zr1nsx
Well-known member
For a number of years I worked for a race team in a series sponsored by MAC. We had everything imaginable from them. Tool chests are awesome. Ratchets sucked. Overall, the product is just fair to midland in my opinion.
MAC tools - show us your MAC tools!
- Thread starter Shelbylex
- Start date
Cleaned up the longest extension bar I have today: MAC V30E (30"). I actually picked it up on one of the sale hours after it started and after a lot of people went through it. There was a Craftsman Roller which people went through and there was an odd looking socket in the proximal left corner nobody payed attention to. Well, the owner drilled through the top and had this extension bar just hang there : )
Picture is made next to an old Craftsman hinge bar (need to clean a little more and will post... One of my 20c very rusty purchases...
... Not sure what it would be used for though - big trucks?
Picture is made next to an old Craftsman hinge bar (need to clean a little more and will post... One of my 20c very rusty purchases...... Not sure what it would be used for though - big trucks?
Looks like knipex is making Mac branded pliers? Or are those legit macs? I’ve bought several pairs of knipex from cornwell truck but they were still branded knipex
also the 90 piece but driver set, I have that same one but the handles are gray instead of red and with proto labels. i realize sb&d own both companies but I still chuckled a little when I pulled out the 1/4” socket adapter and they had t even bothered to stamp proto in it and left the Mac branding
also the 90 piece but driver set, I have that same one but the handles are gray instead of red and with proto labels. i realize sb&d own both companies but I still chuckled a little when I pulled out the 1/4” socket adapter and they had t even bothered to stamp proto in it and left the Mac branding
Ton ton
Well-known member
Beautiful pliers wrench.Yep, sure do! I have several MAC branded Knipex pliers/cutters.
scmanshark
Member
How did you replace the soft grip with the old style hard handle?
Flared Base
Well-known member
I use an extension about that long to get bellhousing bolts off of a front engine rear wheel drive car. The floor pan of the car closely matches the transmission so there isn't room to get your hand in there to get all the bolts, and it is too far under the fire wall to come from above. Coming at the bolts from the end of the transmission with a universal on the socket works. A little bit of extra clearance can be had by unbolting the cross member and allowing the transmission to lower slightly. This puts a lot of strain on the motor mounts so I do it just enough to get clearance.
javyLSU
Well-known member
Gave $70 for these locally on OfferUp. Like new, they even came with the box. I’ve been wanting the 1/2” wrench for a while, so it was nice to grab this pair for 35% of what they cost new.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
Have you had a chance to use them yet? I have a couple 3" long bolts that I've been fighting with and I only have access to swing my 90 tooth ratchet held by my finger tips 1-3 teeth at a time. I've been trying to think of other ways to get them off and these things came to mind.Gave $70 for these locally on OfferUp. Like new, they even came with the box. I’ve been wanting the 1/2” wrench for a while, so it was nice to grab this pair for 35% of what they cost new.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
Lots of MAC stuff is just rebranded. Especially the pliers. My Knipex Cobras are also MAC branded and I have no real issue with that. No point with them trying to compete with Knipex. They charge a slight premium over buying Knipex directly but you get the MAC warranty service in exchange.Yep, sure do! I have several MAC branded Knipex pliers/cutters.
javyLSU
Well-known member
I have, as well as the Snap-on equivalent. I find these are much smoother and take impact wrenches much better. You just have to remember to open them up periodically and grease them.
Jweebothee
Well-known member
Jweebothee
Well-known member
Question, what are these used for?Gave $70 for these locally on OfferUp. Like new, they even came with the box. I’ve been wanting the 1/2” wrench for a while, so it was nice to grab this pair for 35% of what they cost new.
Nutria
Well-known member
Jweebothee
Well-known member
Interesting, thanks
mrb1
Well-known member
javyLSU
Well-known member
You saved me a whole bunch of typing, thanks!
WNYflyer
Well-known member
My MAC tools obtained over the last 10 years or so.
When I was selling Snap On tools we referred to Mac dealers as "Mac Toils".
Wrench97
Well-known member
Sure looks like a IR gun.
Schurkey
Well-known member
Had a MAC box years ago but the only MAC I own today is my beloved AW-434M...with the oil reservoir in the bottom of the handle I suspect a re-badged IR 232..
That brings back memories from...1992-ish.
I was using a Blue-Point (AT500BL?) extended-anvil "Tire shop" air wrench at the time, and in the market to move up--needed More Power. The Mac Man had the AW434 on promo; and I almost almost almost bought one. It had the scalloped handle like yours, so it wasn't the original '434; it may/may not have been the 434M. I did buy a Mac die grinder, and the pair of Mac 3/8 and 1/2 reversible drills. I found out decades later that the die grinder was sourced from SP Air; (Japan) the drills were sourced from Viking (USA). Still have the grinder and drills; they've had minimal repairs and still work great after 30 years. (Two pair of bearings in the die grinder; some trigger work and a chuck on the 3/8 drill; and a hateful fight to find a reverse-thread chuck screw for the 1/2-inch drill (and it should have the trigger/valve looked at.) Viking has discontinued that series of drill; and they aren't stocking parts for 'em either. SP Air is still providing essentially the same die grinder, though.
Decades later, I'm in the market for a secondary air wrench; and again almost bought a (used) 434. I did some research, figured-out is was almost certainly a Mac-branded version of an IR. The handle shape isn't right for a 232 in that the (current) 232TGSL has the scallop/swoosh/flare on the left side of the handle while the right side is plain, yours has one on the right (L and R as seen from the rear.)
Might be a customized version of the 244; but again the handle shape isn't exactly right.
The aluminum/steel IR impacts tend to have the case halves screwed together with three fasteners. The common IR231 has two fasteners high on the tool, and one low, just above the trigger. The 232, 244, and the Mac 434 have one fastener at the very top, and two lower-down.
In the end, I wound up with an eBay Snappy IM6200 with the air-directing valve for low-noise (muffled) or full-power (muffler bypassed.)
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msharley
Well-known member
Those metric door wrenches are the "BOMB"!I have a ton of MAC tools!Sharing just a few for today..
BigLeagueSmoes
Well-known member
My one and only Mac tool… I’ve found myself with such a pieced together smorgasbord tool collection that I’m trying to have at least one of every major, and some minor, brands that have been sold in the last 100 years. So far I have a pretty well rounded collection and this wrench happens to be the one Mac Tools item I own. Cheers!
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Schurkey
Well-known member
I suggest cropping your photo so folks don't get the wrong idea about your "one major and one minor tools".
BigLeagueSmoes
Well-known member
My bad.. thank you
Yes you're correct on the handle, mine is scalloped/swooshed on both sides of the handle so it's comfy for left handed users too. I did own another AW-434 back in the late 90's with the swoosh only on the left of the the handle and flat on the right like the 232. Think it was a 434 B or C version. I bought this M version off the truck sometime around 2010 .
Looking at the parts lists and diagrams for the 232TG, and 434M while differing slightly on the outside share the same internals and both spec'd at 625 lbs reverse. The 231 has mostly the same internals yet has a slightly lower torque rating at 600 lbs reverse and the 244/244A is only rated at 500 lbs in reverse.
I think this is it for me. Not much. All of it from the 1980s. I worked in two different shops and IIRC we only had MAC stop by- no Snap On. I didn't buy the screwdriver, I found it at the second shop, and it's been thru hell, but the steel that the blade is made from is bulletproof- amazing. I bought the feeler gauges off the MAC truck.
Edit: I assume the FGs are made by someone like Lang, not sure. I've had to replace a few of the thinner blades in the long style and I got them from McMaster and think I had to punch the holes.
Edit: I assume the FGs are made by someone like Lang, not sure. I've had to replace a few of the thinner blades in the long style and I got them from McMaster and think I had to punch the holes.