biscuit141
Well-known member
Has anyone used the HF pry bar set? Is it any good? I didn't see anything mentioned in the Harbor Freight thread. The price is right but I don't want them to bend on the first pry.
HF Pry Bar Set
- Thread starter biscuit141
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alex71
Well-known member
Then you should probably buy something else. They will bend with moderate use.
warmpancakes
Well-known member
they are more like bent screw drivers than prybars I have broke a few of the long ones
Kirbot
Well-known member
I've beat mine up on many occasions and they are holding up fine so far
They only problem I see with them is that there is no striking cap on the handle, so hammering on them isn't a good idea. Unless you want the handle to split and break apart...
They only problem I see with them is that there is no striking cap on the handle, so hammering on them isn't a good idea. Unless you want the handle to split and break apart...
Kirbot
Well-known member
BTW
Were talking about these right?
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html
Because if you mean the (all metal) wrecking bar style, forget it.
There junk
Were talking about these right?
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html
Because if you mean the (all metal) wrecking bar style, forget it.
There junk
vssykes
Member
i broke a the handles on mine using them as chisels
OP
biscuit141
Well-known member
Yes, those.
5lima30
Well-known member
I briefly had a HF pry-bar/ alignment tool. I used it once to line up the lift arms with my bush-hog. It bent like it was made of rubber. I then bought a set of the Craftsman (USA model) red handle ones. They work great and have not bent yet. I got them on sale and they were reasonably priced. I'm sure the SO, MAC, etc would work as well. YMMV.
Slow Gray Mule
Well-known member
For the money, they will get you by for most things. I have them and they flex under moderate load. I wouldn't go putting my full weight behind them. I bent the smallest one in the set pretty bad. I will eventually upgrade mine to Mayhews or something similiar.
diesel research
Well-known member
I have ONE
It has only 1 purpose in life. I cut a groove in the end to make it forked. I use it to stretch HD drum brake return springs. The handle is not very confidence inspiring, although it has improved from earlier versions ever so slightly. They also use some rhino-line type bedlining coating on it. Don't count on that staying on very long. They flex too much as well.
The red handle cman bars are a little better, but not enough for me to actually buy them. I just tried out a coworkers for a few days. Ok, but something just didn't feel right. Quite a bit better than HF, but "something was missing".
The snappy ones really are all that. Ended up with a set of 4. I am not a snappy fanboy, and do not have a single chrome socket, wrench, or ratchet(excluding my tq wrench) of theirs anymore. I used to. Not that those pieces are bad, BUT I am just trying to state I am not loyal to a truck or brand.
I am inclined to believe mayhew will deliver the goods too. They are not readily available on the shelves, and are quite pricey as well, but I can only guess they are legit.
It has only 1 purpose in life. I cut a groove in the end to make it forked. I use it to stretch HD drum brake return springs. The handle is not very confidence inspiring, although it has improved from earlier versions ever so slightly. They also use some rhino-line type bedlining coating on it. Don't count on that staying on very long. They flex too much as well.
The red handle cman bars are a little better, but not enough for me to actually buy them. I just tried out a coworkers for a few days. Ok, but something just didn't feel right. Quite a bit better than HF, but "something was missing".
The snappy ones really are all that. Ended up with a set of 4. I am not a snappy fanboy, and do not have a single chrome socket, wrench, or ratchet(excluding my tq wrench) of theirs anymore. I used to. Not that those pieces are bad, BUT I am just trying to state I am not loyal to a truck or brand.
I am inclined to believe mayhew will deliver the goods too. They are not readily available on the shelves, and are quite pricey as well, but I can only guess they are legit.
I believe Mayhew makes both Craftsman sets, the regular red handled and the pro version with striking caps. I have both and they are both excellent, the red handles can be bought on sale for $20 for the 3 pc set and the pros I got for $49 for the 5 pc set.
Look at the Mayhew catalog online they sell both Cman sets just with Mayhew written on them.
Look at the Mayhew catalog online they sell both Cman sets just with Mayhew written on them.
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diesel research
Well-known member
If that is the case, I should mention I did not use the pro versions, only the red ones. Never saw the pro version, they might be "all that" too.
canuckian
Well-known member
they have the same handles as a set I bought a few years ago branded "jobmate" so I'd guess theyre a rebrand or at least of similar quality. The ones I had bent badly (handle slipped right off one after it bent) and the 12" one snapped in two under load. A butterknife would have made a stronger prybar!! picked up a set of 4 SO striking prybars off of Ebay last year and havent looked back since.Those are some tough units!! my wife bought me a 48 inch So striking crown prybar for my birthday this year and that one's even beefier. I'm not advising the OP to get the So ones but at least consider something that isn't that low in quality. $8 for 4 prybars? I'd say in this case, you get what you pay for.
Zrexxer
Well-known member
That's incorrect. The red handled Craftsmans are made by Wilde Tool.
I have that set. They have been fine for me but I don't do much prying.
diggerrick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 996
I have those and use them pretty frequently, but they do deflect easily, and I get the feeling I could break the longest ones pretty easily if I really cranked on them.
I have a 48" long solid hex pry bar I bought from Big Lots 10 years ago for $7 that I use for the heavy stuff and demo work on the houses.
They're definitely worth the current $6.49 or $6.99 coupons though, especially with the lifetime warranty.
Next time they're on sale I want to pick up the Craftsman Pro set with the striking handles as they look pretty stout.
I have a 48" long solid hex pry bar I bought from Big Lots 10 years ago for $7 that I use for the heavy stuff and demo work on the houses.
They're definitely worth the current $6.49 or $6.99 coupons though, especially with the lifetime warranty.
Next time they're on sale I want to pick up the Craftsman Pro set with the striking handles as they look pretty stout.
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LawnDart79
Well-known member
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html
I have the HF prybar set you're referring to and they've held up for me so far.
I bought them roughly 10 yrs ago and used them daily in a professional environment. You just gotta realize they are cheap prybars, so you can't be hanging off of them or pounding on the plastic handle with a hammer. Used as designed, they are fine. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set.
I have the HF prybar set you're referring to and they've held up for me so far.
I bought them roughly 10 yrs ago and used them daily in a professional environment. You just gotta realize they are cheap prybars, so you can't be hanging off of them or pounding on the plastic handle with a hammer. Used as designed, they are fine. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set.
diggerrick
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 996
I bought another set last month with the same item #, but the handles are different and larger, and the shafts have a black crinkle finish that looks like powder coat instead of black oxide on my old ones.
diesel research
Well-known member
Sounds like the same ones. That crinkle came off after like day 4. Was cool while it lasted..
Check Harry Epstein. They have the Wilde ones, at a great price. Also look at Cripes Dist. They have pry bars too, But their inventory changes some so I don't know what they have right now. Also go to Amazon and see what they have.
Cheers,
JimDon
Cheers,
JimDon
plinker
Well-known member
I've got the 3pc red handle Craftsman set, hey been pretty good for me but I agree the blade/shank on the longer ones could be heavier, the 16" can flex pretty good.
I use the short one most of the time and it's held up good considering how much I've used it (including hammering).
To do it over, I'd get the C-man pro's, and anything they couldnt do a 4'-6' bar can
I use the short one most of the time and it's held up good considering how much I've used it (including hammering).
To do it over, I'd get the C-man pro's, and anything they couldnt do a 4'-6' bar can
rsanter
Well-known member
I have them and they are ok
I have broken a couple but they replaced them
they are no way as good as the craftsman pro versions that I also have and really like as well as having a set of the snap on ones
bob
I have broken a couple but they replaced them
they are no way as good as the craftsman pro versions that I also have and really like as well as having a set of the snap on ones
bob
flyingvette
Well-known member
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- Jun 17, 2009
- Messages
- 92
Better than using your screwdrivers. Not good for heavy duty prying. I've made good use of them and would buy again.
There you have it. I ran out of junky screwdrivers to pry with and wreck, so I invested the $6.99 in these. They flex easily but are better than screwdrivers. If you are serious about prying, look elsewhere.
Tatsuya
Well-known member
I tend to monitor Cripe Dist. pretty closely. I think they've sold out of the 3-piece Craftsman plastic handle set. They do still have the 25" Craftsman Professional bars for $14.00. They also have the 10" locking flex-head pry bars, NAPA brand and made in China for $8.00. There's some wobble in the head but my friend's Matco is the same and they look damn near identical except the Matco is USA made.
2x. They work fine for me.
diesel research
Well-known member
What exactly does "used as designed" mean if you can't put some weight into them or pound on them?That sounds like "ya this hammer is pretty good as long as you don't pound on anything with it"
Most jobs calling for a prybar tend to be a little demanding, because that is the nature of prying jobs.
While this comment probably sounds a little sarcastic or combative, what I meant to ask is what kind of jobs did they withstand? What were you doing with them?
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
I have a pile of 1980s swap meet prybars at my sidework shop , good for beating on
supertooljunkie
Well-known member
I have a set of the HF prybars. All bent, and all the handles beat off. Got scrap price for them. For VERY light duty, sacrificial tools, they are okay. I keep a couple sets in my truck. I use my Mayhew or Snap on bars for serious work.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
I've got a set that's been kicking around for 15 or 16 years now that have never given me any problems. Are they as good as a Mac or Snap-On? Not no, but hell no. Are they a functional alternative for someone that doesn't have the scratch for the high dollar jobs? Yes they are.
I like the HF bars better than my "good" ones sometimes. The little extra flex can be very helpful on some jobs, like seating up transmissions.
I like the HF bars better than my "good" ones sometimes. The little extra flex can be very helpful on some jobs, like seating up transmissions.
LawnDart79
Well-known member
That sounds like "ya this hammer is pretty good as long as you don't pound on anything with it"
Most jobs calling for a prybar tend to be a little demanding, because that is the nature of prying jobs.
While this comment probably sounds a little sarcastic or combative, what I meant to ask is what kind of jobs did they withstand? What were you doing with them?
"Used as designed" - They are an $8 set of pry bars that range in length from 8" - 24". They are meant for everyday prying, maneuvering, and aligning of objects that don't require a significant amount of brute force to move. They are not meant for a 350 pound man to hang off of them while trying to pry apart the suspension on a Buick. I mean, good grief, these pry bars are only 5/8" thick.
Second, the HF pry bars are not meant to be pounded on with a hammer, that's what striking pry bars are for. These certainly aren't striking pry bars. This set of pry bars wasn't designed to be pounded on. Is this a downfall to this set, definitely, but it is what it is.
Lastly, are these the only pry bars a guy will ever need to have in his pry bar arsenal...certainly not. But for their size, they're a pretty useful set for not much coin.
fatboyf150
Well-known member
Keep your receipt.
GoBlue
Well-known member
Garbage...I knocked the shaft back into the handle on the two smaller ones rendering them useless. FWIW i have every red handled Craftsman they make and use the hell out of them every day...they have been bullet proof and i would recommend these quality American made tools .
diesel research
Well-known member
Since you will need to get a set of hammering prybars anyways, might as well start out with them, since they work fine when not prying.
Oh and btw, no, I do not mean the HF yellow/black ones, they are even weaker than the non hammer types.
Oh and btw, no, I do not mean the HF yellow/black ones, they are even weaker than the non hammer types.
Dog
Active member
I have a set of those HF bars and they have been doing fine for me.
ZRX61
Well-known member
I have a set of those, lifted a 1500lb Southbend lathe with the bigger one in the set & altho it flexed a bit it didn't bend. They've also been employed in aircraft engine changes for alignment issues with engines ranging from 1700lb to 3000lb without any problem.
Maybe I got a good set..
Maybe I got a good set..
hofferwood
Well-known member
I've got those too. Bought another recently though I don't think it had that crinkle coating (which my new CMan ball end hex's had) I beat on the other set and knocked some plastic off, knew it would happen. So they're in the jeep now. The larger one will bend under heavy stuff. I use them fairly lightly though. Need to invest in some good striking ones though.