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MAC brushless 20V impact (MCF891) same as DeWalt?

tr0n

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Was on the truck today and saw their "new" brushless stuff looks the same as and uses the same batteries as the DeWalt 20V Max XR. There are SLIGHT differences in the plastic housing but all the impacty, lighty, and switchy bits look identical. I figure it's a safe bet that they're just a straight re-brand when the batteries even say DeWalt on them...but the red one is apparently rated higher...

The MAC is rated at 275 ft/lb and the DeWalt is rated for 130ft/lb, but they both sit in at 3200 IPM and 2800 RPM. I guess it's likely that MAC is just using breakaway vs working torque numbers...unless the extra $200 gets you some magical motor that puts out twice the juice with the same footprint.


MAC: http://www.mactools.ca/Images/780x780zoom/MCF891.jpg

DeWalt: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81bKD31yPFL._SY550_.jpg

It's probably a rhetorical question but you never know, right?
 
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Melodiv

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My Mac guy doesn't even carry the Mac branded cordless tools, they are all the DeWalt versions lol. Yup Stanley owns Mac, Dewalt, expert, proto yada yada


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Jaysreal

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Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Was on the truck today and saw their "new" brushless stuff looks the same as and uses the same batteries as the DeWalt 20V Max XR. There are SLIGHT differences in the plastic housing but all the impacty, lighty, and switchy bits look identical. I figure it's a safe bet that they're just a straight re-brand when the batteries even say DeWalt on them...but the red one is apparently rated higher...

The MAC is rated at 275 ft/lb and the DeWalt is rated for 130ft/lb, but they both sit in at 3200 IPM and 2800 RPM. I guess it's likely that MAC is just using breakaway vs working torque numbers...unless the extra $200 gets you some magical motor that puts out twice the juice with the same footprint.

It's probably a rhetorical question but you never know, right?
You know, Stanley Black and Decker owns both of these brands right? As well as a TON of others. In some of their videos you can actually see that the Porter Cable line runs right along side the DeWalt line. As for the Mac ones, not sure, they are in all likelihood the same product.

Rebranding is a whole different animal. You have to ask yourself: Is it Rebranding when they are all owned by the same company? If so then Snap-on Air tools and Torque wrenches are rebranded.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
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Skin

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They're different, the MAC cordless stuff is uprated and is exclusive. At the very least MAC is using different electronics if not different electronics and motor. All the MAC brushless have the variable 3 speed/torque setting on the bottom of the handle like the DCF899 while the comparable DeWalt (other than the 899) doesn't.


My Mac guy doesn't even carry the Mac branded cordless tools, they are all the DeWalt versions lol. Yup Stanley owns Mac, Dewalt, expert, proto yada yada


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well your MAC guy is missing out. Their cordless line is pretty much entirely exclusive and one of the most affordable (for truck brands). The battery compatibility is the icing on the cake.
 
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Jaysreal

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They're different, the MAC cordless stuff is uprated and is exclusive. At the very least MAC is using different electronics if not different electronics and motor. All the MAC brushless have the variable 3 speed/torque setting on the bottom of the handle like the DCF899 while the comparable DeWalt (other than the 899) doesn't.

Well your MAC guy is missing out. Their cordless line is pretty much entirely exclusive and one of the most affordable (for truck brands). The battery compatibility is the icing on the cake.

Welp, you've made a believer out of me, now I just need a Mac guy, or an ebay deal.

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Sticks McGee

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From what I understand the Mac stuff is sealed better than the Dewalt stuff to handle the environment (oil, coolant, etc)of a shop versus a home DIYer. I have the 1/2" and 3/8" impact wrenches at work and I use them daily. The batteries are identical but the bare tools are different. This is what I have been told. Both of my impacts at the time I bought them were cheaper and rated stronger than the Snappy versions. I have a good friend who has the Snappy 1/2" and has had numerous failures of the front nose cone bearing.
 

gdocktor3

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So is the dcf899b the same as the Mac 1/2" version? I'm blown away every time I use my dcf899b. FYI Dewalt does not offer protective boots, but Mac does and obviously fit just the same.
 
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T

tr0n

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When you want an impact with even more torque then pick up an IR IQV20 volt.

i'd love to, but they go for $700+ up here.

i was basically set on picking up the milwaukee 3/8", but if the mac is actually putting out 275 ft/lb compared to the mil's 210 and the dewalt's 130 i'll spend a bit more and pick up the mac...

snap on and IR aren't really in the same ballpark price wise.
 

G-Ram

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When you want an impact with even more torque then pick up an IR IQV20 volt.

Too bad they are junk. Have 2 of them at work that get sent out to be repaired every 6 months or less. Either the trigger or direction switch craps out. Not worth the money in my opinion.
 

cja245

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A guy I work with has the 3/8 impact. Really nice. It's more compact than my snap on but similar power. The 1/2" drill is garbage. I would get the Dewalt. Pretty sure they are re branded Facom tools. They are different than the dewalt tools, but take dewalt batteries.
 
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spencerdiesel

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Brevard, NC
Does the MCF891 seem to be a good gun still? To anyone who has/ had it, what do you think of it compared to other current 3/8 battery impacts?
 

WWheeler

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So is the dcf899b the same as the Mac 1/2" version? I'm blown away every time I use my dcf899b. FYI Dewalt does not offer protective boots, but Mac does and obviously fit just the same.

No idea about how the Dewalt 20V impact lineup compares to the MAC versions, and my 3/8 and 1/2 compact versions are the brushed versions (DCF883 and DCF880) not the brushless DCF890 the OP was asking about, but in any case I'm loving the heck out of all of my Dewalt's in MAC's clothing.

Dewalt impacts in mac boots.jpg

I honestly wouldn't want any more power in either of the compact versions than they have. Their range is perfect as is imho as they'd be a lot less useful if they hit any harder than they do (edit: No doubt 'the variable 3 speed/torque setting on the bottom of the handle like the DCF899' like the MAC versions have would remedy that though), and the DCF899 is definitely only for the big stuff > 100ftlbs.
 
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Skin

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Does the MCF891 seem to be a good gun still? To anyone who has/ had it, what do you think of it compared to other current 3/8 battery impacts?

I kept my older BWP150 since it has more power than the newer brushless but I like it quite a bit. Better (and cheaper) than the Snap-On 20V stuff in my opinion.
 

NinnyCTSV

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Well your MAC guy is missing out. Their cordless line is pretty much entirely exclusive and one of the most affordable (for truck brands). The battery compatibility is the icing on the cake.

Is he though? I personally don’t have a Mac dealer but I’ve browsed through their monthly flyers from time to time on their website. Their dewalt branded 12v stuff sells for more than most box stores sell their 20v stuff. So from a business standpoint he’s probably able to make a lot more sales and still make a profit vs the “premium “ name that of course sell for more and less likely to get those spontaneous sales. The only one you could say is missing out is the tech, but if they really wanted it they could always order so it’s still a win win situation
 
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