Alternative to screwdriver for prying?

[pontoon]

... and don’t tell me “pry bar”...

I’ve found that one of my most used tools is a screwdriver I use for finesse prying. I can insert the tip between the end of a hose and another object, twist the screwdriver and it applies leverage to push the hose off its fitting. I also use it to separate dust boots from whatever they’re attached to.

My particular screwdriver is somewhat long, plain steel, comes to a thin flat tip, more than 1/4 wide blade, corners of the blade are both rounded. I inherited this one and I wonder if the previous owner intentionally set this up for prying (corners would have been square new).

I’ve tried using a pry bar set from mayhew. The tips of those are way too thick to replace my screwdriver.

I also have a pocket screwdriver that’s invaluable as a pry tool.

Anyone know a set of tools that are similar to screwdrivers but specifically setup for prying? Ideally with thru tang handles (metal cap on the end) for striking?

 

[fsae0607]

I've been guilty of using a screwdriver for light prying. Sometimes, that's all you can use for, like you said, "finesse" prying.

You could keep a cheaper set of slotted screwdrivers just for this purpose.

 

[RTM]

I wouldn’t recommend these particular ones, but others make them as well. If the end is too fat,grind it down a bit

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Ever tried a hose removal hook? I have pried with various hooks, picks, putty knives and yes screw drivers. BTW I also have several sizes of pry bars.

 

[DeeKay]

The Wera demolition screwdrivers are pretty nice, I don't know how small they go though, I only have the bigger ones.

 

[richfinn]

This is exactly what your looking for, I bought one and use it all the time for opening up keys/removing tow eye covers/prying plastic panels etc etc.

https://www.obsessedgarage.com/products/pry-skin-wedge-tool

 

[alfazer]

I've heated and bent old cheap screwdriver to make it into a mini pry bar. Works quite well for small things, hose ends and what not.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

My gasket scrapers have striking ends on them and they are a lot thinner than a screwdriver. They are Harbor Freight ones lol. I’d never use them or a screwdriver to pry with though just because I use my tool for it’s intended purpose only lol.


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[visionguru]

...
Anyone know a set of tools that are similar to screwdrivers but specifically setup for prying? Ideally with thru tang handles (metal cap on the end) for striking?

Save your flat head screwdrivers. This $5 Harbor Freight scraper set works great/better as mini prying bars, strike cap too.

 

[Bannik254]

Cheap and/or old long T-Handle or regular L shaped allen keys, grind the tips into whatever shape you need and thickness. Work pretty well getting into tight spots that you need a bit of leverage and seem to hold up better than most screwdrivers.

 

[ecotec]

Mac pocket pry bar.

 

[Cheepbeer]

A screwdriver is a prybar and sometimes a chisel.

 

[Coach James]

What about these?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNSZ8WJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Coach

 

[FuzzyTiger]

But what else would you use a flat head for?

 

[coldh2o]

A screwdriver is a prybar and sometimes a chisel.

A chisel is a prybar and sometimes a screwdriver.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I found long heavy duty square shanked screwdrivers to be just the tool, better yet the ones with metal striking head. As for pry bars, Proto or Mayhew ones, have both brands, aren't as handy as the Japanese HIT . They have curved pry end instead of straight.

 

[M6erfan]

I found long heavy duty square shanked screwdrivers to be just the tool, better yet the ones with metal striking head. As for pry bars, Proto or Mayhew ones, have both brands, aren't as handy as the Japanese HIT . They have curved pry end instead of straight.

deleted

 

[setfocus]

I have a couple craftsman screwdrivers I bought just for prying, snap-on drivers are too hard/brittle. I do a lot of prying with the pocket screwdriver as well as poking, picking, pressing and even occasional screwing. I do have actual pry bars but a skinny long flathead cabinet screwdriver works great at popping the clamps on steering rack boots

 

[designer485]

Wera Chiseldrivers fit the bill for sure.

 

[driz]

But what else would you use a flat head for?

You know what this is an absolute truth [emoji1303]
On the other hand HF has some small decent ones that do the job fine. Mini J bars 1’ long and mini flat bar nail pry about the same size.

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[Fedwrench]

https://www.matcotools.com/ecatalog/preview/#/item/SSPDG3

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Hand-Tools/Fastening/Screwdrivers-and-Nutdrivers/48-22-2022

Lots of great ideas already posted. I think a flat tip demolition screwdriver might be what you're looking for.

 

[latebreak]

I found long heavy duty square shanked screwdrivers to be just the tool, better yet the ones with metal striking head. As for pry bars, Proto or Mayhew ones, have both brands, aren't as handy as the Japanese HIT . They have curved pry end instead of straight.

Mayhew makes straight square shank “flat blade” style pry bars. One of my favorite tools.


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[Toolchat]

I got it at Walmart.

 

[M6erfan]

My particular screwdriver is somewhat long, plain steel, comes to a thin flat tip, more than 1/4 wide blade, corners of the blade are both rounded. I inherited this one and I wonder if the previous owner intentionally set this up for prying (corners would have been square new).

I did this. I slightly bent the shaft on one of my Vessel slotted screwdrivers a couple years back, so I took a file to the corners and now it's my go-to smallish pry tool. The slight bend makes it all the more handy.

 

[johninct]

What is wrong with using what you have been using all along for light prying? I think nothing of using my Snap-On's for light prying all the time but will not use them as a chisel.

 

[landlord30]

I use all my left hand screwdrivers strictly for prying.

 

[CS454]

Striking Scraper works better than you'd expect.

 

[Kev442]

When I inherited my Grand dads small portable tool chest full of cheap homeowners level tools from the 50-60's, I scattered the flat screwdrivers amongst all my locations to use as whatever I need them for.
What else can you do with a fairly worn out screwdriver with a tiny handle and a shaft made of a metal/butter combination?

 

[Kenstone1]

This for pulling hose off of barbed fittings
Comes free with a gallon of paint

 

[Crazyjake8493]

What about something like this? I got one even cheaper from Walmart and have used it not just for lifting staples, but for prying small things and have used it to remove automotive plastic panels more often that the actual tool, which is quite a bit thicker.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-4-in-Round-Shaft-Standard-Tack-Puller-Screwdriver-with-Butyrate-Handle-20117749/204255269?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-Husky_Hand_tools_BT3_Smart_Shopping&cm_mmc=Shopping-Husky_Hand_tools_BT3_Smart_Shopping-71700000074196197-58700006428347897-92700058269432290&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoab_BRCxARIsANMx4S6AckZYH4eciesTcWAv0fuX0kR8aTqiv_gXzVzHGOOoZ21wxVRl0L4aAqk8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[setfocus]

I got it at Walmart.

Looks like my small Wilde pry bar, hard handle with striking cap ftw.

Snap-on were my favorite before they changed the handle

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

But what else would you use a flat head for?

My classic beetle is filled with flat head screws lol. That’s about all I use them for.


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[ElusiveKandyDC]

The following suggestion may twist your mind a bit. The goal is to rethink every lie you've been told ..


1) Log onto to Amazon
2) Enter " Screwdriver + strike cap"
3) Get fancy or budget as you wish. Just choose something with a flat tip
4) Don't mind the description. They are really just mini pry bars

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I use cabinet tip screwdrivers for light prying, and 10inch prybars for the rest. Aggressive poking is done via a large HF flathead. If that goes through a subframe, it fails inspection.

 

[bobg03]

I have found that a cheap set of flatheads can be invaluable for tight or awkward spots, I think of them as sacrificial lambs.

 

[richfinn]

This

 

[pontoon]

Thanks!! I’ve been looking for the silver spoon prybar. I know Blue Point and some random site sell it. That one from OG looks possibly the exact same for half the price so I may get that from there.

I think I’ll get a striking screwdriver set. Does anyone know a set which uses plain steel (no zinc coating)? If it’s plain steel it won’t look quite as janky after I grind the tips to my exact liking. Also the steel would need to be a bit malleable to grind well. I think some brittle steel from some screwdrivers would not work.

I have a gasket scraper without a striking cap. I might get the ones with the striking cap too. There have definitely been times where even my screwdriver’s relatively thin tip is too thick so maybe a scraper would be the ticket there.

Yes I do have a pick set. I use it quite a bit to loosen the hoses. On some hoses I pull them off after breaking the seal around with a pick. On some tough hoses if there’s a place to pry against a twist of the screwdriver will sometimes give it the leverage needed to start it moving off the barb.

 

[didit]

Anyone who has been dinking around in garages as long as me probably has a combination of store bought, vintage, homemade, improvised and special purpose prying implements numbering in the several dozens at least. I will design and build whatever is needed if I don't already have what is needed for any given job.
I do like the looks of that pry/skin tool that was linked and I find my fiber sticks and windshield tools useful as well.

 

[Iowafox]

Looks like my small Wilde pry bar, hard handle with striking cap ftw.

Snap-on were my favorite before they changed the handle

The walmart one is made by wilde! I have a few and it has the Wilde maker mark on the bar stock!! Great prybars!!!!

 

[Iowafox]

This post reminded me I have to retire on of my Prybar flatheads. It has served me well for at least the last 7 years. It has a 6sided shaft a nice beater cap at the end of the handle and I used it for years for car repairs and even some house remodels.
A few weeks back I was trying to remove a rim off a Ford Focus and the shaft bent in the center.
I felt bad it's like a old friend at this point as stupid as it sounds lol