Snap on or Mac

[Kevin4317]

I am looking at a 44 piece 1/4 drive set what do you guys think snap on or mac. I have a chance for a real good price on the mac set but don't wanna regret not getting the snap on setfor about a hundred dollars more. Is it just preference or is there a difference????

 

[mrshaun]

there is a difference. the ratchet the extensions the sockets everything. go with the snap on set and later in life you will be happy. especially when you cant find a mac man to warranty the stuff.
are you buying from a dealer or offline?

 

[sk farmer]

mrshaun is a well respected member around here and a great guy from all i know. he just may be a little biased in his answer being a dealer. you may want to wait for a few more guys to chime in though. myself, neither unless you are getting some sort of student discount. a brand new sk set will run you much less and will be a good value. the 1/4 sk is still regarded as one of the finer 1/4 rats. warranty? i doubt the sockets will be an issue and who knows, ideal may just turn this thing around for sk. you can always add an s-o dual 80 if you really want one, just make sure it says usa on it. 1/4 stuff is pretty durable unless you are reallly thrashing on stuff and then you shoud be using something else anyway.

 

[blown94conv]

I'd buy the Snap on set. I like the ratchets better, and the sockets have the shelf in them which I like having. I have only needed them a few times when starting bolts, but the times I did need that shelf I was glad it was there.

 

[BigAirT]

I would buy the Snap On or another brand like SK or Craftsman before the Mac, Mac tools just aren't all that great, they usually come in close to Snap On but no where near the quality. HTH.

 

[Boiler]

I've got to agree with both guys. If you want the best you can get, get the snap on. Mac is owned by stanley, who we all know aren't afraid to cut corners. All of the last several foreign made Mac items I've held recently had feel issues mainly due to reduced buffing quality on the chrome. A torx driver I had had plastic inserts in the handle with the size printed on them, and one of the inserts fell out. Kind of annoying if you can't see what torx driver it is quickly.

None of this has anything to do with their sockets, but if they make these kinds of cuts, eventually you'll want to get a socket replaced and you might be given a substandard tool.

If the price is a concern, I agree with the SK idea. For a LOT less money ($125-$150 for an SK 1/4" drive set with a little looking around) you can get a set that personally I'd rather have than a MAC. I have the 1/4" and 3/8" SK sets, and a complete set of metric 1/2 SK. I get as much snap on as I want for great prices, and I still do not plan on upgrading my SK's. They are really a great value. I figure if I break one I can:

1) hope ideal will replace it
2) buy one online or ebay (probably the easiest)
3) buy a snap on to replace it

Either way I've got a set of premium sockets and about $400 extra in pocket.

Personally I believe SK are as good or better than Mac anyway. If you do go with Snap On you could probably find a new or near new set for sale on ebay or in the GJ classifieds for half the price too.

 

[woody 73]

Years ago Mac tools were top notch,I still hunt for them,today a lot of them are coming out of china. Snap-on is also top notch and if you get some kind of discount then you should look into buying them.

Don't be to fast into only looking at those two companies wright sk, proto, matco and cornwell makes some very nice tools.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Between the two, Snap-on. I have lots of Snap-on 1/4" stuff (Sockets, ratchets, extensions, drivers, universal joints & universal sockets, etc..) and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[padronanniversary]

snap on . the local dealer has taken care of me well with any warranty issues and support. plus, i hardly see the mac guy around these days.

 

[mrshaun]

survey says. Snap On. buy local if you can and keep the american economy going.

 

[mcdtommy23]

+100 on Snap-On. If you want Stanley go to Wally World and get a $20.00 set. Or Home Depot and get a Huskey set.

 

[469 runner]

Years ago I had the same question deciding if Snap On or Mac was better. All it took was buying one 3/4" Mac socket to find out. Inferior chrome, very rough unfinished look on the inside, plus the lack of snap-ons flank drive system were enough to convince me...There is a difference! Snap On will retain its value as well should you ever want to sell.

 

[chadster1]

Years ago I had the same question deciding if Snap On or Mac was better. All it took was buying one 3/4" Mac socket to find out. Inferior chrome, very rough unfinished look on the inside, plus the lack of snap-ons flank drive system were enough to convince me...There is a difference! Snap On will retain its value as well should you ever want to sell.

Wow, registered 4 years ago and this is your first post. Welcome.

BTW, I vote for the Snap-on set.

 

[mikevango]

craftsman sockets and snap on ratchets

 

[Kevin4317]

The verdict is in Snap on thanks for the quick responses

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I am not a big fan of either Snap-On or Mac. Matco and Cornwell are my perfered choices. However since S/O and Mac are the brands in question I say Snap-On, mainly for ease of finding a truck if/when something breaks. I own all four brands and based my opinion on personal expiriences, nothing more. Not saying S/O or Mac are bad, I just like the others better.

 

[wrenchr]

My brother has the mac set and I have the snap on set, resale is higher on my set but I'm not selling, . But the mac set is still USA made and is high quality. How much is the mac set going to set you back?

 

[Skin]

If its a US MAC set the difference is you're paying $100 more for the same thing from SO. MAC is the brand this board loves to hate but they were making some great stuff not too long ago. Provided the set you're interested in isnt one of their new taiwanese imports i'd have no problem going for it.

 

[billymade]

The post Stanley takeover of Mac Tools seems to have turned Mac into a shadow of its former self; go with Snap-On! You can find these sets used and save yourself a ton of dough! Good luck! Once you have a set of Snap-On; you will want more!

 

[warmpancakes]

I have the older mac stuff figure 1995 ish sockets are fine

 

[hammergodthor]

If its a US MAC set the difference is you're paying $100 more for the same thing from SO. MAC is the brand this board loves to hate but they were making some great stuff not too long ago. Provided the set you're interested in isnt one of their new taiwanese imports i'd have no problem going for it.

I second this. I can buy a lot of tools for $100. If its older Mac, it will probably last quite a while.

If its new Mac "Edge" I would go with Snap On though.

 

[wrenchr]

The new sockets are fine from mac as well. They still make USA tools.

 

[jethro29]

snap-on without a doubt and around here i've had four mac men in three years and don't have one at all for months or a year stretch at a time,i've had to pay for postage to send my broken macs out and wait 6-8 weeks to get them back if i get them back at all.the s.o. is much better quality and if the need for warranty does arrise it will be much simpler with s.o. and i've had the same s.o. man for ten years.every week.

 

[jerryW]

Or you could bid on this one,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230541139760&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Not mine, one I was watching because of the strt price. Who knows where it will be when it ends though.


jerry

 

[Chadro]

I'd say your fine with either one. I have a lot of Snapon but I have a soft spot for Mac so I say throw them a bone. Everyone always says Mac doesn't have great resale value but I've never seen a set of knucklesavers go for cheap unless they were beat to hell. It's not just their wrenches, the sockets, ratchets, air tools, bits etc etc seem to hold pretty good value.

If someone knows where to get cheap Mac tools, by all means share.

 

[Jbullfrog]

The biggest gripe I have with my Mac set is the case is too loose. Every time you pick it up to carry it, all the sockets slide out of there groove to the hinge. I have a Cornwell set that has a much better case, but is 1/2" bigger than the slot in my service bag. Check the classifieds here, as I have had the Cornwell set listed for 6 months without a nibble.

 

[crewchief888]

for me, it would depend on the reliability of the dealer.

i wont deal with MAC anymore simply because of my local dealer.
horrible service i might see him every 6 months, and wonders why all i have is broken stuff for him, then he disappears for another 6 months, without any replacements.

i'll buy from new from SO, at least he drops by every week, whether i'm buying or not, or find good deals on used tools at swap meet and flea mkts

 

[scottmlew]

Between Snap On and Mac, overall there isn't much of a real decision -- the SO set wins hands down. However, the knurling on the Macs is better than the SO in my opinion, and my Mac extensions are becoming my new favorites due to the placement of the knurling.

 

[Kevin4317]

So I was up in the air for days trolling ebay and the classifieds here, I found a mac set for 269.00 looks practically brand knew it was a buy it now but kept looking for the snap on 144TMPB. I was always getting out bid found a set today and finally won an really scored 271.00 and it come with a brand new tf72 . I cant wait thanks for the advice Kevin

 

[Skyline]

Good choice Kevin. For those who suggested SK, where do you think you're going to get a replacement when you loose a socket?

I've found that with Matco & Cornwell, since I have no local drivers, it's very hard to get replacement items. Cornwell will not sell at all from their web site, and Matco does so only reluctantly.

I really don't see anything wrong with MAC, but I do like the Snap-on a bit better.

 

[mrholeshot]

The quality of MAC tools has gone down the toilet over the last 10 years. Snap-On's quality has in most cases contined to get better and more inovative. That said.

I don't think any 44 peice 1/4 drive set is worth 600 dollars.

If you want the best USA tool for the money I would look at the SK set here
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FAPVTK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

While SK maybe under reconstruction the quality of SK Rivals that of Snap-On. In 1/4 drive you very rarely break a socket.

If you don't mine something Imported you can look at the Gearwrench set. A lot of bang for the buck in this set.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NIAIE2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If it were me and being a Pro and wanting to buy the set at the same time I'd be all over the SK. For a home set or spare I'd do the gearwrench. No way I'd go 600 on the Snap-On.

 

[littlekillertoad]

If you don't mind dropping the cash, Snap-on is the way to go.

 

[billymade]

When you get your set; post some pics and let us know what you think of the set, when you use them! Reviews, are always welcome! Your first set of Snap-On tools; we have all been there and most likely you will have more in your future!

 

[stricht8]

If its a US MAC set the difference is you're paying $100 more for the same thing from SO. MAC is the brand this board loves to hate but they were making some great stuff not too long ago. Provided the set you're interested in isnt one of their new taiwanese imports i'd have no problem going for it.

I agree. The USA MAC stuff is very nice. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of it. SO ratchets as a whole seem to be better though. I think the MAC sockets and knucklesaver wrenches are very good tools.

 

[volvo420coupe]

sk had a 60something piece set that had a bigger range of sizes than was even available through snap on.