MAC Ratchets, let's see em'

[TheGrooveking]

I have been contemplating buying a few MAC ratchets and of course trying to find decent photos of them on the MAC website which ***** and the photos are small at best. I did notice that Proto website is equally bad, well almost it, must be a Stanley thing.

TheGrooveking

 

[caper]

I have a few pics of ones I own/owned recently.

 

[flashpuppy]

How about that?

 

[cruiser808]

How about that?

Flashpuppy - WOW, what happened at the stess point? This is a USA MAC ratchet, right?

 

[M900]

What are the o-rings for?

 

[cruiser808]

What are the o-rings for?

To hold them in place.

 

[flashpuppy]

Flashpuppy - WOW, what happened at the stess point? This is a USA MAC ratchet, right?

I love posting this picture. Everyone is shocked. I deny any wrong doing in this matter, but I will say that I think MAC shouldn't be blamed too heavily either. There was not that much pressure on it when it broke. My replacement (warrantied) has been performing flawlessly.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Thanks for the photos guys! I gotta ask, has the quality of the MAC ratchets gone down since Stanley bought them? I know that many things are moving overseas, but wondered if in buying any MAC ratchets one has to be worried about lower quality units.

TheGrooveking

 

[tonydanzah]

puttem on the glass

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[cruiser808]

Merk - you're ever the show man and the purveyor of the most outstanding and provocative photos on GJ. I'd give you a drool, but I got that ratchet too. It's a keeper. It seems our East Coast brothers are asleep for the night.

 

[Fedwrench]

I guess the rael question is what draws yo to Mac ratchets? What do you like about them? The classic Mac pear shaped 30 tooth model is still US made but, many of their newer models are imported. Their new round head 72 tooth models that look like Facom ratchets come from Italy. The new roto head ratchets wth the red quick release button come from Taiwan and the 2 foot long 1/2 drive ratchet with comfort grip hails from the PRC. I don't care for a 30 tooth ratchet so, leaves out most of their line. I have a few Mac ratchets left. One thing though to consider if looking at a flex head ratchet, Mac probably has more lateral head movement than any other brand. I added a wave washer to take the slack out of mine. I don't know if the newer models use a screw instead of a pin so, it can be tightened. I think the Mac red rectangular comfort grip handle is the most comfortable of that type handle. Buy and use what you like.

 

[krusty the clown]

my only MAC ratchets........

i wouldn't have the 3/8 but it came in a bunch of stuff i bought at a yard sale. it was broken (sheared the drive off flush with the cover plate). i had to have someone else get it warranteed since the MAC wouldn't do it for me (same MAC guy).

 

[Merkava_4]

Krusty - is that a Matco 1/2" drive on the far right?

 

[krusty the clown]

Krusty - is that a Matco 1/2" drive on the far right?

it's a 3/8"

 

[mikevango]

this is my only mac ratchet when it was new. it trips people out when they see it laying on the garage floor.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I guess the rael question is what draws yo to Mac ratchets? What do you like about them? The classic Mac pear shaped 30 tooth model is still US made but, many of their newer models are imported. Their new round head 72 tooth models that look like Facom ratchets come from Italy. The new roto head ratchets wth the red quick release button come from Taiwan and the 2 foot long 1/2 drive ratchet with comfort grip hails from the PRC. I don't care for a 30 tooth ratchet so, leaves out most of their line. I have a few Mac ratchets left. One thing though to consider if looking at a flex head ratchet, Mac probably has more lateral head movement than any other brand. I added a wave washer to take the slack out of mine. I don't know if the newer models use a screw instead of a pin so, it can be tightened. I think the Mac red rectangular comfort grip handle is the most comfortable of that type handle. Buy and use what you like.

My primary reason for wanting one is I used to work with an older mechanic who was all MAC and borrowed a few of his ratchets back then and thought they were good. So I figured I would buy a few for the working collection which in realizing that many of the tool manufactures who I would never of questions COO on a 10-20 years ago have succumbed to the greed of the MBA program at the cost of the knuckle skin of the customer which led me to ask the question about quality.

TheGrooveking

 

[rjohnson]

Mine:

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

......So I figured I would buy a few for the working collection which in realizing that many of the tool manufactures who I would never of questions COO on a 10-20 years ago have succumbed to the greed of the MBA program at the cost of the knuckle skin of the customer which led me to ask the question about quality.

TheGrooveking

Holy Run On Sentences BatMan! What are you trying to say here? What do MBA programs have to do with Country Of Origin in regards to tools?

( No, I don't have an MBA )

Adam

 

[TheGrooveking]

Holy Run On Sentences BatMan! What are you trying to say here? What do MBA programs have to do with Country Of Origin in regards to tools?

( No, I don't have an MBA )

Adam

What, you go short on breath trying to read that sentence? As to the MBA, that comment is in regards to some of the people I've worked with who will for go all things in the future for profit today. This includes no concept of sustaining a positive reputation going forward. I can say this cause I have an MBA and to put in perspective there are many MBA programs that take kids who ran their lemonaide stands and think that was a well ran business. In general many managers hold greed at a higher priority than ethics which makes them perfect candidates to support many of the politicians who assist in getting things done overseas.

I'm not on this forum to get into a ******* match, I'm just constantly disappointed to find out about more and more American icons like SnapOn, Matco, MAC and the like not producing in the United States.

TheGrooveking

 

[wrenchr]

Thanks for the photos guys! I gotta ask, has the quality of the MAC ratchets gone down since Stanley bought them? I know that many things are moving overseas, but wondered if in buying any MAC ratchets one has to be worried about lower quality units.

TheGrooveking

I would not say the quality has went down but they have not kept up with the other brands in the tooth wars, they have attempted with rebadged failed offering's. The best being the Big dawg design that proto had.

 

[Crizzle]

Here is the only Mac ratchet I have.

 

[thebigc66]

My three XR series ratchets:

 

[billymade]

The mechanic at our shop has a number of mac rathets (old 30 tooth designs); he seems to break them and the other problem is the screws keep coming out of the cover plate.... anyone else have these problems?

 

[DynoDale]

 

[lauver]

DynoDale,

That's quite a collection of MAC/Proto goodness there. I'll bet that's your favorite drawer.

 

[caper]

The mechanic at our shop has a number of mac rathets (old 30 tooth designs); he seems to break them and the other problem is the screws keep coming out of the cover plate.... anyone else have these problems?

This was a very common problem.I used to put a kit in mine about once a month back when it was my primary ratchet.The screws were always backing out and causing the gear to slip and tear up.My dealer used to leave a couple spare kits with me for when it broke and he wasn't around.

 

[DynoDale]

DynoDale,

That's quite a collection of MAC/Proto goodness there. I'll bet that's your favorite drawer.

Not really. I like this one better:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=670700#post670700

 

[t100]