Pry bar input
- Thread starter bratwurst
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Locker537
Well-known member
Mayhew made pry bars have not failed me.
I have the striking set that are branded by Craftsman. They were about $20 a couple years ago for a 6, 12, 18 inch set.
I have the striking set that are branded by Craftsman. They were about $20 a couple years ago for a 6, 12, 18 inch set.
Guys will swear by whatever brand they have so I don't think anything is better than much else. I did see some complaints about the handles breaking but they redesigned them a couple years ago to allow for striking. The only thing to pay attention to is what size they use for the shank especially as the bar gets really long however I think everyone uses the same size anymore.
MAC and Matco are Mayhew dominators with their own flavor handle, Cornwell and Snap-on make their own. The old Craftsman Pro were the best value (also made by Mayhew).
Personally I've been eyeballing some indexing ones.
MAC and Matco are Mayhew dominators with their own flavor handle, Cornwell and Snap-on make their own. The old Craftsman Pro were the best value (also made by Mayhew).
Personally I've been eyeballing some indexing ones.
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Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No. Now ten years ago, I would have said yes.
However, I feel the Mayhew dominator series has closed the quality gap between truck and non truck brands.
In the old days, no one really made the thick shafts on their pry bars like snappy did.
Wilde and Lang make great striking cap pry bars that are sold under many brands from craftsman, Tekton, hyper tough, and others that are as tough as anything coming off of a tool truck but, cost a fraction of the tool truck price.
However, I feel the Mayhew dominator series has closed the quality gap between truck and non truck brands.
In the old days, no one really made the thick shafts on their pry bars like snappy did.
Wilde and Lang make great striking cap pry bars that are sold under many brands from craftsman, Tekton, hyper tough, and others that are as tough as anything coming off of a tool truck but, cost a fraction of the tool truck price.
Only handles and chipped tips. I've sure guys in heavy equipment could break them doing something like dozer tracks. They all have a fairly surprising amount of flex. ***** when it causes the bar to bottom out but I guess they don't want to make it so hard it permanently bends or snaps. That's why I was thinking about getting a few indexable ones.
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bwringer
Well-known member
Nice typo!
I've bent some really crappy ones, and broken plastic handles by hammering on them inappropriately. Totally expected, totally my fault, ain't even mad.
Since getting a set of the Craftsman-branded striking cap bars (not sure who makes them), not even close to having an issue. They're available under several brand names and colors, and they're fantastic.
garfunkle24
Well-known member
I've tried quite a few different bars (Mayhew, Mac, Gray) and I still like my Snappys the best. For a given shaft thickness they just seem to have less flex than others yet still don't seem excessively brittle.
Where I think Snappy has a CLEAR lead is in their heel bars (or rolling head/ladyfoot bars). They have a very slim "heel" portion compared to others and the aligning bar end holds up well too. The index-able ones are great too for awkward spots etc but have a much thicker "heel" portion.
Where I think Snappy has a CLEAR lead is in their heel bars (or rolling head/ladyfoot bars). They have a very slim "heel" portion compared to others and the aligning bar end holds up well too. The index-able ones are great too for awkward spots etc but have a much thicker "heel" portion.
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
We have a slightly bent Harbor Freight orange handle one at work that I'm really not sure how it got that way. I wouldn't trust the cheap ones when you only save a minimal amount of money.
Probably no reason to get expensive truck branded ones unless you use them daily and need a no questions asked warranty.
At home I may use them a few times a year but most of the time the mini pry bar (aka large screwdriver) works fine.
Probably no reason to get expensive truck branded ones unless you use them daily and need a no questions asked warranty.
At home I may use them a few times a year but most of the time the mini pry bar (aka large screwdriver) works fine.
I have a Snap on non-striking pry bar and the Wilde 3pc striking cap pry bars. The Wilde are better IMO. The snap on flexes much more. Never broke either but Wilde is better quality at a much cheaper price.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
richpa
Active member
I have some of varying ages the oldest being 25+years and I cannot fault them. However if I had to replace them, the current price would probably send me looking for a cheaper alternative.
Parrothead
Well-known member
Give the quality of the Wilde and Mayhew sets, my question would be...why? I’ve got both rebranded as Craftsman Professional and Craftsman.
Yes the Menards Masterforce is another rebrand ...
I got craftsman rebrand as like the handle color as bit more high visibility plus nice have something craftsman branded made in usa and proper decent .
I seen the meyhew 3pc set in some kmarts for under 30bucks
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
I've put an awful lot of faith in a Snap-On prybar, and it hasn't let me down. My day-to-day prybars are Sunex, but the Hyper Tough from Walmart with striking cap are rebranded Wilde IIRC, and are 120% worth the money. Those are the ones that come out when I'm extraordinarily hoping the prybar doesn't give/break, or need to put a ton of force on something.
The price point is also hard to beat for the quality. Pretty easy pick, IMO.
The price point is also hard to beat for the quality. Pretty easy pick, IMO.
Stooge
Well-known member
I've never had any issues with my set of striking snap on pry bars and have trusted them with a lot, but just looking at current pricing on the snap on site, I would be inclined to start elsewhere, and would probably end up with the Mayhew Dominators, since I already one their 36" bars and its been great, I just bought it after I already had the snappy ones.
Were the older style snap ons considerably cheaper, I cant remember what I paid for them, but I know it wasn't over $200, I was thinking $140ish or something for some reason.
Were the older style snap ons considerably cheaper, I cant remember what I paid for them, but I know it wasn't over $200, I was thinking $140ish or something for some reason.
Motorman55
Well-known member
My selection of smaller pry bars consist of the 4 pc black handle (I painted mine orange) HF. Not particular strong, but I have to say they seen 5 years of heavy work out as a forklift mechanic and still going strong.
For heavy stuff I have the large 48" Mayhew bar that was really used a lot by me and borrowed and abused many times by my co-workers. Its still very straight.
The Craftsman and Hyper Tough bars are identical except for the colors of the handles. (for some reason this one Craftsman's tip was cut short. Still got by the inspectors.)
I think the Mayhew bar was by far one of my best buys for the money.
For heavy stuff I have the large 48" Mayhew bar that was really used a lot by me and borrowed and abused many times by my co-workers. Its still very straight.
The Craftsman and Hyper Tough bars are identical except for the colors of the handles. (for some reason this one Craftsman's tip was cut short. Still got by the inspectors.)
I think the Mayhew bar was by far one of my best buys for the money.
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I must of missed the memo but Mayhew has a 44" and 54" 7/8 bar now. Everyone else tops out at 3/4". I kind of want one.
Looks like they're introducing a line of Prydrivers also but they seem to be exclusive to Matco at the moment.
Looks like they're introducing a line of Prydrivers also but they seem to be exclusive to Matco at the moment.
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anndel
Well-known member
I have Mayhew Dominators for over 5 years now and they haven't failed me yet.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I wouldn't spend the extra money on the Snap on pry bars. As far as I am concerned, Mayhew Dominators are just as good with the amount of abuse mine have taken and cost significantly less.
jeepinerdeep
Well-known member
I'm split on this, I feel like below 24" the SO's just feel right. Right amount of flex/weight/angle/tip performance.
The bigger bars, Mayhew all day. Great value.
The bigger bars, Mayhew all day. Great value.
I have the Snap-on striking pry bars and they are great.
Back in the day, even Sears Craftsman didn’t have that many specialty tools. So specialty stuff had to come from a tool truck. Harbor Freight didn’t exist yet, at least not on the East coast. As the years went on, Sears started carrying more and more specialty tools.
I’d go with Mayhew if I was buying new pry bars. The other option is look for used Snap-on stuff (on GJ classifieds or on eBay) - whichever is cheaper.
Back in the day, even Sears Craftsman didn’t have that many specialty tools. So specialty stuff had to come from a tool truck. Harbor Freight didn’t exist yet, at least not on the East coast. As the years went on, Sears started carrying more and more specialty tools.
I’d go with Mayhew if I was buying new pry bars. The other option is look for used Snap-on stuff (on GJ classifieds or on eBay) - whichever is cheaper.
garfunkle24
Well-known member
I actually totally agree with this. Once you get up into the big sizes, the value proposition from Snap-On is horrible. All my big *** bars are snappy's but I advised my apprentices to go with Mayhew
Schurkey
Well-known member
I've got four different brands of screwdriver-handled prybars.
Bought a 4-piece Snap-On set twenty years ago. They went through a garage fire, three of 'em lost their handles. They're still in use. I got one replacement handle from my Snap-On man, and the other two longest ones just have the bare shank. The Snappy set was purchased years before the "striking head" versions. Yes, I like the striking heads better.
There's also a Snap-on bent-shank prybar that's surprisingly handy, if a bit short.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Prybars/40°-Brake-Tool-Prybar/MPBS1140AO
Bought a 45" striking-head OTC prybar. It seems to work OK; and the shaft is reasonably large. If I had it to do over, I'd buy Mayhew instead. (Wilde doesn't make one that long.) OTC is a four-letter word to me, since they outsourced EVERYTHING and then chose to screw me on my floor-jack warranty claim.
Bought a set of striking-head Mayhew "Dominator" bars to replace the melted Snappys. Set them aside, forgot all about them. They're still in the packaging. I used one or two of them one time, and then put them aside again. Also bought a pair of "Dominator" "Ripping Chisels", one for me and one for my friend. Those things are wonderful--30" long, and VERY heavy shank. They can get the **** beaten out of them and still smell like a rose. VERY recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IFLBLOE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bought several striking-head Wilde bars--not a full set, but all the common sizes--from HarryEpstein.com because I forgot I owned the Mayhews. At the time, I was so impressed with the price I just hit the order button. I'm actually using them in conjunction with the Snappys. I'm going to get the ones I didn't order before, along with the metal rack.
https://www.harryepstein.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result?name=Wilde+pry
I don't have a problem with the functioning of any of these, but right now, I'm specifically recommending the Wildes based on function, price, and origin. There's no better value. The Mayhew "Ripping Chisel" is in another league in terms of strength; but more suited to tearing wood structures apart than automotive use.
Bought a 4-piece Snap-On set twenty years ago. They went through a garage fire, three of 'em lost their handles. They're still in use. I got one replacement handle from my Snap-On man, and the other two longest ones just have the bare shank. The Snappy set was purchased years before the "striking head" versions. Yes, I like the striking heads better.
There's also a Snap-on bent-shank prybar that's surprisingly handy, if a bit short.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Prybars/40°-Brake-Tool-Prybar/MPBS1140AO
Bought a 45" striking-head OTC prybar. It seems to work OK; and the shaft is reasonably large. If I had it to do over, I'd buy Mayhew instead. (Wilde doesn't make one that long.) OTC is a four-letter word to me, since they outsourced EVERYTHING and then chose to screw me on my floor-jack warranty claim.
Bought a set of striking-head Mayhew "Dominator" bars to replace the melted Snappys. Set them aside, forgot all about them. They're still in the packaging. I used one or two of them one time, and then put them aside again. Also bought a pair of "Dominator" "Ripping Chisels", one for me and one for my friend. Those things are wonderful--30" long, and VERY heavy shank. They can get the **** beaten out of them and still smell like a rose. VERY recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IFLBLOE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bought several striking-head Wilde bars--not a full set, but all the common sizes--from HarryEpstein.com because I forgot I owned the Mayhews. At the time, I was so impressed with the price I just hit the order button. I'm actually using them in conjunction with the Snappys. I'm going to get the ones I didn't order before, along with the metal rack.
https://www.harryepstein.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result?name=Wilde+pry
I don't have a problem with the functioning of any of these, but right now, I'm specifically recommending the Wildes based on function, price, and origin. There's no better value. The Mayhew "Ripping Chisel" is in another league in terms of strength; but more suited to tearing wood structures apart than automotive use.
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