Impact Guns and Extensions Do Not Mix

mosseater beat me to it. I been doing that for years and it sure helps.

jamnw wrote:
Thanks! I learned something today. From all the responses.

x2. It's nice to learn something new every day. This is informative.

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Harvard wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Was it an impact rated extension? Otherwise yes direct always works better.

No, it was a standard hand tool extension with a removable socket. It just did not occur to me until I was not getting the expected results.

You're probably lucky it didn't turn into a pretzel.

As an aside to the issue at hand, you can gain a tiny mechanical edge with impact extentions if you use your hand to take up the slack in the desired direction of movement. This allows the gun anvil to strike directly on the shaft of the extension by taking out all the slack between socket and nut, and extension and socket. The only remaiing play will be between the anvil and extension, so more efficient use of force from the gun. Grab the extension and turn it in the direction you want to go while hammering with the gun. Not going to solve all your problems but may make the difference between getting it loose and not.

I hope the socket and extensions are impact rated in the future.

Thanks! I learned something today. From all the responses.

My 6" Craftsman 1/2" drive extension still seemed to cut down on the torque delivered on our RV lug nuts...

This is part of the problem using 1/2" drive Sockets and Extensions on our RV wheels. Get an extension long enough to clear the outer rear rim and a lot of the force on the breaker bar goes into winding up the extension.

Talking about sockets, impacts, etc etc... Black IMPACT sockets are probably a little stronger than chrome regular sockets. But the real reason to use impact sockets is.... Safety... Eye Safety... If an impact socket blows up, the black coating simply cracks. If that happens to a chrome socket, chunks of chrome become sharp missiles. I suppose some of us sometimes use chrome in a pinch (NEVER because of laziness of course...). I think wrapping the socket in duct or electrical tape would help contain the fragments.

Impact rated extensions are harder and transmit the blow. Hit a standard extension hard enough with an impact and it will actually fail (done it a few times when I was too lazy to change extensions working on some high torque bolts.)