Not only is the ratchet wrench one of the most useful tools in your box, it comes with the most useful accessories, too. If you can't reach a nut or bolt with just the wrench, these bars go in between the wrench and the socket to give you lots more reach. They can be as short as an inch or as long as 3 feet! Seasoned mechanics keep lots of extensions available. Not only will they allow you to reach a nut that was impossible with just the wrench, you can add an extension to your tool just to make the job a little easier. Giving yourself more working room and saving a little wear and tear on the back can be a very good thing. Save your back injury for something dramatic like lifting an engine block or trying to trim your hedges with a lawnmower.
If you don't have the perfect extension for the job, you can use more than one to get the reach you need. Note, however, that with every extension you add, a little torque on the bolt is lost thanks to the wiggle and flex factor.
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