Preview: Mac’s New 10.8V Li-Ion Screwdriver
By Chuck Cage
Mac announced this week that they, too, will soon ship a 10.8V lithium-ion driver to compete with the industry-first Bosch PS20 and Milwaukee’s recently-launched 12V sub-compact. Mac’s calling theirs a “screwdriver,” though, claiming 90 in-lbs of torque at an unspecified RPM. (Bosch claims 80 in-lbs at 600 RPM and Milwaukee claims 100 in-lbs at 500 RPM.)
Standard features include a forward/reverse switch, a 10-position clutch, and an LED work light. The new “screwdriver” will ship in kit form, including a single battery pack, a charger, four two-inch driver bits, all wrapped in a blow-molded case. We’ll pass on more about pricing — and performance — when we can.
September 12th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
All black. I like that. Sure as hell beats Hitachi’s crazy green. I hope that’s actually going to be the shipping color, and not just a pre-production thing.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
that thing looks pretty badass, i’d buy one for the right price
September 14th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Knowing Mac pricing, it’ll probably be twice as expensive as the Bosch or Milwaukee and only looks half as cool. It’s probably intended for mechanics, so maybe the black color will mask the inevitable buildup of dirt and grease.
September 15th, 2007 at 1:04 am
I have the Bosch and this looks like the same drill with different plastics. The givaway is that battery receptical in the charger looks exactly the same as the Bosch. Does MAC actually make any power tools or do they rebrand?
November 25th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Mac does not make anything anymore, all they do is brand their name on items from other manufactuers. The distributors have a 35% mark up on the item, yet Mac marks it up 50% for the distributors to buy. When I worked for Stanley, we could purchase Mac and Proto stuff off the Stanley Web Store for a fraction of what Mac sell it for. Yet, it’s still cheap stuff made overseas.
February 9th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I had this, it crapped out after a month. My mac guy was reluctant to replace it stating that it doesn’t carry the same warranty as their hand tools. Then he went out of business.
February 10th, 2008 at 12:49 am
I am a Mac dealer and have sold about 20 of these in the past three months. No complaints yet everyone is impressed by the power and battery life.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Mac Guy. will you replace mine then? Even the folks up at 800-mac-tools won’t budge. They said it doesn’t fall under their warranty policy. I’ve got he receipt, purchased Dec 18th 2007. Won’t hold a charge for more than a minute.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Hey Mac Guy…I too have one of these pieces of crap right out off the truck. Gave it a full charge as per the instructions and it dies as soon as I pull the trigger. My mac man kept telling me my replacement was on backorder for weeks on end and then quit stopping by my shop. Now he’s out of business and the Mac folks up in Ohio tell me they don’t warranty these the same way they do hand tools.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Michael,
If you’ve lost your Mac Man, ask the folks at HQ Mac that you’d like to speak to the local District Manager who may be able to help. Unfortunately, the first batch of these appeared to be ok but I’ve quit selling them for the same reason as you’ve described.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one that had issues with this. My mac man replaced mine twice for the battery failing to hold a charge. I guess the problem wasn’t the battery but an internal short in the drill. After the third one, my mac guy refunded my money and won’t sell them again.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Our boss bought each of us one as xmas gifts. There are eight of us in the shop. within days, these started to crap out on us and of course the mac man is now broke and out of business and the no help from the company. Mac used to be a good tool company but since stanley bought them, they’re no better than the stuff you by in walmart except being way overpriced.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
This is crap and I see many others have the same problem I had. Mac tool guys never stay in business for more than a year. My macman said my replacement was on backorder and weeks went by. Then he quite showing up. I finally threw mine away and bought a DeWalt.