Is Matco or Mac ever the top?

[TheMadMech]

It seems to be consensus that Snap-On Ratchets are the best ratchets on Earth. Do Matco or Mac have any tools considered best on Earth?

NOTE: I know there will be someone who wants to argue about my statement about Snap-On ratchets, I'm just using that as an example to frame the question in my head, if you disagree with the example, that's cool.

EDIT: I know this is subjective which is why I put the above note. I'm really just trying to get people's opinions on MAC and Matco strong points and that was the best wording my brain came up with.

 

[Fedwrench]

Do Matco or Mac have any tools considered best on Earth?

Best on earth is hard to claim because, tool selection and use is such a personal thing. For instance, I think the Snap on F80 series ratchets are good but, the T72 series don't do anything for me but, I digress.


It's tough for Matco to have the best tool on earth when they don't make their own tools However, things that come to mind are their pinless impact swivel sockets, their proswing ratcheting wrenches (especially the standard length models with a fixed boxed end on one side and a 72 or 90 tooth ratcheting boxed end on the other side, their 88 tooth ratchets, and some of their cordless tools.
As for MAC, they get lots of hate in these pages but, they have some excellent tools. For years they were the only tool manufacturer to put the knurling on extension where you really need it, around the square drive MAC's recently released line of impact wrenches are tough to beat in 3/8 & 1/2 inch drive. Their Duratek screwdrivers are outstanding especially since I cannot stand the Instinct handle from Snap on. Mac's new Axis line of US Made 90 tooth ratchets are probably my new favorite ratchets, and I also like their Knuckle Saver combination wrenches.

 

[n8n]

I really like my Matco rebrand of the 2135TiMax

guess that doesn't really count though as it's a few years old now and also it's not really "real Matco"

 

[Wes J]

I don't know about "better", but plenty of tools are just as good. Don't worry so much about it. Buy the best tools you can afford and get on with life.

 

[anndel]

The term "Best on Earth" is subjective and subject to personal interpretation and personal preference. Everyone has his/her own but I love my Snap On ratchets and do believe there's other brands that are better. Someone may say Craftsman ratchets are the best on Earth.

 

[zcbauer89]

I love my Mac knuckle saver wrenches, and their chrome sockets are real nice. I've always had a preference for Mac though.

 

[crewchief888]

i dont know if i'd say "best on earth" but,
i prefer mac and matco angle head wrenches to SO.

 

[cgrutt]

I love Snap On ratchets so much I have a drawer full of broken ones, LOL. I don't know if they're the best on earth but they do break like everything else. I have one Mac flex head that I like too but really do prefer Snap On.

 

[colin39]

Dunno ive got a mixed bunch, here and my breakdown box, and alway grab a facom one


Could be that i have a few facom ones

 

[shockwave]

Matco pinless as stated and there locking flex ratchets are great (Armstrong) and the 90 tooth box/ratcheting flex end spline

But Matco are all rebrands of other tool makers

 

[pstemari]

....But Matco are all rebrands of other tool makers

Isn't Matco just Danaher/Apex's tool truck nameplate? I'd assume they are mostly Armstrong, in the same way that Mac and Proto are both coming out of Stanley's factories.

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[wttwoa]

Dunno ive got a mixed bunch, here and my breakdown box, and alway grab a facom one


Could be that i have a few facom ones

sorry that its off topic, but why do the 2 ratchet heads in the center not have a handle to them? are they so you can attach them to different handles?

 

[Wes J]

sorry that its off topic, but why do the 2 ratchet heads in the center not have a handle to them? are they so you can attach them to different handles?

Those are 3/4 drive and yes they have different handle lengths.

 

[shockwave]

Isn't Matco just Danaher/Apex's tool truck nameplate? I'd assume they are mostly Armstrong, in the same way that Mac and Proto are both coming out of Stanley's factories.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Matco has shifted manufacturers so much lately and apex only has a few items made now all shifted to new hardline manufacturer but apex has been there primary for the past 20 years since cooper sold off Bonney to the abyss and yes like proto/Mac relationship but primarily hardline

 

[gdocktor3]

I have multiple sets of new and old Mac wrenches, but my favorite are my Mac Knuckle Saver XL wrenches. FWIW I also have Matco and Snap On wrenches, plus almost every other brand, but the Mac's are my favorite. Also, I am not a mechanic by trade and don't have a truck to buy from. In other words, I can buy what ever brand I want. I choose Mac for wrenches. Snap On for ratchets. Matco for nothing really because I'd rather buy the OEM.

 

[amlv20]

None!!

Mac is just rebranded Stanley,proto and facom at tool truck prices.the rest is chinese rebranded junk.same for matco all rebranded junk,**** both of them i won't buy them.id rather by the original tool off amazon or something,and it's not a matter of supporting local dealers because booth Mac and matco screw the dealers over so bad.its no wonder why I've seen so many Mac and matco guys come and gone over the years,to the point I don't even step on the truck or take their flyer because I know they are not going to last.but yet I've had only one snap on guy through the years.

 

[Skin]

None!!

Mac is just rebranded Stanley,proto and facom at tool truck prices.the rest is chinese rebranded junk.same for matco all rebranded junk,**** both of them i won't buy them.id rather by the original tool off amazon or something,and it's not a matter of supporting local dealers because booth Mac and matco screw the dealers over so bad.its no wonder why I've seen so many Mac and matco guys come and gone over the years,to the point I don't even step on the truck or take their flyer because I know they are not going to last.but yet I've had only one snap on guy through the years.

Yet snap-on has, by far, paid the most out in lawsuits over shady tactics and poor handling of franchises.

Your post is delusional.

And Snap-On is just "rebranded" Souix, CDI, Williams, Irega, Bahco blah blah blah. Join the twenty first century with the rest of us. They're all umbrella companies. Most of Snap-Ons new tool releases are also from Taiwan and China or other countries outside of the USA AND lets not forget Blue-Point, mostly all "Chinese rebranded junk". Many of those Asian tools are also excellent and put Snap-Ons to shame, such as all of Snap-Ons pneumatics, and much of their cordless line.

Posts full of ignorance like yours just strike a bit of a nerve.

 

[amlv20]

Did I say I only buy snap on or they make all their tools? I said I've only had one snap on dealer through the years.i know what blu point is,and just like Mac and matco I'll buy the original ez-red,lisle,Otc,IR OR what ever it is instead of buying blue point.the OP asked about Mac and matco,not snap on.i started my career on Mac and matco tools that broke right away and didn't last,all junk.had dealers never show and leave me with broken warranty tools that I had to mail out and wait to get replaced,tools that I paid for at tool truck prices for warranty and ease of access.**** them and their cheap as tools,the snap on dealer I've had for years has shown up every Thursday and replaced every warranty tool I've ever had wether it's rebranded **** or not....

 

[Buckgnarly]

Mac knurled extensions are what I prefer, they have knurling on female end and shaft..... Matco pinless impacts are nice along with their latest Witte screwdrivers, I also like my new Mac long flex 3/8 ratchet.
Sorry no drama, just answering your question OP...

 

[78C-10]

I love my Mac Knuckle Saver Combo wrenches, most comfortable/user friendly wrench I've used in the last 22 years. About two years ago we got a Cornwell guy, I've been buying more things from him versus the other two that show up. Cornwell prices are a little better than Mac and SO.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I have a pretty varied collection. A lot of snap on stuff is top notch but I usually can't justify the price & when I was really buying stuff I went with matco because I liked the driver we had. I've never been a fan of snap on impacts whether air or cordless. Not a quality issue but more preference. For pneumatics I've heard the new Mac line is awesome & my matco 3/8 (same as cornwell) is great. Very light & powerful. Ir is tough to beat too. As far as cordless there are just so many options & most like milwaukee or dewalt are a whole lot cheaper.


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[M6erfan]

As others mentioned, MAC's knurled extensions are top notch. I much prefer them over S-O.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Yes.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Matco is the top at taking roughly a year to replace/repair common ratchets.

 

[OHMS LAW]

I feel like the matco tool boxes are a better deal than snap on.

 

[Wes J]

None!!

Mac is just rebranded Stanley,proto and facom at tool truck prices.the rest is chinese rebranded junk.

I own a lot of Proto and Mac tools. Almost none of the main hardline tools are the same. Chrome sockets are all different. Extensions are different. Ratchets are different.

Some of the pliers are the same but I don't think Proto makes them.

Also, what do you mean "tool truck prices"? Have you bought any Proto tools? They're not much cheaper than Mac and some are more expensive.

 

[TheMadMech]

I checked out those MAC extensions. I actually need extensions so I think I'll go that way. Are their impact extensions as good as their chrome extensions?

 

[Fedwrench]

I checked out those MAC extensions. I actually need extensions so I think I'll go that way. Are their impact extensions as good as their chrome extensions?

Yes but, Their impact extensions don't have any knurling. I do like their locking impact extensions but, I don't think MAC makes them

 

[53chevy5]

I think the Matco tool box trumps the Snap on. I also like the Matco flex head ratchets better, you can let the head flop or lock it solid in any position. I may be wrong but the only styles of SO flex heads that I have seen are the non locking and lock only without the option of leaving it loose. The teeth seem to be a bit nicer in the SO but it isn't worth the trade off for me. I will also take Matco or Macs screwdrivers before SO. I have one Snap on straight screwdriver and I can never seem to loose the thing.

 

[Skin]

You can sort of leave a locking snap-on flex in a permanent flex position by pulling the lever down and moving it to the right. Problem is even a slight breeze knocks it out of that position and its locked again. Really kind of a **** design as far as that goes.

 

[heytrid]

Certain things are personal preference, but this is my list of their stuff I regard highly

Mac extensions
Mac USA made wrenches
Mac USA Sockets
Mac screwdrivers (hard or soft handle) (I do not like the feel but they are quality.. just not for me

I do like alot of the rebranded Mac stuff more then bluepoint's offering in that same price range, I know the precision torque mac wrenches are facom but we do not have a facom store that has what I need when I need it so I pay extra for the convenience factor.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Matco/Witte screwdrivers are amazing. I hope they make them a long, long time.
Mac makes great punches and chisels
I like Mac/Stanley antivibe ball peen hammers better than SO deadblows in a lot of situations
Several people mentioned the extensions
Mac makes good drill bits
Mac makes most of the service kits I use (granted, some are rebrands)

 

[md21722]

As others mentioned, MAC's knurled extensions are top notch. I much prefer them over S-O.

What do you like better about them? The Snap On knurled extensions that I have seem to work great.

 

[Fedwrench]

What do you like better about them? The Snap On knurled extensions that I have seem to work great.

To me it's that MAC places the knurling where you need it most, around the female square drive which makes it perfect for finger spinning.

 

[md21722]

To me it's that MAC places the knurling where you need it most, around the female square drive which makes it perfect for finger spinning.

My Snap On extensions have it there too?

 

[Air21]

Mac sells the smallest 1/4 ratchet the MR4C out of the bunch

MATCO I believe sells the highest tooth count palm ratchet (88 teeth) and it's rebuild able.

 

[lazer50]

When i bought my tool box 12 years ago i studied all 3 brands as they came by my shop weekly.i looked at construction,weight drawer capacity configuration availabilty and the quality of the casters as at my work we needed to roll our boxes all over the plant from job to job.i chose a custom top of the line matco that i designed 56 wide 30 deep nearly nine hundred pounds empty.my boss bought a snap on same level as mine as far as their top tier. We didn't really pick each others boxes apart but the 2 main differences were drawer detente and the way they rolled.mine was like a piece of cake all over his was a chore.they both weighed about the same loaded as we had scales in the shop.other than a few minor scratches mine looks just as good as it did and operates as well too.but i cant say how they are made today.

 

[Fedwrench]

My Snap On extensions have it there too?

I haven't seen Snap on extensions with knurling around the square drive area, only on the shaft of the extension. Are they new? Pics? part#?

 

[TheGrooveking]

I really like my Matco rebrand of the 2135TiMax

guess that doesn't really count though as it's a few years old now and also it's not really "real Matco"

Besides the increase from 1 year to 2 year warranty and greaty increased price how is it better? I'm curious as that I own the Matco too and besides being red and it having a yellow flame cover I'm unaware of any real improvements.

I bought mine because I needed one that particular day and couldn't wait.

TheGrooveking

 

[n8n]

Besides the increase from 1 year to 2 year warranty and greaty increased price how is it better? I'm curious as that I own the Matco too and besides being red and it having a yellow flame cover I'm unaware of any real improvements.

I bought mine because I needed one that particular day and couldn't wait.

TheGrooveking

In my case it was because I found a used Matco sooner at a price I was OK paying than I did an IR. I'm not aware of any real meaningful differences between the two. I believe the front cover is slightly different shaped but functionally interchangeable but I'm going off memory here.

Of course since I broke down and bought it I was gifted *two* old IR 231s. Thus proving that if you need a tool the surest way to have someone give it to you is to go ahead and buy one.