Dave455
Well-known member
I was reading another thread about Mac Tools, and without knowing all the facts didn't want to comment, but it did get me thinking about Mac.
I was a bit late to the Mac Tools party! By the time I'd come across 'em, some of the really nice stuff, such as the ratchets with the square hard handles, had been discontinued, but there's still some nice stuff there!
When I wanted top end U.S. made tools I'd been buying Snap On, and didn't really have an incentive to look elsewhere, but a Mac dealer visited a body shop I worked with, and his stuff seemed to be nice!
Here in the U.K. there are a lot of old but top quality British made socket sets around, but most of them have worn or missing ratchets. I had such a set too, but with Snap On ratchets being so distinctive it seemed more sensible to replace it with a Mac. Nice tool, in fact nicer than the original!
I had a set of half inch drive Bedford sockets (old British make) in Whitworth sizes that I use for machine installation. Needing to add a few metric ones I went for Mac again. Good choice as it turned out. The Mac fitted beautifully with my beloved Bedford, so much so that I coulldn't resist adding the half inch drive ratchet!
This really is a gorgeous tool. Conventionally styled, but beautifully made. Lovely comfortable grip with proper smooth knurling (so many get this wrong), no sharp edges, making it a delight to use, and superb chrome!
Mac Tools often get compared (unfavourably) to Snap On. Well sure, the management may have made some dodgy decisions, the proportion of genuine Mac made items on the truck seems to get smaller and smaller, and I probably wouldn't want to sign up to be a dealer!
But, despite all that, I kinda like their tools!
I was a bit late to the Mac Tools party! By the time I'd come across 'em, some of the really nice stuff, such as the ratchets with the square hard handles, had been discontinued, but there's still some nice stuff there!
When I wanted top end U.S. made tools I'd been buying Snap On, and didn't really have an incentive to look elsewhere, but a Mac dealer visited a body shop I worked with, and his stuff seemed to be nice!
Here in the U.K. there are a lot of old but top quality British made socket sets around, but most of them have worn or missing ratchets. I had such a set too, but with Snap On ratchets being so distinctive it seemed more sensible to replace it with a Mac. Nice tool, in fact nicer than the original!
I had a set of half inch drive Bedford sockets (old British make) in Whitworth sizes that I use for machine installation. Needing to add a few metric ones I went for Mac again. Good choice as it turned out. The Mac fitted beautifully with my beloved Bedford, so much so that I coulldn't resist adding the half inch drive ratchet!
This really is a gorgeous tool. Conventionally styled, but beautifully made. Lovely comfortable grip with proper smooth knurling (so many get this wrong), no sharp edges, making it a delight to use, and superb chrome!
Mac Tools often get compared (unfavourably) to Snap On. Well sure, the management may have made some dodgy decisions, the proportion of genuine Mac made items on the truck seems to get smaller and smaller, and I probably wouldn't want to sign up to be a dealer!
But, despite all that, I kinda like their tools!
Gonna be a bad month. Just bought the 3/8 X13 
Might need to pick up a couple more cartons.
