lady slipper?

[TReel98]

Plain and simple what are lady slipper pry bars used for? I've seen them many times but it seems like a regular pry bar would work better 90% of the time. Is there a specific reason to use them?

 

[damnesia]

Plain and simple what are lady slipper pry bars used for? I've seen them many times but it seems like a regular pry bar would work better 90% of the time. Is there a specific reason to use them?

I use them more than my pry bars. The pointy end is useful for aligning parts through bolt holes ( came in very handy went erecting my steel shop ), two of them can be used at the same time, with the bottom part of the "heel" part used as the fulcrum with one pry bar on each size of the part that is being pulled up, i use them as seal pullers, pry parts up with by sticking the pointed end into a hole, etc. There's a few ways they're useful. I only have two but have consider them so useful I'm going to buy some more soon. I'll admit the first time I saw them I wondered why someone would own them. But after working with with the guy that owned them more I started to see how they can be used for all sorts of things. I mentioned it to him and he gave me two of his smaller snappy lady's heel duplicates.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

When you cant get a straight or regular curved prybar in to do what you need done. Pulling seals, bearings, etc. Using two together works well. They also can be used as mentioned for aligning pipe, flanges, foundations/machinery. There are different variations of alignment bars that have different uses.

Mayhew and a few others I think make bars with a flatter head and less of a heel that I use as well.

 

[gdocktor3]

I can't say I've ever used one for prying, but for aligning things they're irreplaceable. Most recently I used one to get a pair of leaf springs back in the shackles.

 

[bdelmar2]

Handy for popping cv axles out, pulling gears off shafts that stick a little, separating case halves.

Anywhere you need a lot of leverage in a small space, especially when you need to pull back towards yourself.

Plus the previously mentioned alignment with the tapered end, like shifting a subframe back into position when reinstalling it so the steering wheel is straight again.

Though I normally hear them called lady foot instead of slipper, or rolling head sometimes.

I don't have a full set, just a larger one of unknown origin, and one of the flatter ones that is a bluepoint I think.

I have an assortment of prybars, you never know when a particular style will come in handy.

 

[fatfillup]

I know I sell a lot of them so they do get used.

 

[ssdave]

Pulling rims off a car that are rusted on. Pulling Snap-on screwdriver handles to replace the shaft (2 required). Lots of small prying, good control and huge leverage.

 

[Tim C]

I use mine all the time. Besides lining up bolt holes such as in suspension control arms, and popping out seals, it makes a damn fine back scratcher!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[wingnut_1]

Is a lady slipper and a lady foot the same thing? My lady feet have a solid head. Some have a hooked head but maybe those are slippers, lol?

 

[619DioFan]

I call them heel bars. have a variety of sizes and use them often. as others have mentioned for aligning parts , pulling seals etc. just used one yesterday to remove fence staples from some posts to remove chain link fencing ( drive the pointed end into the staple and pop out ) worked great.

 

[2oolhound]

It's just another variety. Some of the more regular type have steeper angles so you can lift high (but with less mechanical advantage). Some have a heel and some have gradual curves. The lady foot type is at 90º so the handle can move free of obstructions that would be in the way for the regular type.

 

[rlitman]

...it seems like a regular pry bar would work better 90% of the time. Is there a specific reason to use them?

Yeah, for when a regular pry bar won't fit. Just the other day, I was trying to move something with a pry bar, and the bar shank was resting on something that could not take any force. A lady foot bar fit in there just fine.

Though an indexable head prybar would have worked in this case.
The lady foot has a smaller head than most indexable prybars though, so there are still times where nothing else will fit the bill.

 

[TReel98]

Thanks for all the info i didn't realize the pointed end was meant for aligning parts. The more pictures i look at i can see why they'd be useful in certain areas.

 

[TReel98]

So would the old school wrenches that have a tapered end be used for aligning parts also or do they have a different use?

 

[Advan]

So would the old school wrenches that have a tapered end be used for aligning parts also or do they have a different use?

Yes. "Spud" wrenches are for aligning bolt holes, typically in structural steel erection. Any tapered bar or pin is typically used for the same thing, ie, a pinch bar. As for the OP, heel & toe bar, lady's foot, lady's slipper, whatever you call it, they're invaluable. Its basically just a normal pry bar, but the handle is inline with the pry direction, instead of 90° from it.