Am I crazy, or could this be real?

[BackTracker]

So I just started getting into high quality tools, and I ordered some shiny new Snap-On extensions. I figured they couldn't really be any different than my C-mans but, I liked the knurled area at the top and they cost me a whopping 26 bucks. (gotta love misspelling on ebay) Anyway, I figured I would test them out...and by that I mean beat the hell out of them and see what happened. So I figured a decent test of the new 6" Snap-On 3/8" drive extension would be busting crusty old F-body lugnuts.

First I busted out the craftsman and it flexed like crazy but got the lug off . Then I grabbed the Snap-On...I popped the old breaker bar on and cranked on that crusty old S.O.B lugnut. Nothing happened. the extension didn't really give, the lugnut shrugged it off, and it was very different from what I was used to. I glanced over at my trusty impact gun and decided to give it another go. I really put my back into it and CRACK off comes the lugnut, without so much as a whimper from the extension. Am I nuts or are the snapons really a harder metal and have that much less give?

Furthermore, I have never been able to use the open end of my C-man wrenches, they simply flex and open around whatever nut I'm trying to turn. This of course drove me nuts and I gave up on them entirely. Is it possible that the snap on wrenches won't do that dastardly thing. Could they possibly have a useful open end!?

Perhaps it's all in my head...thoughts anyone?

 

[Merkava_4]

thoughts anyone?

Yeah, I'm hoping those shiny new extensions you put on your impact gun are not chrome extensions.

 

[volvo420coupe]

My snap on extensions (chrome) handle the impact just fine. (I still go to work when I can't find my "work" boots)

I don't know for sure, but I believe the process of manufacture is quite different between the two, snap on's being more time consuming and expensive of course.

 

[Mike83]

Yeah, I'm hoping those shiny new extensions you put on your impact gun are not chrome extensions.

He put his back into it. Don't think he used the impact - was only tempted to

My thoughts - I've never used a snap-on extension but would venture to guess that any advantage offered would not justify the additional cost to me. Now, Snap-on breaker bars and pliers, those costs are justified imo! Those tools are a pleasure to use I think!

 

[Frank Elson]

I wouldn't use any open-ended spanner to crack off a rusted on nut or bolt.
Crack it off with a ring, breaker bar etc etc, then use the open to take it off when loose as the open is often easier to remove and put back on the nut or bolt in a tight place.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have several brands of extensions, of which a good amount are Snap-on, however I could never tell a performance difference between any of them if you want to know the truth. What the heck kind of punishment are you doing to extensions that you watch or feel them flex? I do not recall ever actually feeling an extension flex, blows my mind man. It almost sounds like you are trying to snap them in half or something.

Extensions are just extensions to me, of all the tools I own I would honestly say I really see 2 bits of difference performance wise from any brand I own.

 

[jkeyser14]

I highly doubt your craftsman open ends are flexing. The wrench handle would break well before the ends flex, and you would have to be using one heck of a cheater bar to make that happen.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I highly doubt your craftsman open ends are flexing. The wrench handle would break well before the ends flex, and you would have to be using one heck of a cheater bar to make that happen.

Na, he is right, a good many Craftsman open ends will spread when you use them much, or lean on them a little hard. Particularly the newer ones, but the problem is not just limited to them, seen it in many open ends thru the years.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I highly doubt your craftsman open ends are flexing. The wrench handle would break well before the ends flex, and you would have to be using one heck of a cheater bar to make that happen.

As I look at this I think you meant extension bars, not open ends.

 

[volvo420coupe]

I wouldn't use any open-ended spanner to crack off a rusted on nut or bolt.
Crack it off with a ring, breaker bar etc etc, then use the open to take it off when loose as the open is often easier to remove and put back on the nut or bolt in a tight place.

This is not an option when breaking loose tie rod end jam nuts while doing a front end alignment.

And I have noticed lots of my extensions flex (the longer the more noticeable), I'm sure everyone has experienced the "self reversing backlash" when your breaking a fastener loose and the flex of the extension is released and it reverses your ratchet direction.

 

[HandyManny]

I don't think this is shocking news to anyone, except if you've just started into using high quality tools, as you say you have. I'm definitely NOT a Snap-On guy, but do own and use high quality tools, so your findings are not all that shocking to me.

But, for you to be able to spread the open end of an open-ended C-man wrench? You must be pretty darn strong pal. Gee. Any hex head that's on that tight and you should really use a box-end wrench.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Yeah, I'm hoping those shiny new extensions you put on your impact gun are not chrome extensions.

I agree..... and 1/2 drive will better for wheel lugs nut removal.

 

[Chris Adams]

I have several brands of extensions, of which a good amount are Snap-on, however I could never tell a performance difference between any of them if you want to know the truth. What the heck kind of punishment are you doing to extensions that you watch or feel them flex? I do not recall ever actually feeling an extension flex, blows my mind man. It almost sounds like you are trying to snap them in half or something.

Extensions are just extensions to me, of all the tools I own I would honestly say I really see 2 bits of difference performance wise from any brand I own.

Have to agree. I have maybe 40-50 extensions, about a half dozen SnapOn, some Matco, Cornwell, Mac, Craftsman, down to Taiwan medium quality.
None of them fail to work.
Of course, I would never take lug nuts loose with a 3/8. That is what 1/2 inch is for.

 

[cruiser808]

Hi Uncle Buck - once and only once years ago, I had an old 1/2" Thorsen USA long extension flex on me. this is when I was trying to remove the head bolts off a friend's Chevy 350 motor. It was the only 1/2" long extension in my road box at the time. The extention was thinner than my Cman's and Snap-on's, so in hindsight, I'm not surprised. But at the time, I'm pulling for all I'm worth and literally watching this extension begin to twist and bend. After cracking the bolts, it would bounce back, but I was more than a little concerned none the less.

 

[Bolster]

For the record, please don't attribute superior extension performance to an increase in HARDNESS. Hardness will make it brittle. I think you mean 'toughness,' which is usually on the other end of the scale from hardness. (Yes, we try to get them both hard AND tough, but that's a compromise).

 

[LoneGunman]

Yup, hard is not ALWAYS good

For the record, please don't attribute superior extension performance to an increase in HARDNESS. Hardness will make it brittle. I think you mean 'toughness,' which is usually on the other end of the scale from hardness. (Yes, we try to get them both hard AND tough, but that's a compromise).

 

[cruiser808]

For the record, please don't attribute superior extension performance to an increase in HARDNESS. Hardness will make it brittle. I think you mean 'toughness,' which is usually on the other end of the scale from hardness. (Yes, we try to get them both hard AND tough, but that's a compromise).

So Bolster, in my experience with the bending Thorsen extension, can I say that the performance of the Thorsen steel was a good compromise in that; 1) it didn't break and injure the heck out of me, 2) it sprung back to its original straightness after cracking the bolt?

 

[krusty the clown]

methinks backtracker if the anti-toolglutton

 

[BackTracker]

For the record, please don't attribute superior extension performance to an increase in HARDNESS. Hardness will make it brittle. I think you mean 'toughness,' which is usually on the other end of the scale from hardness. (Yes, we try to get them both hard AND tough, but that's a compromise).

I could just be plain wrong but I meant hardness when I said it. My thinking on it was as follows:

I was assuming that since it didn't bend, it must be harder and as you said probably more brittle. Whereas the Craftsman twisted but went back to its original shape it must not be as hard and consequently less brittle. Kind of like a regular socket is harder than an impact socket, and has less give. However they are more brittle and will crack or explode when used on an impact gun, making them more brittle. I was curious if that was the reason why the Snap-On didn't twist the way the Craftsman extension did. On the other hand I may have just gotten a bad batch of extensions, as one of the ones in the pack was completely deformed. Am I wrong on my assumption?

 

[BackTracker]

methinks backtracker if the anti-toolglutton

Sadly, I'm just broke
If I ever got some funding I would buy out the snap on truck and probably a sears for good measure (I'm not a Craftsman Hater)!

Hmmmm I could buy all the tools I want, start a museum of tools, continue to use the tools in the museum, and use it as a tax write off!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Sadly, I'm just broke
If I ever got some funding I would buy out the snap on truck and probably a sears for good measure (I'm not a Craftsman Hater)!

Hmmmm I could buy all the tools I want, start a museum of tools, continue to use the tools in the museum, and use it as a tax write off!

You missed the inside joke, ToolGlutton is a member here who trolls around bashing Snap-on. "Because everything else is cheaper and just as good."

 

[BackTracker]

I didn't realize that I was bashing Snap-On by being shocked at how nice their stuff was. Oh well, it'll be just like home on this forum, no love..... LOL

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I didn't realize that I was bashing Snap-On by being shocked at how nice their stuff was. Oh well, it'll be just like home on this forum, no love..... LOL

No, Krusty said you were the anti-ToolGlutton, i just told you who ToolGlutton was..

 

[cruiser808]

Backtracker, stick around. There's lots of good natured ribbing between friends here on GJ. You'll get the hang of it soon. I'll bet those frozen lug nuts are the result of our insufferable combination of salt air, heat and humidity. Steel car bodies don't do well here.

 

[BackTracker]

Guh, it's been a long day already I should have re-read what I was responding to MY FAULT

watching a 16 month old while trying to work is enough to make ones head explode.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Guh, it's been a long day already I should have re-read what I was responding to MY FAULT

No worries dude, we've all been there.