Homemade pry bar

[IH__COLLECTOR]

Hey guys, first time poster here. I read a lot in this forum and enjoy it. I am a young guy that mechanics on big trucks for a job and old tractors as a hobby. Here is a rough ideal on a little pry bar that might come in handy in the fields i am in. This is just a rough ideal. I thought maybe some of you guys would enjoy it.

 

[southalabama]

What kind of steel you use?

 

[IH__COLLECTOR]

That is a U bolt that holds springs on a trailer. It is 1 inch thick. It feels like it ways a ton. So i should never have to worry about it breaking

 

[Haveblue]

Whats the overall length? looks like a tapered end at the handle would make a good alignment bar. I like the idea!

 

[rob0781]

Looks like it would work well for pulling old wheel seals from the hubs on heavy truck and trailer

 

[rockinacummins]

Pretty nifty. But... I've tried this a few times... and it hasn't worked well for me... they just aren't stout after theyve been heated and grinded on. But above all else, I hope it does very well for you!

 

[JoeFin]

Heat just the tip until its a bit more then "Cheery Red" - then slowly dip it into a can of ATF

 

[IH__COLLECTOR]

Hey joe you read my mind. Thats what i was planning on doing today. Rockinacummins i work with a guy that has built a lot of these and they hold up nicely! Better than any store bought one i think.

 

[vandezand]

What does heating it up and dipping it in atf do?

 

[JoeFin]

What does heating it up and dipping it in atf do?

If it has any carbon in the iron (and it does) it will harden the metal

 

[ecotec]

What does heating it up and dipping it in atf do?

Pulls the molecules closer together, hardening it.