MAC Expands Their Spherical Socket Set Line
By Chuck Cage
MAC’s spherical sockets sport a unique shape that grabs 6-sided, 12-sided, splined, Torx, square, and even 50% rounded nuts and bolts — and now MAC is offering them in a 15-piece 1/2″ drive set and a 13-piece 3/8″ drive set as well.
Like other MAC tools, they’re made of chrome molybdenum steel, but these feature MAC’s new “pearl chrome” finish, too. The 1/2″ drive set includes 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 13/16″, 7/8″, 1″, 1-1/16″, 1-1/8″, 1-3/16″, and 1-1/4″ sockets while the 3/8″ drive set includes 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 13/16″, 7/8″, 15/16″, and 1″ sockets — a nice overlap.
As always, these are available directly from MAC or your local MAC tools distributor.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Anyone have a link to these? I can’t find them on MAC’s site.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Eric: I don’t think they’re listed yet. MAC is usually a bit slow putting these up on the website — though they’re usually on the trucks quickly. If I wanted to see one, I’d call up the number on the website and find your local distributor, then give ‘em a call. These are good guys to know anyway, as even if you’re not buying tools all the time, they can help you find specialty tools when you need ‘em bad.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Mac’s website has always been a mess.
Are those sockets spline drive, or just a similar geometry?
June 1st, 2007 at 11:40 am
I think the square end is down.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
[...] MAC Expands Their Spherical Socket Line If you’re a MAC user and you’ve begun using their spline-type spherical sockets — they’ll handle a variety of fastener heads ranging from six- and twelve-point to inverse Torx and even half-rounded — you’ll be excited to know that they’ve expanded the 1/2″ and 3/8″ drive lines significantly. See your local truck to get ‘em. [...]
June 9th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
SK also has this same drive, but they call it spline (which it is) rather than spherical. It’s in a very nice set #94545, 3/8″ drive SAE and metric, standard and deep, with a fine tooth ratchet, and two wobble extensions, all American made tools. I got a set for under $100 last year.
I don’t know if the Mac sockets are American made or not. Stanley’s industrial Proto brand also has them.
I am going to assume that these companies are all licensing the socket profile from some patent holder, and I would be willing to bet that more companies will have spline sockets if they catch on.
September 9th, 2007 at 6:39 am
These are actually made in Taiwan by KABA Tools for the various tool companies since they own patent. Many of the mobile tool companies now contract out their tool manufacturing to KABA and why not. It costs $.09 to manufacture a socket from Taiwan…mark it up 2000% and you’ve got a huge profit margin! So now you know why your tool distributor can afford that fancy truck and long vacations in exotic places…it’s all paid for by those mechanics who can’t afford a week off because they’re strapped to truck accounts…
September 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Somebody at MAC might be getting fat off this stuff, but I seriously doubt it’s the guy in the truck.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Agree…well almost. First William, it’s Kabo tools, I had a customer hop on my truck with a set he purchased off of eBay and they’re identical in size and design, everything except the logo. Our District Manager let us in on the secret and confirmed. As for long exotic vacations, maybe the Snap-On guys with their 500% mark up but not us Mac men…
April 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I think Mac is going out of business…last year we had three mac trucks running the city and now they’ve all gone out of business. I know two filed for bankrupcy, probably the same with the third. I tried to get some of these sockets replaced by their 800 number and they gave me the number to some district mgr who never returns my calls.
Our matco guy runs around in an empty truck and snappy is too busy collecting money but not selling anymore. He say’s he’s through after this month. I guess I need to start buying my tools at Lowes from now on.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:23 am
These are actually called spline sockets in the aviation world. Been around for a few years now. All Mac did was take the idea from Proto and SK and change the name to spherical. I didn’t realize Mac was still in business. Haven’t seen one in my area for years.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Wright Tool has also had spline drive sockets for quite a while now too.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Wright tools is a Snap-on company but in the beginning, it was Granco that was making the tools for both companies.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
William, I find it interesting your opinion of the tool guys, It’s clear you don’t know much about thier bussness, with out them the hard working guy in the shop would be in a world of hurt. I’ve been in the biz for fourty plus years and owe a life time of graditude to the tool guys over the years.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
jammer,
My brother was a DM for Mac Tools - I myself worked for Stanley Works and Proto back when it was under Ingersol Rand so I know the game all too well.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:21 am
To Lakey: I don’t believe Wright is a Snap-on company. Were you thinking of JH Williams?
March 1st, 2009 at 9:53 am
Snap on now own’s Wright Tools.
As for the tool truck guys…lost the Matco and Mac guys over a year ago. Snappy finally gave in a few months ago. As Snappy said, they’re like the milk men of the 60’s…most of us now use online and direct delivery and frankly, we’ve saved a bundle.
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I contacted Wright Tool and asked about the Snap On story. Here is their response.
Good Morning XXXXX,
Regarding what you read on the internet, this statement is absolutely not true. Wright Tool has been a family owned business since 1927, and continues to be family owned and managed. I am curious where you got this information? If you would like more information on our company, I can send you our new catalog and a cd about Wright Tool. Thanks for your inquiry, and if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Best Regards,
Ty Smith
Director of Business Development
Wright Tool Company
—————————————————————————————
Sounds to me like Snap On doesn’t own Wright Tool.
Coach
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
What happened to my post?
According to the people at Wright Tool, they are not owned by Snap On. Is that acceptable to the mods?
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Sorry about that Coach James,
The spam engine held it because of the multi “X” thing. It should be out now.
~Sean
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I wondered if that was the problem. Next time I’ll remember to remove my name and leave the “X”’s out too. Thanks.
March 30th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Don’t know about Wright Tools, but does anyone know what ever happend to Mac Tools? At one time, their trucks were everywhere, I’ve not seen one in years. I spoke to a proto rep who told me they were acquired by Vidmar and Stanley Supply Services and their products will all be online very soon. Proto makes most of the old Mac tool line in their dallas plant. The rest is made in China. But that doesn’t help me with some tools that need warranty…can’t get anyone to pick up on their toll free line…
March 31st, 2009 at 3:38 am
We’ve been purchasing Mac off the Stanley Supply website for quite some time. If you’re a government customer, and log in as such, the prices are even better than retail. Here is one example…not sure what the price is without logging in though.
http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-detail.aspx?pn=453-654
As for warranty, I know our local Grainger gal also has access to Mac and Snap-On and has swapped out some tools for us.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:38 am
Learned that Mac is now part of Vidmar. The corporate office in Ohio was taken over and turning into some automotive industrial group by Stanley. Lots of jobs going away up there, probalby end up outsourcing everything to china.