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3/8" Breaker Bar Question: Snap On vs. Proto

B

Boiler

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A pin doesn't resist spreading, while a bolt does. I would think that would be pretty obvious. As to which is stronger, it would depend on the materials used and the sizes of the pin & bolt, neither of which I have info on.

I've seen more spread breaker bars than I'd care to admit, including many craftsman, a Plomb (Proto predecessor), and a lots of generics.

The only breaker bar I currently own is a 1/2" drive 24" long snap on and I am very happy with it so far. I just use it for leverage though, and I used to use a Plomb 3/4 ratchet for that, which was quite a workout...
 
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T

Toolhorder

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fvfvsix said:
I haven't really beat on it, as I have a 14 inch 1/2" Kobalt bar that I use for lug nuts and heavier tasks. It gets used building AR uppers, usually attached to a strap wrench. So far, no spreading and no noticeable flex. The harshest task it'll ever see is removing a transmission drain bolt on a Civic.
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I worked on Hondas/Acuras at the dealer for 14 years on/off and I just used a long handled ratchet the whole time for transmission drain plugs. 9/10 I used the raise panel flex head long handled rat from C-man. Only had it rebuilt once when I stripped out the teeth with a cheater pipe.
 
D

dnschmidt

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F

flippin

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dnschmidt said:
I've beat the living **** out of these two Harbor Freight breaker bars and they've never given up. The also have the advantage of being 17" long: Non Ratchet Model: https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-17-in-breaker-bar-67931.html
Ratcheting Model: https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-drive-ratcheting-breaker-bar-66388.html

Buy Snap-On or Proto if you like but it's a certainty that they aren't going to be any better.
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Again,
Well intentioned but the thread is 12 years old :):):)
 
L

lbhsbz

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tube_guy said:
When I was a kid, I remember asking my Dad why anyone would use a 3/8" drive breaker bar. Why not just use a ratchet? His reply was that the small breaker bar can fit into much tighter places than a big ratchet head can.
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I do a lot of work where I have to hold a tool in a bolt head while I impact off the nut on the other end...If there's any resistance to the threads, the ratchet will pop into neutral and freewheel. The Breaker bars with the flex head and pin/bolt get very loose very quickly. The "L" style don't have these problems.
 
C

CHI_Tool&Die

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I have a Proto 3/8 breaker I use for work when I'm tightening and loosening the socket head cap screws on the milling vises. I really like it. All my Proto tools have been far and away better than most other professional industrial brands I own. If you have a Grainger around, they should warranty it if you somehow trash it but, in my experience, you would really have to be giving it the beans to hose it.
 
D

dchawk81

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bob08 said:
I'm looking for a 3/8" x 12" breaker bar. Here are the two I'm considering:

Snapon: F12LA ($58.95)
Proto: J5266 ($25.95)

I recall reading something about the head of the Snap On bars being stronger since the head is held on with a bolt, rather than being pinned like the Proto. I assume this makes it less likely to spread or break.

I assume they're pretty close in terms of functionality. Aside from the difference in price, can anyone with firsthand experience using these bars (or their 1/2" equivalents) please weight in with some real-world pros and cons on these two.

Much appreciated, thanks.
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Could you de-pin the Proto and shove a bolt in there? 🤔
 
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RPH

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Obviously it’s working fine. He would have jumped on board and complained viciously about poor quality.
 
E

ecotec

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I have never used a 3/8” breaker bar. I have about 6 or 7 1/2” breaker bars, two 3/4” breaker bars, and one 1/4” breaker bar that I have never used…

If I was to get a 3/8” breaker bar, wouldn’t I want an 18” one?

Also… is it worth it? Do you guys really use 3/8” breaker bars?

So far, I have only ever used the 1/2” and 3/4”…
 
S

Scottie S.

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I just used a 3/8 breaker bar on a wheel cylinder bolt the other day to break it loose.Worked like a charm.It was an older 9-11 inch Proto breaker bar.Wherever possible,if I have one handy,I use it.
 
D

dchawk81

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ecotec said:
I have never used a 3/8” breaker bar. I have about 6 or 7 1/2” breaker bars, two 3/4” breaker bars, and one 1/4” breaker bar that I have never used…

If I was to get a 3/8” breaker bar, wouldn’t I want an 18” one?

Also… is it worth it? Do you guys really use 3/8” breaker bars?

So far, I have only ever used the 1/2” and 3/4”…
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I bought the extended handle ratchet from Snap for the leverage. Never owned a 3/8 breaker.

I did have a 1/2 for a while but broke the anvil off some time ago. Got a 22" 1/2" drive ratchet not long ago. I haven't used it yet to determine whether it's a capable replacement.
 
U

u118224

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Northern MI
There are times when a ratchet head is too big to fit. That's when the 3/8 breaker bar can be useful, strictly for access because the ball and anvil are quite a bit smaller than a ratchet head. Having said that, I've only had to use the 3/8 breaker bar a couple of times.
 
R

redwrench60

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East Tennessee
My oxygen sensor wrench lives on my Snap-on 3/8” breaker bar. Sometimes working an 02 sensor back and forth after breaking loose helps them come out peacefully.
 
T

tamaraw

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ecotec said:
I have never used a 3/8” breaker bar. I have about 6 or 7 1/2” breaker bars, two 3/4” breaker bars, and one 1/4” breaker bar that I have never used…

If I was to get a 3/8” breaker bar, wouldn’t I want an 18” one?

Also… is it worth it? Do you guys really use 3/8” breaker bars?

So far, I have only ever used the 1/2” and 3/4”…
Click to expand...
If you are using it to break stuck fasteners, then it totally makes sense to go with the longest bar and largest drive size that you can fit.

But otherwise, the flex on a shorter bar is nice because it lets you quickly spin things in like a screwdriver and then snug them up. Shorter bars also fit more places and can limit tightening torque for certain applications. A few scenarios I have used an 8~10" long 3/8" bar in:
  • With a deep socket to install nuts down inside a unistrut channel on a roof rack.
  • Furniture assembly (ex: bed frames)
  • Spark plugs
I also have a 100mm (3.8") 1/4" breaker bar which is great with bit sockets or smaller bolts for the same reasons as above.
 
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