Olsa breaker bars?

[Olsa Tools]

The value for the ASMA standard is not easily available to most of us - not without buying the spec book. Please give us an actual value - for a 1/2" drive breaker bar, how many ft-lbs (or lb-ft if you go that way) are you talking about?

I apologize for that. The breaker bar breaks at ~596.58 ft-lb of torque and the ASME standard is 333.28 ft-lb of torque.

 

[texasprd]

I apologize for that. The breaker bar breaks at ~596.58 ft-lb of torque and the ASME standard is 333.28 ft-lb of torque.

Thanks for posting that - that gives us some hard numbers to compare against your competitor that gives their actual proof-torque values on their website. Well, almost. Before it breaks, is there is some permanent deformation? The competitor's proof-torque value specifies no breakage or permanent deformation, so maybe Olsa and competitor are closer together if that is taken into account. Anyway, thanks for standing up and posting that!

 

[four.cycle]

( also posting in this thread since there always seems to be at least two "Olsa" threads running concurrently )

(* edited for brevity)

From: Mark
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 8:06 AM
To: four.cycle
Subject: just a simple question
Hi Ski,

Thank you for your question.
The majority of our manufacturers are located in Taiwan.
For the Pliers wrench, our manufacturer is located in Germany while the flex head ratchets is manufactured in the USA
We hope that information helps.
If you need any assistance, please let us know.
Thank you for your support! Have a great day!
Warmest Regards,
Mark
Olsa Tools Customer Support Team

 

[Olsa Tools]

Before it breaks, is there is some permanent deformation?

Great question. The test report that we received with the data does not actually indicate at which point it gets permanently deformed before it breaks.

That said, now I'm curious about this myself and have ordered one to our warehouse so that I can test it on our torque tester. I guess this would also make a really fun video, so I'll keep y'all posted with an update in this thread!

 

[texasprd]

I'd like to watch that video when you get it done.

 

[Lazerline19]

Tracking ID 8319
Shipped

On the way, but running late
We're very sorry your delivery is late. If we get a new expected delivery date, we'll update you here.

As soon as I get it Ill post up some shots.

 

[Olsa Tools]

Just an update for whoever is curious about that video that I was supposed to make.

We had a go at it last week, but since our bench vise that clamps onto our torque tester is mounted to our packing table, we had to figure out a new way to mount it on something that can handle high torque applications (our table was definitely not stable enough for this test ). That said, we got in touch with our friends and neighbours at Redline Fab to fab up a sweet new mount for our bench vise. I'll keep y'all posted here with any updates!

 

[dnschmidt]

I never use a breaker bar and for two reasons: 1) That's why Astro created THOR. 2) My big 400 N-m TOPTUL torque wrench does everything a breaker bar can. Oddly, and possibly on purpose, TOPTUL makes most of their torque wrenches uni-directional. meaning that they only torque right handed fasteners (99.44% of all fasteners) and act as breaker bars in the counter-clockwise rotation. So I get the advantage of a ratchet along with the length of 28" which is longer than most 1/2" breaker bars. Also, this torque wrench doesn't flex like a breaker bar does due to it's rectangular shape. I'm surprised that they still sell breaker bars with the advent of long ratchets.

 

[texasprd]

I understand your thoughts as they apply in your situation, but (from my point of view):

Not everyone has a compressor that can efficiently drive a THOR, and there may not be room to get access with the THOR. Swivels and extensions reduce the effectiveness of an impact wrench.

The rigidity of your torque wrench is interesting, but that's probably an expensive piece, at least on my price scale - from what I could find on TOPTUL torque wrenches it's probably around $400 retail. Did you get it at dealer cost while you were a TOPTUL distributor/dealer? If so, I suspect you didn't pay what the rest of us would have to pay. If it's a 3/4" drive, then either a 3/4"-1/2" adapter is needed (for those of us without 3/4"-drive sockets) or 3/4" drive sockets are needed - the adapter may not work in a space-limited area.

For those of us that don't have a lift in our driveway/garage/outbuilding, long ratchets may not allow as many degrees of rotation compared to shorter ratchets before the handle hits an obstruction (like the ground), so it may make sense under some conditions to break the fastener loose with a breaker bar then use a shorter ratchet (or air ratchet) for more swing.

No one tool or approach answers all scenarios - I understand that. For me, a breaker bar gives a relatively inexpensive option (even if it flexes a bit) that overcomes potential drawbacks in many scenarios.

Olsa Tools - I for one am still interested in the video. Please continue with the video.

 

[Rinspeed]

Not everyone has a compressor that can efficiently drive a THOR, and there may not be room to get access with the THOR. Swivels and extensions reduce the effectiveness of an impact wrench.

I seriously have no idea how people get by without a decent compressor. Just seems a little weird to me, I use mine all the time for many tasks.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I'll never not have a breaker bar in the shop. Today I had a hydraulic cylinder nut with red loctite that my impact wouldn't touch and I doubt anything but an 1" would work. I needed my 4 foot 3/4" drive breaker and a torch to break it loose.

When there's vibration a impact isn't as effective and a breaker bar is needed.

 

[texasprd]

I seriously have no idea how people get by without a decent compressor. Just seems a little weird to me, I use mine all the time for many tasks.

What do you define as a "decent compressor"?

I have a Craftsman/DeVilbiss 20 gal from 1998 and use it a good deal - it's adequate for my IR231 impact wrench and air ratchets, but might not supply a THOR very well. While I can now afford a 60gal (or larger) compressor, I don't really have room in my attached garage. Compromises, compromises...

 

[Rinspeed]

What do you define as a "decent compressor"?

At a bare minimum one that will run a IR231 impact wrench and an air ratchet.

 

[Ton ton]

Wow, most of us kinda like the company reps to hang out here

I appreciate the company reps on garage journal.

 

[Ton ton]

I apologize for that. The breaker bar breaks at ~596.58 ft-lb of torque and the ASME standard is 333.28 ft-lb of torque.

Thank you, olsa tools.

 

[Wakefield]

I think that if the tool will be expected to survive being used hundreds and thousands of times in its lifetime best to keep the load to not more than half of its ultimate capacity. At least most of the time.

 

[Olsa Tools]

Hey y'all! I'm sorry this took so long, but here's a video of me testing our breaker bar and trying to get it to permanently deform.

Let me know if you guys would like to see more. Happy to make more Garage Journal exclusive videos for y'all.

And if any of you have any questions, feel free to ask!

- Fernand @ Olsa Tools

Tagging @texasprd


PS — I am open to any and all suggestions on how we can do this more safely the next time around

 

[Lucid Moments]

Hey y'all! I'm sorry this took so long, but here's a video of me testing our breaker bar and trying to get it to permanently deform.

Let me know if you guys would like to see more. Happy to make more Garage Journal exclusive videos for y'all.

And if any of you have any questions, feel free to ask!

- Fernand @ Olsa Tools

Tagging @texasprd


PS — I am open to any and all suggestions on how we can do this more safely the next time around

You clearly need a fat man to help test your tools. I work for beer.

 

[Callelle]

Needs more 300lb gorilla

 

[KnurledNut]

“Breaking Our Breaker Bar”

Did I miss this part somehow?

 

[Olsa Tools]

“Breaking Our Breaker Bar”

Did I miss this part somehow?

Whoops, that should have said "Trying To Break Our Breaker Bar".

I'll try to find a bodybuilder that can actually break it instead of me.

 

[Wakefield]

Rooting for the cheater bar to go bust---

 

[merkyworks]

I was waiting for the bar to whip back, smack the electrical panel, spark and all the lights go out haha

 

[texasprd]

I finally got time to watch the video - thanks for doing the video!