Show us your wrench extender!

[Hakeem]

I had always thought these were a waste of money but since I’ve been working on trucks and having to deal with a lot of stubborn square drain/fill plugs, I’ve found mine to be indispensable.



This is a crude, inexpensive wrench extender I got for $11.99 but damn If it doesn’t get the job done. Never had to use the square drive for added leverage.

I suppose some day I’ll get a nicer one, but then I’m happy to have this one. The OEM looks nice, what with the satin finish and knurling:

Amazon.com

Anybody else like their wrench extender? Please share it with the rest of us! Pictures are always appreciated

 

[Steve_P]

Do you have 4 or 8 point sockets? I know, OT, but that's the way to go for square plugs.

 

[Hakeem]

Do you have 4 or 8 point sockets? I know, OT, but that's the way to go for square plugs.

No… you make a good point, maybe I’ll pick up a couple singles. So far the wrightgrips have done a superb job so I haven’t considered buying anything else.

How about you, Steve? Do you own a wrench extender or do you just fit a cheater pipe over the wrench?

 

[mikey03]

No… you make a good point, maybe I’ll pick up a couple singles. So far the wrightgrips have done a superb job so I haven’t considered buying anything else.

this is garage journal sir you will buy a no skips set of 8 point sockets in overlapping drive sizes whether you want too or not

 

[Chipm]

Do you have 4 or 8 point sockets? I know, OT, but that's the way to go for square plugs.

I have had three no-name Taiwan 8-pts from some 80's socket set in the toolbox forever. Now I just upgraded to some 8 points from an 80's Craftsman set someone gave me.

I need to get a wrench extender.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

I've got this one. Very similar to yours. It has come in quite handy several times

https://a.co/d/crOJTJd

 

[Etchase]

Small one stays in the travel bag

 

[GeoBruin]

I have the "original" Mueller-Kueps. I don't know if I paid quite this much, but I remember thinking it was expensive for what it is.

Mueller-Kueps 745 100 Wrench Extender https://a.co/d/dhjyD3u

 

[cody1325]

Getting the Duralast and K-Tool versions soon.

Couple weeks ago, I had some trouble getting the nuts off the long threaded rods that held the fuel tank in on my buddy's '80s Chevy G20. Way too long to use any deep socket I had (which nixed the breaker bar or impacts), thus I had to use a plain wrench (as they were on too tight to make my Gearwrenches be of much use). I'm sure these+ breaker bar would've got them free in no time flat, without having to swing a wrench.

Gerber has a few new knives (a redesigned LST and keychain bit driver) that, so far (locally, at least), are only sold at every AutoZone but my closest one. I'm passing another on my way to the Husqvarna dealership almost an hour away (that has all three that I was getting), and figure I might as well get them and some Duralast items I've been looking at, including the wrench extender.

 

[bornbadbob]

Do you have 4 or 8 point sockets? I know, OT, but that's the way to go for square plugs.

There are sockets made specifically for square drain plugs. The plugs are not true squares they are tapered toward the outside of the plug, a proper socket will lessen the chance of damaging the plug.

 

[kctgb]

Show us your wrench extender?
Which one?
I made these over the years. I’m 60 now and have arthritis in my hands, an extension makes things easier. At my age I’m not as strong as I was when I was younger, the extra leverage is nice. My favorite and most used extension is the smaller one on the far right.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the "original" Mueller-Kueps. I don't know if I paid quite this much, but I remember thinking it was expensive for what it is.

Mueller-Kueps 745 100 Wrench Extender https://a.co/d/dhjyD3u

Same one that I have.

 

[Jweebothee]

No picture but I have a Cornwell branded one with comfort styel handle,

 

[larry4406]

Small one stays in the travel bag

Those look very nice!

What brand are these? Links?

 

[Etchase]

Those look very nice!

What brand are these? Links?

I don’t remember exactly. No names off of Amazon on clearance. I think the small one was 2 for $10, and less than &15 for the other. No need for fancy here. Happy with these seldom used tools.

 

[seber]

Always handy.

 

[MFortie]

Mine's a motorcycle fork tube from a '68 Kawasaki 120:



I can only use it with a breaker bar though.

 

[Odd-job]

I have the same as ETchase. The added versatility are nice features. I used to be exclusively a pipe/jack handle guy, but it was harder finding the perfect length pipe taking into account the perfect diameter pipe for whatever wrench size /comfort grip ratchet handle that had to go inside of it.

 

[Kscardsfan]

No… you make a good point, maybe I’ll pick up a couple singles. So far the wrightgrips have done a superb job so I haven’t considered buying anything else.

How about you, Steve? Do you own a wrench extender or do you just fit a cheater pipe over the wrench?

You can get 8 points cheap all day long from estate and yard sales since they're fairly rare outside of heavy machinery, farm equipment, and antique stuff. They're kind of a space eater until you need one, then you really need it.

 

[bkdc]

Don’t know how I accumulated these but my recollection is that my impatience with suspension fasteners led to brute force attacks rather than Kroil spray and a little patience.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Don't have any pictures on hand but mine is a piece of square tubing (3/4" or 1", I forget) with two pieces of angle iron welded on to hold the wrench. It's crude looking, but it was free and it works.

 

[Hakeem]

Update - an especially recalcitrant starter bolt had me really tugging on this thing with a breaker bar and all I managed to do was bend it:



I’ll keep using it in the mean time but I’ll probably end up splurging on the Mueller Kupps extender down the road. I will say, being able to use a 1/2” ratchet or breaker bar with one of these makes it much more versatile. Not just from the leverage increase, but being able to angle your setup around obstructions.

 

[ecotec]

Is the Meuller-Kueps one considered the “good one”?

 

[mikegt4]

Wrench extensions are easy enough to make (providing you have a welder), size to your particular task at hand.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've considered one and generally use a larger wrench hooked into the first one. Seeing as Jungle Prime Days are coming up, maybe I need to stick one in the cart.

 

[ecotec]

I've considered one and generally use a larger wrench hooked into the first one. Seeing as Jungle Prime Days are coming up, maybe I need to stick one in the cart.

If we do that at work, we can get a warning or possibly kicked off the job. Double wrenching is a no-no.

The contractors that we work for have safety people, as do the companies that hire us (BIG 3…). There are, also, cameras everywhere.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If we do that at work, we can get a warning or possibly kicked off the job. Double wrenching is a no-no.

The contractors that we work for have safety people, as do the companies that hire us (BIG 3…). There are, also, cameras everywhere.

If that is an issue for you at work, I would invest in a wrench extender....hands down. I don't have that issue in my garage.

 

[lilredex]

Here's mine from way back, before larger sockets were on hand.

 

[kctgb]

I've considered one and generally use a larger wrench hooked into the first one. Seeing as Jungle Prime Days are coming up, maybe I need to stick one in the cart.

There was a father and son working on a farm tractor. Dad hooked the end of the wrench with the other wrench for more leverage. When dad started pulling hard on the wrench it broke. A small piece of wrench bounced off the tractor hitting the son under the eye bouncing off the cheek bone and entering the eye. Son was blind in his eye from the accident, even when he was wearing safety glasses. Dad lives with the guilt of making his son blind for life in one eye. No hooking wrenches for me.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There was a father and son working on a farm tractor. Dad hooked the end of the wrench with the other wrench for more leverage. When dad started pulling hard on the wrench it broke. A small piece of wrench bounced off the tractor hitting the son under the eye bouncing off the cheek bone and entering the eye. Son was blind in his eye from the accident, even when he was wearing safety glasses. Dad lives with the guilt of making his son blind for life in one eye. No hooking wrenches for me.

Freak accident.. stuff like that happens out of nowhere. A wrench can break using a wrench extender much like a socket that can break apart using a breaker bar.

Our guys went on a dude that had the bolt come out of a bolt action rifle a few years ago. It was stuck in his face...he survived.

Accidents can happen any time, any where to anyone.

 

[kctgb]

Freak accident.. stuff like that happens out of nowhere. A wrench can break using a wrench extender much like a socket that can break apart using a breaker bar.

Our guys went on a dude that had the bolt come of a bolt action rifle a few years ago. It was stuck in his face...he survived.

Accidents can happen any time, any where to anyone.

Wrenches are designed to be used with the beam in the vertical position, not in the horizontal position. Hooking wrenches is a very bad idea. Using one wrench in the vertical position and the other in the flat position will precipitate an unnecessary accident. I wouldn’t chalk it up as “accidents will happen “. Most accidents happen because people ignore good common sense. When I was younger I was guilty of that a few times. At age 60 I like to think I have developed some wisdom. Hopefully I can share it with younger people so they won’t be the father who permanently blinds their son.

 

[WWheeler]

The only wrench extender I've ever used is one of these. Maybe it's tool abuse, or just a redneck adaptation, but I've never had any issues doing it, and I've got more than a hundred wrench extenders just like it.

EDIT: It's an image I found, but looking at it right after I posted it he looks to be using the wrench the opposite of how I would (unless he's about to go counter-clockwise). If he's going clockwise (tightening) I don't see how that's going to work as well for him.

 

[micromind]

My wrench extender is whatever pipe is nearby that will fit over the other end.

Of course, everyone knows the purpose of any pipe is to transmit semi-solids, liquids and gasses from one spot to another but equally important is to gain additional leverage when needed.

 

[KnurledNut]

In situations where tooling was limited and had to use what I had on hand, I have double wrenched box ends a few times using a hex bit socket. Great for getting around obstructions as its indexable. I think it was EZ-RED that used to make wrench connectors that served the same purpose but had two different sizes on each one so they worked with a single wrench set.

 

[Hakeem]

Is the Meuller-Kueps one considered the “good one”?

I think so. It’s certainly priced that way, clocking in at a cool $70 or so. It’s forged in Germany for whatever that’s worth.

I've considered one and generally use a larger wrench hooked into the first one. Seeing as Jungle Prime Days are coming up, maybe I need to stick one in the cart.

They’re nice to have. Sometimes you can only get an open end on a fitting/fastener and so double-wrenching isn’t an option. Having an extender handy means I’m less likely to just muscle it off, so less wear n tear, etc.

If you do grab one, be sure and post a picture!

The only wrench extender I've ever used is one of these. Maybe it's tool abuse, or just a redneck adaptation, but I've never had any issues doing it, and I've got more than a hundred wrench extenders just like it.

EDIT: It's an image I found, but looking at it right after I posted it he looks to be using the wrench the opposite of how I would (unless he's about to go counter-clockwise). If he's going clockwise (tightening) I don't see how that's going to work as well for him.

I chewed up the open end of one of my wrenches doing this and I figured it wasn’t a sustainable solution. Plus, it’s not an option for wrenching with the open end. Your mileage may vary, of course

In situations where tooling was limited and had to use what I had on hand, I have double wrenched box ends a few times using a hex bit socket. Great for getting around obstructions as its indexable. I think it was EZ-RED that used to make wrench connectors that served the same purpose but had two different sizes on each one so they worked with a single wrench set.

Genius!

 

[NUTTSGT]

They’re nice to have. Sometimes you can only get an open end on a fitting/fastener and so double-wrenching isn’t an option. Having an extender handy means I’m less likely to just muscle it off, so less wear n tear, etc.

If you do grab one, be sure and post a picture!

Should be here tomorrow from The Jungle.

 

[CS454]

The only wrench extender I've ever used is one of these. Maybe it's tool abuse, or just a redneck adaptation, but I've never had any issues doing it, and I've got more than a hundred wrench extenders just like it.

EDIT: It's an image I found, but looking at it right after I posted it he looks to be using the wrench the opposite of how I would (unless he's about to go counter-clockwise). If he's going clockwise (tightening) I don't see how that's going to work as well for him.

bingo

 

[Qualitytools]

QUOTE: I think so. It’s certainly priced that way, clocking in at a cool $70 or so. It’s forged in Germany for whatever that’s worth.

If you shop around you can purchase it for about $20 cheaper.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I think so. It’s certainly priced that way, clocking in at a cool $70 or so. It’s forged in Germany for whatever that’s worth.


(…)

Are you sure about the forged/ Made in Germany part?

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[NUTTSGT]

Searching across a few of them, I decided on the one the OP linked originally. ... arrived same day.