MAC Edge Sockets

[Spudland_Dave]

Anybody here have any MAC Edge sockets? Looking at the demo on the truck where they easily grip the rounded off bolt where a standard pattern doesnt even come close, I'm really impressed. Driver says most of his customers once trying them go exclusively to them...Before pulling the trigger on a couple sets of the 1/2" Drive Impact Sockets, I want to be sure its the way to go.

 

[Skin]

fair warning many members hate on mac because they sell imported tools and the same group considers mac edge junk primarily because they're made in Taiwan. Point being you need to dig past the biased bs a bit. Of the few who have actually tried the sockets I think you'll find mixed reviews on whether the ribs actually work.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

fair warning many members hate on mac because they sell imported tools and the same group considers mac edge junk primarily because they're made in Taiwan. Point being you need to dig past th biased bs a bit. Of the few who have actually tried the sockets I think you'll find mixed reviews on whether the ribs actually work.

Yeah I'm well aware of that, and prepared to cut thru that BS...personally my MAC guy is excellent, treats me well and COO is of no concern to me. Taiwan or not, I'm always happy with the quality of the tools I get off his truck and the service he gives me.

 

[Stooge]

buddy i share my shop with picked up a set of metric and sae mac edge impacts a few months ago during a promo they had, (buy one get the other free or something) their alright, good for a taiwan socket. the finish seems to be questionable as they are pretty worn already and havent been used very much. if you can get them for a really good deal they are worth it, buti wouldnt buy them for their full retail as you can pick up same league import sockets for much less or if you shop around, some american made new SK's or a set of new/used snappy ones.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I dont have them yet, but I want them.

 

[Fordman7795]

Yeah I'm well aware of that, and prepared to cut thru that BS...personally my MAC guy is excellent, treats me well and COO is of no concern to me. Taiwan or not, I'm always happy with the quality of the tools I get off his truck and the service he gives me.

Know anyone that has been laid off in the last few years?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Know anyone that has been laid off in the last few years?

Please lets not hijack this thread...I've got my own feelings and comments about it but there is no reason to beat that dead horse.

Lets Debate MAC Edge...

 

[Buckgnarly]

Back on track.....

Is there something special about them compared to other sockets?

 

[Skin]

Back on track.....

Is there something special about them compared to other sockets?

they have ribs. MAC offers both variations, basic "MAC drive" (aka flank drive) and "MAC Edge" which are also have the off corner engagement and ribs at 3 of the 6 flats. The theory is if the socket starts to round it will dig in at the ribs, similar to the way the flank drive plus open ends function.

 

[BK13]

So they will grip better but are more likely to damage the fastener?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

So they will grip better but are more likely to damage the fastener?

If MacEdge is required to take off the fastener, the fastner is already past the point of needing to be replaced. Its hard to explain, when you see the socket design it makes sense.
On the truck they have a demo "block" which consists of...two bolts, one new, the other rouded off alot... normal socket just spins over the rounded one not even attempting to grab the bolt, MAC Edge grabs it no problem.

 

[MadTinkerer]

My wife bought me the 1/4" and 3/8" metric shallow and deep a few years ago for Christmas. It was part of a bogo deal. I have used them everyday since and have never had a problem. To be honest I have never really thought about them, they are just a socket to me. I don't know if the "edge" works as advertised as I work at a dealership on the west coast, so the majority of the cars I work on are new and bolts come off with ease.

 

[ganymede]

I'm interested in anyone's experience who's used them on a rounded fastener that also required a lot of torque to remove. A pair of Channelock can remove a rounded bolt if it was rounded by some doofus taking it off n on several times with the wrong size socket or a worn wrench.

 

[nnoble83]

I have the 1/4" metric. I live in northeast Ohio and was very impressed even they got the caliper bleeders on my truck without any rounding at all

 

[rusty65]

I have a 1/4 drive deep metric set I picked up used they seem to be pretty nice and fit fasteners very well in fact when I was using a die the die was 19/32 or 15mm and I had to tap the socket on because the fit was so tight. The only compliant I have is that the machining on the inside of the socket could be a bit better but other then that they pass in my book and I'm a die hard made in USA fan.

Photo of the set with the new Hanson trey it had a HF trey before and like I said I'm a die hard made in USA fan so the HF trey had to go .

 

[Dave455]

The guy I work with has a set. He reckons they are o.k. They look a bit "average Taiwanese" to me! Even if you are not concerned about country of origin (and I would be, it's still the best indication of quality) you might be concerned that you can buy similar quality without the Mac branding for a fraction of the price!

Many modern fasteners are soft, but If you use a 6 point socket of the best quality you can afford (Snap On or MAC U.S.A. for example) you shouldn't have a problem!

If you encounter a fastener rounded by someone else consider Ko Ken 'surface drive' sockets!

 

[ironmutt]

boss has a set i used one to take off a set of locking lugs that were deep inset on the wheel and the remover socket would'nt quite reach we found the size closest to the lug and beat them on then zipped them off work great turned round lugs in to hex didn't leave a mark on the socket i dont like the texture on the outside so if they are gunna wear that **** off i might invest in a set to replace the mix and match set i got now and take those home

 

[sberry]

I never give a second thought to whether the socket I pick up when I walk out the door is up to the task, it works, buying a new one wont make it any better and wouldn't make me any more money and surely not in the near term.

I think about some of the most profitable tools I have owned, some combo wrenches, some screwdrivers, 1 Taiwan ratchet in particular and on the short list would have to also be the cheap impact socket.

 

[CWP1616L]

There's also the Turbo Socket for rounded fasteners. I haven't used any but I see them advertised in PTEN magazine.

LINK

 

[Skin]

all the trucks sell those twist/fluted sockets too. They do need to be hammered on and the flutes will break off if you use them repeatedly. The OP is in a major corrosion area so having as many damaged fastener tools in your box as possible is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[yost69]

I have the set of 1/2" impacts. I think it is 10 - 25 Deep. Traded him my gearwrench set for $100 off or something a few months back.

They have worked well for me. I don't buy the bs that he showed me about the rounded off head that they have on the truck, his was darn near a circle.

I have used them on a couple rounded fasteners that they took out with no problem what so ever, but there were still some flats left on the head.

Overall I am happy with the purchase and the fact that I don't have to send a broken socket back to gearwrench to try to get it warrantied when the mac guy comes every monday.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

all the trucks sell those twist/fluted sockets too. They do need to be hammered on and the flutes will break off if you use them repeatedly. The OP is in a major corrosion area so having as many damaged fastener tools in your box as possible is not necessarily a bad thing.

You aint kidding about major corrosion area...my truck runs like a TOP...2001, but all my issues are rust related...EVERYTHING...Body Panels, brake lines, trans cooler lines, last 2 years I been replacing alot of rusted out stuff. Shame too, take away the rust issues and I bet my truck would go to 500k miles EASY, got 217,000 on it now and doesnt burn oil, goes good as new.

Did a brake job on my wife's accord last fall..would have been Easy if everything wasnt rusted...things I've touched before I can tell, Im a huge user of Anti-Sieze. Anything I take apart goes back together with it.

They have worked well for me. I don't buy the bs that he showed me about the rounded off head that they have on the truck, his was darn near a circle.

Must be a MAC Supplied demo board...mine too was darn near round, BUT...it did grab, even with a ratchet on it...normal socket didnt even come close to TRYING to grab it.

What I liked about it is its actually a "Normal" socket...in other words, you can use it on new fasteners as well as less then perfect ones..

An earlier poster said it best when he asked about how much they actually grab a rounded fastener...I'm sure they are fine for new bolts...if they dont really grab under impact wrench torque, whats the point of spending the few extra bucks

 

[bry@n]

I have a set of metric, double box, ratcheting mac edge wrenches. Never used em and think I'm gonna sell em.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I dont have them yet, but I want them.

Just saw the MAC guy a couple hours ago...we talked numbers and I got em for a price I think its great...Got the 13pc SAE Set 1/2" Drive Deep, and the 1/2" Drive Deep 16pc Metric Set...

Initial impression is very nice quality, fit & finish is great...only thing I personally dont care for is the plain chrome socket rail they come on...I've never been a fan of those...so we worked a deal on some other socket organizers for them...should have em next week.

I'll let you guys know how they work when I have a job for them.

 

[redline380]

i got the deep 10-19 plus 21mm 1/2 drive set. dont use them much as im just a diyer, but they seem of average quality to me. my buddy (a diesel mechanic) has the chrome deep 3/8mm set and i use them all the time. i think the chrome ones are qulaity than my impacts.

as far as the demo unit goes, im sure the rounded bolt is made specifially to be grabbed by the mac edge sockets. sales demo units usually are like that. and i play with that thing every week, but it is impressive none the less. i should also mention that i dont think my buddy has broken one of his yet

 

[yost69]

only thing I personally dont care for is the plain chrome socket rail they come on...I've never been a fan of those...so we worked a deal on some other socket organizers for them...should have em next week.

Mine came off the rail and went onto the hansens as soon as he handed them to me.

 

[pilotman81]

I'm primarily a SO guy, but this is one of the few MAC products that remains in my toolbox because I was seriously impressed with them when I spent a few months helping a buddy of mine stripping down and scrapping everything from old cars to HVAC stuff. I hate to do it publicly, but I give an A+ to these.