FiendFX
Well-known member
Does it really matter what brand? Craftsman, Duralast, Harbor Freight? Looking to get some local.
3/8 Extension set
- Thread starter FiendFX
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G1GRANDEUR
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all those brand should do the job just fine. Buy whatever is closest to your house, in case you have to get replacement.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I have some cheapies which:
Wobble a bit (this can be preferable at times when you need just a tiny bit of clearance past an object, but not a full "wobble" extension)
Have a weakly sprung ball which lets things fall off. This can be an annoyance.
...
Knurls in the right place can be really nice. All my SK have diamond pattern just downstream of the female end.
You might have a lot of options in your area; go shopping and see which you like.
Wobble a bit (this can be preferable at times when you need just a tiny bit of clearance past an object, but not a full "wobble" extension)
Have a weakly sprung ball which lets things fall off. This can be an annoyance.
...
Knurls in the right place can be really nice. All my SK have diamond pattern just downstream of the female end.
You might have a lot of options in your area; go shopping and see which you like.
You have an advance auto near by? The gear wrench wobbles are pretty nice, I've put a decent amount of torque on them with no failure thus far.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...n-set-gear-wrench_25984243-p?searchTerm=81201
If you add in the 1/2" or 1/4" drive and use a coupon you basically get one free.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...n-set-gear-wrench_25984243-p?searchTerm=81201
If you add in the 1/2" or 1/4" drive and use a coupon you basically get one free.
I always reach for locking extensions, can't lose a socket in awkward to get at places then!
Changed an engine mount on a VX220 for a mate & needed a 400mm extension & the 15mm deep socket had to go up about 300mm through a hole in the chassis which the socket literally just cleared, if that had 'knocked' off on the way out it would have rattled for eternity!
Changed an engine mount on a VX220 for a mate & needed a 400mm extension & the 15mm deep socket had to go up about 300mm through a hole in the chassis which the socket literally just cleared, if that had 'knocked' off on the way out it would have rattled for eternity!
sberry
Banned
I can see something special if highly used etc but as for one over the other, well, I have a bunch all the way to the bottom with a couple pieces that survive from 5$ sets from days of yore, still in service. I bought ATD wobbles from the parts store, super good and cheap, bought another set a couple years later.
sberry
Banned
I never worry about this. While it is true most any hand tool today has a replacement it doesn't factor in much in my decision. I have busted a couple in my career, sears maybe but the 3 were 12$ and could be had for less than 10 at any good flea mkt. Warranty is a pain, replacement for 5$ almost painless.
byoungblood
Well-known member
Just make sure it fits your sockets, and you should be good to go. I had a 1/2" drive Thorsen that I had to take a rubber mallet to get sockets on. Bought it in a time of need, and the nearest Sears was 15 miles up the road and the AutoZone was within walking distance.
Now, I don't know if I'd trust cranking down on a longer super cheapo extension out of fear of it bending or breaking at a critical moment. But with shorter ones, almost anything should work.
Now, I don't know if I'd trust cranking down on a longer super cheapo extension out of fear of it bending or breaking at a critical moment. But with shorter ones, almost anything should work.
signcrafter
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I added a set of gearwrench to an order I was placing at advance and used a coupon code so got them for free basically. They are really nice for the price. I've been pretty impressed with the gear wrench tools I've got from advance lately, they are cheap if you use online ordering and coupon codes and the finish and fit are really nice.
stonesfan68
Well-known member
powertrip
Well-known member
http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-14-in-38-in-12-in-drive-wobble-socket-extensions-67971.html
Taiwan made. I use them more often than my usa made cman and proto. With a coupon they are around $10.
Taiwan made. I use them more often than my usa made cman and proto. With a coupon they are around $10.
Ive got a few different types but my favorite are the Armstrong wobbles. They are knurled and seem to hold the sockets firmly but still allow them to wobble without so much twist play. Williams are nice but pretty chunky, Craftsman and Performance Tool ones are fine but the PT ones are rusting a bit prematurely. Ive never broken or twisted one so they all seem to do the job. If you can find the Armstrongs locally (you indicated you want local), those are my recommendation.
I have only ever broke one extension. It was a Cman 1/2" drive, 3" extension. I am assuming there was a fracture or air bubble, with just a little torque it split the female end and a piece went flying. Other than that never had a problem, they all seem to be similar.
I would like some SK with the knurled pattern though!
I would like some SK with the knurled pattern though!
The B-man agrees!
Though, if I find extensions in good shape that are vintage USA, I grab them whether they are knurled or not.
TwoInch
Well-known member
i have too many extensions to count. i buy USA made extensions from pawn shop bins for a buck a piece at most. usually you can grab a few and pay even less. i have them in most brands.
the knurled Mac extensions are really nice. my favorite wobbles are old Herbrands, with the hex on the female end, they are knurled also. great extensions but hard to find.
the knurled Mac extensions are really nice. my favorite wobbles are old Herbrands, with the hex on the female end, they are knurled also. great extensions but hard to find.
Givl Reggin
Banned
I can't believe more haven't suggested locking extensions! Once you use them you'll never grab a non-locking extension again! I like the way the Craftsman locking extensions work - I don't know if these are still USA made anymore, but if they are these are the ones you should get.
absolutelybillsmood
Well-known member
I have Craftsman and Duralast they both seem fine
sberry
Banned
Its really low risk and hard to go wrong for 13$.
I have a variety of extensions. However, I prefer the knurled type as opposed to the completely smooth extensions.
Some of the knurled ones I purchased were inexpensive and work just as well as the high-priced ones.
Also, the locking extensions are good to have !
Some of the knurled ones I purchased were inexpensive and work just as well as the high-priced ones.
Also, the locking extensions are good to have !
chris142
Well-known member
How do the cheap ones hold up against twisting? If using one on a tq wrench could the extension twist instead of the bolt?
TwoInch
Well-known member
all extensions twist to some degree.
no matter how much an extension twists, it will never affect the torque applied to a bolt. if the torque wrench clicks, the bolt got all of it.
^ I had an interesting experience. I nearly always have a 3" extension on my 3/8 ratchet. I was in a pawn shop the other day and bought a Craftsman 3" that I saw. USA and -v- as maker so pretty good, I guess.
I had to take off a 17mm nut and when I was putting it back on it felt funny. I looked closely at what was happening. Looking at the ratchet and the socket at the same time, I could see the extension was really twisting. In fact it twisted so much that it was hard to tell by feel how tight the nut was. I tried my old extension that I had been using and no such twist. Then I tried a no-name that came with a set of stuff, and still very little twist. So I went back to my old extension, one marked K-Mart Auto Made in Japan.
I don't want a bolt to break, but I want it to break before my wrench does...
I had to take off a 17mm nut and when I was putting it back on it felt funny. I looked closely at what was happening. Looking at the ratchet and the socket at the same time, I could see the extension was really twisting. In fact it twisted so much that it was hard to tell by feel how tight the nut was. I tried my old extension that I had been using and no such twist. Then I tried a no-name that came with a set of stuff, and still very little twist. So I went back to my old extension, one marked K-Mart Auto Made in Japan.
I don't want a bolt to break, but I want it to break before my wrench does...This is an incorrect statement. Any time you use an extension, you are putting a portion of the applied torque into stressing the extension body. Deflection of the extension shaft is absolutely eating a good portion of the torque you wanted directed at the fastener. Think of the extension shaft as a spring, a torsional force applies to the dynamic end results in a rotational displacement relative to the fixed end. Simple mechanics of materials shows this is proportional to Youngs Modulus of elasticity and the extension cross section. An extension on a torque wrench is never good practice if you need a true torque reading.
Greyson
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oldldh
Well-known member
I got the Made in USA Craftsman 21 piece "accessory set"...covers all the bases...
And the Gearwrench Magnetic set to keep my nuts from rolling to Narnia, as someone on this board so adroitly put it...
Stupid money, but it was my money, and I wanted them...
And they work...
And the Gearwrench Magnetic set to keep my nuts from rolling to Narnia, as someone on this board so adroitly put it...
Stupid money, but it was my money, and I wanted them...
And they work...
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My Snap On 3/8 gun just made a mess out of a cheap 30" extension that I believe was HF. I only use it for bell housing bolts and this MG325 just demolished the female end in just a couple uses. I just got a 33" long locking extension of the truck today, should take care of this problem. I would be careful of cheapo extensions if mixed with aggressive impacts.
dogdad
Well-known member
What ^ he^ said.....I guess
This is true. Or practically true as long as the extension doesn't deform too much, i.e. doesn't turn into a pretzel.
With a socket extension the extension may twist, and therefore you will have to turn more degrees than without the extension, but the actual reading would be accurate.
The torque sticks, I suspect they depend on the "impacts", with the stick deflecting back between impacts. They wouldn't work if a constant force that could increase was applied.
Page 5 of this Snap-on doc supports this:
http://buy1.snapon.com/products/torque/pdf/techangle/TECHANGLE INTERNET SITE.pdf
warweapon762
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- Dec 1, 2013
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Bought a set of these this summer, very well made and I use them more than my standard extensions. Came in handy for installing exhaust bolts and I've even use them with my butterfly impact quite a bit too.
I have all cheap extentions. Some older usa craftsman. Some pawn shop sk, but most are no name, or hf, very few have given me trouble over the years. Thorsons have been the worst for me. I have only bought them used though so I toss em and buy 7 more from the grab bucket at the pawn shop. Same for impact extentions, those are just harder to find used.