Purpose of this ground down extension?

[sector9]

Found this 2" long 3/8" drive Snap On extension at an estate sale the other day. Was wondering if anyone knows why the previous owner ground it down to be more circular like this? Does it have a special purpose this way, as far as you know?

The guy had a mix of high end stuff and cheap Chinese stuff, so I can't figure out why he picked the Snap On to mutilate this way!

Picked it up for a $1 but I doubt I'll ever use it in it's current condition

Thanks in advance for the comments!

 

[rick carpenter]

Maybe so he could hammer it into rusted sockets?

 

[619DioFan]

My guess would be that they needed to modify it for removing a pipe plug type fitting ( one smaller then 3/8 )

 

[davesnothere]

kinda looks like someone tried to make a wobble extension, but did it wrong.

 

[3baygarage]

We've lost another quality tool today (Taps playing in the distance).

 

[nicksnothereman]

Found this 2" long 3/8" drive Snap On extension at an estate sale the other day. Was wondering if anyone knows why the previous owner ground it down to be more circular like this? Does it have a special purpose this way, as far as you know?

The guy had a mix of high end stuff and cheap Chinese stuff, so I can't figure out why he picked the Snap On to mutilate this way!

Picked it up for a $1 but I doubt I'll ever use it in it's current condition

Thanks in advance for the comments!

Because tools are intended for use.

I know exactly why he did it. He made it "wobble" so he could throw it at an angle and it would still turn the socket. Poor man's barbarian wobble.

He picked the "snap on" because he figured the deformation wouldn't break it.

 

[nicksnothereman]

kinda looks like someone tried to make a wobble extension, but did it wrong.

Probably worked just fine otherwise he would've "warrantied" it. Too soon?

 

[Nanashi]

That doesn't look like he tried to make a wobble. I could make a wobble in less than a minute and it wouldn't look that bad. Lol Monday I think I'll mod my HF 24" extension in to a wobble, maybe. Probably not though I know is already a weak extension just waiting to brake.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm in the "wobble" extension boat or possibly a makeshift punch.

 

[erswill]

It's a driver for an octagonal socket head bolt.

 

[Conductor562]

I agree he was going for a wobble. That's certainly what it looks like.

 

[sector9]

Appreciate the input so far! If he was trying to make a wobble, it didn't work out because I have tried putting sockets on there and they don't wobble. Maybe they wiggle a little more than normal, but you have to grind down at an angle if you want them to wobble!

 

[sector9]

It's a driver for an octagonal cap head bolt.

It does have an octagonal shape to it... Hmm

 

[crazytrain]

My guess is he modified it to fit one of these.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/93748745@N03/10650755456/http://www.flickr.com/people/93748745@N03/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/93748745@N03/10651046873/ http://www.flickr.com/people/93748745@N03/

or poor mans allen socket.

 

[92GreenYJ]

As crazy said above, made it fit better for a differential drain plug. The one on my Jeep front end is like that and it's hard to get a standard extension to fit in it cleanly. Think I might have to do that to one of my extensions. Though I'll do it to a HF one personally

 

[zkling]

Drain plug mod.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think he was desperate for an quick EZ out and ground it so the square would start in a round hole, and the marks on it appear to support that. I've done some pretty iffy things in a pinch, especially lat at night when you can't get to a store... (Used a hex drive bit to remove a broken spark plug one night at the race track. Good thing I did too, because we won that night! )