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Snap-on 45deg offset breaker bars?

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Hakeem

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Why does Snap-on sell a breaker bar with the anvil cocked at a 45 degree angle?

IMG_1647.jpeg

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com shop.snapon.com

It certainly looks cool, but other than that are there any benefits to this style of anvil compared to the conventional style?
 
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vjquan

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I believe it's so that you can have more clocked positions when combined with the standard BB.
 
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noid

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A 6 point socket engages every 60 degrees, a 12 point every 30 degrees.

Since the BB is 24 inches, even small amounts of movement near the head is a huge movement at the handle, so the offset helps give you an in-between.

Still kind of silly though, I just use a ratcheting breaker bar, or something like a reechet.
 
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whateg01

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noid said:
A 6 point socket engages every 60 degrees, a 12 point every 30 degrees.

Since the BB is 24 inches, even small amounts of movement near the head is a huge movement at the handle, so the offset helps give you an in-between.

Still kind of silly though, I just use a ratcheting breaker bar, or something like a reechet.
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Uh...
Yeah, silly is the only meaningful thing in all that
 
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Hakeem

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vjquan said:
I believe it's so that you can have more clocked positions when combined with the standard BB.
Click to expand...
noid said:
A 6 point socket engages every 60 degrees, a 12 point every 30 degrees.

Since the BB is 24 inches, even small amounts of movement near the head is a huge movement at the handle, so the offset helps give you an in-between.

Still kind of silly though, I just use a ratcheting breaker bar, or something like a reechet.
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Ok, so you’ll need both the 45deg offset and the conventional one to take advantage of the 45 offset breaker bar. That’s what I suspected but wanted to double check.
 
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Steve_P

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Hakeem said:
Ok, so you’ll need both the 45deg offset and the conventional one to take advantage of the 45 offset breaker bar. That’s what I suspected but wanted to double check.
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Or you could just buy the equivalent ratchet :ROFLMAO:
 
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andys

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I can't tell if this is a joke or not, but...

The head is not fixed at 45 degrees, it's for the photo so you know the head swivels.

If I missed the joke, I'm sorry 😔
 
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2ndGearRubber

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Hakeem said:
Ok, so you’ll need both the 45deg offset and the conventional one to take advantage of the 45 offset breaker bar. That’s what I suspected but wanted to double check.
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Crowfeet are probably the perfect example of that. The Square of the drive lug is typically inline with the flats of a crowfoot. This puts the drive tool at an inefficient angle for using a crowfoot and breaker bar as anything but a long straight wrench. Adding any length/height to a crowfoot setup just makes things sloppier and harder to use.


Steve_P said:
Or you could just buy the equivalent ratchet :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

Size is an issue. Otherwise we'd be leaving the breaker bar in the drawer. I just looked and they do not make a 3/8 sadly. But usually a 12point socket will work to give you access IF the hardware is good enough to use with a 12pt.

I also have a mark on my forehead from the application breaker bars are perfect for, impacting against while holding a socket. Flipping back and forth forward/reverse on the ratchet, while going in an out with a 2967 found me out of sync. The ratchet came back around and hit my head hard enough to make a 3/8 wide cut in my forehead which just bled and bled, plus the headache.

Products like this are why snap-on exists. They make weird *** niche stuff, which as normal consumers we ask, why? But they wouldn't make it without some level of demand or function, to some user, at some point. Same as the weird offset/moon wrenches for one specific engine family, coil-on-plug adapters for ignition scopes for specific ignition coils, etc.



Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com shop.snapon.com

Perfect example. $730 3ft long speed wrench. Sure it's for an aircraft application for the military, but somebody has to make it.
 
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j3rf

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I picked mine up for free so I can't complain too much about it. I do find the 45 degree offset not really useful though.
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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I have a double ended Wright breaker bar with a standard end and a 45° end. Both sides are also locking. I don't use it much these days now that I have long ratchets, but it's good to have in the arsenal for when a ratchet won't fit.
 
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Hakeem

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Great responses everyone, thanks to all for contributing.
2ndGearRubber said:
Products like this are why snap-on exists. They make weird *** niche stuff, which as normal consumers we ask, why? But they wouldn't make it without some level of demand or function, to some user, at some point. Same as the weird offset/moon wrenches for one specific engine family, coil-on-plug adapters for ignition scopes for specific ignition coils, etc.



Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com shop.snapon.com

Perfect example. $730 3ft long speed wrench. Sure it's for an aircraft application for the military, but somebody has to make it.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have my gripes about some of Snapon business practices but I absolutely love how they produce all sorts of niche products. Makes you wonder how the bean counters/shareholders put up with it.
swsman said:
Still have a couple on hand, as well as some cheater pipe to use with...
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That’s the main reason to have a breaker bar, IMO. I’d much rather put a pipe on and risk breaking my breaker bar than my ratchet.
 
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swsman

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Hakeem said:
That’s the main reason to have a breaker bar, IMO. I’d much rather put a pipe on and risk breaking my breaker bar than my ratchet.
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My sentiments exactly, take care of the tools and they will last a long time.

In my toolbox there is also a 3/8 drive Icon breaker bar, in some instances it is just the right tool (I do own a long 3/8 ratchet but prefer to losen with breaker bar on questionable hardware).

Have a full set of extra long Capri boxed end wrenches (metric), these get the stubborn stuff going. Following that I reach for my ratcheting combination wrenches to speed up the process.

Not on a flat rate, home wrench here so no rush to beat the clock.
 
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swsman

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3baygarage said:
Harbor Fake tools don’t come pre-bent, it happens first use.
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A good mechanic friend has a US Proto 3/4 bar that is bent something serious, still uses it.

Point, anything can be demolished if used outside of its design parameters.

I have two 1/2" breaker bars I purchased in 2004 or before, both from HF and both in good working condition.

Back in the day I was heavily into recreational rock crawling, most of us ran 35" to 40" tires, these were used often for trail repair work, lots of times as pry bars on suspension components. Just my $0.02.

Majority of my 1/2 drive deep impacts are from HF, same era so close to 22 years in use, no issues with them either.
 
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