Pry bar setq

[Tucker99]

Gents,
On a tight budget and looking for inexpensive but quality pry bar set. I'll never have a need for anything over 24" so a 3-piece set should be fine. Problem is the spread in pricing from $10 for HF set up to $100's for a SO set. So can anyone recommend an inexpensive but decent quality pry bar set?

 

[QwikKotaTx]

If you aren't going to use them much, just get the HF set. I have never had one bend, they are not bad for the price. I hit one of the smaller ones on the end of the handle with a hammer to use as a wedge which pushed the steel up inside of it further but that is not really correct application of force. Fine otherwise.

 

[quattroJoe]

Craftsman. All of the sets I've seen are still made in the USA, by Wilde if I remember correctly.

3 pc (12" 17" 25") for $40
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-pry-bar-set-in-tray/p-00943278000P?sellerId=SEARS

5 pc (8" 12" 17" 25" 31") for $60
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-5-pc-screwdriver-pry-bar-set/p-00943279000P?sellerId=SEARS

They go on sale frequently, so if you're not in a hurry you may save a few bucks by waiting for a deal.

 

[merbie]

Tekton? Craftsman?

I'd rather close my **** in a car door than wear a headlamp.

 

[Buster21]

Another vote for the Craftsman's. They were 1/2 off last time I was in the store.

 

[rlitman]

Craftsman. All of the sets I've seen are still made in the USA, by Wilde if I remember correctly.
...
They go on sale frequently, so if you're not in a hurry you may save a few bucks by waiting for a deal.

The Craftsman Pro pry bars (with the striking tips) are made by Mayhew.

The regular Craftsman 3pc prybar set goes on sale for under $20 a few times a year (I think $17 or so is the rock bottom price, but $20 is seen all the time). I got the Craftsman Pro set for $26, but that was an uncommon sale.

 

[1950mercury]

Whatever you get make sure tbey are striking capped. Id pass on hf and regular craftsman.

 

[Lx460]

Red handle craftsman pro. HF just isn't up to par as far as pry bars. The steel used seems more "spongy" and gives too much. A slipping (or bending) pry bar is a real bummer and a potential cause of injury.

 

[metalart]

Craftsman pro are nice, A friend has them.. If I see the set come down to under 30 bucks, will definitely pick up a set. 5-pc is 59 right now.

 

[donthelegend]

The striking caps on the Craftsman Professional bars (made by Mayhew) are worth having... I started with the regular Craftsman (Made by Wilde) and rarely use them now unless I need two prybars that are the same length.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Craftsman and Craftsman Pro are good bars.

The regulars are Wilde and the Pros are Mayhew. Both are good brands.

I have the regular Craftsmans at work and like them just fine.

I do not favor going cheap on prybars. You can get great quality for decent prices with various offerings.

 

[fsae0607]

Another vote for Craftsman Pro. I love mine!

The HF set is decent. I have the HF set in my truck toolbox (spare emergency tools) and they haven't let me down, either.

 

[lilcraigford]

Good to see positive feedback on these pry bars; I was given a set of the Wilde made ones but haven't used them yet. Over the summer the local sears had these on clearance for $10. When I was in there recently the three count was something like $32.

Now if only Wilde made a Craftsman screwdriver set with the same style handle...

 

[tadder52]

What they said: Craftsman Pro's.

 

[geojag]

I have some Enderes pry bars I picked up cheap years ago and they held up great. I think they are back in business, you might check them out.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Whatever you get make sure tbey are striking capped. Id pass on hf and regular craftsman.

I agree, striking caps open up alot more uses for pry bars, I got a snap on striker pry bar I got for $2 and I use the striking cap 80% of the time.

 

[ADSR]

I'd buy these ones for under 15 bucks.....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228370

 

[quattroJoe]

Now if only Wilde made a Craftsman screwdriver set with the same style handle...

Check out SK, they have a line of screwdrivers with handles that seem very similar to the CM pry bars. They're the ones with the solid green handles, the green/black are equivalent to CM Pro. I believe they're made by Western Forge though, not Wilde.

 

[lilcraigford]

Check out SK, they have a line of screwdrivers with handles that seem very similar to the CM pry bars. They're the ones with the solid green handles, the green/black are equivalent to CM Pro. I believe they're made by Western Forge though, not Wilde.

Thank you for the suggestion! From looking around the SK, Pratt Read High Visibility, and Mac are all "ballpark" similar.

 

[Engine]

I suggest these getting the Mayhews. You won't go wrong.
Mayhew 61366 Dominator Curved Pry Bar Set, 5-Piece
$67.88 & FREE Shipping
Amazon
Lowest price ever according to CCC:

 

[wild cowboy]

yes, many folks think the strikable Mayhews are the best you can buy, and they are a fraction of the SO price!

Zoro often has the lowest pricing on this brand.

 

[shockwave]

Go with the Mayhew they are oe for craftsman and Matco
I have there 60 dominator that is a beast of a pry bar

 

[bwringer]

If you just go ahead and bash the plastic handles off the HF cheapies, they actually have their uses...

 

[tube_guy]

The problem with the Harbor Freight pry bar set is that they've recently been changed. The older ones that have had pretty good reviews were made in Taiwan and the new ones are now made in India. I've used the Taiwan made bars quite a bit and they are pretty decent and were cheap. I've never tried the India made bars at all, and probably never will, but I'd bet good money that they'll be different than the old ones.

The red handled Craftsman pry bars are really decent for the money. The Mayhew Dominator/Craftsman Pro pry bars are better, but they cost a bit more too.