Breaker bar comparison

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

"Made in _____"? - Taiwanese tools are an excellent alternative.

Very generally speaking, that's true. Tekton, Gearwrench, and other Tiawan lines are comparable to the old USA Craftsman. Also, the Carlyle stuff sold at NAPA is good Tiawan stuff.

If I were building a set today, instead of going to Sears, I'd probably start here:
https://www.tekton.com/

What I like about them is no skips in their wrench or socket sets. I did recently pick up a set of their 1/2" drive 6 point standard metric sockets...I'd say very well made. One feature I really likes was sizes stamped in large and legible..none of that easy to wear off Laser marking..

[yellowperil]

Can you guess what it was meant to be?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Right, because regular people just have pipes lying around their house. The pipe probably costs more than the $16 tool

https://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Plumber-s-Choice-1-in-x-48-in-Galvanized-Steel-Pipe-1048PGL/307816937

I bet more then 80% of us have a pipe hanging around the house somewhere. I normally use a 2' bar. That will almost break anything I need.

[island911]

Funny, I thought this thread was going to be some fantastic pool break at a bar in Oregon.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by island911

Funny, I thought this thread was going to be some fantastic pool break at a bar in Oregon.

Here's how it used to be done...today, not nearly as exciting. Speed has been toned down with the advent of the template racks. Today, wing ball goes in the corner over 90% of the time with a much lower speed than Johnny does it. I miss the old "smash 'em" break shot days.. (1:24 video)



On breaker bars...do wish an old USA Craftsman was added to the opening video. It's head design looks stronger than the ones tested.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by look 171

3/4" steel pipe, my friend. Its crude, rough, and a little rust on it but it does the trick very well. I have 2-4 foot pipes hanging sround my job site all the time but I almost never need one

+1
I have a very short 1/2 inch breaker and a 4' section of "black pipe" (used for gas).
Works like a charm.

[Nickshu]

I bought one of these. Has not failed me yet. Extendable feature is awesome...if in a tighter space it can be collapsed to fit...need more advantage just extend it out.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-2-in-Drive-x-18-in-to-24-in-Extendable-Breaker-Bar-H12EXTBB1824/311856673

I also have an OLD Craftsman breaker bar and a long pipe. Agree w/ above comments it's un-killable.

But using an impact wrench is way easier.

[sugarwood]

For all those smugly bragging about using a pipe, what are you using for the socket?
A breaker bar is NOT just a ratchet with a long handle.
A breaker bar is not a ratchet, but a solid joint.

Long pipe is a great way to trash your ratchet.

[KFC911]

^^^^ Typical Sugar post .... you assume a lot !

I don't use a pipe extension on a ratchet ... it extends an older short Craftsman breaker bar fwiw.

I also have an Ingersol-Rand impact with around 800 ft/lbs of torque for removal. It broke the cross member motor mount on my Carrera and the bolt didn't budge years ago. John Walker suggested I use a 3' bar/pipe .... and that worked great.... leverage sometimes beats an impact .

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ Typical Sugar post .... you assume a lot !
I don't use a pipe extension on a ratchet ... it extends an older short Craftsman breaker bar fwiw..

+1 LOL.
Troll is as Troll does.
That's why I said "a very short breaker" (and I use an impact socket as well).

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by look 171

I bet more then 80% of us have a pipe hanging around the house somewhere. I normally use a 2' bar. That will almost break anything I need.

He obviously doesn't own a floor jack- (or the car to jack up for that matter-right Sugar?).

rjp

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

He obviously doesn't own a floor jack- (or the car to jack up for that matter-right Sugar?).

rjp

Haha!

I use a 3 foot galvanized pipe, but when I use it, I start with it all the way down to the socket and move out as needed.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Haha!

I use a 3 foot galvanized pipe, but when I use it by start with it all the way down to the socket and move out as needed.

Hell, I've used even a big combination wrench!

Anything when you're beat up and sick of fighting the car- oh and yes, even on a RATCHET!

We're all still here, right? World didn't end.

rjp

[pwd72s]

Another way to get more leverage...think I might buy one of these, though unlikely I'll ever need it.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Very generally speaking, that's true. Tekton, Gearwrench, and other Tiawan lines are comparable to the old USA Craftsman. Also, the Carlyle stuff sold at NAPA is good Tiawan stuff.

If I were building a set today, instead of going to Sears, I'd probably start here:
https://www.tekton.com/

What I like about them is no skips in their wrench or socket sets. I did recently pick up a set of their 1/2" drive 6 point standard metric sockets...I'd say very well made. One feature I really likes was sizes stamped in large and legible..none of that easy to wear off Laser marking..

I like that they have metric only sets, with much larger size range than the metric+inch sets.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ Typical Sugar post .... you assume a lot !

I don't use a pipe extension on a ratchet ... it extends an older short Craftsman breaker bar fwiw.

I also have an Ingersol-Rand impact with around 800 ft/lbs of torque for removal. It broke the cross member motor mount on my Carrera and the bolt didn't budge years ago. John Walker suggested I use a 3' bar/pipe .... and that worked great.... leverage sometimes beats an impact .

Way back in the stone ages when I was not even driving yet dad had a flat on our 1959 VW bug. The lug bolts had not been off of it in many years. We were living in Hawaii, on base at Hickam AFB and it likely never got about 35 MPH. Anyway he had a flat, and asked my brother and I to remove the tire and put on the spare.

It was the right rear tire, and we found a long piece of pipe, and we had three kids bouncing on the pipe to get it to come off. It got to the point that the front end was coming up in the air. So he had some kids standing on the front bumper, and 4 kids bouncing on the long pipe. The bolt finally came loose with a horrid shriek. The other bolts came off easily in comparison. He had to buy a new recap tire as the sidewall had split on the old one. It cost him 5 bucks for a tire, mounted and balanced.

All the tires had dry rot but when 35 MPH is max speed it is not real dangerous.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by jyl

I like that they have metric only sets, with much larger size range than the metric+inch sets.

With the USA car & truck makers having gone metric...yep, my old SAE wrenches & sockets aren't used much anymore. On the youtube tool reviews, the Tekton tools lineup gets generally favorable reviews. I do take these reviews with a grain of salt though. Many are mere sales pitches. I can say that I like the Tekton socket set I bought..very well finished and they fit fasteners well. Haven't rounded off anything yet. I'd say quality wise they're upper end in the DIYer category. Absolutely love the rails & storage tray...can lock & unlock the sockets on with a twist, or can leave 'em all unlocked for easy lift if leaving in a rollaway drawer. That system beats the hell out of my old Craftsman clip rails...

Comparable to Snap-on? Maybe not in severe professional use...but I shudder to think how much a comparable snap-on set would cost.

https://www.tekton.com/1-2-inch-drive-6-point-socket-set-shd92002

[unclebilly]

I work in the oil patch. We put chain come alongs between 2 36” pipe wrenches to make and break tool connections. It’s what we do. 600-1200 ft-lbs is pretty normal depending on the thread type.

I actually broke a chain vice this morning trying to get a connection undone using a 36” pipe wrench with a 5’ snipe on it.

[GH85Carrera]

My brother in law worked at just one job from high school graduation for 50 years when he retired.

He repaired heavy equipment like bulldozers, front end loaders and such that was owned by the same company he worked for. He had some massive tools at work. Different order of magnitude level of big torque wrenches and tools. He said they had the same issues as car mechanics, when taking apart mechanical parts. The biggest difference is they need a overhead crane to move parts around.

He did not work on his own cars at all and has minimal tools at home.

[rusnak]

My breaker bar comparison. The two on the right are from Wright Tool.
The left are Harbor Freight Icon, and Gedore Germany.