Have you ever broken an extension bar?

[ToolGlutton]

My Craftsman extension bars seem to hold up fine. Just out of curiosity, do extension bars break easily?

I'm considering to buy a set of Snap on extension bars and want to justify it.

 

[ImportTuner]

I've never broken an extension bar, but I was in Sears a few years back and some guy brought in a broken 3/8" extension bar with the head missing ..

 

[davestlouis]

Not yet...mine are mostly Proto and they seem to be pretty tough.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Broke one, that was gramps, and showed signs of being modified, but was the only long one I had at the time. (Industro)

Kept it for a punch, but never used.

 

[jerk_chicken]

One of my 3/8 extensions is actually a Great Neck from about 15 years ago. Oddly enough, it's been incredibly durable. I am surprised. I can't state for sure, but at least back then, certain GN tools weren't totally terrible. I got it because I needed it in a rush.

 

[ToolGlutton]

Wow, it must have been put on an impact driver.

I've never broken an extension bar, but I was in Sears a few years back and some guy brought in a broken 3/8" extension bar with the head missing ..

 

[ToolGlutton]

Good to know that. I saw 1/2 Dr Companion extension bars on sale in Sears for $3. It must be a steal.

One of my 3/8 extensions is actually a Great Neck from about 15 years ago. Oddly enough, it's been incredibly durable. I am surprised. I can't state for sure, but at least back then, certain GN tools weren't totally terrible. I got it because I needed it in a rush.

 

[wrenchr]

I have broke a few in my time.

 

[Vulturej]

I won't say they break easily, but they do break.

 

[Paladin]

I've never broken one, but I've seen several broken ones in pawn shops over the years. All Chiwanese manufactured, IIRC...

 

[wrenchr]

I won't say they break easily, but they do break.

Never broke one like that, the heads snap off on me.

 

[Paladin]

I won't say they break easily, but they do break.

How'd you manage that? Was it under normal torque, or was that on a breaker bar with a 10' cheater?

 

[bchee]

I broke a cheap 1/2 wobble. The head broke off. It was chrome vanadium brand.

 

[GT89mustang]

Ive seen them break like the one posted above, and one twisted like a corksrew, not sure how it didnt snap.

 

[AutoTech]

I've broken one Snap On and several chrome vanadium extesnsions but all was from abuse, not the tools fault!

 

[Vulturej]

36" 3/4 drive SO breaker bar reduced to 1/2.

 

[KCarGuy]

Its funny that this Thread came up, I was going through my Box the other night and organizing my tools. I came across a 1/2" extention that had a slight bend to it and a bit of a twist to the square end.
It had signs on it, that it was used with my Impact ALOT.
It really had no markings or Manufacturer, so It is now in the Garbage.
No, I never broke one, but this one was on its way to comimg apart.
It was most likely a cheap part.

 

[Paladin]

36" 3/4 drive SO breaker bar reduced to 1/2.

Yeah, I figured there was more to that picture! Hahaha! Did you get it waranteed?

 

[jerk_chicken]

Snap On extensions never break.

 

[trackwelder]

"I always want to own a large variety of tools, but never strive to have duplicate tools"

Why would you want another set of extensions?

I have broken a few 1/2" drive extensions abusing them.

 

[Vulturej]

Yeah, I figured there was more to that picture! Hahaha! Did you get it waranteed?

Keep forgetting to take it on the truck with me, I have few others so I get around to it eventually.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

i broke a 1/2 inch SK once by using it to break the lugs on a dayton style truck rim with about a 10 foot pipe on the end..... took it to my cornwell guy and got a new one, even though it showed obvious signs of impact abuse.

 

[ToolGlutton]

If I get a new set from Snap on, my lower-quality tools usually go to my neighbor, or Goodwill, or ebay.

I'm a person like that. I treat not only my tools that way, but also all my other belongings that way. I barely own any souvenirs from my Childhood.

"I always want to own a large variety of tools, but never strive to have duplicate tools"

Why would you want another set of extensions?

I have broken a few 1/2" drive extensions abusing them.

 

[wrenchr]

If I get a new set from Snap on, my lower-quality tools usually go to my neighbor, or Goodwill, or ebay.

I'm a person like that. I treat not only my tools that way, but also all my other belongings that way. I barely own any souvenirs from my Childhood.

Then your name toolglutton is not fitting.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Then your name toolglutton is not fitting.

Yep...more like toolmiser!

 

[autoace]

Snap On extensions never break.

Oh yeah they do! I have only broke three extensions my entire life. One was a Snap-on,I broke the drive end, no it wasn't a reduced application. The second was a cheap PM 1/4 inch drive extension,I broke the socket end off. The third was a Craftsman extension, it didn't snap, but I twisted the socket end. In general extensions are pretty tough.

 

[jerk_chicken]

No no no, you don't understand. SO extensions never break

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Snap On extensions never break.

Refer to post #9.

 

[autoace]

My Craftsman extension bars seem to hold up fine. Just out of curiosity, do extension bars break easily?

I'm considering to buy a set of Snap on extension bars and want to justify it.

If you already have Craftsman extension bars, I think your expensive "upgrade" won't be necessary! At least for the regular sizes, Craftsman has a good selection up to 20" long. Easy warranty, they were all just 50% off through the Craftsman Club. Just my two cents.

 

[mmg440]

Snap On extensions never break.

Never say never, In fairly recent years I have had two snap on 1/2 ext snap. Both have been warranted. Everything can break. One of the extensions was a unit that was many years old. The other was less then 5 years old. I got to say I have used a impact on them once in a while but they do break and no tool is indestructible.

 

[Fedwrench]

I've twisted the drive end off of a couple of SK wobble extensions over the years using a long ratchet. I've also had the retention balls lose tension probably from being used on an 3/8 impact.

 

[Coach James]

My Craftsman extension bars seem to hold up fine. Just out of curiosity, do extension bars break easily?

I'm considering to buy a set of Snap on extension bars and want to justify it.

I'll help you. Send the C-man extensions to me and I'll send you a nice shiny pic of Snap On ones. That won't be as good as the real thing, but it's all I can afford with the Snap On name on it.

Coach

 

[rhandwor]

I had one break at the ball trying to remove a plug on a rear end. I then purchased a Mac tool with a solid end for drain plugs. I would buy something you really need until yours break.

 

[speed bump]

Only reason I have ever had a problem with extensions is big ones that tend to like to become smiles.

I have seen enough cheap broken ones to know that happens to. Usually it seems like the all spring lost tension and once the ball went back they twisted.

 

[gofastman]

the detent ball fell out of my SO wobble plus extension today-mfg defect

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have never broken an extension, in fact I rarely break any tools. I think part of it goes back to how you are taught to work with tools as a young guy, in fact I firmly believe that. Mind you I don't wrench for a living so I guess the guys that do wrench pro have some kind of justification I will never understand not being a professional so that is cool. However, I do believe if your tools are quality brands and you are working on your own stuff at home you should not routinely be breaking all kinds of stuff, which is part of the reason I am not usually concerned about warranty (which I suppose is part of the reason I damn well expect great warranty service on my broke stuff since I only warranty broken tools about once every 5 years or so) Anyway, on about half of the times I have broken tools I was pushing them so hard I was expecting it when it happened.

 

[Jared]

i have twisted the drive end of a craftsman before dont remember how though.

 

[old salvage]

Never an extension but I've broken a few 3/8" to 1/4" adapters.

 

[autoace]

I have never broken an extension, in fact I rarely break any tools. I think part of it goes back to how you are taught to work with tools as a young guy, in fact I firmly believe that. Mind you I don't wrench for a living so I guess the guys that do wrench pro have some kind of justification I will never understand not being a professional so that is cool. However, I do believe if your tools are quality brands and you are working on your own stuff at home you should not routinely be breaking all kinds of stuff, which is part of the reason I am not usually concerned about warranty (which I suppose is part of the reason I damn well expect great warranty service on my broke stuff since I only warranty broken tools about once every 5 years or so) Anyway, on about half of the times I have broken tools I was pushing them so hard I was expecting it when it happened.

I don't break tools often, but when I do,BANG! When you work on cars everyday, you come across stubborn fasteners more often, sometimes all that fits, isn't the "proper" size tool, so you cross your finger, and go for it, needing to get paid for the job and all.

What has often surprised me is, many times the "elite" tool fails, and a "lesser quality" Craftsman or even Harbor Freight tool pulls it off. Yes that has happened more times than I can think of.

Which brings me to my latest conclusion Snap-on, etc...is more about looks and prestige/marketing bling, than ultimate durability. That's my final stand on those tools, but I offer it for the guys who think they NEED to "upgrade" to say SO, from Craftsman, etc... It really is not necessary. For all those who have to have truck brand tools, all the power to you I used to be that way. But for all the guys that have not paid through the nose yet, you are not missing the "pot of gold", not having a full set of truck brand tools. So don't sweat it.

 

[mmg440]

I don't break tools often, but when I do,BANG! When you work on cars everyday, you come across stubborn fasteners more often, sometimes all that fits, isn't the "proper" size tool, so you cross your finger, and go for it, needing to get paid for the job and all.

What has often surprised me is, many times the "elite" tool fails, and a "lesser quality" Craftsman or even Harbor Freight tool pulls it off. Yes that has happened more times than I can think of.

Which brings me to my latest conclusion Snap-on, etc...is more about looks and prestige/marketing bling, than ultimate durability. That's my final stand on those tools, but I offer it for the guys who think they NEED to "upgrade" to say SO, from Craftsman, etc... It really is not necessary. For all those who have to have truck brand tools, all the power to you I used to be that way. But for all the guys that have not paid through the nose yet, you are not missing the "pot of gold", not having a full set of truck brand tools. So don't sweat it.

I agree, I bend as many snap on combination wrenches as craftsman. There are many good tools to go with other then snap on. I have many thousands invested in snap on and just as much in mac and matco tools. But they are not always gets something apart. Breaking tools many times can be part of the work involved. Like you would never dream of using a 1/4 swivel socket for a 3/8 bell housing bolt with a 9/16 head. But if you can in the right situation it may save you many hours. Or you might just bust the tool and have to pull a exhaust system that has all the studs pencil thin and now you extracting all the exhaust studs possibly increasing the price and time of a job some times by more the double.