Mac Tools: New Products For 2015

[Conductor562]

As we've touched on in a couple threads, I got invited to attend the 2015 Mac Tool Fair in Indianapolis last month to check out all the new products coming from Mac this year.

Check it out @ TIA:

http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2015/03/mac-tool-fair-new-products-for-2015/

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Very Cool! Thanks for the write up & link!

The new Green MacGrip drivers are cool...I'll be sold 100% if they release a full set with the pre-cut control foam like the Macsimizers before...

 

[Buckgnarly]

No front side shot of the new ratchets?!?!?....

Were they held together with a snap ring (like Matco type) or screws? Man I hope screws....that 18" flex is calling my name, but no Mac guys around here anymore.

 

[Conductor562]

No front side shot of the new ratchets?!?!?....

Were they held together with a snap ring (like Matco type) or screws? Man I hope screws....that 18" flex is calling my name, but no Mac guys around here anymore.

They were held together with 2 torx screws. Looked to be T15's.

 

[woodstockva]

Nice job Conductor! Always cool to see the new tools in person...lucky you!

 

[ADSR]

Those rats look awesome!

 

[tlpatter]

Im not a big fan of comfort grip ratchets. I wonder if they will be available without. If so Im in.

 

[Wamsutta]

Questions for Conductor:

1. Were you able to hold the new 90 tooth ratchet with the soft grip in your hand and if so, how do you like the feel?

2. Are the top two ratchets in the picture 3/8 in. drive and the bottom ratchet 1/2 in. drive?

3. Are the new flex head ratchets free swivel, or do they have detents at the wrist?

4. Which camera did you use to take the pictures?
Those pictures are just awesome!

 

[zcbauer89]

Looks like some great new items. I've always been a fan of Mac.

 

[FriendOfYours]

No lock on the flex ratchets? Do not want.

 

[Conductor562]

tlpatter: Yes, they will be available in traditional metal handled versions

Wamsutta:

1: The comfort handles feel nice. To too hard, but not too soft. They also have a slim feel to them.

2: All rats pictured are 3/8". Initially there will be 18″, 13″, and 9″ comfort flex, and 7″ polished chrome 3/8″ models. These make up over 80% of Mac's ratchet sales. 1/2", 1/4", and additional 3/8" will follow.

3: They are tension models and do not lock.

4: Pics we actually taken with an iPhone 6+

 

[Skin]

That 20v 3/8 looks like it will give the CT8810 a run for its money. Will be even better if its priced more realistically like MACs 12v line.

Also nice to see someone else offering reversible stubbies. Cant say I care too much about their edge line expansion. I also don't like that twiggy looking button on the locking flex ratcheting wrenches either. Seems perfect for bending/breaking it off.

 

[Fedwrench]

Thanks for sharing
I'm digging the new color screw drivers.

The high speed seal driver is actually a rebadged Sir Tools model in fancier colors.

http://www.sirtools.com/flier5.html

Thanks again for sharing. Mac may have s few winners this year.

 

[Conductor562]

Thanks for sharing
I'm digging the new color screw drivers.

The high speed seal driver is actually a rebadged Sir Tools model in fancier colors.

http://www.sirtools.com/flier5.html

Thanks again for sharing. Mac may have s few winners this year.

Good find Fed. I'd never seen this thing before, but it's a neat idea for sure

 

[Wamsutta]

Wamsutta:

1: The comfort handles feel nice. To too hard, but not too soft. They also have a slim feel to them.

2: All rats pictured are 3/8". Initially there will be 18?, 13?, and 9? comfort flex, and 7? polished chrome 3/8? models. These make up over 80% of Mac's ratchet sales. 1/2", 1/4", and additional 3/8" will follow.

3: They are tension models and do not lock.

4: Pics we actually taken with an iPhone 6+

1. Excellent, they look real comfy in the picture.
2. That's what I thought, but wasn't sure.

3. I was actually asking if they had a spring loaded ball detent like MAC's other ratchets, but if they have a friction joint like Snap On has, that would be excellent. The spring loaded ball detent gets annoying after awhile.

4. That's the phone I will get!!

 

[Conductor562]

1. Excellent, they look real comfy in the picture.
2. That's what I thought, but wasn't sure.

3. I was actually asking if they had a spring loaded ball detent like MAC's other ratchets, but if they have a friction joint like Snap On has, that would be excellent. The spring loaded ball detent gets annoying after awhile.

4. That's the phone I will get!!

Yep, no detent ball, just a friction joint.

The 6+ takes good enough pics that I don't feel the need to lug a camera around anymore in most situations.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Thanks for the sharing. I will be placing my order with my MAC driver on Friday.
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the ToolMan wont give me no credit

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Too bad Mac is late to the game with those ratchets as they look nice!

 

[Conductor562]

Noticed the orange and green MacGrip drivers are in the flyer this month

http://resources.mactools.com/flyers/USM_2015_04/pubData/mobile/index.htm

 

[bobbycos]

how can i save money with threads like this




are there any little old rich ladies who need some lovin' touchin' squeezin' out there

 

[arz71]

MAC tools are AWESOME!!!

 

[Coach James]

Not trying to start something, but I am going to ask. Some threads proclaim that MAC is all Chinese and no good while other threads say the opposite.

Which is it? Or is it a mix? Their tools look great, but I have almost zero experience using them.

Coach

 

[ADSR]

Not trying to start something, but I am going to ask. Some threads proclaim that MAC is all Chinese and no good while other threads say the opposite.

Which is it? Or is it a mix? Their tools look great, but I have almost zero experience using them.

Coach

It's a mix. MAC makes some pretty good tools.

 

[arz71]

Not trying to start something, but I am going to ask. Some threads proclaim that MAC is all Chinese and no good while other threads say the opposite.

Which is it? Or is it a mix? Their tools look great, but I have almost zero experience using them.

Coach

Have quite a bit of MAC tools all mine are USA made.

They have new tool lineup and Made in USA, their knuckle saver wrenches I like better than Snap-On. They have new screw drivers as well, my ratchets are MAC as well. I like their sockets as they are narrower at the best of them.

 

[Conductor562]

As LordDiesel said, Mac is a mix. Most of their hard line stuff is USA made with the exception of the Precision Torque stuff. A lot of the specialty sets are OEM'd by a third party like the other trucks and vary in regards to COO. Never encountered any Chinese stuff, but I've seen a lot of Taiwan.

Mac really improved their line over the last couple of years. Their ratcheting combos, screwdrivers, titanium air impacts, cordless line, and soon to be ratchet line has all been upgraded very well and are great tools for anybody's money IMO

 

[arz71]

As LordDiesel said, Mac is a mix. Most of their hard line stuff is USA made with the exception of the Precision Torque stuff. A lot of the specialty sets are OEM'd by a third party like the other trucks and vary in regards to COO. Never encountered any Chinese stuff, but I've seen a lot of Taiwan.

Mac really improved their line over the last couple of years. Their ratcheting combos, screwdrivers, titanium air impacts, cordless line, and soon to be ratchet line has all been upgraded very well and are great tools for anybody's money IMO

They have really innovated new tools, want to get some of them new Duratek screw drivers.

 

[heytrid]

I really want that bearing driver. kind scared to know how much it is though.

 

[zcbauer89]

Most of my Mac stuff is USA, and very very good tools.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

I ordered a set of the mini hook and pick with red hard handles my driver got them a week later and got them. When I brought them home looking at the back of the package and I saw Made In Taiwan boy was I pissed. $40.00 for imported set of four mini hook and pick. It is going to be returned and in the future I will be reading those MAC Tools packages really careful. That is if I buy any more MAC Tools....
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the ToolMan wont give me no credit

 

[Conductor562]

I ordered a set of the mini hook and pick with red hard handles my driver got them a week later and got them. When I brought them home looking at the back of the package and I saw Made In Taiwan boy was I pissed. $40.00 for imported set of four mini hook and pick. It is going to be returned and in the future I will be reading those MAC Tools packages really careful. That is if I buy any more MAC Tools....
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the ToolMan wont give me no credit

I've got a couple older hard handles that are USA, and some rubber handled versions that are USA as well, which particular style are you referring to?

The larger radiator hook & pick sets are USA made and I believe sourced from Mayhew

 

[Spudland_Dave]

It's a mix. MAC makes some pretty good tools.

It is a mix, but IMHO there is more to the story then just the COO. If you look at the parent company Stanley Black & Decker, they are a large GLOBAL tool Company. With quite a few top shelf brands under its belt...Facom, Blackhawk, Proto, MAC, etc.. In today's global economy, it may make you feel warm and fuzzy to close your eyes and say if its import its junk, but at the end of the day, your missing out. SBD has done a really good job in the last 3 years or so to right the MAC ship (And other brands it owns).. no doubt at the turn of the 21st century, I think MAC was a rudderless ship trying to find its way..they lost franchisee's, lost in house product, etc. and those bad memories stick long in people's minds.

I look at the MAC Cordless line..Am I the only one that thinks its a simply AWESOME idea to leverage the DeWalt battery tech... The new MAC Designed AWP050 is the 1/2" Impact to beat today, Duratek Handled screwdrivers are excellent, New Rat's on the horizon, etc.

Sure we will always have rebranding...is it REALLY a bad thing we have Facom stuff Rebranded MAC? OR being able to get a MAC Impact in Proto Colors? I don't think so at all.
IMHO I think SBD is doing a good thing by leveraging its in house brands and utilizing the production facilities it has wherever they are located.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Mac is more hit and miss than Snap On, but they still have a lot of good stuff. I like a lot of their sockets and other hard line tools and some of their service kits. I'm not a big COO guy, but I find that I have to be careful with them on that. For instance, many of their pliers are ****. They develop so much play that on needlenose sets, the jaws don't align. For those, I will only buy the USA made models.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I should say though, I really like their USA pliers. The ones I have are great.

 

[RedRabbit]

I see a couple bucks dissappearing from my wallet.

 

[Conductor562]

It is a mix, but IMHO there is more to the story then just the COO. If you look at the parent company Stanley Black & Decker, they are a large GLOBAL tool Company. With quite a few top shelf brands under its belt...Facom, Blackhawk, Proto, MAC, etc.. In today's global economy, it may make you feel warm and fuzzy to close your eyes and say if its import its junk, but at the end of the day, your missing out. SBD has done a really good job in the last 3 years or so to right the MAC ship (And other brands it owns).. no doubt at the turn of the 21st century, I think MAC was a rudderless ship trying to find its way..they lost franchisee's, lost in house product, etc. and those bad memories stick long in people's minds.

I look at the MAC Cordless line..Am I the only one that thinks its a simply AWESOME idea to leverage the DeWalt battery tech... The new MAC Designed AWP050 is the 1/2" Impact to beat today, Duratek Handled screwdrivers are excellent, New Rat's on the horizon, etc.

Sure we will always have rebranding...is it REALLY a bad thing we have Facom stuff Rebranded MAC? OR being able to get a MAC Impact in Proto Colors? I don't think so at all.
IMHO I think SBD is doing a good thing by leveraging its in house brands and utilizing the production facilities it has wherever they are located.

This is a great response Dave and holds a lot of truth. The Mac line was pretty tired for awhile but I think Mac has done an excellent job "righting the ship" as you said.

It sounds like most agree the newer items like the screwdrivers, wrenches, and presumably the Axis ratchets, are very nice additions, but the cordless and air tools are equally impressive. Rather than re-brand an Aircat or IR gun, they went to the drawing board, designed an entirely new gun unlike anything else on the market, and they knocked it out of the park. The AWP050 was a best seller for Mac and for good reason. You can't put that gun in your hands and not like it.

The cordless stuff is pretty impressive too IMO. They utilized their Dewalt kinship to put out tools with proven design and reliability, but managed to beef each one up to the point you don't feel like you're getting the same thing you could get in yellow for less. That potential perception was a real concern brought on by the Dewalt compatibility, but it was a pro-consumer move and Mac pulled it off nicely.

The BWP038 might be my favorite power tool of the 30 some that I own. It's compact, feels great, has great balance, and 150 ft-lbs is no slouch performance for a cordless 3/8". My first one was stolen from our trailer at our final race last year and I felt like my dog had died. I loved that little gun and had to replace it.

I think the Axis rats are really going to be icing on the cake for all of Mac's efforts over the last couple of years. I guess we'll find out in June

 

[rmsg0040]

ratchets, screwdrivers, and cordless impacts look really good

screwdrivers are in this month's Canadian flyer, 6pc > $100

 

[Brownsfan]

I should say though, I really like their USA pliers. The ones I have are great.

Then you would love channellock pliers. Same tools but red dipped handle . Even has the CL part number in the mac number. Cornwell does the same. But orange handles. The just put a CCL in front of the CL number. Doesn't make them any less of quality because they are top notch. I often wonder who makes Proto pliers. If they do then why not source them from proto and not CL .

 

[RedneckWelder]

That 1" impact belongs in my box...2500 ft pounds of "breakaway torque"

The "Quiet Series" impacts look to be Nitrocats.

 

[ADSR]

ratchets, screwdrivers, and cordless impacts look really good

screwdrivers are in this month's Canadian flyer, 6pc > $100

too much! I like them, but that's too much.

19pc williams is a better deal

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Then you would love channellock pliers. Same tools but red dipped handle . Even has the CL part number in the mac number. Cornwell does the same. But orange handles. The just put a CCL in front of the CL number. Doesn't make them any less of quality because they are top notch. I often wonder who makes Proto pliers. If they do then why not source them from proto and not CL .

These ones?

I guess that's not too surprising. I've always defaulted to Channellock pliers for pretty any general, though I do have Klein, Knipex, Snap On, and Mac for certain pieces. I've never bought the truck brands for any more than equivalent pair of Channellocks, but I have been willing to pay the premium for Klein and Knipex since I actually used to be in the trade.