Looking to replace my MAC sockets, what to buy?

[Fyrme]

I'm not real happy with the MAC socket set that I bought. They seem to fit loosely on bolt heads. So now I'm shopping,again. Unless I can score Sanp-Ons for what I can sell my MACs for, I'll be buying something cheaper but still US made. Craftsman is not an option but I'm open to other good brands. Suggestions? Proto, S-K? Williams? What sockets fit good?

 

[Farmall450]

I'm sure there is a boat-load of threads on this.

I do like both SO & Cman, I use Cman more actually...

 

[DTB]

Define not fitting good? And are the MAC sockets USA made? My new Snap on sockets don't fight tight on the bolt head,there is a little wiggle room.

 

[Fyrme]

Yes US made. Flank drive. Well, when putting say a 9/16" shallow socket on a new bolt, it feels like it wants to roll off the bolt. Not twist, but roll off the top. Plus to me there is considerable slack when twisting the socket by hand on the head. Maybe that's the flank drive part, idk, but I don't like it. I have a set of SO wobbles and they fit tight. My back up Craftsman's fit tighter than the MACs and they are old as hell.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have had zero fit issues with my USA craftsman sockets. I have some that are close to 20 years old and some newer that I bought when the add on modules went on sale. No issues with either. It's going to be harder to find USA craftsman sets but they have been great. Upgrading from Mac I would say Snap On or Cornwell. I have heard great things about Cornwell sockets.

 

[Fyrme]

BTW, these are 6point.
I replaced my Craftsman sockets with the MACs thinking it was a trade up, but my Craftsman's fit better as well. I'm not necessarily looking to trade up, I just want to find a brand that is made in USA yesterday and tomorrow. I have a set of Williams/Kobalt impacts that are the best fitting sockets I've ever had. But Kobalts are no longer made here.

 

[Brownsfan]

Try some USA Williams. I have a set of hex bit sockets(USA) and they are pretty good for the price. Maybe Wright? I have a industrial tools supply store near me that sells both and the quality seems to be great. I still stand by my trusty old USA made craftsman sockets. They WERE the best value in USA made sockets.

 

[devoncoolman]

If ur looking for good us quality on the cheap. Buy williams. Their us line is comparable to snap-on being made in the same factory's.

 

[Fyrme]

I'm sure there is a boat-load of threads on this.

I do like both SO & Cman, I use Cman more actually...

Farmall, I have no doubt that this has been covered here a ton, however either I really **** at the search function on this site, or the search function *****. I am trying to research this as much as I can right now while back and forth on this thread.

 

[tweedlestan]

Williams or USA-made Bahco (same as Williams) are excellent and fairly inexpensive. Snap on quality on the cheap.

 

[Evan(CA)]

Try some USA Williams. I have a set of hex bit sockets(USA) and they are pretty good for the price. Maybe Wright? I have a industrial tools supply store near me that sells both and the quality seems to be great. I still stand by my trusty old USA made craftsman sockets. They WERE the best value in USA made sockets.

My Snap On Rep always tries and push the Williams stuff. I want a COMPLETE 8-36mm wrench- midget/long and socket impact/chrome deep/short 6/12 set and to do that with SO, even with student pricing is out of this world expensive. He said the Williams stuff is almost as good as SO but after comparing his quotes to online prices I think his margins might just be higher. I'd love to swap out all my craftsman stuff but I just can't justify the cost especially when the cheapo cman stuff does the job "ok".

 

[Fyrme]

Try some USA Williams. I have a set of hex bit sockets(USA) and they are pretty good for the price. Maybe Wright? I have a industrial tools supply store near me that sells both and the quality seems to be great. I still stand by my trusty old USA made craftsman sockets. They WERE the best value in USA made sockets.

If ur looking for good us quality on the cheap. Buy williams. Their us line is comparable to snap-on being made in the same factory's.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm jumping over to fleabay right now looking at some Williams stuff. If the chrome fits as good as my Williams Impacts, I'm sold. I just don't want to make another mistake. Hopefully I can get a few bucks for my MACs.

 

[tweedlestan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm jumping over to fleabay right now looking at some Williams stuff. If the chrome fits as good as my Williams Impacts, I'm sold. I just don't want to make another mistake. Hopefully I can get a few bucks for my MACs.

I own a set of chrome Bahco 6-point sockets, again the same as Williams. They fit just as well as Snap on. For good reason, they are Snap on. They even have a 2002 Snap on date code stamped into each socket.

I'm amazed that Williams tools aren't more popular than they are.

Mac has pretty good resale value, so you should get a fair price for them.

 

[devoncoolman]

Your gonna loose money on the mac sockets. What set is it? Sizes, drive, depth? Are they edge or usa.

 

[tweedlestan]

Your gonna loose money on the mac sockets. What set is it? Sizes, drive, depth? Are they edge or usa.

As stated above, USA. And depending on how much he paid he may not lose a single cent.

 

[Fyrme]

Your gonna loose money on the mac sockets. What set is it? Sizes, drive, depth? Are they edge or usa.

I got them cheap at an auction so I doubt I'll loose money.
Both sae and metric sets are the X---R series. SAE goes from 3/8"-11/16", However I'm missing the 3/8" and 1/2" and the metric is 10mm-19mm the 10 and 13 are not 'R' sockets.

 

[devoncoolman]

As stated above, USA. And depending on how much he paid he may not lose a single cent.

Some people assume its usa because its mac,matco,snap-on. When it verywell may not be. I own 3/8 deep and shallow metric and standard usa mac's and they don't have any fitment issues. But i haven't been impressed with their Edge line. Their usa sockets are nice.

 

[devoncoolman]

I got them cheap at an auction so I doubt I'll loose money.
Both sae and metric sets are the X---R series. SAE goes from 3/8"-11/16", However I'm missing the 3/8" and 1/2" and the metric is 10mm-19mm the 10 and 13 are not 'R' sockets.

I was assuming u bought them new. If thats the case. U will probable atleast get your money out of them. Post them in the classifides here. I have the us mac's and they have been good sockets but i like my snap-ons alot more. Why my macs are at home and snapons at work. Ull be happy with the williams sockets.

 

[CWP1616L]

I'm not real happy with the MAC socket set that I bought.

What's the part number of the MAC set you bought?

 

[mopar01]

I have mac sockets and they fit just fine and mine are usa made. You said flank drive and I'm assuming your talking about the edge line which is not us made. I use mac and snap on and gp, pretty much the three best out there lol.

 

[Fyrme]

Well I don't know if they are flank drive, that's just what I was told. The SAE sockets are x126R,x146R,x166R,etc... And they say USA on each socket the metric are something like x6R or something like that. I'm not home to look right now.

 

[CWP1616L]

Well I don't know if they are flank drive, that's just what I was told. The SAE sockets are x126R,x146R,x166R,etc... And they say USA on each socket the metric are something like x6R or something like that. I'm not home to look right now.

That's out of set SX122TR. I'm very surprised, the MAC sockets that I own fit the fasteners very snug and precisely.

 

[Givl Reggin]

They seem to fit loosely on bolt heads.

Are you sure you're not using metric where it should be inch (or vice versa)?

 

[Fyrme]

Are you sure you're not using metric where it should be inch (or vice versa)?

I'm not going to get offended by that question since you don't know me.
But yes, I'm sure

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm jumping over to fleabay right now looking at some Williams stuff. If the chrome fits as good as my Williams Impacts, I'm sold. I just don't want to make another mistake. Hopefully I can get a few bucks for my MACs.

Williams USA sockets ARE Snap-On sockets with a different logo stamped in. Almost all my chromes are now Williams USA with some Snappys mixed in to fill misc sizes.

My new in the box 1/4" deep metric set of chromes actually had a Snap-On socket on the rail when I bought them.



The Williams Taiwan sockets are excellent quality as well, exact sockets as Blue Point.

 

[genevabuck]

I have never heard of MAC sockets fitting loosely. Kind of puzzling to me.