I like Mac wrenches but...

[GoBlue]

Check this out. Its a guy i work with Mac 16mm wrench. His set is roughly 8 years old and they all look at least this bad. This is a 16mm for God's sake...that's not a real common size. They are used professionally but not otherwise neglected. Can you believe that amount of chrome loss? Why do Macs come apart like that? My Snap ons are roughly 10 years old, used just as much, cared for in the same manner and have NO chrome loss. I'm not trying to start a brand war here...i have seen Craftsman Rp's hold up better than this! I told him to get them warranted out but our local Mac guy will not cover them as that is normal wear according to him. I said to mail them in as that is total B.S for a wrench set that was north of $400.

 

[tbobbo]

I have never thought mac tools were worth the price. Not saying they are bad, but not to be compared with the best of the best.

 

[Hiball]

I buy alot of Used tools and ive seen similar chipping on every Brand.. I think alot of Open end chipping is caused by Minor spreading over the tools lifetime (Even that one looks a bit wide at the Tip). I have no doubts that Mac will remedy the Warranty.. ***** to hear about the dealer though.

 

[GoBlue]

I dont know what to think. Macs wrenches have imho the best profile with their square beam. When i got my first set of truck brand wrenches though the writing was already on the wall for Mac and it was enough to scare me away from any major purchases with their name on them. In retrospect im glad!

 

[PaulsGarage]

I hate to add another nail to the Mac coffin but my first experience with their hand tools was this past summer, and it wasn't positive.

I bought a screwdriver set off the truck, (I have a great Mac dealer who I like but I seldom buy from him so when the screwdrivers were on sale I decided to give him some business), I really liked the classic look and feel of the red-handled screwdrivers. That weekend I went to the wrecking yard to harvest some parts, the very first time I ever used any of the Mac screwdrivers, a #2 Phillips, just trying to remove a headlight retaining ring the tip shattered! just a hand-twist, no wrench or leverage! I was pissed, I needed the part and my truck was in the parking lot 1/4 mile away with my "other" brand of tools in it... The Mac dealer warrantied the driver no questions asked but I don't trust them now.

That said I haven't broken another since.

 

[greasemonkey44]

wow that sux; my cheap gearwrenchs dont look that bad....and i work them like dogs
i had a cheap pair of stanley grove joint do that to me too; just came off in sheets
i had an sk socket shed chrome like that one time; looked like it had been double dipped or something
really ***** when you work on cars; if that got into an intake or down into a transmission youd be sol
id send mac the set and tell them this aint working for me

goblue have you tried wright wrenches? they have nice squared beams that are very easy on the hands and wallet

 

[GoBlue]

I have not seen any of the new Wrightgrip wrenches, but i have had my hands on some of the older ones. I am a big fan as well. Great profile and a great value.

 

[Outlawmws]

I had to get warranty replacements for 3 metric snap-on wrenches not long ago. they were the older model but I'd agree, peeling plating is not that uncommon no matter what the brand...

 

[battlegraduate09]

the only reason i like mac wrenches over snap on is that the snap on ones i had were cut so sharp on the edges you cant hardly pull with them. and that the mac wrenches are cut to fit the bolt perfectly.

 

[GoBlue]

All things considered, Snap on wrenches are my favorite. The profile does not really bother me, but i will admit that i like the Mac profile better. As for the open end design...not really a fan. I think it has been shown that the hex design of the Mac/Cornwell creates a weak point as well though i may be mistaken. I have seen two Mac wrenches break and both were in the same general area of the open end. They do not remove fasteners any better than a standard desin imho. ymmv

 

[warmpancakes]

I've had snap on Mac and matco all do that all have been warrantied with no issue

 

[bobcatdan]

I never got too worked up if chrome peeled a bit. I have 10 to 12 year old set of Mac metric and they do everything I ever wanted. My 12 mm is bent slightly from taking ford driveshaft bolts out, but that never bothered me either. Tools are tools, they get beat up, as long as they don't fail, I could give a rat's *** what the chrome looks like. The worst chrome peel I have is on a set of Cornwell 12pt 1/2" set. It don't help I have used them on the impact though.

 

[SMKS]

I buy alot of Used tools and ive seen similar chipping on every Brand..

+1 to this. You can find any brand that's chipped like this on the open end.

MAC has good warranty service, from my experience. He may be able to have the wrenches replaced.

I really liked the classic look and feel of the red-handled screwdrivers. That weekend I went to the wrecking yard to harvest some parts, the very first time I ever used any of the Mac screwdrivers, a #2 Phillips, just trying to remove a headlight retaining ring the tip shattered!

Likely this one was defective. I've had some well-used MAC hard handles that had no problems.

 

[Skin]

All things considered, Snap on wrenches are my favorite. The profile does not really bother me, but i will admit that i like the Mac profile better. As for the open end design...not really a fan. I think it has been shown that the hex design of the Mac/Cornwell creates a weak point as well though i may be mistaken. I have seen two Mac wrenches break and both were in the same general area of the open end. They do not remove fasteners any better than a standard desin imho. ymmv

I could be wrong but i dont believe MAC has sold wrenches with that sharp V profile in 15 some odd years so if your friend got them just 8 years ago they were old stock. All my knuckle savers have a more rounded open end as opposed to a sharp angle.

 

[GoBlue]

possible...im just going on what he said. Either way i think its disapointing. Every wrench in the set has done this...some much worse.

 

[Tunger]

My 10 or so year old set of USA bluepoints looks far worse than that, even my so line wrenches have some open end flaking. It doesn't change how the wrench works one bit so I don't concern myself with it, I'd rather make $$$ than polish my tools or ***** about a little chrome flaking.

 

[srmofo]

Most of my wrenches have chrome flaking. cornwell and snap on. I dont care really. sometimes I end up with a little sharp piece and I just lightly file it off. No biggie, the chrome just makes it shiny

I have a set of the red hard handle MACs. I love them. I did have one phillips tip shatter on me prematurely (within a week of it being replaced). Guess what. it was replaced the following week. No biggie, Who has only 1 set of screwdrivers?

With that said I have told my dealer I refuse to buy ANY MAC tools not made in usa. If I want taiwan ****, Ill go to Harbor Freight or Sears. His reply...all the brands are going over sea.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

You can run a Roloc disc over that chrome peel area to take away that sharp edge. Use the blue colored ScotchBrite disc that's the fine grit. It'll leave behind a very fine swirl finish that looks pretty cool.

 

[GoBlue]

My 10 or so year old set of USA bluepoints looks far worse than that, even my so line wrenches have some open end flaking. It doesn't change how the wrench works one bit so I don't concern myself with it, I'd rather make $$$ than polish my tools or ***** about a little chrome flaking.

So seeing that chrome loss and not being impressed makes me a tool polisher that ******* about his tools instead of making money? Good call Tunger...

 

[DudeManSpecial]

my snap on flank drive combination wrenches that i have and use every day for 12 years now do not flake at all. my metric snap on closed end offset wrenches that i use maybe once every 2 months and have had for maybe 8 years are flaking badly. i am disappointed for sure about it. i am a professional auto tech.