Compare the reverse fork of the Axis Series to the traditional design of the Dual 80Įven to the naked eye and no fancy equipment with which to test it, the reverse fork just looks stronger than the average rat. As a matter of fact, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen such a design. This is unusual as it is the handle that is typically 2 pronged.

The head itself is 2 pronged whereas the handle is single pronged. The first thing I noticed when I really got to looking at the flex head ratchet is that the fork connecting the head to the handle is rather unique. With wonderfully beveled edges, the USA emblazoned selector, a two part oblong shaped comfort grip, and thick beautiful chrome, the Axis is pleasing to both the hand and the eye. Virtually every millimeter of the tool has a contemporary touch which seems pretty gratifying after the extended wait. There’s nothing traditional about the Axis ratchets. They may be a little late to the party, but the Axis Series ratchets have finally arrived. That’s not to say the previous ratchets were bad, they were tough rats with years of proven reliability under their belt, but they were lower tooth count, acceptably but not overly smooth, and failed to really stand out in today’s market where finer tooth counts have become the standard. Mac is a mechanics tool brand, and as the most distinguishable piece of any mechanics tool set, ratchets set the tone for the entire line. Overhauls to screwdrivers, air tools, ratcheting wrenches, 12V and 18V cordless tools, and lots of more subtle upgrades, have produced a lineup almost unrecognizable compared to just a few years ago.Īs great a couple of years as Mac Tools has had, it all still seemed to really hinge on the desperately needed Axis ratchets. Over the last couple of years they’ve consistently upgraded core products and in each case, have produced tools among the top in their respective categories. The Axis Series is the latest addition in a major revamp of the Mac Tools line. Why? well, as anticipated as these ratchets were for consumers, they were and even bigger deal for Mac. From the first rumblings nearly two years ago, the unveiling at the Mac Tool Fair in February, to their finally hitting the trucks in the last couple of months, the Axis Series have been one of the most anticipated hand tool releases in recent memory. There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the new Axis Series ratchets from Mac Tools.

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