Wobble extensions are like socket extensions, but with a “wobble” tip – a special drive end that allows for slight off-axis rotation of a socket and engagement of a fastener.
The new Tekton wobble handles are L-shaped with a square drive on the short end and wobble shaped square drive on the long end.
It’s kind of like a hex ball driver, but with square drive ends to fit sockets instead of hex drive to fit fasteners.
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The straight square drive on the short end can be used for higher torque, and the wobble end is used when you need a bit of off-axis freedom of motion.
Tekton suggests it can be used as a complement to ratchets and other drive tools, such as when turning mated fasteners where there’s a nut one side and a bolt head on the other.
The handle is made from 6140 steel and has a knurled grip section.
There are two sizes – 3/8″ drive and 1/2″ drive.
Price: $10 for 3/8″, $15 for 1/2″
Discussion
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a “wobble handle” before. Have you?
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It certainly looks interesting, and the pricing is attractive.
Lenny
I don’t even need this but I want one. Looks well made and useful for that special occasion when nothing else works.
DrS85
Last year, I had a very specific situation: securing shelves into a concrete floor. Nothing fit right to get the screws into the floor all the way. The best thing, for this very specific task, would have been the ball end of a hex key, except a short socket.
MichaelT
I use a wobble end extension a lot. I can certainly see this being useful in double-sided usage, but my intuition/personal use case leans toward the short side needing the wobble.
Chris
I thought this also. They should have made the short end as short a possible and put the wobble on that side. Could be useful for getting into tight spots on some accessory drives and things like that. But then again that’s basically a breaker bar with a little more off axis ability. I’m all for innovation and this looks well made, but I cant see myself using it.
Grokew
Or just make both sides wobble. Let’s hope they make an updated version.
mark
+1 feels like the wobble should be on both ends for more “getting in where nothing else will”-ness
Steve
Looks like you would need a female adapter to use it with a ratchet? Maybe a 3/8’s or 1/2″ socket would work? That seems like a bit of a miss here for me. I like the wobble action and see a bunch of scenarios where it would be beneficial. People will use the wobble end where they are putting high torque on it, so I do believe the steel should be about the strongest you can make it – like impact rated. With some work, I think this is really a good idea, I just think they missed the mark on a couple of things…
Jared
I’m leaning the other way: it seems like a solution looking for a problem. I’m trying to envision the right scenario where this would be the best tool.
At first I thought it was for clearance – but the short end isn’t that short. It could be much lower profile with a square-drive welded to a straight shaft than the bend it uses.
And if you can access a fastener because of the wobble, wouldn’t you prefer a ratchet on the handle end?
On the otherhand, I’m “pro” more tools. If I could be persuaded this does something different, my enthusiasm would flip-flop.
Bonnie
I think I’m with you, I’d much prefer a wobble adapted on a regular extension shaft which it looks like they already offer.
mark
Agree. This thing would be a little cooler of both ends were wobble and the shorter end was as low-profile as possible. Then it would be a good “companion wrench” as they show in the one pic
Stuart
Why would you use this with a ratchet over a standard wobble ratchet extension? Where would the ratchet even go??
Tekton published max torque specs for wobble and straight ends. If accurate, there’s no way anyone is breaking off that wobble end without using an extremely long cheater bar.
Impact-rated sockets and accessories are made of WEAKER steel. For impact tools, you want greater toughness, which is typically associated with LOWER strength.
Steve
First time seeing this wobble on any type of socket. Sorry, I’m not as well informed as you to know theyvalready have an extension – I’d take an regular extension.
I also didn’t realize impacts were made of weaker steel. My point was is that they type of product shown, I’ve experienced “rounding” when heavy torque is applied.
Maybe there is a low torque application that I’m not aware of, but the household/commercial and auto applications I’d use it for would have to be heavier duty. I mean, the easy part is typically when the bolt is loose.
Sorry, I’m not an engineer to know the “toughness” or “strength” differences in steel. Nor do I study that stuff. However, I am a professional user. Hopefully, someone like you can understand my feeble attempt at explaining this…
Wayne R.
I like these and will add them to my kit. These are the kinds of things I don’t need at all until I’d kill to have them. I’m sure these are a lot better than the usual Chinesium, too.
Nate
I have wobble extensions and a wobble screwdriver-type handle, this is the first time I’ve seen a wobble L-key handle.
Definitely useful. When you don’t need a full U-joint, but just a smidge of off-axis alignment, they’re simpler and more compact.
Better yet, my Husky wobble extensions will let you push the socket up an extra click so it nests onto a secondary square shoulder, which defeats the wobble and makes them work just like normal extensions. (Albeit not quite as strong.)
I’m picking one of these up.
Tom
I can see this being handy. Will I use it every day? Nope. But I figured it was worth trying. I was going to just order the 3/8″. But then shipping was $5.00. Ordering both got me free 3 day shipping.
Al
I’ve only used a wobble a couple of time. It was on the end of a log ratchet extension into a small opening. Too small to get a hand + wrench in there. Fastened too tight to remove with finger strength.
It might be handy for someone else. But I’m looking at a flexible ratchet extension + wobble socket adapter for small bolts. Or a u-joint adapter if I can hold it on with another hand.
Wayne R.
A few times I’ve used wobbles was with extensions that had another step to it to de-wobble. I thought that was a great idea until it was hard to keep the wobble going because it collapsed into de-wobble several times.
Scottie
I also think they should have put the wobble tip on the “L” end.When Craftsman offered these L wrenches in the “40’s-“50’s,they marketed them as spark plug wrenches.But the Craftsman didn’t have the wobble tip like this one does.I have about a dozen of the Craftsman “Ell” wrenches as you can pick them up for a dollar at flea markets and swap meets all the time.Various other manufacturers also offered them.I think I even picked up a Snap-On branded one for a buck.And the old Craftsmans are 100% USA made.Either by New Britain or Easco.
Mr. C
Maybe I’m missing the mark here — when would I want to use this over an equivalently-sized breaker bar?
The wobble isn’t something I’d need in an L-shape — it’s at such a placement on the straight-end where any extension with a built-in wobble would be just as suitable.
And on the L-end, I could just use a shorter breaker bar…which doesn’t limit me to just a 90degree angle.
Jerry
I have something similar, but without the wobble.
I don’t consider it an everyday use tool, so much as a special use tool.
One thing I don’t know if anyone else mentioned is that you can use standard extensions (on the non-wobble end) and turn it into a custom-length breaker bar, just click the female end of an extension onto the end, and use the extension as a handle. I use mine in situations where my breaker bar is a bit too long to fit, just put on an extension on short enough to fit. I also use it where my breaker bar is too short, as in can’t reach deep down into things. Can stack a couple extensions on each other to make the handle pretty long. Not a perfect situation, but has worked when nothing else I had would. IMO, this would work well putting the extension on the non-wobble end, not sure if it would be practical on the wobble side, as there would be a lot of slop in the handle.
JR Ramos
I hope I’m not fabricating this memory but I think Rimac sold something like this 30 years ago except I think one end was female for a ratchet. Maybe it was Truecraft. There were angled extensions like this with just male/female square but I don’t recall ever seeing those for sale often. If it was Rimac, I have no idea who would have made those for them (Rimac and Lisle shared a lot of the same dies and manufacturers for their offerings, and both actually did manufacture some items of their own…usually we could accurately guess who the originator was by the cost sheets).
I’ve (blessedly) never needed wobbles very much at all…struggling to find a good application for the wobble end on this bar…would seem to be more useful in that regard if it were on the short leg. The square on the short leg is most certainly useful to have around.
NoDak Farming
I really like the knurling that’s on it and generally speaking I wish all socket extensions (especially others in this price range!) had the same. I like it enough that I think I’ll get one. I think it’ll be quite handy for changing spark plugs on small engines.
Jared
Ha! I also noticed the knurling and like that part of it. More knurling!
Flotsam
Looks nice and very useful, i will probably pick up this one or a Harbor Freight variant. I always considered Tekton to be mid range or slightly above in terms of price/value relationship
Nathan
This was asked for by some shop techs. As stated it’s a ball end hex key but for sockets.
I don’t really need or see the need for one. But I like it exists. I suspect others will make one soon.
Note their new locking and wobble extensions. I’m going to order a set of 3/8 wobbles
Harry
I’d like one in 1/4 drive.
Scott F
Is this some sort of ergonomic move to make the long end more desirable to use? I don’t find that end of a normal hex key all that great, but having a wider range of motion when turning fast could change that.
Granted I still wouldn’t choose this form factor most times, but this is more compact than a ratchet.
Jack D
As others have already noted, this a tool that you don’t know you need until you’re elbow-deep and looking around for a solution. That price point is perfect… I think these need to be in my toolbox ASAP.
MM
That was my first impression. But after thinking about it for a bit I’m with the naysayers on this one, I think it is rather gimmicky. I’m trying to imagine what it would actually be useful for. The longer end with the wobble feature is like an ordinary wobble extension, but worse because you can’t attach a handle or other extensions to it. The shorter end with the non-wobble drive is basically a breaker bar with a crappy handle. I can’t imagine that being all that useful. Sure, often times you need to back up a fastener while tightening the other end of it but a second ratchet, breaker bar, or wrench of some time is much better for that job.
Maybe there are specific tasks that this tool makes sense for when kitted out with the appropriate sockets, the idea being you could carry just this one tool and get the job done? But as part of a set of mechanic’s tools I’d much rather have a plain wobble extension instead.
Wayne R.
One of the reasons this Tekton model appeals to me is that I presume the steel is a lot better than the poorly made Chinese versions available on Amazon, etc. A lot of reviews there point out that the ends of those twist off too easily.
As much as I like the flexibility of the ratchets I have, I also like (when needed) something inflexible.
Mopar
Like others said, I’m not sure I can imagine when I might need this, but the price point puts it firmly in the “buy it now so I have it if I *DO* ever need it camp. I’ll probably wait to see if it shows up on amazon and use my points there to buy them.
That said, I could more likely see a greater use for it with the wobble on the short side, and the short side should be as short as possible. If I were designing it for myself, I would probably do the wobble on both ends. If I didn’t need the wobble in a tight space, I would probably just grab a breaker bar or ratchet.
Stuart
As an aside, you might not have to spend Amazon points; I have a Prime Visa card and learned that I can opt for cashback instead. So I did just that.
Mopar
Stuart, is the cash back amount the same as the points credit?
I seem to remember it was less, but that was many years ago.
In any case, we put almost everything on the Prime Visa card and pay it off in full each month. Living rural, where grocery and home improvement stores are a 40-50 mile round trip, we shop a lot online for things that are not time sensitive, and a lot of that is Amazon. So we usually end up with a decent amount of points which my wife generally lets me spend on “free” tools. 🙂
Stuart
It was for me, where $1 in points = $1 in cash back.
It always stresses me when I have to make a return on points.
With my new Amazon business card, it’s different and a bit weird; I can spend the points on Amazon or reimburse a purchase with points. I’ll be doing the latter.
jayne erin defranco
I like this, I don’t need this, I want this both 1/2 inch and 3/8. I’ll get this. Just your average tool girl. Thanks Mr. S for posting.