mjdodson05
New member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2022
- Messages
- 1
Which do you think is better Mac or snap on wrenches
Mac vs snap on
- Thread starter mjdodson05
- Start date
Steve in UT
Well-known member
Neither! Too rich for my cheap a$$
rustyzman
Well-known member
For me, Snap on. The quality of both is excellent, but the fit, strength and function of the Snap on wrench has always been superior in my experience. Particularly with flare nut wrenches or if you need a good strong open end wrench. The flank drive plus series does bite in much better on the open end, though it does mark the fastener a bit. Outside of the old Blue Point Supreme wrenches, I have never broken a modern one (full polish OEX series and the like) and I have asked A LOT of them. Many instances of abuse to get the job done and they survived just fine.
I have broken a couple MAC's, but I won't say they are not good. I asked A LOT of them too.
But, tools are like shoes, you've got to try them on and see what fits you best. Your favorite might be different than mine and that is OK!
I have broken a couple MAC's, but I won't say they are not good. I asked A LOT of them too.
But, tools are like shoes, you've got to try them on and see what fits you best. Your favorite might be different than mine and that is OK!
javyLSU
Well-known member
I have Snap-on wrenches, but I think the MAC wrenches are every bit as good, and sure do look nice. I would go with whichever set I could get a better deal on (which is how I wound up with my Snap-on sets).
As a professional I started with Cman raised panels and thought I would upgrade my metrics to Mac.
Well after repeatedly bending and breaking the Mac I bought a set of Snapon. The Mac now live at home with the Cman.
I still use my Cman sae at work and have never felt the need to upgrade for the amount that they are used.
Well after repeatedly bending and breaking the Mac I bought a set of Snapon. The Mac now live at home with the Cman.
I still use my Cman sae at work and have never felt the need to upgrade for the amount that they are used.
For wrenches specifically..... Both Snap-on and MAC make their own wrenches here in the USA and both are very good. However, when talking about MAC we need to make sure we're comparing their USA produced line of tools with SO. Snap-on makes pretty much all of their own wrenches in multiple factories here in the US. MAC (owned by Stanley Black and Decker) I believe has only one factory still making tools here in the USA. (in Texas) I am not 100% sure about wrenches, but for example: I know for sure MAC has an entire line of imported sockets, and an entire line of USA sockets. The USA sockets are about double the price. (maybe more) The last set of USA MAC sockets I purchased from the MAC truck, the driver specifically asked me if I knew the difference in their lines of sockets. He wanted to be sure that I indeed ordered the more expensive set. I said "yes, I know, I want USA sockets". Evidently, most of his customers only buy imported tools. I can not justify imported tools from a TOOL truck, at tool truck prices, when I can usually buy those same tools from other sources for much less. I will only pay tool truck prices for USA produced tools.
Snap On prices are painful. In the smaller sizes up to about 19mm or 3/4" ,Snap On wrenches are really hard to beat. When the sizes start to get larger the advantages quickly disappear and many other high quality brands (Wright,Proto etc.) are available at much better prices.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
May not be true, but i think MAC's older tools were better quality than today's stuff. Current lineup is mostly rebranded cousins of the Stanley family, which pushes me towards Snap on.
wafrederick
Well-known member
There are people that like the Mac precision torque wrenches over the Snap On wrenches.Good reviews too.Mac has the best hex and torx bit sockets with the RBRT line.Mac has a patent on the RBRT too.Mac makes their hardline tools
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm one of those people.
I like the comfortable eye beam shaped beams on the MAC Precision Torque series long pattern wrenches. Now the angle of the boxed end does take some getting used to though 
However, saying "MAC makes their hardline tools" isn't as true today as it once was. The precision torque combination wrenches aren't made by MAC nor are there round head ratchets. Some of MAC wrenches look like MAC branded Proto wrenches.
You really have to judge each tool on its own, as to who made it and none of the RBRT stuff comes from a USA factory. 
I have many different brands of wrenches too include snap on. All have served me well but, I don't like the thin wrench edges found on many snap on wrenches. I do like their balance though.Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Seems like around here guys buy based on the driver more than the brand. Like someone else said, I’m too poor/cheap to buy much of those things for myself lol.
those mac precision torque wrenches are also sold as facom, believe their facom xl wrenches technicallyI'm one of those people.
However, saying "MAC makes their hardline tools" isn't as true today as it once was. The precision torque combination wrenches aren't made by MAC nor are there round head ratchets. Some of MAC wrenches look like MAC branded Proto wrenches.
I have a bunch of both. Snap on all the way. They feel perfect in your hand. The MAC wrenches are ok, but don’t have that perfect feel like Snap On. It’s hard to explain, but if you’ve ever played a really nice guitar vs a cheaper one, it’s a huge difference.
redwrench60
Well-known member
I agree. Ergonomics play a big part when you are holding wrenches every day. The old Mac wrenches never felt right to me. They are configured backwards if you know what I mean and the V throat open end is inferior compared to the continuous arc radius open end on strength.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes. They're the 440XL series but, the Facom set skips sizes and I haven't found the missing sizes (12 & 18mm) available.
(440XL.JP8-High Torque Comb Wrench Clip Set-8pc (8-19mm)(Facom)
Facom XL Series Long Combination Wrench Set (with Storage Clip)(440XL.JP8) - n - auto parts for your vehicle at Ultimate Garage
www.ultimategarage.com
Agree. I'm long removed from the "pro" user world, but 35-40 years ago, MAC was equal to, or just behind, SO for the basic "hard line" tools. I know some will argue this; but MAC made really nice tools in the 80s- this is all everyone I worked with had. Now the MAC brand is so diluted with imports, which is fine, but not at a premium price. So now IMO it's SO if you are going to pay the truck pricing.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
Yep. My dad has more MAC than anything else and it's all from the 80s/90s. That's what I grew up using and I think it's all really high quality. I just don't want to pay top dollar for mostly rebranded stuff.
Imho Matco passed Mac in quality 25 years ago. Mac tools of today are not the same as your grandfathers.
The only reason that I set foot on the Mac truck anymore is for a lower price and warranty convenience of a tool that I will rarely use and don't want to pay top dollar for.
The only reason that I set foot on the Mac truck anymore is for a lower price and warranty convenience of a tool that I will rarely use and don't want to pay top dollar for.
fatfillup
Well-known member
Wow, Matco's tools are contract made and many are rebranded gearwrench. Never thought of them passing anybody. Modern Mac may not be great but wouldn't think less then Matco, maybe on par with.
Have seen Matco punches and chisels that are absolute junk. I buy and sell used tools and see lots of everybody's tools. Snap on overall has the best quality and is what sells best. Matco sells to those who have had a great dealer in the past or have had a bad experience with Snap on.
To the OP's question,
Snap on is superior in strenght due to its grade of steel. Whether you like the way it fits your hand is a personal decision. I like Matco's WLC series made by Bonney or the Bonney's of that era. Very comfortable in your hand. Mac makes some nice wrenches too like their knuckle saver line.
I use a Cmam pro from late 90's, I think SK made them. Have served me well but I don't turn wrenches full time nor very hard duty.
Like all toolbrands they do some good and some bad, MAC has some pretty good products but if you not getting much benefit from a truck or warranty replacing tools often you paying a lot for not a lot of benefit .
I tend use MAC truck a lot these days but that mainly due to good driver and he passes my shop pretty much daily ...
I tend use MAC truck a lot these days but that mainly due to good driver and he passes my shop pretty much daily ...
chadster1
Well-known member
I'll also agree with this. The old MAC stuff was good.
I know that I am biased but I think that for your basic hard-line chrome tools Snap-on is the best. Unless you are a professional user, it is real hard to justify the cost. I'm glad I got my tools when I was a dealer.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I really appreciate older Mac tools, but anything in the last 20 years would prefer snap on, they have always been incredible wrenches.
wafrederick
Well-known member
100% false,Gearwrench makes nothing for Matco.I am a subscriber of the YouTube channel Koon Trucking who has a video showing proof Matco's ratchets are not rebranded Gearwrench.They are completely different and his dealer shown it taking one of each apart.The ratcheting mechanism,pawl,spring for the pawl,anvil and locking mechanism for head are different.Different lengths and head thickness as well.Matco is no longer part of the Apex Tool group,sold to Fortive in 2016.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes and no. Today no Gearwrench made Matco branded. However, in the past, that wasn't the case. One must always remember that MATCO only makes toolboxes. All of their tools are made by someone else for them. The Koon video compares a current redesigned Gearwrench 90 tooth ratchet to a MATCO 88 tooth ratchet. Those two versions are far apart internally. However, if you were to compare a Gearwrench 60 or 84 tooth ratchet internals to a MATCO 60 or 88 tooth ratchet, even the o rings were the same color. Now back then, the MATCO would be US made and the Gearwrench one would hail from Taiwan but, the internal floating pawl design was the same. As was the case with Armstrong Maxx ratchets. In fact until Armstrong tool's demise, they made most of Matco's hardline tools from sockets to wrenches. Gearwrench has supplied Matco with tools in the past. However, Matco gets most of its wrenches from Taiwan suppliers now such as Kabo. As I recall Fortive was actually a spinoff from Danaher in 2016. Matco and Fluke were never part of the Apex tool group. In fact, I feel Apex's killing off of Armstrong tools hurt Matco's ability to put tools on their trucks for awhile especially, US Made tools. However, Matco overcame Armstrong's closure developing different suppliers now. Some are even US Made.
wafrederick
Well-known member
Armstrong made the first 88th ratchets and AJ Manufacturing makes them now.Their serpentine belt tool kit is made by someone elseYes and no. Today no Gearwrench made Matco branded. However, in the past, that wasn't the case. One must always remember that MATCO only makes toolboxes. All of their tools are made by someone else for them. The Koon video compares a current redesigned Gearwrench 90 tooth ratchet to a MATCO 88 tooth ratchet. Those two versions are far apart internally. However, if you were to compare a Gearwrench 60 or 84 tooth ratchet internals to a MATCO 60 or 88 tooth ratchet, even the o rings were the same color. Now back then, the MATCO would be US made and the Gearwrench one would hail from Taiwan but, the internal floating pawl design was the same. As was the case with Armstrong Maxx ratchets. In fact until Armstrong tool's demise, they made most of Matco's hardline tools from sockets to wrenches. Gearwrench has supplied Matco with tools in the past. However, Matco gets most of its wrenches from Taiwan suppliers now such as Kabo. As I recall Fortive was actually a spinoff from Danaher in 2016. Matco and Fluke were never part of the Apex tool group. In fact, I feel Apex's killing off of Armstrong tools hurt Matco's ability to put tools on their trucks for awhile especially, US Made tools. However, Matco overcame Armstrong's closure developing different suppliers now. Some are even US Made.
anndel
Well-known member
My co-worker only has Mac and so I tried them out to see which feels better in my hands. I prefer Snap-on as they are more comfortable to use for me than Mac.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I like Williams and Proto.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Last edited: