Mac tools

[battlegraduate09]

I haven't got much MAC stuff, but my beefiest breaker bar is a 1/2" MAC and it is the stoutest 1/2" drive I have ever seen. It's a shame they've lost their ways and their reputation over the years, or I might have more of their stuff.

Really ? I have the same breaker bar (likely) and i dont care for it.
I tried breaking loose an oil pan plug on a 15L ISX 600 and it was bending so bad it was making me nervous. I would rather use my 24" matco ratchet.

 

[mopar01]

Really ? I have the same breaker bar (likely) and i dont care for it.
I tried breaking loose an oil pan plug on a 15L ISX 600 and it was bending so bad it was making me nervous. I would rather use my 24" matco ratchet.

Same thing with my snap on. But I haven't broke it yet lol

 

[joedodge]

My matco 24 inch breaker bends like crazy they all do

 

[young_buck]

Does anybody own this ratchet? http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/...-drive-12-pear-head-comfort-grip-ratchet.aspx I may be getting it next week

 

[genevabuck]

Does anybody own this ratchet? http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/...-drive-12-pear-head-comfort-grip-ratchet.aspx I may be getting it next week

I have one similiar. Same head but it has the hard red handle. It's very durable.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have the older style 24" breaker bar and love it!

Mac has the best knurled extensions as they knurl the female end as well as the shaft. If you have not seen or tried them, you should!

 

[young_buck]

I have used the knurled extensions for a brief period, never owned them, but they worked great I may have to pick up a set for my 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2, my wallet is going to hate me

I like the knurled handled ratchets, but when it is -40 degrees celsius it is nice to have a grip to hold onto that is not made of steel

 

[battlegraduate09]

Same thing with my snap on. But I haven't broke it yet lol

My matco 24 inch breaker bends like crazy they all do

I know most breaker bars have some flex in them, but this particular time it was bending ALOT. I wasnt really expecting it to snap, but somethin was about to give and i wasnt going to wait to see what it was. I had a 3 foot pipe on it and the pipe was almost hitting the wall of the grease pit on the other side (i was under the truck)

Before I bought my Mac bar, I was using a no name breaker bar, 24" in length, with a cheater bar on the end of it and it ended up snapping at the point where the cheater pipe was making contact with the bar and i just happened to have a pinch of Copenhagen in my jaw. When it snapped it hit me in the cheek. So hard it knocked my tobacco out of my mouth and split my cheek open. I figure if i hadnt had that pinch in i would have lost some teeth. Ever since then I havent been to comfortable with flexing a bar to far.

 

[Conductor562]

I have used the knurled extensions for a brief period, never owned them, but they worked great I may have to pick up a set for my 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2, my wallet is going to hate me

I like the knurled handled ratchets, but when it is -40 degrees celsius it is nice to have a grip to hold onto that is not made of steel

If it's -40 or - anything I believe I'd be wearing gloves.

 

[DTB]

I don't own any Mac tools but I wouldn't have a problem with them.I've used Mac sockets before and they are pretty good. I've been looking at the classic pearhead Mac ratchets.I like the look of them,and the chrome is nice but with only 30 teeth they are light years behind the other offerings.If they could up the tooth count and keep the same design it would be nice. Just looked through the catalog.The breaker bars without the knurled handle looks very similar to the Matco handle design in my opinion,But maybe in person not so much.Not going to find USA on Matco screwdrivers for one very simple reason,they are made in Germany

 

[woody 73]

Funny but as the crow flies I live in Mac's backyard (corporate headquarters) and I have yet to ever see a Mac tool truck go figure that one out!

 

[Wakefield]

I have heard (on this forum?) that Mac used to have a superb breaker bar in 1/2" drive and that it had the fork on the head design that looks like the present Harbor Freight or Duralast but that the Mac was probably a lot better.
But now I think the Mac has the fork on the handle style that is pretty much like most of the others. But might fit smaller places.

 

[bobcatdan]

Mac still offers a lot of good tools, their classic ratchet, wrenches, hard handle screwdriver and many other. Mac has kinda gone the gimicky route the last few years with the edge sockets and wrenches. Mac suffers real bad from their dealer network. My personal opinion is mac has the worst driver retention. Every mac dealer I have had, had trouble getting stuff I ordered. I like mac, I bet my set is close to 1/3 mac and I havn't had a dealer in over 3 years.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have heard (on this forum?) that Mac used to have a superb breaker bar in 1/2" drive and that it had the fork on the head design that looks like the present Harbor Freight or Duralast but that the Mac was probably a lot better.
But now I think the Mac has the fork on the handle style that is pretty much like most of the others. But might fit smaller places.

That's the style that I have and have had GREAT success with. Not sure if the newer style is stronger, but I have not been let down by that old one.

 

[CWP1616L]

Does anybody own this ratchet? http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/...-drive-12-pear-head-comfort-grip-ratchet.aspx I may be getting it next week

I don't have that exact model, but I do have a few MAC ratchets with that same 30 tooth head on them. I can tell you for absolute certain, after trying multiple types of lubes, that the MAC 30 tooth head prefers the Permatex 81950 the most. I use that lube on MAC 30 tooth ratchets exclusively. We're talkin butter smooth.

 

[stricht8]

Red Lube of Life baby!

 

[flippin]

I don't have that exact model, but I do have a few MAC ratchets with that same 30 tooth head on them. I can tell you for absolute certain, after trying multiple types of lubes, that the MAC 30 tooth head prefers the Permatex 81950 the most. I use that lube on MAC 30 tooth ratchets exclusively. We're talkin butter smooth.

From your experience how does that stuff work on other ratchets?

 

[young_buck]

If it's -40 or - anything I believe I'd be wearing gloves.

The gloves I own aren't very thick and neither are the ones supplied at my shop, plus i like the comfort grip for the fact that they fit the hand nicely

 

[Conductor562]

The gloves I own aren't very thick and neither are the ones supplied at my shop, plus i like the comfort grip for the fact that they fit the hand nicely

To each his own on the handles, but if I was working in temperatures like that I'd spring for the best insulated mechanics gloves I could buy.

 

[Skin]

Z - I have looked all over the couple of Snap-On screwdrivers that I have and I cannot find a USA marking.

Will add to the general discussion that I used to have a set on Knuckle Saver wrenches from Mac and really liked them. So did someone else....

older hard handles had USA on on the face of the handle with the part number and name, the newer instinct handles (includes ALL products with instinct handles like picks) have it on the end.

Mac still offers a lot of good tools, their classic ratchet, wrenches, hard handle screwdriver and many other. Mac has kinda gone the gimicky route the last few years with the edge sockets and wrenches. Mac suffers real bad from their dealer network. My personal opinion is mac has the worst driver retention. Every mac dealer I have had, had trouble getting stuff I ordered. I like mac, I bet my set is close to 1/3 mac and I havn't had a dealer in over 3 years.

Some guys swear by the edge design. I've never tried it but the design is sound. Its essentially FD+ applied to a socket. I think MAC also does mark those sockets down compared to their regular 6pt USA stuff.

I also forgot to mention the extensions that were brought up. They're the only company that double knurls them. All my 1/4 and 3/8 extensions, locking and regular, are MAC due to this. Allows you to use the extension like a nut driver even with oily hands.

Mac still offers a lot of good tools, their classic ratchet, wrenches, hard handle screwdriver and many other. Mac has kinda gone the gimicky route the last few years with the edge sockets and wrenches. Mac suffers real bad from their dealer network. My personal opinion is mac has the worst driver retention. Every mac dealer I have had, had trouble getting stuff I ordered. I like mac, I bet my set is close to 1/3 mac and I havn't had a dealer in over 3 years.

I don't buy this. MAC has excellent customer service in my few experiences and direct ordering online is prompt and their reps are helpful. If you go out to California MAC has a very large presence. I think its just hit and miss like all the franchises.

 

[young_buck]

To each his own on the handles, but if I was working in temperatures like that I'd spring for the best insulated mechanics gloves I could buy.

yes, They are on the top my list now just looking for the right ones

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I think it would be of benefit to MAC if they could return to independent ownership again? I heard that when Stanley bought them in 1980 they did not really want them.

 

[Conductor562]

I think it would be of benefit to MAC if they could return to independent ownership again? I heard that when Stanley bought them in 1980 they did not really want them.

I promise I don't mean to sound like a smartass, but if they didn't want them why did they buy them?

 

[Jamez]

These are the ones I bought. Anyone else have them? Are they good?

I've been using that exact set for 5 years now. One of the #2 Phillips is starting to slip on me, but other than tat they have been great.

 

[mailpup]

I know most breaker bars have some flex in them, but this particular time it was bending ALOT. I wasnt really expecting it to snap, but somethin was about to give and i wasnt going to wait to see what it was. I had a 3 foot pipe on it and the pipe was almost hitting the wall of the grease pit on the other side (i was under the truck)

Before I bought my Mac bar, I was using a no name breaker bar, 24" in length, with a cheater bar on the end of it and it ended up snapping at the point where the cheater pipe was making contact with the bar and i just happened to have a pinch of Copenhagen in my jaw. When it snapped it hit me in the cheek. So hard it knocked my tobacco out of my mouth and split my cheek open. I figure if i hadnt had that pinch in i would have lost some teeth. Ever since then I havent been to comfortable with flexing a bar to far.

When using a cheater pipe, I recommend sliding the pipe all the way down to the breaker bar head to try to avoid bending or breaking the bar at the end of the pipe. It puts all the stress onto the breaker bar head where it belongs. If the pipe isn't long enough after sliding it all the way down, you need a longer pipe. Anyway, my 2¢.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

First set of sockets i got where MAC. MAC guy gave me the best deal in the world. Buy one 12 piece socket set get the other for 10 bucks. I think i paid like 150 for the set! Was going to buy a set from matco but that day the matco guy was a total **** and the MAC guy showed up at the same time he did so left his truck and went to the MAC truck lol

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Not a smartness a good question. I'm not sure to be honest but it may have been they wanted to compete with Snap On and keep building there monopoly of tool companies.

I promise I don't mean to sound like a smartass, but if they didn't want them why did they buy them?

 

[CWP1616L]

From your experience how does that stuff work on other ratchets?

On my Snap-on ratchets I use SuperLube 21030. The SuperLube is a very light viscosity clear synthetic grease. It's also the official lube they use in the factory.

The Permatex 81950 is a very thick liquid, almost like syrup. It works real well on the MAC ratchets with their low pawl pressure.

 

[flippin]

On my Snap-on ratchets I use SuperLube 21030. The SuperLube is a very light viscosity clear synthetic grease. It's also the official lube they use in the factory.

The Permatex 81950 is a very thick liquid, almost like syrup. It works real well on the MAC ratchets with their low pawl pressure.

Thanks for the reply, makes a lot of sense. I overhaul at least 100 fishing reels every year and have many circumstances which dictate specific lubricants as well. In most of the situations other than high speed ceramic bearings, spring pressure determines the viscosity of the grease too!!!

Very familiar with Superlube, it also happens to be the oem grease for a few of the reel manufacturers as well. But I will definitely purchase some of the Permatex the syrupy consistency which you describe may come in handy.

Thanks again for the information!!

 

[Rezeppa]

It is an unfortunate thing my American made tool prejudice kills me when dealing with MAC. I have the least amount of broken MAC tools. I have a lot of older Mac stuff. My older Mac stuff I believe are the toughest tools made. My long pattern wrenches my mid-length impact universal sockets, six point wrenches all MAC all hold up to daily abuse. That being said I have the new sets of Mac edge 6-point flex head ratchet wrenches. Big money to get them and after I purchased I found out they were made over seas and it upset me. I am now very picky on what Mac tools I buy. With that said though in MACs defense I haven't broken any of their Taiwan made tools yet.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

COO doesnt bother me. The metal the american stuff is made from is from asia either way or the screws and bolts are made in asia or taiwan. I would love to buy all my tools from american made companies but money is always the factor when it comes to anything. That being said i still love my country!

 

[Firestarter Fred]

View attachment 234517
Just thought I would bump the thread with some good ol Mac!

Sent from Fred's iPad, now whether or not it was Fred is up for debate.

 

[Thumper]

I like Mac tools...of course all mine is older stuff. Never had a warranty problem with my dealer who was a great guy. He is now retired and I don't wrench much except on my own stuff.




sent from my ghetto shack with smoke signals...

 

[thehorse13]

I hate to resurrect an old thread but I received a set of MAC screwdrivers for Christmas this year. I have an old set of Pratt USA made screwdrivers that were slated for retirement now that I have this SDRBM20FNG set from MAC. For those who don't want to look up the set, it's the one with lime green handles.

This is my first experience with MAC tools and I was excited to put the screwdrivers to work in my shop. This is where things went terribly wrong.

I was tearing down an old vise and the jaw pad screws were being stubborn. As many of you know, this is very typical of 80 year old vises. No big deal, I grabbed the 5/16ths screwdriver and started twisting the jaw pad screw with quite a bit of torque. The head of the screwdriver twisted like a pretzel; I was shocked.

I then went to my old faithful Pratt screwdriver and it performed without incident. I'm ready to take this set of MAC screwdrivers and turn them into sinkers for my fishing tackle box. What a POS tool.

I have contacted MAC for a return but I'm only going to get another POS screwdriver back after the hassle of returning this one. I guess I'm going to hunt the local garage sales for screwdriver sets that are 50 years old or more. So much for "quality" truck brands...

 

[Fedwrench]

I was tearing down an old vise and the jaw pad screws were being stubborn. As many of you know, this is very typical of 80 year old vises. No big deal, I grabbed the 5/16ths screwdriver and started twisting the jaw pad screw with quite a bit of torque. The head of the screwdriver twisted like a pretzel; I was shocked.

I then went to my old faithful Pratt screwdriver and it performed without incident. I'm ready to take this set of MAC screwdrivers and turn them into sinkers for my fishing tackle box. What a POS tool.

I have contacted MAC for a return but I'm only going to get another POS screwdriver back after the hassle of returning this one. I guess I'm going to hunt the local garage sales for screwdriver sets that are 50 years old or more. So much for "quality" truck brands...

Not all mac screwdrivers are created equal. I believe the set you got (Black/green trilobal handles?) is Taiwan made. However, you may have had better luck with an impact driver to loosen the vise screws initially.
Contrary to popular misbelief, tool truck brands do not possess mythical powers and often fail just like regular tools.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I've got some old USA Mac stuff and I like, its good quality tools and I believe some of there stuff is still made in the good ol'US of A, witch is a plus.

 

[thehorse13]

Not all mac screwdrivers are created equal. I believe the set you got (Black/green trilobal handles?) is Taiwan made. However, you may have had better luck with an impact driver to loosen the vise screws initially.
Contrary to popular misbelief, tool truck brands do not possess mythical powers and often fail just like regular tools.

You are correct. The set is black/green with trilobal handles. I'm not surprised to know that the tool is Taiwanese junk because it performed like the junk found at horrible freight.

I could understand the failure if I paid 99 cents per screwdriver but this set was around 200 bucks from what I see. Total disappointment in the brand.

 

[tank4114]

ive broken 3 snap on Phillips drivers in last 2 years they get a workout, they dont last forever
my new dealer is really good though and warranties everything without any complaint

 

[thehorse13]

This was the first use of a brand new tool. I could even see if I abused it and clamped the thing with a vise grip to apply torque. Instead, using my superman strength, I pretzeled this thing with my bare hands.

 

[zcbauer89]

The new Mac screwdrivers are MUCH better than those Taiwan screwdrivers. The new ones are made in the USA. Most of the hard line is still made here in the states, and has always performed excellent for me.