To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Favorite 3" 3/8 drive extension?

MrGiggles

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
2,524
My GW extensions have knurling on the shaft. They're my favorite as far as chrome goes.

I've had good luck with the Pittsburg Pro Cr-mo impact wobble extensions. They're dirt cheap too.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

back2class

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
2,723
IMHO there are FOUR kinds

1) Cheap chinese or other junk that come with throw away socket sets.

2) Wobble..HATE them for any reason other then when wobble is needed.

3) Ones with knurling..on top is nicest, but not matter really

4) Everything else. Craftsman, Duralast, Cornwell, Husky, Proto, Harbor Freight and so on.

Really, they are all the same and every single one from any half way decent quality is a good as the next. Really, any 3" extension good enough to have any name brand on it is fine. Just pick if you want knurled or unknurled....any brand. Does not matter. The fastener is going to break LONG before the the extension unless you are doing something like a 1" socket on a grade 8 bolt with a pipe on a 3/8 breaker bar.
 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,821
Location
Sussex, England
Get one from the same maker as your sockets and handles! It will generally fit better, sockets will be held better, and so on!

Failing that, get one from the same country of origin, chances are they will be made to the same standards!
 

JUNK-MAN

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
1,485
Location
PA
My one Snap on extension is a newer one, 3" fixed with knurled patch. Perfect for most jobs.
 
OP
D

d.mcfarland

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
6,577
Location
Western PA
Really, they are all the same and every single one from any half way decent quality is a good as the next. Really, any 3" extension good enough to have any name brand on it is fine. Just pick if you want knurled or unknurled....any brand. Does not matter.


Well the features do matter in many instances. I'm not talking strength of the metal, more about the features of the extension. The fit of the male and female ends being a big one right off the bat.
 

jkesselr

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
382
I really like my old P&C extensions. They neck down over the length and then become larger right at the male and female drive ends. I don't know how many times I have been able to get squared up on a fastener because that slight relief allowed me to clear some other component that was in the way.
 

shockwave

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
2,125
Location
Marietta,ga
Snap on is my go to seem to fit tighter that others and ball retention is stronger
Older matco seem to be loose
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

californiaHank

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2015
Messages
487
I use a short (1", Snap-on FX1) extension a lot. It's just long enough to give you some 'knuckle room' when you choke up the ratchet handle to spin the socket with your fingers. I use a 3" a often, too, but there are a lot of places where the real short one will fit, and the 3" won't.
 

Local

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Messages
224
Location
Fallbrook,ca
After growing up using Craftsman and finally using an extension with knurling I'm will never go back.
 

lightning02

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
2,677
After growing up using Craftsman and finally using an extension with knurling I'm will never go back.

same here. i could never understand why they couldn't add that one feature. even the cheap china made ones at the dollar store could but USA cman couldn't lol
 

bsg1

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
303
Location
so cal
i have Snap-on extensions, Plomb and others from early time periods to current production Snap-on and they are all gtg. for general use on my home truck repairs i use Snap-on FXK extensions and if i could only have one it would be the FXK3. i have the FXKL6A locking extension for lost socket prevention.
 

Cope

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2013
Messages
2,067
Location
Houston, TX
For some reason, Snap-on never made a 3" 1/4" drive extension until recently, and only knurled. being **** about not having a 3" I bought one, and it is my go to 1/4".
 

bsg1

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
303
Location
so cal
For some reason, Snap-on never made a 3" 1/4" drive extension until recently, and only knurled. being **** about not having a 3" I bought one, and it is my go to 1/4".

not being able to find one out in the wild, i am going to pick one up from ebay. my OCD refuses to believe that i don't need the 3" knurled extension that until now i've lived without. i've picked up all the other knurled 1/4" drive extensions at the swap meet but would like to complete the set just because.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom