MAC Tools - Made in USA?
- Thread starter Blacknwhitepit
- Start date
wafrederick
Well-known member
Mac's customer service has been great to me.I called them for a ratchet repair kit last time and they had me in their system.It was on a Friday and received it on a Wendsday.I have not had problems with sending in broken tools to them.Send me replacements.I did have to wait for a breaker bar and ratchet,were on backorder and they notified me on this.Sent me a post card saying this.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Most of the USA stuff is Proto. Stanley/Proto is a top notch company. That's why NASA, GM, the military all use it.
I've also had excellent customer service. Better than any other top tier company including Snap On, Matco, Proto, SK, etc. Mac has always been quick to respond and easy to deal with.
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Notorious BRT
Well-known member
The military (and likely NASA) use it because they were the lowest domestic bidder. Not that I have a problem with them, but being a top notch company likely had little to do with their government contracts.
mudflap
Well-known member
It's a race to the middle....The offshore stuff is getting better...SO , and the other "pro" brands are offshoring more of their line every day..Cashing in on whatever their "brand" is worth while they can...Thats why u are seeing The Snap-On name on lawn chairs, and junk china pocket knives, and junk store flashlights.....They are cashing out...
WittHay
Well-known member
I think the PT in SXD126BRPT stands for Precision Torque and and they come from Taiwan
I like Mac but you really have to watch what you are buying. USA,Taiwan and China made stuff all mixed together on the truck at Snap-on prices
I like Mac but you really have to watch what you are buying. USA,Taiwan and China made stuff all mixed together on the truck at Snap-on prices
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Yea that is the Precision Torque style of sockets. Not bad sockets by any means, but they are made in Taiwan.
Here is the equivalent USA made set Mac sells. http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Socke...6TR/12-PC-3-8-Drive-SAE-Deep-Socket-Set-6-PT-
I'm a Mac kind of guy. I really like their stuff. With that said, I would never in my life pay $250 for 12 sockets. That's just insane. I'd buy SK if you want USA or Gearwrench if you don't mind Taiwan. Either set would cost under $80, leaving you $170 to buy a whole lot more.
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Is this Macsimizer door panel remover made in USA?
(Model# UT1B)
https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Pain...1B/Macsimizer-Upholstery-Clip-Removal-Tool-10
Trying to decide between it and Snap-On, which costs 1.5x as much.
(Model# UT1B)
https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Pain...1B/Macsimizer-Upholstery-Clip-Removal-Tool-10
Trying to decide between it and Snap-On, which costs 1.5x as much.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
It's Taiwan made. I have it and it's a good tool. I bought the 4PC set on sale for $50 a year ago
Actually, here's some good news: the item UT1B is assembled in the USA. The shank is made in the USA (99.9% certain by Vim) and the handle is made in Taiwan. The newer version, UT1BB, is the same deal. Although the second rep I spoke to about the new version wasn't sure if it was assembled here, but said Mac is workng to bring as much back to the US as possible as quickly as possible, so it seems likely. (I've heard and read the same from Stanley in regards to bringing products back here, esp Craftsman.).
Vim was the manufacturer of the older Mac version (same shank) with the hard rubber handle, and still sells the same version under their name with "USA" stamped on the handle.
I learned this by calling Mac and Vim customer service after noticing the similarities.
Vim was the manufacturer of the older Mac version (same shank) with the hard rubber handle, and still sells the same version under their name with "USA" stamped on the handle.
I learned this by calling Mac and Vim customer service after noticing the similarities.
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Stanley has owned MAC since 1980.
Stanley is a pretty odd company, while their Hand Tools have mainly gone off shore, they tend to source things from everywhere and from all their major brands.
My wood saw I just bought from Home Depot is made in France for $30. On a rack with other brands made in China saws for the same price.
Honestly, between Mac, Dewalt, Facom, and Proto, Stanley has been doing a better job over all then most of the other tool brands in my biased opinion.
Dimitri
According to Stanley, they have been moving production back ashore and plan to continue to do so, including with Craftsman and Mac. They have a Made in USA section on their site, and now put the flag plus Made in USA on those tools. The new Mac Grip screwdrivers say Made in USA on the site (finally a COO!). They at least have the appearance of getting the message.
A decade ago, there was this pervading belief that the offshoring of manufacturing of tools and other things was an inevitable and irreversible trend. At the very least, the future no longer looks so predetermined.
(And yeah, some of it is assembly of global components, not 100% US materials, but it's a start).
A decade ago, there was this pervading belief that the offshoring of manufacturing of tools and other things was an inevitable and irreversible trend. At the very least, the future no longer looks so predetermined.
(And yeah, some of it is assembly of global components, not 100% US materials, but it's a start).
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I spoke with my Mac Tools Student rep and he said that they build a lot of USA stuff & a lot of foreign stuff because half of the market doesn't care where their tools come from because of the same great service & warranty is the same no matter what. Then he said the other half of the market only wants USA made tools so they have to cater to that market as well. After he explained it like that, they do make a lot of sense because a lot of snap on(blue point branded stuff) is foreign made and so is Matco's and they sale a big quantity of tools everyday.I personally don't care where the tools come from cause I'm paying for the great personal service & warranty. When you buy from a local tool truck guy, you building a relationship you can't get at HF and you're helping him survive and pay bills and put his kids through school and more. I've always tried to support local before the big chain stores where your helping a big time ceo go on another vacation or buy another luxury car/house.
GasNSteering
Well-known member
I bought their ratcheting bit screwdriver and promptly returned it because it was made in Tiawan. Not what I was expecting for $50. No COO on their website either.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
I have a few newer Mac pry bars with the Mac Grip design and I really like them. The grips are comfy and fit my hand well. I really like the striking caps since my previous Mac prybars did not have them and the grips were sharp and jagged from being hammered. Of course the fact that they're made in the USA is another plus. I can only assume their new screwdrivers are just as good.
ummm ok.
Quality is the key. I want something that does the job as good as possible. I like some of the Taiwan grips, love S2 bits, love Cro-Mo impacts from Taiwan, love German pliers, and love US steel and chrome and many other things. Love high quality power tools, most of which come from China.
What I don't like is inferior quality or outsourcing to squeeze as much profit as possible from the American worker. I Iike to see everyone do well. And when it is comparable quality and value, I'll go US.
What I don't like is inferior quality or outsourcing to squeeze as much profit as possible from the American worker. I Iike to see everyone do well. And when it is comparable quality and value, I'll go US.
I agree that price is insane! Why would anyone pay those prices when you can get the same tools with Proto stamped on them for less than half the price. Other options are SK, USA Williams, Wright all for less than half the price and equal quality. Just for the hell of it I looked at SO and they are around $280 for that same set, this is totally absurd!
bixxjs
Well-known member
The last big MAC purchase I made was a set of micro wrenches,fantastic tools.I stupidly borrowed them out and never saw them again..
WittHay
Well-known member
The made in USA Mac tools that stand out for me are the new prybars with the Mac-Grip handle, like them better than the new Snap-on prybars. The 3/8 Axis ratchets seem like quality ratchets that match Snap-on. Last is Mac/Proto roll punches and starter punches, really good tools that are a different length and shape than Snap-on
I'll post a pick of the Mac Grip panel remover when it shows up. And as mentioned on here, the new Mac-Grip screwdrivers are as popular as the prybars.
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
I have an absolutely cherry set of Proto 500 double offset metric wrenches in the tool roll. Twersey tried to beat it out of me but I resisted. I am normally a person that doesn't give a damn about COO or any of that stuff (if the tool's good it's good if it ***** it *****) but for some reason, that frankly I can't understand, I just can't sell the damn things even though I've never used them. I bought these when I got my first job at Westinghouse Research and Development Center back home in Pittsburgh in 1972 and they have some weird sentimental value to me. They started me on the tool junkie road, after that it was a Milwaukee drill and from there **** got outta hand.
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
No that set is made in Taiwan. The USA set will have an R at the end of the part number and come in a red painted steel tray.
mrborohachi
Well-known member
Surprisingly Snap-On is losing trucks in my area and there are 2 new MAC dealers now (which haven't been around at all for the last 10 years). I don't know if it's just older SO dealers retiring or what. One SO dealer I dealt with went to corporate, that's why he no longer has a truck.
I have the 26" flex head axis. other techs in the shop that have long flex head snap on ratchets still come to me to borrow mine. ive put pipes on it and done stuff that really should have been done with a breaker bar but its held up fine. only problem is the seal sometimes pops out of place. mac guy gave me a whole rebuild kit for free just because of the seal problem.
Can relate. Got a roll of SK made Craftsman Professional combos that were too pretty to use (did sell them recently and am not sure why), followed by a Milwaukee Holeshooter, followed by a tool truck-load.
Here's the Mac panel remover with a Mac-Grip & Vim blade. I haven't tried it out on a door center pin yet. Grip feels good. The end is tapered like a prybar. Angle not as good as Snap-On, in my opinion, but the remover tip looks like it'll work very well.
Attachments
You may be correct about that ratchet,
However I don't trust MAC!
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/06/stanley.shtm
They got busted lying about this one! (Their Zero Degree Ratchet)
-BWP
Me neither. I had a coworker that warrantied the same ratchet 3 times due to it skipping. He finally settled for a snappy. Never considered Mac tools till this day.