lets talk extensions

[fordbroncodave]

that sounded like a gross title


anyways, i just looked up the cost of all the extensions craftsman makes. i am talking about 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2", no wobble drive, no specialty, just the plain type extensions.

i could buy all the plain extensions from craftsman for the price of the 3/8" drive set snap on makes

not sure how much of a noticeable difference there is but thats just me. i own the snap on 3/8" drive extension set that costs like $139 or somthing. its a very nice set don't get me wrong but damn thats alot of money for those. yes they will outlive me but still. only takes an idiot to lose a $25 piece

just curious what everyone elses thoughts about extensions are. not alot to them, just flex a little bit and a knurled grip are the only major differences

 

[Moose-LandTran]

When cheap extensions break and cause you to smash knuckles of end up on your *** or whatever, suddenly the price becomes worth it. I bought all Snap-on new/used off eBay, some in lots. Probably half of retail. It was worth it.

 

[billymade]

Don't buy them new... buy them used; I find Snappy extensions at the flea, pretty cheap relatively often...

 

[fordbroncodave]

my dad uses craftsman daily at lexus and he said he rarely breaks a craftsman. once in a while the ball falls out or the lock function stops functioning.

i use mainly snap on, only broken a ball or 2 when the randomly fall out.

 

[sk farmer]

When cheap extensions break and cause you to smash knuckles of end up on your *** or whatever, suddenly the price becomes worth it. I bought all Snap-on new/used off eBay, some in lots. Probably half of retail. It was worth it.

moose i will go with you and say cheap extensions are ****. i will go out on a limb and say that the standard nonlocking non wobble craftsman extensions are not "cheap". they may be economical but not cheap. i doubt that they will break any more or less often than others. the ones i have used seem more than suitable and plenty durable. just my opinion.

 

[48548]

I own everything from toptul, snap on, proto, koken, sk, craftsman and a few HP impact and I can say they all have worked well, when I have used them. That being said I do try to buy something with a warranty to back them. But I have only have a couple go bad, some really old snap on from the early 50's where the spring was weak that held the socket on.... I also I bought them that way and snap on replaced them with new ones no questions asked.

 

[oldtools]

Aren't Craftsman just rebranded Armstrong. I don't think Snap On is much better than Craftsman (at least not for that much of a price difference)

 

[Mickey O]

I've been using the Craftsman knurled extensions:

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, in fifty years of turning sockets on extensions, I've never broken one that wasn't the result of pure bad science and stupidity. Get lazy, use one size too small, put an impact wrench on a regular extension, use it as a pry bar, try to work from the top with two or three extensions instead of getting down close and any of them can be broken.

thnx, jack vines

 

[Mickey O]

Here's a MAC extension from my broken tool box:

 

[method]

I have quite a few new and old (70s,80s) Craftsman tools, only issue I have ever had was the bearings wearing out.

 

[sk farmer]

mickey, i think any tool can beb broken. i just don't think that has been a huge issue unless you have been abusing them or using the no name unmarked imports. by the way your knurled cman looks suspiciously like an sk. may or not be, just resembles it.

 

[Mickey O]

I have quite a few new and old (70s,80s) Craftsman tools, only issue I have ever had was the bearings wearing out.

That's a common problem on the Craftsman extensions, I think they use cheap bearings on the extensions, they're probably using muffler bearing rejects.

 

[oldtools]

I bought a lot of brand new Craftsman extensions from Sears when they were on sale. The only bad thing about it is the chrome (big piece) peeled off after the first use. Other than that, they seem solid and high quality. I assume SO chrome don't peel off as easily.

Ironically, I have some HF extensions (bought them before the Craftsman) and the chrome don't peel at all eventhough I use them more than the Craftsman.

 

[Mickey O]

mickey, i think any tool can beb broken. i just don't think that has been a huge issue unless you have been abusing them or using the no name unmarked imports. by the way your knurled cman looks suspiciously like an sk. may or not be, just resembles it.

Oh yeah, I've broken my share of US made tools, usually from abuse, I actually have extensions from about everyone, even old Pennens (which look like some of the old Craftsman's) and they've all been fine, I don't really have a preference other than the knurling is nice. I did the knurl on the Craftsman one, I'm thinking I'll probably knurl a good deal of my extensions that don't have it.

 

[ksfarmboy]

As most have already said, I also have and regularly use Craftsman extensions without a problem. Compared to other brands, I would have to say these are a pretty good bang for the buck.

 

[sk farmer]

were you hoping someone would catch that knurling as being a little odd on the cman?

 

[Mickey O]

were you hoping someone would catch that knurling as being a little odd on the cman?

Nah, I think I posted that extension when I got the hand knurling tool, I figured most would know but maybe a few would be asking for knurled extension at Sears and then insisting they make them when told they don't have them.

That knurling sure does make them nice.

 

[WSMC633]

I'm with most other folks it seems. I've had plenty of CMAN, some Toptuls, and A bunch of Snap-On. I've never really had problems with any of them, and I've certainly done the unthinkable of tossing a CMAN Chrome extension on the impact wrench more than once. And they've held up fine. I do love the knurling on the SO's I have so that is probably why they get more use in my little world.

 

[boro_boy70]

Nah, I think I posted that extension when I got the hand knurling tool, I figured most would know but maybe a few would be asking for knurled extension at Sears and then insisting they make them when told they don't have them.

That knurling sure does make them nice.

Mickey, can you point me to the post about your hand knurling tool? I did a search but didn't come up with anything. I've never heard of one before, sounds interesting.

 

[Zrexxer]

Mickey, can you point me to the post about your hand knurling tool? I did a search but didn't come up with anything. I've never heard of one before, sounds interesting.

Hmm, do a search for "knurling tool" by "Mickey O", it's the only thread that comes up besides this one...

 

[Brookesy]

If you can afford it buy Snap On extensions never broke 1 yet compared to cheap extensions that have broke when I was an apprentice.

Used to work with a bloke that even used his snap on extensions as punchs.

 

[FastKat]

I have used some Craftsman extensions that do not have a ball detent (I guess that's what you call it) on the inside of the extension... or had only one. So when you put the extension on the ratchet, the little ball on the square drive of the ratchet has no little detent to hang onto.... just whatever friction it can muster against the smooth flat inside of the extension.

The result: if you pull your ratchet out too fast and the socket gets lightly snagged around something, the extension and the socket slip off the ratchet... and fall either straight at your face (when working overhead), hopelessly into an engine compartment, or under the car... if you're lucky, I guess.

Every Snap-On extension I've ever seen has a ball detent on all 4 sides. With Craftsman, I think the new ones might have them on all 4 sides as well. I am sure that some older Craftsman ones do not.

 

[speed bump]

I have a bunch of extensions and my favorite are the S-K knurled ones because the knurling is better than Snap-ons or the Macs with the knurling in a couple of spots. The Snap-ons don't seem like anything special and if your patient you can buy them cheap.

If you don't need knurling the Cmans will do just fine.

 

[boro_boy70]

Hmm, do a search for "knurling tool" by "Mickey O", it's the only thread that comes up besides this one...

Found it, didn't realize you could search for keywords posted by someone. I searched "knurling tool" and this thread came up, and a post by stuey in a tools that you want thread.

 

[never enuf time]

Another vote for SK with knurling, helps a lot starting the treads on a bolt.

 

[fordbroncodave]

as far as 1/4" drive extensions, the craftsman has to be the best deal around for what they offer, warranty in all. the 6" flex extension alone from snap on is somewhere around $50.

the 20" craftsman 3/8" extension is a great price too! i have a 24" snap on one but i think i will get a craftsman one too for transmission jobs.

for the 1/2" extensions, industrial finish would probably be better just if i need to use it with my impact wrenches. (the same one as the IR thundergun what ever you call that)

 

[arkangel06]

Snap on extensions are brutes and are truly things of beauty!

 

[poprockcrusher]

the anti snap crowd ...........

 

[Merkava_4]

An extension with a ball retainer needs to snap into the mating scalloped recess of the socket

AT THE SAME TIME

it stops at the bottom of the socket.

If an extension travels PASSED the scalloped recess without stopping, it irritates the !@#$ out of me.

 

[fordbroncodave]

An extension with a ball retainer needs to snap into the mating scalloped recess of the socket

AT THE SAME TIME

it stops at the bottom of the socket.

If an extension travels PASSED the scalloped recess without stopping, it irritates the !@#$ out of me.

why? just a cheaply made extension or socket?

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I've been using the Craftsman knurled extensions:

That looks odd....
........
Mickey O, You have a link to the knurling tool

 

[Stick Figure]

i don't think i've ever broken a decent brand extension. Now some of the cheap HF ones or worse, of course you can twist those into a pretzel with out much effort. Biggest advantage Snap on has is the range of lengths they offer. I'm looking for some longer 1/4" right now and Matco only goes to 17" where Snap on has 24" and i believe a 36". I don't believe craftsman even goes to 17"

 

[TheGrooveking]

I've been using the Craftsman knurled extensions:

Any peeling chrome on this since you knurled it? I would hate to have chrome flakes/chips stuck in my fingers...

TheGrooveking

 

[48548]

i don't think i've ever broken a decent brand extension. Now some of the cheap HF ones or worse, of course you can twist those into a pretzel with out much effort. Biggest advantage Snap on has is the range of lengths they offer. I'm looking for some longer 1/4" right now and Matco only goes to 17" where Snap on has 24" and i believe a 36". I don't believe craftsman even goes to 17"

I have some koken and I think I have an 18" and 24" 1/4 koken... I think I need to start up the show your extensions link again!!!!!

 

[Elroy]

They'll all break if pushed hard enough

 

[NeilH]

thats the first broken extension ive ever seen. and ive seen them used as punches and as pins in axle stands.

im not being critical, but if you were putting that much torque through a 3/8 extension to break it then you should have been using 1/2 anyway.

 

[nolatoolguy]

I agree with the title part being weird

I just have some good snap on, sk, and old craftsman exstions

Whatevers in my box i guess.

But if i ever have to get a new one there SK i love em

 

[jeepnut24]

I wish mine were knurled, I need that tool Mickey O got a few weeks back....

That said, Ive never had trouble with my CMAN extensions... Just wish they made a 36" version....

 

[Stick Figure]

I have some koken and I think I have an 18" and 24" 1/4 koken... I think I need to start up the show your extensions link again!!!!!

I'll have to take a look. Thanks!