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Pry Bar Set

D

Dynasty

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Mar 7, 2013
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USA
I could use some opinions on a good pry bar set for all around general usage. Something that will last a long time under normal tasks that require a pry bar.

Budget = $50

A quick search provided me with the following results:

1. Craftsman 3 pc - http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-pry-bar-set-in-tray/p-00943278000P

2. Wilde 3 pc - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wilde-Tool-18-in-Pry-Bar-with-Handle-Set-3-Piece-HPB3SQB/205079908

3. Mayhew 3 pc - http://www.zoro.com/mayhew-pry-bar-set-pieces-3-alloy-steel-61350/i/G0955263/

4. Mayhew 3 pc - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mayhew-Dominator-Pry-Bar-Set-3-Piece-61355/203353843
 
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erty67

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I believe the craftsman are made by Wilde

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
 
P

PJNJ

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The hard red handle Cman set for $19.99 is made by Wilde in the USA for Cman. Their very good though they don't have a striking cap. I have the 24, 31 and 36 versions. Strong and do the job.

The red/black handle Cmans' are made by Mayhew for Cman and are excellent. They have a striking cap on the end for hitting but are more expensive. I think Sears is looking to close them out.

Here's the three bar set from Cman for $51.99-
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...ved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?TecPara=173_

The five piece set from Zoro for $58.05 with free shipping -
http://www.zoro.com/craftsman-pry-b...gclid=COmXvJ_488kCFcOQHwodtUMD7w&gclsrc=aw.ds
But only 5 sets in stock so better hurry.

:beer:
 
F

Finky198

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Feb 25, 2014
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I personly use the snappy now but I have used the Mayhew dominators and they are the closest in quality and durability I've come across. They also make awesome gasket scrapers.

In all reality I don't even understand why the still make non striking pry bars as there basically useless compared to there capped counter parts. Weight and cost are most likely the issues but probably quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

See Now you have me thinking I need to buy
2 bars a 24" straight tip and a 54" to complete the set
Dammit :eyecrazy: GJ strikes again.
 
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P

Ponchoguy

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PJNJ said:
The hard red handle Cman set for $19.99 is made by Wilde in the USA for Cman. Their very good though they don't have a striking cap. I have the 24, 31 and 36 versions. Strong and do the job.

The red/black handle Cmans' are made by Mayhew for Cman and are excellent. They have a striking cap on the end for hitting but are more expensive. I think Sears is looking to close them out.

Here's the three bar set from Cman for $51.99-
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...ved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?TecPara=173_

The five piece set from Zoro for $58.05 with free shipping -
http://www.zoro.com/craftsman-pry-b...gclid=COmXvJ_488kCFcOQHwodtUMD7w&gclsrc=aw.ds
But only 5 sets in stock so better hurry.

:beer:
Click to expand...
I thought the "regular" 43278 Craftsmans were Mayhews? If you look on their website, they are a dead match for the Mayhews:

http://mayhew.com/pro-prybar-screwdriver.php

I have two sets of 43278s, one I traded for some stuff recently with a GJ member and a set I bought new circa 2003.
 
N

NUTTSGT

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Northern Central Ohio
I have the Cman set (#1) and have used they quite a bit. I'm happy with them especially for the price I paid for them, $20. If you have any SYWR points that brings that cost down. I also have a 27" MAC prybar when I need more persuasion.

You have a $50 budget. I'd start with the Cman set, then add to that set as you find a deal on better and longer bars. You'll get your 20 dollars of use out of those Cman prybars.
 
R

redwrench60

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East Tennessee
Personally, I don't like prybars (or tools in general) that have rubber handles. They get all slimey and slippery when they get oil or coolant on them and the rubber isn't very durable. But, I do like prybars with striking caps so for me this pretty much leaves Snap On but I understand many people don't want to spend Snap On money so I'd just go with the Wilde plastic handle prybars and when you eventually (if ever) beat the handles off them they're inexpensive enough just to replace as needed.
 
R

rlitman

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Oct 18, 2010
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Long Island
Dynasty said:
...A quick search provided me with the following results:

1. Craftsman 3 pc - http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-pry-bar-set-in-tray/p-00943278000P

2. Wilde 3 pc - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wilde-Tool-18-in-Pry-Bar-with-Handle-Set-3-Piece-HPB3SQB/205079908

3. Mayhew 3 pc - http://www.zoro.com/mayhew-pry-bar-set-pieces-3-alloy-steel-61350/i/G0955263/

4. Mayhew 3 pc - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mayhew-Dominator-Pry-Bar-Set-3-Piece-61355/203353843
Click to expand...

#1 Craftsman 3pc set is made by Wilde.

Craftsman Professional prybars are made by Mayhew, and have the black/red rubberized handles with striking caps.

#3 set REALLY looks like it is also Wilde, not Mayhew.

At $20 on sale now, the Craftsman hard red handled set made by Wilde is the best deal, unless you really think you need a striking cap. If you're the type to prefer hard handles (say if you use solvents that damage the rubber), then by all means, get this and don't look back.
This set seems to regularly go on sale for $20, occasionally go on sale for $17, and I've seen it once or twice on sale for $16.

The Craftsman Professional set doesn't go on sale often, though the one time I saw it for $26, I jumped on it.
As for whether to get the $52 Craftsman Professional set, or the $50 Mayhew branded identical set at Home Depot, I'm not sure where I'd steer you. So long as Sears keeps selling rebranded Mayhew prybars, you'll have no trouble getting then warrantied through Sears. After that time, good luck. With the Mayhew set, Mayhew is carrying the burden of the warranty, so you don't have to worry about Sears switching to a Taiwanese manufacturer and trying to hand you an inferior tool as a replacement, though you'll also not likely be able to walk into a store and get a replacement (not that I've had to deal with Mayhew directly for warranty issues, so I can't speak to the relative ease of their process).

I agree with the comments above that striking caps are a big addition of value to prybars. Though I'm comfortable beating on plastic handled prybars with a soft faced deadblow; just shouldn't use steel faced hammers on them.
 
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Jarhead0408

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Who knows?
I have the Craftsman red handles, a few Snap On's, and two massive Mayhew's. I'll be replacing the Craftsman and Snap On's with the 5 piece Mayhew's set.
 
C

CJM8515

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I have the craftsman/wilde set. About my only complaint is the largest one (you buy separately) bends kinda easy when really leveraging it. Otherwise zero complaints. I bought a cheap set at sears once made by companion or something like that. Its for when I really want to beat the hell out of a prybar.
 
M

MrGiggles

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Dec 11, 2014
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That Tekton set looks pretty similar to the 10.00 HF set, which really aren't too bad for the price, but for not much more money you can do a lot better.
 
J

JBradley500

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Jul 19, 2013
Messages
781
If you have Ollies stores near you they sell Richard striking pry bars for like 7 bucks a piece. They're made in Canada.
 
H

HammerRed

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Feb 22, 2012
Messages
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Not on your list,but ATD pry bars and the older napa prybars are both made by wilde, which is good for a usa made entry level prybar set. I also agree, the longest one being 36" bends way to easy because it is not a 3/4" or 5/8" shank like most prybars that long. I have the snap on and a co-worker has the mac 36" bars and they are a lot thicker. Merry christmas everybody.
 
S

stage20

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Nov 5, 2013
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pcola FL
PJNJ said:
The hard red handle Cman set for $19.99 is made by Wilde in the USA for Cman. Their very good though they don't have a striking cap. I have the 24, 31 and 36 versions. Strong and do the job.

The red/black handle Cmans' are made by Mayhew for Cman and are excellent. They have a striking cap on the end for hitting but are more expensive. I think Sears is looking to close them out.

Here's the three bar set from Cman for $51.99-
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...ved-blade-pry-bar/p-00943288000P?TecPara=173_

The five piece set from Zoro for $58.05 with free shipping -
http://www.zoro.com/craftsman-pry-b...gclid=COmXvJ_488kCFcOQHwodtUMD7w&gclsrc=aw.ds
But only 5 sets in stock so better hurry.

:beer:
Click to expand...
picture shows 5 but the description lists only 3

be sure before you order!
 
B

bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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Location
New Mexico
redwrench60 said:
Personally, I don't like prybars (or tools in general) that have rubber handles. They get all slimey and slippery when they get oil or coolant on them and the rubber isn't very durable. But, I do like prybars with striking caps so for me this pretty much leaves Snap On but I understand many people don't want to spend Snap On money so I'd just go with the Wilde plastic handle prybars and when you eventually (if ever) beat the handles off them they're inexpensive enough just to replace as needed.
Click to expand...

Or, unlike you, some people actually prefer the rubber handles and would rather get those even if they did cost Snap-On money.

Go with the Mayhew is my vote.
 
R

redwrench60

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bcradio said:
Or, unlike you, some people actually prefer the rubber handles and would rather get those even if they did cost Snap-On money.

Go with the Mayhew is my vote.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's why they make different stuff. To please both you and I :beer:

The quality is excellent on those Mayhew and Craftsman pro rebrands but man, those rubber handles turn into a wet noodle when slobbered down in oil on the tear down bench. :lol:
 
S

stage20

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goldie lox said:
anyone use the otc brand pry bars.
Click to expand...

i had to search to check them out. dont look that bad for the price...and they are striking. id still prefer to have the dominators myself.

i did find this while searching for them.
this is going to be a must have tool for me.
i didnt know they exist. COUNTLESS times ive tried to get a prybar here or there and always hitting something in the middle to keep me from getting a grip.
may be useless in the end, but im going to take my chance on it. nice christmas gift to myself
http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-...hS4svFikvYw6by-UUb8wwGZ9kNvk7mgpXeRoCCuvw_wcB
 
P

pepgj

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Oct 26, 2015
Messages
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I see that the Mayhew 61366 5 piece, curved set is on Amazon for $68. The Camels show it as a minimum price, so that's worth considering. I bought the straight bar set on Amazon for $20 a few years back, so the Amazon Rule of PB Swiss (ie., it's hard to buy something for $10 once you've paid $2 for it, even if both prices are low) makes the $68 kind of hard to go for.
 
R

redwrench60

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This thread made me remember I've been on the lookout for a decent prybar to keep in my truck. So I figured what the hell and stopped in at Sears to look at the common Craftsman 3 pc set (Wilde rebrand). They were priced at about $42 but after showing the cashier the online price on my phone he said "no problem, we can match that" I got them for $19.99 + tax.

I forgot how nice these prybars are for the money. I wish they offered these or the Wilde parent brand in straight tip though. Hell you can't beat these bars for a $20 bill.
 
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