1/2" breaker bar

[belvedere]

What would you recommend for a moderately-priced, yet decent-quality, 1/2" breaker bar? It would probably only see occasional use. Thanks!

 

[rusty65]

I have heard nothing but good things about sk breaker bars and the bar is 24 inches long. http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-41654.aspx

 

[reptilezs]

i have a sk and its a beast, one time i want leaning on it and beating on it with a deadblow. i also have a cornwell but it needs repair

 

[JJThrasher]

The $10 HF one.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[toolstools]

+1 for HF. The 18" is a pure beast!

Or they titan for 29.99 18" ratchet breaker bar. At autozone. Just as beastly.

 

[6-Speed]

Hard to beat the HF 24" breaker bar in terms of value.

 

[unslow1]

What price range did you have in mind? I personally wouldn't consider $60 moderate but some would. I have SK, Craftsman, Mac and Harbor Freight. They all work fine. The only one I ever broke was a no name made in Taiwan.

 

[Hiball]

Another vote for the SK.. It has a very reassuring feel to it.

 

[zkling]

+1 for SK. I have a 18" SK, very old, bought used, never had an issue with it. And I have really leaned on it.

I broke a friends Kobalt Taiwan, but we did have a 6' cheater on it. My SK finished the job with no ill after effects.

The craftsman are decent for the money if you can still find a old USA one. However they have a square handle. I personally prefer the knurled round of the SK.

I have used the long HF a numerous times, never an issue. If you need max length for low $, kinda hard to beat that. Although I don't like non USA tools it is very attractive due to length and price. Only downside is if you need to use it in confined space like a wheel well or the like.

 

[DTB]

I've had a 24" Gearwrench breaker bar for about a year now,no complaints.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I've had a 24" Gearwrench breaker bar for about a year now,no complaints.

x2.....

I have breaker bars from gearwrench, harbor freight, crafty, snappy, carlyle and cornwell.

All of these brands have done what I have thrown at them without issues.

Can't comment on s&k as I don't have a breaker bar in that brand but I'm sure it work just as well

 

[619DioFan]

I have several from Titan tools including the 3/4 '' drive and 1 inch drive. no issues what so ever. the inch drive was only about 70.00 off amazon. it is 40 inches long and about 15 pounds. just show it to a fastener and it scares said bolt to loosen its self. LOL

 

[toolmutt]

You might consider Proto also.

 

[Scout Driver]

Harbor Freight.

Scott

 

[DrkMtnDew]

The HF bar has been very durable so far. No complaints.

 

[ATC]

Northern Tool

 

[iroc409]

I also recommend the 24" from HF for occasional use. I was surprised how much easier it made some things over my 18" Craftsman. I recently tried out the 17" 3/8 breaker of theirs for my junk yard box, and have been happy with it as well.

 

[ChevyEFI]

SK 1/2" drive 16" long; bought new; working fine after a decade.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I believe some of the Canadian guys have a 36" long 1/2" drive from Princess Auto.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

24" Sk and 16" Sk. Very stout worth every penny.

 

[MattPersman]

Used snap on

 

[4x4gearhead]

I have a 24" S-K breaker bar, it has done me good. I use a snap on one now at work but the S-K sees plenty of action at home. I had to warrant it once because I snapped the anvil off, that was a long time ago and it has been in use since being fixed.

 

[Rickster]

You pull out the breaker bar when you've got a problem. When you've got a problem, you're leaning into or pulling really hard. If you lean into or pull really hard on a cheap breaker bar you'll go crashing into something and get hurt. Don't get hurt, buy a long and expensive breaker bar.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I've got a few SO's in my tool box....I also keep a HF in each of my cars, to break and tighten lug nuts...

 

[BD1]

I bought the cheap HF one , $7.00 for on the job. This thing should have broke a year ago. We use it on 5/8 and 3/4 flange bolts. Never used a cheater on it. It has flexed but didn't break.

 

[Squankum]

I normally preach about cheap tools being a waste and a danger, but if you check out this forum, you'll find a lot of people having no problems with their HF bar. It's a fantastic value.

Whatever you get, get a 24" one. I went for years with a CMan 16?18" one and it was okay, until I found out what I had been missing.

Bought a new Proto online in the mid $40 range last Xmas for a buddy. That may be the best price/quality/USA-made combo possible, if the deal still exists. Some tool wholesaler in Las Vegas.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Hard to beat the HF 24" breaker bar in terms of value.

My first one broke with a steady pull while working on an N14........... I do like the length of that breaker.. but,, I don't want tools breaking and have chunks falling into an engine...

The replacement ended up in a vehicle with a socket for the lug nuts.... Price is reasonable enough for that purpose...

 

[TwoInch]

been using the 24" HF breaker for a few years. no problems whatsoever. jumped up and down on it, used multiple feet of cheater, etc... no sign of an issue. i trust it. paid $11 i think

 

[Davefr]

I have a surplus mint condition Proto Professional 1/2' X 18" breaker bar. PM me if you're interested.

 

[keithh2oskier]

Also happy with the 24" HF breaker bar. I use mine to break loose my lug nuts. Works everytime.

 

[bcradio]

I have had zero issues so far with the HF bar... I recommend it

 

[dclassical]

You pull out the breaker bar when you've got a problem. When you've got a problem, you're leaning into or pulling really hard. If you lean into or pull really hard on a cheap breaker bar you'll go crashing into something and get hurt. Don't get hurt, buy a long and expensive breaker bar.

Excellent... like the commercial.

 

[woody 73]

Funny but one day maybe last year I was walking out the door of HF and I overheard some customer raving about how dirt cheap the breaker bars were; so I walked over and sure enough they had a few left on a fire sale something like $5.00 dollars so I bought one or two and I have put them on a lot of are Midwest rust and they are still going strong.

 

[fourtythree]

Very happy with my SK 24".

 

[87Pomona]

Harbor Freight 24" Bar

 

[oldtools]

Hard to beat the HF 24" breaker bar in terms of value.

I have the HF 24". Work pretty good for $10. Can't believe my brother-in-law (~200 lbm) jumping on that thing without breaking it (trying to remove rusted axle nut). It flex every time he jump on it. I thought it going to break and impale someone, but it did not. Kind of scary.

 

[genevabuck]

My HF 24" is as every bit as durable as my MAC and Snap-On breaker bars.

 

[oldtools]

Have you notice the new SO breaker bar has the same head design as the HF. I have alot of breaker bars (SO, Proto, Williams, CM, Wright, HF). I use the HF the most (cause it is the longest). CM breaker bar ****.

 

[MattPersman]

HF flexes that's the problem with it, I liked it for quite some time never broke etc but had something to really tighten well really a crush sleeve on a diff and the HF couldn't do it too much flex. It will work much of the time but it does flex too much when the going gets tough.

 

[belvedere]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I should have given more info: I have one, probably 16-18", but am looking for a 24". I am surprised at all the recommendations for the HF bar, but I'm going to seriously think about it. Sounds like you can't go wrong for the money.