To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

mac tools

fuzzie79

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
16
I know a lot of people rant and rave mac tools. Please let me know the pros and cons on their tools please. Because the VA is going to buy me starter tool set from. I gunshot up diesel school in Aug. I need to know what to ask for on this starter tool list from thank you for your help..
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Spudland_Dave

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Messages
3,025
Location
Maine
I got no problem with anything MAC. I got a great distributor/franchisee... Good quality tools, EXCELLENT Toolboxes, overall I cant complain.
The product lineup isnt overly flashy in terms of "Colored Tools" or bazillion tooth ratchets, but overall a solid lineup.

I think most if not all of the people who get bent out of shape over MAC are the COO Bible Thumpers.
 

MattPersman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
1,656
Location
Indiana
Stuff is up there quality wise lots of relabeled KD stuff. Usually have nice sales, distribution has been very spotty on many areas. took me 5 years I bet to get another Mac guy
 

Rigpig

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Messages
188
Location
Victoria,BC
I got no problem with anything MAC. I got a great distributor/franchisee... Good quality tools, EXCELLENT Toolboxes, overall I cant complain.
The product lineup isnt overly flashy in terms of "Colored Tools" or bazillion tooth ratchets, but overall a solid lineup.

I think most if not all of the people who get bent out of shape over MAC are the COO Bible Thumpers.

Yup! What he said!!!:beer:
 

ken w.

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
2,237
Location
Western New York
My experience with Mac Tools has not been as nice as the rest of you guy's. I have alway's had a problem with warrenty. Not with one Mac rep but many. It must be my area. I have had them say I didn't buy it from me so they arn't required to replace it to he isn't sure my 1" Mac combo wrench is a warrenty when the box end broke.I could go on and on. I finally told the last Mac Tools rep not to come back untill he took care of a box of warrenty tools that have been sitting there for over a year.But if yor going to get a starter box of tools at a big discount I would say to go for it.It doesn't matter what brand of tool you buy , your going to brake tools.It just happens.I would stick to a good reputable truck tool guy and go with the one that treats you the best.
 

dsimatt

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
6,448
I'd stay away from Mac because they can't keep a steady dealer around here and their sales are mainly geared towards the automotive guys.
 

MechanicNamedJohn

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2010
Messages
1,344
I have a great Mac dealer and I prefer to buy Mac tools, I have never had any problems with Mac tools or my dealer.
 

Buckgnarly

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Messages
7,648
Location
VT
Best knurled extensions out there! It's around the female end as well as the shaft, no idea why all makers do not do that!
 

Spudland_Dave

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Messages
3,025
Location
Maine
Best knurled extensions out there! It's around the female end as well as the shaft, no idea why all makers do not do that!

Yes, the MAC extensions are nice...back in Feb I got the Locking Hand Drive extensions they had on sale, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Those extensions.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

jjjrmx5

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
3,431
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Best knurled extensions out there! It's around the female end as well as the shaft, no idea why all makers do not do that!

Buy a set of thier locking extenions.!

Knurling at female end, knurling on shaft and knurled lock ring up at male end.
3x the knurling fun. LOLZ.

I will buy no others.

They ARE that good.

MAC has it's share of core good tools.

Getting access to a good, dependable and regular driver/truck tends to be the crux.
 
Last edited:

Singlecut

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
235
Location
Great Falls
I am a huge Mac toolbox fan. My 26" economizer is fantastic. I also have the 1/4 locking extension set, they are great! Pliers are good.. ratchets are eh. I went snappy for those. Can't speak on much else.
 

2oolhound

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
5,918
Location
BC Canada
Some guys don't like the fact the combo wrenches have the open end angle opposite to most wrenches. That way the box end offset faces down so when tightening theoretically there could be less clearance on a flat surface.

ANTIDOTE:

Use S-O or other to tighten down, but use your Macs to remove fasteners.
 
Last edited:

Mister Laugh

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2013
Messages
64
I have found that all of the newer Mac stuff I have bought is no where near the quality of the older stuff some guys in the shop have. There are some Mac tools I have that I could t go without. And a lot that I have been slowly upgrading to snap on as they break because I no longer have a Mac dealer and warranty is a hassle.
 

volaredon

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
1,608
Location
IL
My experience with Mac Tools has not been as nice as the rest of you guy's. I have alway's had a problem with warrenty. Not with one Mac rep but many. It must be my area. I have had them say I didn't buy it from me so they arn't required to replace it to he isn't sure my 1" Mac combo wrench is a warrenty when the box end broke.I could go on and on. I finally told the last Mac Tools rep not to come back untill he took care of a box of warrenty tools that have been sitting there for over a year.But if yor going to get a starter box of tools at a big discount I would say to go for it.It doesn't matter what brand of tool you buy , your going to brake tools.It just happens.I would stick to a good reputable truck tool guy and go with the one that treats you the best.

yup must be the same reps they get around here on a spotty basis.
 

volaredon

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
1,608
Location
IL
I have found that all of the newer Mac stuff I have bought is no where near the quality of the older stuff some guys in the shop have. There are some Mac tools I have that I could t go without. And a lot that I have been slowly upgrading to snap on as they break because I no longer have a Mac dealer and warranty is a hassle.

yup and yup. I lost a 5 gallon bucketful of broken MAC to a rep 40 miles away he turned them in and put em in inventory then told me to ""go scratch" when he got out of it, I had to go to his home as we have gone 7 years with no Mac rep 2 separate times, with about 3 years in between that we actually had 2 around here
 

wise

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
182
Location
Ontario. In Canada.
Most of Mac's lineup are great, dependable tools. I've had problems with a few mac tools I have... I break impact hex sockets every once and a while, there easy-outs are incredibly soft (no easy out's I've ever used have been very good though), and there chisels aren't anything special... anything I've ever warrantied will be replaced within a week without a headache.

The rest of my Mac tools are really high quality.
 

Rico.

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
1,330
Location
England
Speaking purely as an observational outsider, I get the feeling that the biggest problem
people have with MAC tools are the humans behind the tools rather that the tools themselves.

After four years reading on this forum, the ***** fest about MAC tools almost always seems
to be about the ****** service they got from their MAC chap or chapess, or the fact they
have had 18 MAC dealers in 2 months, or the fact they haven't seen a MAC truck since
Queen Victoria was popping out her 17th kid.

My point, if you haven't guessed, is that MAC tools for the most part are as good as
anybodys... and in my humble opinion, if they are getting more rebranded FACOM stuff
from the big happy Stanley family warehouse, I would sugest that they could fight it out
for the best tools in town crown.

:thumbup:
 

AV tinker er

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
Messages
851
Location
SoCal
I have some sockets, wrenches, and a few ratchets. I am overly happy with my tools from MAC. They have not done as well as in the past, but still make some great tools.
 

Nitroinsane

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
73
I have had the same Mac guy for 11 years now. They have a **** ton of remarked tools from OTC. My 3/8th Mac sockets take a beating and stand up very well.i have broken every Mac triple square I have.
 

Bryanthegreat

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Messages
446
Location
Minnesota
I also have been happy with all of my MAC tools. I have a little of every brand but find myself buying mostly MAC stuff these days. Haven't had any issues with any of the Taiwan stuff either.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom