give you better service (and less hassle for a return). Their tools do tend to run a bit heavier than Snap-on as well.

I will say that I particularly like their chrome swivel sockets, as they are held together with a hex bolt that can be tightened. Snap-on swivels get loose with time, and then become somewhat less usefull. One reason you see so many techs with electrical tape wrapped around their swivel sockets....kind of a shame for sockets that cost $45 each.

Sounds like Krusty had some bad experiences with MAC...

 

[krusty the clown]

Sounds like Krusty had some bad experiences with MAC...

over and over and over...........

dealer issues aside, lets just say the quality of even MAC's usa made tools are nowhere near the quality of snap on and MAC costs more. i have broken more MAC sockets than any other brand (impact sockets aside). almost all of my MAC tools have been put in the "at home" box and replaced with snap on.............i can't make a living with a broken tool

my older MATCO swivels were made by national hand tool........same as MAC's...........personally i hate the screws but to each his own

 

[Merkava_4]

i have broken more MAC sockets than any other brand

Quite buying those Taiwanese made ones....

 

[autoace]

over and over and over...........

dealer issues aside, lets just say the quality of even MAC's usa made tools are nowhere near the quality of snap on and MAC costs more. i have broken more MAC sockets than any other brand (impact sockets aside). almost all of my MAC tools have been put in the "at home" box and replaced with snap on.............i can't make a living with a broken tool

my older MATCO swivels were made by national hand tool........same as MAC's...........personally i hate the screws but to each his own

+1

MAC = Makes All ****

 

[Merkava_4]

+1

MAC = Makes All ****

Another blanket one liner statement.

I judge each tool on a per part number basis ... I don't let one single tool taint my opinion of an entire tool brand.

 

[bmwpower]

Mac rules...bite me.

 

[krusty the clown]

Quite buying those Taiwanese made ones....

never bought a taiwanese one..........


but the last MAC guy tried to replace a us made one with a taiwan one...........it's still sitting on my desk hoping someday i'll find a good mac dealer.

 

[autoace]

Another blanket one liner statement.

I judge each tool on a per part number basis ... I don't let one single tool taint my opinion of an entire tool brand.

MAC was my first "pro" tool vendor years ago. Their stuff is sub-standard compared to Snap-on, Cornwell, etc. Do you really want the long list of why? I'm not sure I even want to type that much tonight. I have stuff from Harbor Freight that has put the MAC tools to shame. pathetic

 

[Merkava_4]

Their stuff is sub-standard compared to Snap-on, Cornwell, etc. Do you really want the long list of why?

I've got some MAC tools that I consider to be very good quality; that's why I'm thinking if you're gonna make such an explosive statement about a whole line of tools, you had better be explaining some things yes.

That's like going over to the BITOG board and proclaiming Pennzoil is junk - you'd be stirring up one helluva hornet's nest if you did that.

 

[bmwpower]

I actually don't have any new MAC stuff, so maybe that is completely different than the wrenches and impact sockets I have from them.

 

[krusty the clown]

i like their us made screwdrivers, us made toolboxes, and us made impact sockets...................they can keep everything else. and i'll not buy anything from them again.

 

[Merkava_4]

i like their U.S. made screwdrivers, U.S. made toolboxes, and U.S. made impact sockets...................they can keep everything else. and i'll not buy anything from them again.

Fixed it.

 

[krusty the clown]

again with the grammar...........i told you i spent my time in school in the vocational ed building, not the english dept.........


correct this one........i'm going to bed.


don't you think there are some other posters more in need of your services?

 

[Merkava_4]

again with the grammar...........i told you i spent my time in school in the vocational ed building, not the english dept.........

No sir........I'm not referring to your grammar; I'm just asking you to give the flag a couple of strokes of the shift key and put some CAPS up for it.

 

[autoace]

I've got some MAC tools that I consider to be very good quality; that's why I'm thinking if you're gonna make such an explosive statement about a whole line of tools, you had better be explaining some things yes.

That's like going over to the BITOG board and proclaiming Pennzoil is junk - you'd be stirring up one helluva hornet's nest if you did that.

Some of their old USA stuff is ok.

1) I have never had a ratchet worth a damn from MAC
2) Their prybar handles all became loose
3) I broke MANY of their wrenches (the only "pro" brand I have ever broke)
4) The Macsimizer box I had, the chrome peeled of the pulls, and the bottom drawer was always rough, and crooked (it was a new box, no abuse)
5)Their customer service is the worst, they make SO look good
6)They didn't make good on warranty service or sales (7year absence, no dealer)
7) some of their stuff was ok, but compared to Snap-on their products ****, so if I am going to put up with bull...I say Snap-on whips MAC on all fronts

keep in mind, I am not a SO worshiper!

What do we really need MAC for?

 

[stricht8]

I think that USA made MAC hardline tools are beautifully made and the MAC dealers that I have been using are MUCH friendlier than any SO dealer I've ever encountered.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I have a few Mac U.S made sockets but to be honest I don't have anything particularly good or bad to say about them I think for the money I would chose another truck brand. I do really like my Mac impact extensions and dead blow hammers though.

 

[goodfellow]

I have mostly MAC (although most were purchased in the 60's and 70's) -- great tools. The US made line is excellent. I can honestly say that I've only returned two or three chrome sockets under warranty -- ever. I've returned many more Snap-on and MATCO chrome sockets.

I have a few MAC socket sets of more recent manufacture and have been satisfied with all of them, but think they are overpriced. In the old days you bought MAC as an economical alternative to Snap-on, but that aspect is no longer true.

Their ratchets have always been sub standard, but I have always liked their hammers, autobody tools, screwdrivers and pliers.

 

[stricht8]

I actually think that SO autobody hammers are much nicer and feel more balanced than MAC.

I have mostly MAC (although most were purchased in the 60's and 70's) -- great tools. The US made line is excellent. I can honestly say that I've only returned two or three chrome sockets under warranty -- ever. I've returned many more Snap-on and MATCO chrome sockets.

I have a few MAC socket sets of more recent manufacture and have been satisfied with all of them, but think they are overpriced. In the old days you bought MAC as an economical alternative to Snap-on, but that aspect is no longer true.

Their ratchets have always been sub standard, but I have always liked their hammers, autobody tools, screwdrivers and pliers.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I really like the knuckle saver wrenches, and I do have a 1/2" drive 18" long ratchet from them that is a job to use, but other than that I don't have anything any more.

Knuckle Saver 2 is a great wrench, doesn't mess up your hand like a Flank Drive Plus wrench.

Adam

 

[stricht8]

And those MAC EDGE ratcheting wrenches will take anything off. Made in Taiwan or not, they work.

 

[krusty the clown]

No sir........I'm not referring to your grammar; I'm just asking you to give the flag a couple of strokes of the shift key and put some CAPS up for it.

patriotism is far more than punctuation...............


while i appreciate your enthusiasm it isn't credible with the waffling between support for asian outsourcing and the need for a U.S. manufacturing base.......

 

[wrenchr]

patriotism is far more than punctuation...............


while i appreciate your enthusiasm it isn't credible with the waffling between support for asian outsourcing and the need for a U.S. manufacturing base.......

Good point

 

[VWinTHEblood]

Dealer service makes a huge difference on what brand people choose. I have heard that the local MAC dealer is a pretty decent guy, and when it comes to Snap on I have heard from many that the dealer is a real **** head. Out here we only have those two truck brands to choose from. Is MAC reasonably equal to PROTO quality because I can get a pretty good discount on them from the local tool supplier and warranty service from them has always been exceptional.

 

[stricht8]

Yup, those SO dealers need to get nicer. Every time I buy something from the MAC dealer he gives me either a free bottle of air tool oil, a calendar, a T-shirt, a pocket tool, a small screwdriver set. Yup, every time. He is also a really nice guy and asks me about myself, my cars, my life. I've never got anything like that from a SO dealer, ever.

Dealer service makes a huge difference on what brand people choose. I have heard that the local MAC dealer is a pretty decent guy, and when it comes to Snap on I have heard from many that the dealer is a real **** head. Out here we only have those two truck brands to choose from. Is MAC reasonably equal to PROTO quality because I can get a pretty good discount on them from the local tool store supplier and warranty service from them has always been exceptional.

 

[a390st]

The Mac USA late 1990's or early 2000's sockets I had were very nice looking. I never really used them because I had so many other 3/8" sockets, so I sold them. I honestly think they were some of the best looking sockets I have ever owned. I wish I could give you a better answer about the function of them.

 

[wrenchr]

The Mac USA late 1990's or early 2000's sockets I had were very nice looking. I never really used them because I had so many other 3/8" sockets, so I sold them. I honestly think they were some of the best looking sockets I have ever owned. I wish I could give you a better answer about the function of them.

They are just as good as any other brand.
Cornwell is my favorite.