Wow very impressive HF extensions

[lipadj46]

I've seen these extensions the last few times I was harbor freight but have not picked them up until today. I needed proper chrome extensions and was not impressed at all at the craftsman sets so I swung by HF. These are made in Taiwan and the fit and finish is superb. The chrome is great and the knurling is a nice touch too. I have a 10" proto 1/2" impact extension for scale, these are heavy duty and the longs ones are great. They are $20 each set of 4 which when compared to say Gearwrench it is a steal. Anyone looking for some nice extensions I recommend these. Hear are some bad pics but the best I can do inside:

 

[tonydanzah]

are the locking collars plastic?

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

until the ends twist off when you lean on 'em. cheap garbage.

 

[SiGmA_X]

until the ends twist off when you lean on 'em. cheap garbage.

I have to agree with you. I have used the HF 3/8" extensions and have rarely had a good experience. I can't say the same about my Snappy - 3/8" extension with 1/2" adapters to a 24" breaker bar with a 3ft pipe.. No issues! I did manage to stress a ~1985 SnapOn extension enough to make the ball pop out of it when I removed the socket, but it kept working till the truck showed up the next week.

 

[t100]

until the ends twist off when you lean on 'em. cheap garbage.

how many of them have you twisted off?

 

[Bull]

What about the Taiwan tools sold off of Snap-On trucks, like Genius tools? Do they break like garbage, too?

We all know by now that Taiwan can produce some real nice stuff. So I, too, am curious how many people on here have actually broken these.

 

[X1 Mike]

What about the Taiwan tools sold off of Snap-On trucks, like Genius tools? Do they break like garbage, too?

We all know by know that Taiwan can produce some real nice stuff. So I, too, am curious how many people on here have actually broken these.

+1 I am getting to the point where HF doesn't bother me that much anymore. If it's a tool that can not be US sourced like jacks seem to be, why not shop H-F? I had a Blue Point tool cart that was made in China but sold it for a US General cart that was bigger and cheaper.

 

[lipadj46]

are the locking collars plastic?

The black part seems to be aluminum (not plastic not ferrous) and the red is plastic.

As far as them breaking I used the longest 1/2" extension to break loose my lug nuts on my truck and no flexing was apparant. My assumption would be that they are equal to blue point, gearwrench etc. as far as strength goes. Also they are heavy suckers. I understand HF bashing is fun but these appear to be the real deal a no brainer when compared to craftsman.

 

[Hiball]

Im sure there have been earlier reviews on these exact extensions and it was all positive, Its reassuring that your happy with them and you should keep us updated. On another note when you factor in the reach + torque those babies are under im gonna stick with the "Name Brand" stuff as i dont like being thrown into the ground when stuff breaks. Im not saying that you cant break a Snap on extension but.... Extensions are 1 of those things that can be found dirt cheap at Many second hand locations and im fairly sure i own at least 1 of every brand out there. My future Mother in Law gave me a set of Craftsman 3/8 locking extensions and ive never even broke them out of the package.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

I`ll stick to my estate sale/garage sale Snap-On,S-K,MAC,Wililams,Proto,etc Junk.

 

[Danglerb]

My most used extensions are a set of 1/4 drive wobble from HF. Not the same thing, but just a suggestion, if you have a breaker bar with a 3' pipe on the it, maybe you should be expecting something to break?

Maybe testing something like a new extension might be a good idea too, before putting that kind of force on it in less controlled circumstances.

 

[Bull]

Are Blue Point's Taiwanese offerings viewed with the same degree of skepticism?

 

[Boost Creep]

do these have the lifetime warrenty like alot of their other hand tools?

 

[Hiball]

Are Blue Point's Taiwanese offerings viewed with the same degree of skepticism?

Dave i would call my opinion of the HF Locking extensions "Skepticism" as i do believe there are many Import tools that can get the job done. But if you have ever been laying on a Extension with any length and it snaps/comes off the fastener its not a Ride you want to take again anytime soon. I view Extensions at the bottom of the Price chart when it comes to buying used tools, They are generally plentiful and reasonably priced.

 

[paramedic]

the ring is what i call "pot metal" and if they take a good wack they break, i dropped it while i was removing plugs on an s-10 blazer and broke the locking control off.

 

[paramedic]

also none of mine were straight they all had a bend somewhere throughout the length

 

[lipadj46]

do these have the lifetime warrenty like alot of their other hand tools?

Yes

the ring is what i call "pot metal" and if they take a good wack they break, i dropped it while i was removing plugs on an s-10 blazer and broke the locking control off.

That is what a warranty is for.

also none of mine were straight they all had a bend somewhere throughout the length

These are straight I just put them up against a piece of rolled steel.

Note if you look on page 94 of the latest gearwrench catalog you will see the same extensions not sure who made the first ones. If I would have posted them here I bet there would be no skeptecism. I would not be surprised if they are the same tool.

 

[tpolley]

pictures arent working. whats the product number on those extensions?

 

[hammergodthor]

The last time I saw a set of those I was on the Mac truck.

http://www.mactools.com/popup.aspx?src=/Portals/1/aspdnsf/images/PRODUCT/large/M3UL.jpg

 

[sberry]

I bought some extensions at auto parts, house brand imports, 3 for 12$ and they work as good as any I have ever used, bought a couple more sets. Havnt broke one yet.

 

[woody 73]

I do not own the HF chrome extensions that the first poster was talking about,but I do own the HF Chrome Moly impact extensions in both the 3/8 and 1/2 drive,let me tell you they hold up very well; I have never had any problems with them.

From the pictures they look very nice,I try and stick with the tools that are marked CV as this is a stronger steel and they tend to last longer in day to day use.

I am old enough (well I just turned 19 some time ago),cough,cough that I can recall the early tools from china lacked the better made tough carbon-containing iron metals, seems that they are getting better every day.

 

[gabeancounter]

I know this is a stupid question, but how does the locking collar work? Does it keep the ball from depressing---releasing the socket?

 

[djb2]

H-F (and other Chinese sourced) tools have been slowly increasing in quality, and some of them are reasonably good. Remember when 'Made in Japan' and later 'Made in Taiwan' was a warning? Now it's a mark of acceptable quality.

BUT, continue to watch the country of origin when at H-F. Their cheapest products are now made in India, which apparently bought the backyard casting hearths from the Chinese that upgraded.

(My suspicion is that most of these backyard tool makers use scrap steel and gravity casting. A good batch of scrap will result in usable brute force tools e.g. pry bars but not screwdriver tips. A bad batch won't have the right alloying elements, resulting in tools that both flex and crack.)

 

[autoace]

Those extensions are aok..............I usually pass on the "high end" HF stuff and buy GearWrench, but..................I'm sure those are fine.

China made HF extensions are poor, but I have some impact HF extensions(Taiwan) that have been great. For 20 bucks....................good deal. most of the time, you don't need the locking extensions for most jobs................I only use them for when I need a locking one, the collars decrease clearance on all brands of locking extensions, except for the pinned impact type, so I rarely use lockers. Best application is deep recessed spark plug holes.

 

[lipadj46]

I know this is a stupid question, but how does the locking collar work? Does it keep the ball from depressing---releasing the socket?

yes exactly

 

[bmxr4life87]

mine have stood up to my impact and they are all straight and still working fine! they dont flex they are very stiff so unless you have personal experience with them then please STFU

 

[mojo_13]

I may have to pick these up. Just a diy'r so an inexpensive tool that works is perfect for me.

 

[bushhawg73]

I think they would be great for the junk yard kit or the carry around in the trunk, I may have to check them out. Thanks for the info and pics.

 

[Hiball]

mine have stood up to my impact and they are all straight and still working fine! they dont flex they are very stiff so unless you have personal experience with them then please STFU

LOL.. Xanax is my suggestion.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

mine have stood up to my impact and they are all straight and still working fine! They dont flex they are very stiff so unless you have personal experience with them then please stfu

 

[cruiser808]

Yes



That is what a warranty is for.



These are straight I just put them up against a piece of rolled steel.

Note if you look on page 94 of the latest gearwrench catalog you will see the same extensions not sure who made the first ones. If I would have posted them here I bet there would be no skeptecism. I would not be surprised if they are the same tool.

I just checked the catalog and damned if you're not absolutely correct. Don;t know what to say at this point. My limited number of Gearwrench tools have been fine and this looks like one of them. Go figure.