Hey folks, I just received some MAC 1/4 drive extensions. The double knurling is great, but they are very loose compared to my Snap On 3/8 set. The Snappy 3/8 set was a splurge, and I really like how well they fit compared to previous extensions I owned. Thinking of returning the MAC. Any other suggestions? Would the Koken set fit more securely?
Mac extensions 1/4 drive-thinking of returning
- Thread starter bcmbcmbcm
- Start date
William Payne
Well-known member
Snap-on in my experience is one of, if not the tightest fitting brand.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I agree, nothing will be as snug as snap on, but personally I'd keep the mac's for the knurling.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I have a 1/4 drive MAC 9/32 socket and it fits a USA made Craftsman spin handle real snug.
I'm thinking about buying a 5.5mm MAC socket from the same series.
I'm thinking about buying a 5.5mm MAC socket from the same series.
Great, I'll notify the shareholders it's shaping up to be a great year after all.
Seems to be nit picky, but I feel the same way. I don’t like rattly ratchets and extensions. So when I made the jump to Snap on, I also switched to their extensions.
Guys here rave about koken extensions.
I have been grabbing the cheap extensions at garage/estate sales for over 15 years. I have a stupid amount of the common standard chrome ones. I have also found Snap-on to be the best.
At some point, I should do a comparison of which ones have the least and most play.
At some point, I should do a comparison of which ones have the least and most play.
Basskiller
Well-known member
Did the OP buy a set of wobble extension?
jayemm
Well-known member
Probably a wobble ratchet.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
What about adding a locking end to them?
Hey all, nope these are not wobble extensions. I am just up leveling all of my tools. My grandfather owned a place called Biltmore took and supply in Asheville NC years ago. He gave me a bunch of my own tools and I inherited his. I felt guilty about buying new tools for decades but finally decided to make some changes. I swapped out my sockets to snap on and williams . I have a set of snap on 3/8 extensions which are fantastic..and I am just getting around to upgrading my 1/4 drive set. I read here about the Mac extensions and the knurling, but the play just does not seem right given the cost. I think they have more play than my Tekton set in the car trunk and about the same as the old worn US Wright from my grandfather. Such a dumb problem to have, I know. Just wondering if there is anything that has good knurling and little play (Koken?) or just I just forget the knurling and get the snap on 1/4 set. Thanks again!
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
All of my socket extensions, barring my Matco and Snap-on ones, are pretty loose. My Proto extensions are particularly bad. It’s a combination of the cut-outs on the sockets and the ball retention in the extension. Even my Snap-on ones will be loose depending on what side of a socket is engaging the ball. It’s almost impossible from my experience to achieve perfect fitment outside of Z Series sockets paired to Z Series extensions and that is due to their unique design.
It used to bother me at first but now I just don’t care. If I’m really worried I’ll just run a locking extension so no matter how loose the socket, it ain’t going nowhere.
It used to bother me at first but now I just don’t care. If I’m really worried I’ll just run a locking extension so no matter how loose the socket, it ain’t going nowhere.
WWheeler
Well-known member
Must be just me but a tighter fitting extension and socket would be a detriment over having a bit of wiggle room to work with.
Same reason why I almost always grab a wobble-end extension over a regular one. I like grabbing the tools that are going to work on the first try. Not having to go back to the box because of an obstruction I just couldn't get the socket on a fastener.
Same reason why I almost always grab a wobble-end extension over a regular one. I like grabbing the tools that are going to work on the first try. Not having to go back to the box because of an obstruction I just couldn't get the socket on a fastener.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Are we complaining that the female square drive end is radiused a bit and wobbles on a ratchet or other drive tool? or is it the male square drive that has play in the socket's radiused square drive? 
Nothing compares to the knurled ridges found around the female square drive end of a Ko-Ken extension. They're very well made.
I haven't experienced any play in my Knurled Mac extensions but, they're older vintage. I recommend trying Mac's locking extensions.
Nothing compares to the knurled ridges found around the female square drive end of a Ko-Ken extension. They're very well made.
I haven't experienced any play in my Knurled Mac extensions but, they're older vintage. I recommend trying Mac's locking extensions.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Man, you guys would hate my extensions. Most of them feature figure 8 corners. 
What is loose?
Sockets falling off?
Extension falling off the ratchet?
It holds sockets fine and doesn't fall off the ratchet, but moves .003" more than you'd like when you radially push it back and forth? But it's otherwise functionally ok?
I have extensions from SK, Williams, Craftsman, KD, Allen, Proto, Husky, Klein....(all USA), Tekton, HF... and they're all fine; they perform their job function. They stay on the ratchet and hold the socket; they space the socket away from the ratchet; they perform the job that they're designed to perform. I've never put a dial indicator on them and decided this one was no good. If it holds sockets, doesn't fall off the ratchet, then it does its job and is fine. If it falls off the ratchet, or sockets fall off, then it's NG- return them. Otherwise, this is just being ridiculously ****. And yes, this is a tool website, but these items are mass produced to perform a job, and not stand up to comparisons to components for a Rolex.
Sockets falling off?
Extension falling off the ratchet?
It holds sockets fine and doesn't fall off the ratchet, but moves .003" more than you'd like when you radially push it back and forth? But it's otherwise functionally ok?
I have extensions from SK, Williams, Craftsman, KD, Allen, Proto, Husky, Klein....(all USA), Tekton, HF... and they're all fine; they perform their job function. They stay on the ratchet and hold the socket; they space the socket away from the ratchet; they perform the job that they're designed to perform. I've never put a dial indicator on them and decided this one was no good. If it holds sockets, doesn't fall off the ratchet, then it does its job and is fine. If it falls off the ratchet, or sockets fall off, then it's NG- return them. Otherwise, this is just being ridiculously ****. And yes, this is a tool website, but these items are mass produced to perform a job, and not stand up to comparisons to components for a Rolex.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I really don't seem to need the knurling on the end of an extension. After the fastener is broken free, I switch to a spin handle.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Been adding Stahlwille 408QR 1/4" drive extensions to my box. Locking type, but with a recessed lock release. Much harder to lose small sockets now. The 426QR's for 3/8" are next on the order list, then the 503QR's for 1/2". With the recessed lock releases, the heads are barely larger than the socket diameter itself.
William Payne
Well-known member
There needs to be a perspective of what is tight here as well. My Snap-On stuff for example is so tight that it makes you sometimes wish you had a quick release button.
seber
Well-known member
I agree. I often reach for a different ratchet other than Snap-on if the socket is small. I don't want to have to go back to the box for a screwdriver to remove the socket.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
One of the reasons I have been slowly adding more European sockets is that the Euro manufacturers tend to neck down the sockets after a certain size. That makes it much easier to pull them off. The Wera sockets even have some knurling and a color ring that adds more grip. Not saying the sockets are great but the Euros do tend to think a bit about the end user.
When I use my chrome Proto sockets, yeah anything small on a Snap-on ratchet immediately requires a flathead screwdriver to remove it.
Thanks guys. So what would you suggest? Keep the Mac extensions? Return and buy Snap On ? Return and buy Koken? The foam trays aren't and end all be all since I will likely have a complete foam liner made by foamfitttols for my main drawer once I finalize (famous last words) the tools in it. This drawer will be 1/4 and 3/8! sockets, bit sockets, and extensions. Sockets are already SO/Williams and some Koken metric semi deeps, 3/8 extensions are snap on, bit sockets are gripedge, I just wanted to uplevel my 1/4 drive extensions.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
It's like this man, once you've experienced high quality like what Snap-on puts out, you're ruined for life. Join the club.
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
If you’re going to do Snap-on just save up and get the locking extensions and the locking wobble extensions. Then you’ll never have to worry.
Since I just started buying tools about a year ago, I have never used wobble extensions, swivel sockets, or wobble extensions. But I can see their place. Would have saved me from a jam at least a dozen times. Most of the time if I need a little more length I just use a deep socket. When I need an extension there have been some times were it would be nice to have them lock, but most often it does not matter. I work in 1/4 a lot-mainly clean car interior work. I do work in 3/8 for engine compartments though not as much. Would I be better off with three dedicated sets of 1/4 extensions?
- 106BTMX 6 piece 1/4 set (standard)
- 103TMXKLA 3 piece 1/4 set (locking)
- 106ATMXW 6 piece 1/4 set (wobble)
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The regular extensions are the way to go. Being Snap-on they're gonna snap together plenty tight.
Locking extensions get caught on stuff with those big-o locking joints in the way.
Wobble extensions don't work well with swivel sockets and swivel sockets in 1/4 drive are a necessity.
Locking extensions get caught on stuff with those big-o locking joints in the way.
Wobble extensions don't work well with swivel sockets and swivel sockets in 1/4 drive are a necessity.
Last edited:
cvairwerks
Well-known member
There are two reasons that I like the Stahlwille ones I listed. The addition of the lock system doesn't change the dimension of the male end of the extension. The other is that I can release the socket with my finger tip or thumb without having to pull or twist anything. It will allow a socket to be released freefall and a new one installed with a slight push while holding down the release button.
The Koken knurling people rave about is in the wrong spot for me. A lot of times, I hold the head of my ratchet in my palm, and swing the handle with my fingers. When that gets so easy it’s not worth it, I reach my fingers down to the extension. Koken‘s knurling is up near the top of the extension. I can’t get my fingers there. Maybe this feature works better for people in Japan with tiny hands. I doesn’t work for me.
The issue of needing to use a screwdriver to get sockets off a Snap on ratchet can be solved by using a small punch and gently tap the ball in to smash the spring. Worked for me, even with greasy fingers I can get the sockets off now. The first one I did I compressed a little to much, so take your time. If you do it to hard the ball won't work anymore and you sockets will fall off.