What do you use pry bars for?

[mires]

It seems like everybody here has pry bars and I'm sure they come in handy but just how often do you use them and for what jobs exactly? I am just a diyer changing oil, brakes, rotating tires and the like. I'm sure I could have used a pry bar once or twice over the years but I don't think there was ever a time where I just HAD to have it for anything.

That being said, I did pick up the 3 pc. Craftsman set for cheap the other day. The things this forum will do to a guy

 

[mike91lx]

Most times on suspension pieces, pulling down control arms, ect

 

[sk farmer]

prying.......

actually all most everything. bent tip bars for prying things apart, lining things up, bending things, you name it. rolling head or ladies foot for lining up and lifting or prying. the great big ones get used to move large things and doing things i am not strong enough to do. i have several that live on a rack on my cabinet, another drawer full and the big ones are leaned in a corner. one of the most used tools i have.

 

[1969]

Dental work......

 

[G_P]

You will find all kinds of uses for them. And likely save many a screwdriver from being bent or broken if you own a set of prybars.

 

[JKady]

Prying, beating (in an area where you can't get a hammer in), removing lines on top of transmissions etc... I've got a Cornwell 8-24" 4 piece set and a 42" for bigger work, all get used regularly.

 

[NorthSea92]

Levering down suspension arms when splitting ball joints, pushing back pistons, removing pulleys and bearing races, lining things up etc

The uses are endless

 

[Buster21]

Just used mine today to move my alternator in place while I tightened the belt.

 

[jakemac]

All of the above .......... plus using them as third hands and shims when needed. You can never have enough when you can't find one.

 

[just a noob]

Assembling agricultural equipment and putting on large tires

 

[Ruger_556]

Usually prying on stuff... Checking kingpins, moving frame and suspension parts into place, etc

 

[toolmutt]

At work, mostly for forcing open doors that are locked/fortified.

 

[Coach James]

I use one to open my wallet.

Coach

 

[zkling]

Watch repair.

In all seriousness, and to be honest I caved and bought the craftsman 3pc set on sale due to recommendations on this forum. They have come in handy, mostly for demo type stuff (I straightened a welded tube structure the other day with the longest one. They are a crude type of tool IMHO. Some people on here act as if they are a must have, I must be using them wrong as I don't agree.

 

[KMinAF]

Positioning an engine when installing, all kinds of suspension work, levering heavy wheels into place, positioning heavy equipment in the shop, holding exhaust manifolds out of the way, removing oil seals, changing tires, opening damaged doors, digging a hole (my kids did that) hood prop, scraping grease and gunk off of a really old transmission, used it as a semi straight edge to scribe a line, fan belt tension adjustment, metal integrity tester i.e if I can push it through the panel its too rusty to weld, drain grate remover, drain cleaner, fly swatter (fly lived but it scared the **** out of the other worker) trunk spring torsion bar installer, seat frame "alignment" tool, temporary shelf support, radiator hose remover the uses are truly endless.

 

[Askme42]

You will find all kinds of uses for them. And likely save many a screwdriver from being bent or broken if you own a set of prybars.

This. Pry bars are meant for jobs that many flat screwdrivers get used for.

 

[Askme42]

I use one to open my wallet.

Coach

You mean your wife uses one to open your wallet?

 

[Exceller8]

At work, mostly for forcing open doors that are locked/fortified.

 

[stearn786]

I use mine for almost all of the things already listed, but here in NY it's also really necessary to have at least a 3 foot bar for removing wheels. Aluminum or steel rims corrode from the salt and become seized to the hub face. I've needed a 4 footer and a hammer from time to time on pickup trucks.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I use one to open my wallet.

Coach

I use one to pry the wife's legs apart....

 

[mailpup]

Besides what has been mentioned already, I use one for popping out drive axles from front wheel drive transmissions.

 

[J.A.Varela]

Pretty much most things I don't want to beat off with a hammer. I just cut some gussets out with a cutoff disc but couldn't get that last 1/4 inch of weld at the corner.A 25 inch bar. " TINK". DONE.
It was 3/32 iron welded to 1/8 wall 2 x 2. My 32 OZ ball peen woulda bent the hell out of it and made a mess. I buffered the tube with a piece of wood so as not to dent it with the bar.
Dis-assembly too. Taking off a valve cover, timing cover, oil plan, aligning a fender, separating a bell housing. Man. I couldn't live without them.
http://tools-from-germany.com/en/HA...-Workshop-Tools/Pry-Bars/HAZET-2166-3-Pry-Bar

 

[AndeiH]

I just used one today to remove a driveshaft. I couldn't push it forward by hand but a 12" prybar made it easy. I could have used a flat head screwdriver but I didn't .

 

[chipper]

I scare my kids with mine....don't make me get my prybar!!!! J/k you'll know when you need them ...I like to use them to free stuck windows in my house

 

[mires]

Glad I picked up my set after all the uses you guys described. I figured this thread would get plenty of responses as I know you guys love your pry bars. I can easily see it being one of those tools you never knew you needed but not being able to live without now that I have them.

 

[Lance-AR]

Raising up an alternator to free it from the hanger bolt.

 

[danski0224]

It seems like everybody here has pry bars and I'm sure they come in handy but just how often do you use them and for what jobs exactly?

I use prybars after I break a screwdriver...

 

[Farmall450]

Ever put on your lawnmower deck?

That and lining things up or breaking things free

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Just used mine today to move my alternator in place while I tightened the belt.

This....best tool for this job. A 36er and hardly any pushing force and you are good to go.

 

[Engine]

Another use for it is to help in rotating your tires. It makes it easier on your back to lay the pry bar on the ground, roll the tire up onto it, and lift it up to the wheel studs instead of just picking it up the hard way. You'll find lots of good uses on the car and home too.

 

[MagnumForce]

Use them to move machinery or other heavy stuff into final locations. Pulleys, sticky dies, etc, a ton of uses in an industrial setting.

 

[devoncoolman]

Prying mostly. My 24". Pry bar is probably one of my most used tools. Cant work with out them.

 

[burke753]

I use my 8" pry bar for pulling charge air hoses and radiator hoses, 24" is handy for lining up parts, I use it to turn engines over, lifting heavy parts, and brake jobs. and then I use my 36" for breaking things, lifting truck tires back on.


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[slip knot]

I used to keep a 24" behind the seat, to help lever some sense into someones head. Got a CCL so I put the prybar back in the toolbox.

 

[Supe]

I use one to pry the wife's legs apart....

You're doing it wrong.

Anyone use a Gearwrench adjustable/index head prybar? I want to get one of those along with the straight tip Mayhew Dominator set.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015015H6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Project_shadow]

My 24" for tightening my v belts on the truck, lifting the tires, popping the drums off, pressing the calipers back in
Mostly general maintenance while in school
Just about anything when home

 

[monomach]

Every day for suspension work. Can't do anything with control arms or leaf springs without pry bars, that's for sure.

 

[rcjoy]

Removing hub caps.

 

[General Geoff]

Prying loaded calipers off worn brake rotors. pulling control arms and motor mounts out of mounting points. Positioning alternators and other accessories on older tensioner systems. I use them almost every time i have a car off the ground.

 

[redwrench60]

You use a prybar any time shits' happy where it's at. Until I perfect my Jedi mind tricks to separate parts I'll just have to use leverage and violence.