Favorite 3" 3/8 drive extension?

[d.mcfarland]

I'm looking to get everyone's opinions on what their favorite 3" long 3/8" drive extension is. I'm one of those people who will use the extension unless I don't have room, then I'll take it off. So I'm thinking about adding to my collection. Therefore I'm hoping to get input/pictures/links to what everyone deems their favorite or in their mind, the best extension. (Chrome, not impact)

 

[classic70]

Snap on FXWKL3 locking wobble.

 

[honcho]

My favorite is one I have lost/misplaced. It is a 3 inch wobble extension, made in Taiwan, branded "Popular Mechanics" The best feature to me is knurling on the shaft. With knurling, I could spin it with my fingers even when it was slippery. I bought it about 15 years ago when Wal Mart was closing out the "Popular Mechanics" tools and switching over to Stanley. I broke the heads on the 6 inch and 10 inch long extensions that came with the 3 inch extension. I have better quality straight extensions but they lack the knurling feature.

 

[bcradio]

Kobalt has been my go-to. It turns the fasteners great.

 

[vjquan]

Craftsman

 

[dnschmidt]

Well, I sell TOPTUL so I'm partial. They make a 3" wobble CAAF1203 that has a shoulder on it that enables it to be used either as a conventional 3" extension which holds the socket tight or by pulling the socket out about 1/16" turns it into a wobble extension. Maybe someday I'll get off of my *** and list this on EBay. The problem is that I've got a lot of stuff like this that's so cheap that I'm not paying EBay $0.30 to list it. If it's a $50.00 item I'll do that for something that cost $3.00 it doesn't make much sense.

 

[sberry]

My favorite is one I have lost/misplaced. It is a 3 inch wobble extension, made in Taiwan, branded "Popular Mechanics" The best feature to me is knurling on the shaft. With knurling, I could spin it with my fingers even when it was slippery. I bought it about 15 years ago when Wal Mart was closing out the "Popular Mechanics" tools and switching over to Stanley. I broke the heads on the 6 inch and 10 inch long extensions that came with the 3 inch extension. I have better quality straight extensions but they lack the knurling feature.

ATD has a 3/8 set, way back when bought a set on sale for 12$ and they worked so well bought another. They are my go to's and really super for engine compartment and plug work.

 

[JDweld98]

My favorite is Mac. The location of the knurling is the main selling point for me.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Ratch...Extensions/X3EK/3-8-Drive-Knurled-Extension-3

 

[ihateminimumwage]

My go to extensions lately have been a MAC 1/4" (Love the knurling down at the female end), and a Matco 3/8" (still prefer the MAC) with some Wright locking adapters installed (all bought on eBay). Keeps spark plug sockets from sticking to plugs after install. Also brings a lot more piece of mind when doing field work in 6 inches of snow, no dropped and disappearing sockets.

The SK extensions I use at home are great as well, miles ahead of my older USA Kobalt extensions (Rebranded Craftsman/Allen/Armstrong) that have no knurling.

Also have the Gearwrench Taiwan wobble plus extension sets in 1/4" & 3/8" that have made some sticky situations very easy to get out of just by having that wobble available.

 

[Buckgnarly]

My favorite is Mac. The location of the knurling is the main selling point for me.

http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Ratch...Extensions/X3EK/3-8-Drive-Knurled-Extension-3

X2....love the Mac knurling!

 

[amolaver]

Go check out koken's extensions at Frankstools - wobble plus type, awesome knurling at the drive end, phenomenal quality. Impact I have some locking proto that are excellent (not wobble though).

 

[nes999]

I love Mac extensions.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have several Snap Ons, Craftsman, a couple of Matco ones and they all seem pretty much the same to me. I have had off name China ones and they break too easily so slowly got rid of all of those.

My favorite GO TO one is an old Williams long extension. It is tapered and fits in tight spots the others sometimes will not fit into. It's the ugliest one I have but the most used.

 

[anndel]

My 25 year old Snap On non-wobble. Weebles Wobble but they don't fall down.

 

[martin666]

Go to wobble is this Mac, fixed one is this Snap On

 

[byoungblood]

Whatever is at hand.

I have Craftsman, Snap-On, S-K and probably one or two others I've forgotten of in my box. I have Wright wobble extensions I bought on Epstein Day and they're very nice pieces.

 

[d.mcfarland]

What would be sweet is if the knurling on the base (like the MAC) and the knurling on the middle shaft (like the Snap On) would be combined so we could have both.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have and use my craftsman, s&k and snap on, Just the first one I grab, no favorites

 

[Wamsutta]

Snap-on FXK3 is my favorite.

 

[Buckgnarly]

What would be sweet is if the knurling on the base (like the MAC) and the knurling on the middle shaft (like the Snap On) would be combined so we could have both.

Mac is knurled on the female end and shaft like SO....

 

[Rossco]

Yeah standard SO extension. Don't like Wobblies.

The older extensions are more slim-line compared to the latest offering.

 

[yowzer]

I don't think I've touched another extension since I got the Ko-ken wobble plus ones.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[killerb87]

Nepros.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Yeah standard SO extension. Don't like Wobblies.

The older extensions are more slim-line compared to the latest offering.

The same goes with Cornwell for sure. Someone needs to research why the old ones were thinner and worked fine, but now they end up being at least 25% thicker, id guess.

 

[DBendr]

I have no use for non-knurled extensions.
I actually use these. They work fine.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JGTFAA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rossco]

The same goes with Cornwell for sure. Someone needs to research why the old ones were thinner and worked fine, but now they end up being at least 25% thicker, id guess.

Yeah the SO's have a larger drive end. Maybe due to frequent failure. Never broke the drive end myself.

 

[BK13]

I guess I don't have the tool bug as bad as I thought I did. I have a hard time getting too worked up over extensions. That being said, the KoKen units look pretty handy with the aggressive knurling on the female end, and the Nepros are just gorgeous. I probably use my Snap On and (Taiwan) Kobalt about the same amount.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I agree. Extensions aren't really glorious but they can either help or hurt the overall task. I can pick up old extensions at flea markets, but without the proper features they aren't necessarily any better then the next. I guess I'm trying to figure out the best features in a short extension in this case.

 

[sberry]

As i mention, a toll well worth having but I am not real fussy about extensions, if they work they are good and I have some survivors from cheap stuff that just hung around, they are surprisingly good.

 

[DSM_PWR]

Snap-on FXK3 is my favorite.

My favorite too!

 

[Granite80]

Snap on wobble plus


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Jarhead0408]

I have a hodgepodge of extensions. Mostly Craftsman and a bunch of older U.S. Made brands.

They get the job done, but I'd love to get some extensions with a good bit of knurling on them. I've run into several situations where I could have really used them.

Both the Mac and Koken extensions look NICE!

 

[aaron1987]

So far my gearwrench ones are nice. I also like my duralast

 

[firworks]

Nepros.

Beautiful... But I still haven't really figured out how to buy anything Nepros here in the US. eBay has a few really expensive bits and bobs but very limited selection.

 

[lightning02]

Whateve you buy make sure it has knurling.

I hate all mine that don't have knurling now. There is nothing wrong with them but bc they don't have that opt I want to throw then across the shop lol

 

[spanimal]

Back when I was on the floor, a Snap-On extension always accompanied my KC Tools (Australian brand) 3/8 ratchet. Like you, an extension was always on my 1/4 and 3/8 ratchet, unless I needed the clearance. The Knurling is in the right spot with the Snap-ons. I now also have the Koken extensions - comparing the female square ends between these two, the Snap-on has so much more, thicker, steel - surrounding the square end its not funny. The Koken knurling is not in the right spot for twirling when the ratchet is still attached - not a problem with Koken ratchets, but will be with others and greasy fingers its not perfect.

 

[RRmech]

My favorite is an old PLOMB extension, for sentimental value only (it belonged to my late Grandfather).

 

[ChevyEFI]

What would be sweet is if the knurling on the base (like the MAC) and the knurling on the middle shaft (like the Snap On) would be combined so we could have both.

Along those lines, this has been my go-to. Dad's too. Works well with round head ratchets.

 

[Fedwrench]

I love the Knurling around the square drive area on MAC Knurled extensions.

I think MATCO has jumped on that band wagon too recently.

However, there are a couple of others worth mentioning. Toptul's wobble plus extensions actually have the area surrounding the square drive hex shaped which is great for finger spinning or using a ratcheting wrench on it.
Then there's Koken, Japanese engineering at its finest!! It has raised knurled ridges around the square drive that's great for finger spinning and prevents rolling

 

[48548]

Re: Favorite 3" 3/8 drive extension?

Well here are some of mine. Koken my favorite thin and nice swivel plus and knurled. The toptul comes next with the hex head.

Koken

Toptul

Snapon