The term cheater bar usually refers to a section of pipe or other makeshift wrench extension that you can use to increase the lever arm for high torque applications. Sometimes cheater bars work, other times they only serve as a quick way to bend or break your wrench, at the least. Another way of loosening really tight fasteners is to use a long breaker bar with a socket or crowfoot if access is reduced.
The Wrench Extender is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a tool that couples with your wrench to extend its length. A longer wrench means a longer lever arm, which means you could apply more torque with less effort than with just the wrench.
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The Wrench Extender can accommodate up to 1″ wrenches, and wrenches with shafts up to 7/16″ (11mm thick). It doesn’t care which way you insert a wrench and can be used for tightening or loosening applications. If you want to switch directions, simply flip the Wrench Extender over.
Although pricier than a section of black pipe, the Wrench Extender can be used with one hand and more easily fits in your toolbox. It also features two rare earth magnets to help hold wrenches in place.
Price: $25
Buy Now(via Lee Valley)
What do you think? Personally, I prefer to use a breaker bar and dead blow hammer route when a wrench just isn’t enough. If only a wrench could fit, I’ll sometimes take a dead blow hammer to the shaft as well. Not a very big hammer, but something like the Nupla Handi-Hammer handleless dead blow hammer.
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Tim
I am intrigued, I have bloodied many knuckles and flung many wrenches using the old daisy chain method of hooking two combo wrenches together. Is it the correct way? No, but it’s the method I find myself using more often than I would like to admit. Maybe it’s time to get that crowfoot set I keep talking myself out of…
fred
This one may be like the one marketed by Rizz Enterprises (rizzenterprises.com) – made in 2 sizes
Lee Valley also sells one for Collet Wrenches:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/Page.aspx?p=67635&cat=1,240,41067
This one is made in China and sold under their Chestnut Tools Brand
Stuart
There’s also one by Meller Tools, but theirs and Rizz’s look to have different geometries and are pricier. I couldn’t find this one anywhere but Lee Valley.
fred
Rizz seems to offer a few different configurations – one with some sort of blue over-molding on the handle and one being used with Channellock-Type pliers. I also took a look at their pricing – individual and sets – both of which seem pricey to me. There are several listings on eBay of folks wanting to sell them at discounted prices or at “best offer”.
While I know that cheater bars are often used – even on big pipe wrenches, and that wrench designs probably have a margin of safety built-in – I’m not a fan. We cautioned our crews not to use them – not just because they were an OSHA-Citation waiting to happen – but because we had an outstanding safety record and wanted to keep it. .
Stan
Well I am out. Was hoping this was USA made as I have some friends that think this is cool and might be useful. But I don’t need this or truthfully would have much use for this. Too bad this is made in China.
Eric
What’s with the China hate? Just because it’s made in China doesn’t mean it’s junk. They are fully capable of making products with excellent quality. Where do you think your iPhone, android phone, tv, and nearly everything else comes from. The real problem is the people paying them to make things doing everything they can to further cut costs. Buying inferior metals, cutting out quality control checks, etc.
Lukas
I have no issue with Chinese tool companies manufacturing quality tools in China. I do have an issue with American tool companies manufacturing over seas. It would be very difficult to avoid anything made in China, but with hand tools it’s not that hard. I’d rather support companies providing local jobs. With regard to quality, does anyone ever increase the quality of their tools when going moving to Chinese manufacturing? Plenty of companies have gone the other way though.
fred
I too would like to see high quality manufacturing jobs stay or return to the US – but in the arena of many consumer products – cost seems to be king – driving production to lower cost areas – mostly in Asia – but also Mexico and elsewhere.
With Lee Valley, it is kind of a moot point since, as far as I know, they are a family owned Canadian company and their major manufacturing arm (Veritas Tools) is also in Canada. They may have a warehouse or some other facility in upstate NY – but this is not a case of a US company moving production overseas.
I have a few of their “Chestnut Brand Tools” – and while not of the same high quality as their Veritas tools – they are nice enough and fit for purpose.
Tom
Interesting idea, but the handle doesn’t look very comfortable.
Joe W.
Any idea where this is manufactured? I wasn’t able to find COO listed anywhere.
fred
This looks (from the picture) to be branded as a Chesnut Tool – which Lee Valley seems to use for imported tools. The Chestnut Tools that I’ve bought from Lee Valley have mostly come from China – but that’s not to say that this one does.
Blythe M
If you’re an osha regulated business then sure, skip it. For the rest of us wrenching on cars at home this is really cool. Pipe fits over ratchets well but creates a lot of wobble when you have to go over a box end. The other thing that’s nice is it looks like you can slide it along the wrench to create a custom length- really nice when under a car on jackstands and you only have a little wrench swing till you would hit the floor with a pipe or breaker bar
Mickey
Any idea if these would fit a set of Craftsman (or S-K or Armstrong, etc.) stubby wrenches? I keep a full set of metric and sae stubby wrenches in my “carry box” because of their size and couple the wrenches when I need extra leverage. A tool like this would be handy to toss in the box as it wouldn’t take up much space and would give the wrenches a lot more leverage.
Nathan
I often employ the wack it with a hammer technique – rubber 2 lb mallet for big stuff, smaller rubber or plastic mallets other wise.
I’ve daisychained a few combo wrenches too and I don’t like to. especially with today’s more Ibeam shaped wrenched often the daisied extension wrench is at angle to the force direction and bends considerably. I like the idea of this – wish it was american made – or atleast canadian or mexican made.
still a good idea
OnTheWeb
Seems like a good idea but I usually just hook a larger wrench over the end of the one I am trying to crank on and that usually works. Wouldn’t mind having this in the kit, though.
Nathan
I expect to see one at harbor freight or northern tool in about 6 months for about 12 dollars.
Mike
I don’t know if I’m impressed with using it to add torque, but it looks fantastic for getting a wrench into tight spaces. I’d buy a set with angled handles, too.
Parke
I agree, it’s a pain trying to hold on to a wrench by your fingertips to get into a small opening under the hood. This will be great for all the times a long ratchet is too wide to use.
pencil neck
Not a new idea, saw pretty much the same thing as this 8 or 9 years ago at an AAPEX show in Vegas. The handle part was different and I don’t recall it having magnets.
SteveR
I’m thinking this wouldn’t be easy to use with a ratchet. It appears to be designed with a combination wrench in mind, rather than a conventional manual ratchet. However, it could be used with a ratcheting combination wrench (GearWrench or similar). Unfortunately, too much force on any kind of ratcheting mechanism is a good way to break it. The end handle is somewhat ergonomic, but it could use a larger grip, or a rubberized overgrip, to increase comfort and the amount of force that could be applied.
It could use a bit more offset as well, to prevent busting your knuckles as you push on it.
A safer way to go, though, is to use a breaker bar. If using a 3/8″-drive bar or ratchet, go to a 1/2″-drive bar, and so on. Extensions, crowsfoot wrench heads, etc., are alternative means to get at and remove fasteners. Also, when space permits, a manual impact driver can loosen an uncooperative bolt or nut. One of these can appreciably multiply the force a person can exert. A cordless or air-driven impact wrench are other possibilities, depending on their availability. Don’t forget to wear gloves, safety glasses or a face shield and other appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) when attempting to do this.
rx9
EzRed makes a set of adapters (in SAE and Metric) with sorta the same idea, but they only work on box ends and you can choose different angles with them.
http://www.amazon.com/WC100-Metric-Wrench-Connectors-6-Piece/dp/B007QV5WG8
Hang Fire
I have these. They can be used with open ends but it’s not recommended.
The built-in magnets really help keep things together. Best of all, they don’t void the wrench warranty like the Wrench Extender does. If the box end fails on the hex of the EZ Red, it’s the same failure as on a bolt head.
fred
Also ones for SAE wrenches:
http://www.amazon.com/E-Z-Red-WC200-Wrench-Set/dp/B004WIWIVU/
fred
Amazon also sells a combination set (WC100 + WC200) for $24.99
My searching also found another oddball extension (Lisle 43500) for 1/2 inch drive sockets
Yadda
Interesting.
Dan
This extender doesn’t look like it would be long enough most of the time, It looks like a set of extra long dbl box ends would be as long as this on a normal combo wrench with out any risk of it slipping. If the long dbl box don’t work then its socket and breaker bar time or a slogging wrench.
Toolfreak
Looks ok for using on satin or black oxide finishes, but you use this thing on chrome wrenches like Snappys, SK, Craftsman Pro, etc. and it’s going to scuff or even chip the chrome and probably gouge the surface as well if you apply enough force.
The parts of the tool that are in direct contact with the wrench really need to be rethought and remade if this was ever going to be used with higher end wrenches.
John
Yes Toolfreak, that was the only thing I could see that is wrong with it. The groove needs to be changed from a ‘V’ shape to a modified “U” shape with a taper…which would suit most wrenches more than a ‘V’.
DanG
I was really enthusiastic about the wrench extender but I was very disappointed in the cost of the shipping. Lee Valley was semi OK in their response of the email I sent to them but not quite what I wanted, He did mention that once in a blue moon they have a shipping discount. I will keep in touch with them and wait till they have their shipping special. Until then I’m not purchasing one. I know that shipping is a necessity but sometimes it gets to be a bit much. It is kind of like throwing money out the door.
DanG
I really wish everyone would ship USPS. They need all the money they get!
John
Says you! Years ago I bought something from the USA almost every week and had it shipped to Australia by USPS but then they got dearer and dearer. So, now I buy out of the UK and to a lesser degree Hong Kong, cheap or free post. Royal Mail is half the price of USPS and the product prices are on par with the USA sellers. And now I am living and working in Thailand the Royal Mail is just as good. I’ll let you spend your hard earned on USPS DanG! 🙂
A F Barron
Do these extenders come in different sizes?
Stuart
I don’t think so; Lee Valley only lists one size.