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Kobalt tools

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ToolGlutton

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I went to Lowes this weekend with my wife and bought a Kobalt 1/2" dr breaker bar. I was very impressed by it. At just $24, the finish is great and it feels really strong. I also noticed that they make very nice toolboxes with great price. (I know I am from Mars :spit:)

Most of my tools are Craftsman with some Snap On (10% in terms of quantities, and 50% in terms of price). Now I am also a Kobalt fan.
 
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a390st

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I didn't know they broke. Mine is probably 7-8 years old, and was bought at the same time as the Snap On I had. Both were used regularly, and neither ever gave any indication that they might break. I have never put a cheater on them, though. I have other things for that.
 
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64merc

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ToolGlutton said:
Are you serious? Did you break a Danaher 1/2" dr breaker bar before?

I thought as long as you are not a King Kong, it should be fine.
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I'm not going to say that you can't break one, but if you don't use a cheater bar on it you should be fine. Some breaker bars will survive a long cheater but this one may not.
 
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cruiser808

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a390st said:
I didn't know they broke. Mine is probably 7-8 years old, and was bought at the same time as the Snap On I had. Both were used regularly, and neither ever gave any indication that they might break. I have never put a cheater on them, though. I have other things for that.
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Actually, in the rare cases where I have to use a cheater bar, and I mean HAVE TO, I attach it to the absolute best name brand breaker and ratchet that money can buy. For me, it's my Snap-on's and Proto's. The reason for this is I can always get another tool if it breaks and I really like my fingers and other body parts much better than some warranty service. But, it's all personal choice, safety vs economics. For me. it's a no brainer. :headscrat
 
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a390st

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Well, I had a rack of old good name brand breaker bars that were "cosmetically challenged" that I would put the pipe on. I won't say I haven't broken a few, but not what you would expect. You just have to be smart using them. I'm not working on big equipment anymore, so...
 
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cruiser808

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a390st said:
Well, I had a rack of old good name brand breaker bars that were "cosmetically challenged" that I would put the pipe on. I won't say I haven't broken a few, but not what you would expect. You just have to be smart using them. I'm not working on big equipment anymore, so...
Click to expand...


Okay, can you expand and share with us? Inquisitive minds want to know. :thumbup:
 
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billymade

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I broke 3 Craftsman breaker bars and finally gave up; got a used 24" snapon at the flea for $30; done deal... last one I'll need to buy....
 
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billymade

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Actually, while I am a Snapon fan; I hurt myself pretty badly when I broke the Craftsman breaker bar; never again!
Lost_In_Space_robot_body_1_2_2004.jpg

“Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!”

If being a Snapon fan means having a tool that won't break when you are using it and not hurting you; then, yeah... I"m a Snapon fan!
 
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a390st

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We used to buy lots of old tools cheap at sales because the Mexicans would lose them all the time. You could pick up good old breaker bars that were a rusty for cheap, and we had a rack of them for putting the pipe on. We had a 4 ft and a 6 ft version. Where the cheap HF style bars would do the u-turn and then the head would break off, the old ones that you recognized the name on would generally have one of the ears break off if they let go. They were much safer because they didn't try to sling the head through the roof. You also have an idea when they are going to go. It's just a feeling that you are at that point. If you are going to break one, I prefer to have an extra few feet the pipe gives you between me and the head. I wish I could remember the brands we had. I actually welded one up and tempered the whole thing and it lasted very well. That was a big surprise.
 
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v8garage

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Just what are you guys doing with those breaker bars? :headscrat 6 foot cheaters? :confused: I think I would use a 3/4" or 1" drive breaker bar if it was that tight.
 
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paramudduck

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I picked the Snap-on breaker bar I have now up off the side of the road. It was laying there on the curb when I walked around to change a tire. Who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? At 3am in the morning heading home from a ha ha 12 hour shift. I was very happy to find it.
 
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a390st

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v8garage said:
Just what are you guys doing with those breaker bars? :headscrat 6 foot cheaters? :confused: I think I would use a 3/4" or 1" drive breaker bar if it was that tight.
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Farming, brother, farming (and mechanic on the side). When it comes to impact, 3/4" is the cat's ***, and 1" is great when you can get it in position. But 3/4" and 1" stuff gets bigger than you have room for. When you have a 5/8x6" bolt rusted in solid and no room for impact or a torch, you do what you have to do. Too often that involves breaking the head off the bolt and then spending six or seven hours tearing a machine apart to get to it. You have to try whatever is quickest first because you are so far behind, and most times that will work. When it doesn't, you escalate...
 
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paramudduck

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Farmers theory:
Six foot of pipe three hired hands and a sledge hammer. Best impact tool ever made.
 
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cruiser808

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v8garage said:
Just what are you guys doing with those breaker bars? :headscrat 6 foot cheaters? :confused: I think I would use a 3/4" or 1" drive breaker bar if it was that tight.
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That's what I thought. I did bend a 3/4 Proto breaker bar to loosen a 46mm crank shaft bolt on a Toyota FJ 40. Fixed the bar tight and cranked the engine. The bolt was loosened and the bar slightly bent. Given the situation and outcome, I was okay with it.
 
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a390st

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paramudduck said:
Farmers theory:
Six foot of pipe three hired hands and a sledge hammer. Best impact tool ever made.
Click to expand...

Don't laugh, the sledge hammer was by far my favorite tool while I was farming. I was very fond of the reciprocating saw, too.
 
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BrianAltenhofel

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v8garage said:
Just what are you guys doing with those breaker bars? :headscrat 6 foot cheaters? :confused: I think I would use a 3/4" or 1" drive breaker bar if it was that tight.
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I had to use a 6-foot cheater to break some lugnuts loose once. The bar lasted until nut #20. They just don't make studs like they use to (they are all still in just fine, threads are still perfect).

paramudduck said:
Farmers theory:
Six foot of pipe three hired hands and a sledge hammer. Best impact tool ever made.
Click to expand...

Better when they're illegals... they don't go and file a claim when the breaker bar gives.
 
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chammyman

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I broke 3 snap on breaker bars on a renault trucks headbolts, no cheater bar on it. Just me pulling on it which tbh is a hell of a pull.

1 twisted the head off, 1 broke one off the arm bit the bolt goes through the last one snapped the bolt then splayed the arms out when it came off.
 
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ToolGlutton

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You are amazingly strong! :thumbup:

BTW, we are talking about 1/2 dr breaker bar. Is the breaker bar you broke a 3/8 dr? :bounce:



chammyman said:
I broke 3 snap on breaker bars on a renault trucks headbolts, no cheater bar on it. Just me pulling on it which tbh is a hell of a pull.

1 twisted the head off, 1 broke one off the arm bit the bolt goes through the last one snapped the bolt then splayed the arms out when it came off.
Click to expand...
 
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chammyman

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yes it was a 1/2 inch bar. I was the biggest there so had to lift the clutches (twin plates on trucks weight about 60kg's) up from the ground into position and all the other donkey work.

Bent a 3/4 breaker bar with a 10 foot cheater jumping on it on a trucks wheel nut, the 1 inch gun etc couldn't shift it, we used the burner on it to melt it off in the end
 
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