First visit to a MAC truck

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

I had my first MAC Tools truck come around today. He seemed a nice, genuine guy who has just started in the Aberdeen area. He warrantied a Ratchet I bought about 19 years ago no problem, I didn't buy anything this time but did like a lot of their pliers. I noticed a lot of stuff which said USA on it (Ratcherts and Spanners etc) and I was originally sceptical that it would all be Taiwanese/China manufactured. Their Pliers and snips felt really good and also said USA on them. Can someone advise me if their Toool Boxes are USA made and is it the same deal an Snappy where if it says USA it is? I am looking for a new box and would consider MAC, but only if it was USA made. The same with regards to pliers etc. which I actually preferred to Snap-On. I have about 20K in Snap-On and have always bought their tools. Any Advice??

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Ratchet ready for another 20 years service! & Tool Box I had a look at, albeit without the graphics.

 

[colin39]

There ok the tech1000 sets are usa made the select series are canada (i think) built and assembled. However i have that flier in the car so ill take a look. But im sure somebody will be along shortly and correct me

 

[colin39]

According to tye bottom line the mb7500ukb is made in europe

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

How do MAC boxes compare by ranking ie. Snap-On krl vs mac Tech series etc.which is the most expensive or best made?

 

[colin39]

Here in the uk the best made boxes, impo, would be snap on krl adition boxes, made in usa assembled in usa.
This is a kra box made in canada


This is a krl box the buld quality is unsurpassable


The krl is alot more money but its alot more box. Here in the y-uk we are alittle limited to boxes, we dont get matco boxes and we dont have a stricktly toolboxes down the street.
The mac usa boxes are something else but moneywise you cant beet a krl snappy box. Plenty about on the bay of e

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

That looks like my old box. I had the 50th anniversary 40" one if I remember with the side cabinets, similar to yours. I Changed to another larger Snap-On box (53" i think) which was nicked. I am looking for brand new so I can pay it up instead of buying outright. I dont get paid enough!

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

My little Service box I think is a KRA (Made in Canada). It's a 26" Roll Cab if that makes sense. I love the Mclaren one thouugh, it looks ace. However I have to use 41, 50, 95 and 150mm combination spanners so I always tend to go with the wide drawers instead of the splits. This is just because the tools always end up jammed in diagonally otherwise!

 

[colin39]

The top one is 53 inch the bottom one is also 53 inch but its 24 inches deep the top one is only 18 inches deep
As for tools rolling about organise
Sockets

Ratchets


Spanners


More


Its part of the fun 30 years 30k in tools this is the 2nd time around as ive had one lot stolen.

 

[colin39]

Snap on 75th anniversary is nice. This is the classic 78

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Your Spanners are laid out very neatly, I hope to repliacte that king of organisation. At least then I could find the ****** things! However I probably have about 1000 sockets, 1/4", 1/2", 3,4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2" and 2" mostly Impacts but it would fill about 3 drawers. We have to use stupid sizes and some of them are massive. They are a mix of metric and imperial which screws things up. I will post picks of my current sockets and they fill 2 Euro Pallets, and that is just the shallows. Most are Snap-On but a good few of them are Georde.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Snap on 75th anniversary is nice. This is the classic 78

My old box was similar but a bit smaller and had the side cabinets full of ****!

 

[colin39]

Thats a 78 inch box, you would never need to upgrade

Side cabs allways end up full of ****, somewhere i have a pick of mine but its an embarrament

Also so do bottom draws, and tops but i specially leave the top empty

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

The top of mine always end up full of shite as you say. Odd bits of wire, screws, nuts, bolt and *** stubs LOL!

 

[colin39]

I use it now days for family pics,f1 memorabilia, my snap on toolbox bluetooth speaker and a tcup. Lol no fags dont smoke however 4 cans of stella in side locker at all times, for justincase

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

My grandfather has a lot of older mac stuff, nice tools. I believe now they are owned by stanley. I don't know anything of their tools as the only trucks i've dealt with over the past few years have been snap on & matco, along with one independent guy who's been a driver for years.

 

[colin39]

Ive never seen a matco van in the Y-uk

 

[zmotorsports]

How do MAC boxes compare by ranking ie. Snap-On krl vs mac Tech series etc.which is the most expensive or best made?

I don't know about current models, but my first three or four toolboxes were MAC's back in the late 90's through early 2000's before I bought my two last Snap-On's. I thought they were very similar in build quality. I had an awesome MAC dealer from 1988 when I started wrenching professionally until early 2000's when he retired. We have not had a MAC dealer ever since. I have never even seen one in my entire area here in Northern Utah since early 2000's.

Mike.

 

[colin39]

I don't know about current models, but my first three or four toolboxes were MAC's back in the late 90's through early 2000's before I bought my two last Snap-On's. I thought they were very similar in build quality. I had an awesome MAC dealer from 1988 when I started wrenching professionally until early 2000's when he retired. We have not had a MAC dealer ever since. I have never even seen one in my entire area here in Northern Utah since early 2000's.

Mike.

Being in the y-uk we only really get mac and snappy both are reliableish

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Thakns for all the feedback guys. I dare say it seems here MAC are dying a death. Snap-On don't seem to have changed at all over the last 20 years I have been dealing with them. MAC seem to be quite good but there is no-way I am paying USA made prices for Taiwan tools.

 

[colin39]

Thakns for all the feedback guys. I dare say it seems here MAC are dying a death. Snap-On don't seem to have changed at all over the last 20 years I have been dealing with them. MAC seem to be quite good but there is no-way I am paying USA made prices for Taiwan tools.

gotta make ya right buddy, i by off mac but i by facom, not mac. Lol

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

I have very few Facom tools but the ones I do have are 30 years old and very good quality. I also have a few Proto and Tipco and they seem top knotch too! I will be trying for warranty for a few Britool spanners, however I am also going to buy a couple of grands worth of the MAC snips and pliers as they seem to be really good. The Knipex and MAC USA ones.

 

[Rosso]

The Mac van here (Edinburgh) isn't the best.

I've only ever been on it a few times and noticed similar things, a lot of the tools are china made etc but USA prices

I did buy a set of the Mac antivibe hammers, made in Taiwan. Taiwan stuff in my opinion isn't bad, they are very good quality but i wouldn't pay any more than what i did.

PS: If you buy a Snappy toolbox take the drawers out and make sure the interior is painted, my last three boxes haven't !

 

[colin39]

The Mac van here (Edinburgh) isn't the best.

I've only ever been on it a few times and noticed similar things, a lot of the tools are china made etc but USA prices

I did buy a set of the Mac antivibe hammers, made in Taiwan. Taiwan stuff in my opinion isn't bad, they are very good quality but i wouldn't pay any more than what i did.

PS: If you buy a Snappy toolbox take the drawers out and make sure the interior is painted, my last three boxes haven't !

Krl boxes mmmm

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

Thanks for the tip! The MAC man in Aberdeen is top notch and a really nice bloke. I cannot fault him. Shame your guy seems a bit off. MAC only seems to be quite a recent thing up here and with the off-shore work I am surprised. My local Snap-On guy is brilliant too though and I will always go to him first. My loyalty is due to the service. I could phone him up at midnight and say " We have a breakdown and need this ********," and he would be there in an hour with the tool we need.

 

[colin39]

My old snappy guy was like that, i still use him although he is on a different patch, we meet up in garages.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

The older guys seem to be better. I could ask him for a loan of a £500 tool and he would say no bother and come back the next day for a cup of tea, the tool back in mint condition and be quite happy. But on the other hand the guy I used to deal with in Inverness wouldn't give you a doubty seal or O ring wuthout a PO!

 

[Rosso]

Krl boxes mmmm

Mine are KRA boxes but the boss has a KRL and his is the same. Bottom of the box under the last drawers the lock bars aren't painted and the channels in the bottom aren't painted. Every one I've checked has been the same (about 7 now)

I'd bet SO know about it too as when I complained about it I got £600 back instantly.

 

[colin39]

Was running around last week with the new modus kit while he sorted out mine, infact im off this week with a lower back injury i slipped while carring a merc 6pot cylinder head and landed on my ****. Anyways i still have his kit in my car that he has sold. Lol.

 

[colin39]

Mine are KRA boxes but the boss has a KRL and his is the same. Bottom of the box under the last drawers the lock bars aren't painted and the channels in the bottom aren't painted. Every one I've checked has been the same (about 7 now)

I'd bet SO know about it too as when I complained about it I got £600 back instantly.

Thats handy to know ill check this out
Thank you

 

[Wamsutta]

That MAC Select series reminds me of Campbell's Soup; they have a Select series too. "Campbell's Select."

If I was going MAC, I'd get either the Macsimizer or Tech 1000.

 

[MikeF2316]

My little Service box I think is a KRA (Made in Canada). It's a 26" Roll Cab if that makes sense. I love the Mclaren one thouugh, it looks ace. However I have to use 41, 50, 95 and 150mm combination spanners so I always tend to go with the wide drawers instead of the splits. This is just because the tools always end up jammed in diagonally otherwise!

I need to see a picture of said spanners. Especially the 150 mm one!

 

[Skin]

Thakns for all the feedback guys. I dare say it seems here MAC are dying a death. Snap-On don't seem to have changed at all over the last 20 years I have been dealing with them. MAC seem to be quite good but there is no-way I am paying USA made prices for Taiwan tools.

MAC was spinning down the drain during the 2000s. They've made quite the comeback in my opinion. Less Taiwan but what they do make in Taiwan is generally very good quality and is often unique (extensions with a screwdriver style handle for finger spinning for example-or locking flex joints). There a minimal amount of China in there but its generally priced accordingly. For example they often run these bags of pliers promos for $100 USD and you get 10 assorted pliers which are Chinese made but they're not terrible (akin to Blue-Point) and don't cost a fortune in the first place.

Hard line has largely been consolidated with Proto manufacturing but has remained USA. USA chrome sockets, impact sockets, extensions, combination wrenches, flare wrenches, ratchets (new 90 tooth models as well as the old school 30 tooth), screwdrivers etc.. Their air tools also have had a history of being very good due to good choices in OEMs.

I'd also disagree completely with the KRL being superior. Maybe to a Tech, but the Tech series is an entry level box similar to a Snap-On Classic. The Macsimizer series would be the competition for KRLs/EPICs and is every bit as good if not better (depends on features you want). Personally I prefer MACs drawer layouts and they've had adjustable detents for a number of years now which is pretty nice. Snap-On definitely moves more boxes and as a result gets more praise/feedback but MAC is right up there in the quality department. Made in Georgetown, Ohio.

 

[ZRX61]

My local Mac truck is crammed to the gills with stuff, never any issues swapping stuff or with warranty etc....

However, the SnapOn truck always looks like it just got robbed & has been that way for years. I have no idea how the hell the guy stays in business, he never has ANYTHING... plus all he wants to do is stand around & run his damn mouth for HOURS. It got so bad a few years back that I would lock up the hangar & leave work for the day (or go work on something else across the field) if he showed up. Some days I'd be driving home & I'd see his truck still parked outside the hangar I locked up 4 or 5 hours earlier.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd also disagree completely with the KRL being superior. Maybe to a Tech, but the Tech series is an entry level box similar to a Snap-On Classic. The Macsimizer series would be the competition for KRLs/EPICs and is every bit as good if not better (depends on features you want).

Back in the 1990's, the Tech 1000 was a very stout box with good thick sheet metal; I don't know about now though.

I am not impressed with my KRL box. If you have the drawer empty, the bottom panel that you lay your tools on will be sprung up like a crown; then when you lay a couple of pliers on it, it goes flat. I call them "trampoline drawers." When I bought my KRL box, I was assuming it would be built heavy like a KR1000 box, but I was very much mistaken.

And then there's the inside wall that the slides mount to. The metal is only 18ga and if you pull too hard on the slides when trying to remove them, that inside panel will bend fairly easy. The people at MAC tell me their inside walls on their Macsimizer boxes are 16ga. That would be a deal maker for me if I was shopping for a new box.

 

[allstarrme]

The snap on Epiq boxes are the ultimate box, followed by the KRL master series. The Matco 6s are pretty close after that in quality, and have many features not on other boxes like 31" depth, half hutch tops, top lids and center drawer add ons, plus configurable drawers. The Mac boxes are nice but I felt they were more like the Snap on classic series or Matco 5s in quality, with no extra features. good values but nothing special. In my area of the states 3/4 of the tech's have Matco boxes, they do custom colors and configurations for no upcharge that are made right here in New York. If Matco had a 2 bay bigger than a 57" I would be all over it. snap on has a rock and roll truck that does custom colors and drawers for a very good price once a year.


I love some of the Mac air tools and mac/dewalt cordless stuff, I do have a ton of Mac allen head/torx and triple square sets because they are half the cost. most of the off branded stuff is the same between Mac, Matco and blue point but matco is the best price on it.

 

[ZRX61]

The snap on Epiq boxes are the ultimate box, ff, I

The ultimate in idiocy possibly. I'd rather buy SIX 72in boxes from Strictly instead & still have $$ in my pocket.

 

[colin39]

The ultimate in idiocy possibly. I'd rather buy SIX 72in boxes from Strictly instead & still have $$ in my pocket.

Hell yea and i agree, i spent an afternoon looking around stricktly last year, but here in the y-uk we dont have access to them.

 

[Scotland Offshore ABZ]

I will try and take a pic of it for you! It is a stupidly sized spanner which was bought for a one off job in Nigeria. It cost about £1000 and was being thrown into the skip when I worked for Halliburtons. I salvaged it and kept it. If nothing else it is a conversation piece. I am only 5'8" and it is about a foot taller than me!

 

[Dirty Diesels]

I will try and take a pic of it for you! It is a stupidly sized spanner which was bought for a one off job in Nigeria. It cost about £1000 and was being thrown into the skip when I worked for Halliburtons. I salvaged it and kept it. If nothing else it is a conversation piece. I am only 5'8" and it is about a foot taller than me!

'Bout be a two man job to undo a bolt, with!