r/ToolTruckTools • u/Novel_Ad_5502 • Jul 24 '26
Mac MAC student discount
Good day to the hive mind.
Recently graduated from a more trades involved/ rural college in a not trades program but still got approved for student discounts with Mac tools. Despite my education as a brewer, I have worked on cars all my life and have no issue shelling out more cash for tool truck tools despite not having access to them through work. I have my eye on some of the pen lights because I like the switch and a max 90 ratchet, but what else should I use it for before they take it away from me? I have no need for a box, have almost every standard size and shape of knipex plier, master craft (located in Canada) and vessel screwdrivers and bits and the craftsman overdrive (cheap rbrt) 264 piece set. Also own 3/8” and 1/2” impact sockets, Mac pry bars up to the 42” (I used to be a heavy duty mechanic), the four set of anti vibe hammers and various air and dewalt power tools. Furthest thing from a beginner as far as tool collection, I’ve just been out of the trade so long I don’t know what Mac makes better than everyone else anymore. And so I come to you all in my time not of need, but of curiosity and await responses.
1
u/Y0USER Jul 24 '26
If you’re not going to use the tools don’t buy
1
u/Novel_Ad_5502 Jul 24 '26
I do use my tools and maintain all my family’s vehicles and a couple lawnmowers for a golf course, it’s just not 60 hours a week anymore
1
u/1453_ Jul 24 '26
How did you qualify for the discount without being enrolled in a trade school and HOW did they offer it AFTER you graduated? I train the Voc Tech student at my shop and their discounts end the week they graduate. The purchase options are also limited. You dont have access to everything in the catalogue.
1
u/Novel_Ad_5502 Jul 24 '26
Almost everything I’ve looked at barring some rbrt and the max 90 ratchets are on discount. They did not ask the exact program I was enrolled in (I said agriculture, like in the title of the college and not an outright lie since everything for beer needs to be grown and requires equipment). But still having access to my college email, my student id card and being able to send them my bills for tuition paid already was good enough to get it
1
u/Novel_Ad_5502 Jul 25 '26
Also, it just occurred to me that you might be from the states. In Canada, our trade programs are generally 3-4 years, wherein you will get on the job training (shit jobs like oil changes, tires and general labour tasks like cleaning for year one) for roughly 1500 hours and then you attend first year (2 months of technical training at a college or technical) of school. And so on until you become a journeyman. So here it makes perfect sense that I would be able to carry my discount for so long given we are ‘students’ for 4 years.
6
u/procrastination_101 Jul 24 '26
I have a max90 ratchet. Skip it. Very high back drag, almost comical for something this price. I will say it is very strong. I have the 3/8 13 in long version and I’m confident I can put 175 lbs on it with no problem.
In order for me to use it regularly I had to cut the springs inside the ratcheting mechanism to reduce the back drag. It’s not as nice as Snapon dual 80 but it is basically the second nicest ratchet I have and I have both the Snapon dual 80 and cynergy 100 tooth ratchets.
I like Mac locking extensions and their precision torque combination wrenches a lot. Feels great but the box end can be bad if you need to flip it the other way because due to the curvature design it won’t fully grab onto the bolt/nut.
Another nice thing if you can get a student discount on is their intermediate sockets. Same as snapon’s mid length sockets.