3/4" Breaker Bar

[Kernal]

Just picked up a Great Neck brand 3/4" breaker bar from Autozone for $49 +tax, only took a day for it to ship in from their warehouse. Quality looks OK, made in Taiwan. They say it's a 39" bar but actually it's only 36 1/2" measured from the center of the drive head/pivot point to the end of the handle. I did find another 3/4" breaker bar at a Grainger store that was thicker overall and at least 3-4 inches longer, guessing maybe 3 lbs heavier also, but it listed for $104. Ditto for O'Reilly's, their Titan brand 40" breaker bar was also $104.

The 3/4" drive bar is at top. For comparison there's a 1/2" drive bar 24" long and a 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet 10" long.

 

[-Spike-]

You could have had a 3/4" socket set with breaker bar and ratchet for that or less at Harbor Freight. Don't give me any jaw about Great Neck being better quality either. I think my breaker bar is only 24" though.

EDIT- only 18" 21 Piece Metric 3/4" Jumbo Heavy Duty Socket Set But my Hi-Lift handle is ~40"

 

[Kernal]

Spike: HF didn't have any 3/4" drive breaker bars in stock when I went to the store and they told me they couldn't order any?? That's where I got the 1/2" drive 24" bar in the photo; $11.99 on sale. Side-by-side it looks like it could have been made in the same factory as the 3/4" Great Neck. I saw the set you mentioned but wanted impact sockets and a longer breaker bar, so got the 8 piece metric impact set of Pittsburgh 3/4" sockets (26-38mm) for $27.99 on sale. While searching for a 3/4" breaker bar I found a real pos 18" long bar at Tractor Supply; it was dangerously bad quality so I passed.


8 Piece 3/4" Drive Metric Impact Socket Set

 

[-Spike-]

The 3/4" breaker bar HF shows on their site is short, same as the one in that socket kit, kinda pointless.

 

[fj40charles]

Why you need a break over that long? I got a 3/4" Proto break over I can add a cheater bar if needed.

 

[-Spike-]

You can always add a cheater bar, but the whole point of a breaker bar IMO is to break difficult bolts/nuts. Length is nice for that, cheater bars add complication and danger.

 

[Kernal]

What Spike said. Last year I could have accidentally killed myself and did seriously wound my rig when I was using a couple of pieces of wood to get more height out of my floor jack. The lesson I learned from that is to always use the right tool (in good condition) for the job. Also have read how 1/2" breaker bars have snapped when too much sudden torque was applied to them. Didn't like the thought of a piece of steel stuck in my chest. I even considered getting a 1" drive breaker bar (1800 ft-lbs rating vs 750-1000 ft-lbs for the 3/4" drive bar).

I figure a longer bar is a good back-up when the power goes out (no air from the compressor) or when the cordless impact batteries run dry, and you need to remove a large fastener, lug nuts, etc, or just when as in my case you don't want to remove the radiator just to remove a crank bolt.

 

[fj40charles]

What Spike said. Last year I could have accidentally killed myself and did seriously wound my rig when I was using a couple of pieces of wood to get more height out of my floor jack. The lesson I learned from that is to always use the right tool (in good condition) for the job. Also have read how 1/2" breaker bars have snapped when too much sudden torque was applied to them. Didn't like the thought of a piece of steel stuck in my chest. I even considered getting a 1" drive breaker bar (1800 ft-lbs rating vs 750-1000 ft-lbs for the 3/4" drive bar).

I figure a longer bar is a good back-up when the power goes out (no air from the compressor) or when the cordless impact batteries run dry, and you need to remove a large fastener, lug nuts, etc, or just when as in my case you don't want to remove the radiator just to remove a crank bolt.

I think if you wanted to reduce the chance of tool breaking, you'd want to buy quality made tools from the USA. The rating you mention IMHO are questionable when you buy imported tools.

If I used a cheater bar, it would be on my 3/4" Proto Break Over. Even my Snap on 24" 1/2" break over will flex when applying lots of leverage without a cheater.

 

[Kernal]

I couldn't find a 40 inch 3/4" drive breaker bar made in the US, but did find a 24 inch 3/4" drive breaker bar made by Wright Tool which is a US made product; price was $79. It did appear to be high quality.

I agree totally, no way to know if the metal was heat treated properly, too brittle, etc. Only thing is the Great Neck bar was made in Taiwan, so probably better quality control than mainland China, just a guess though. If I were a rich man I'd buy $30,000 worth of Snap On tools off the truck, but that's not happening soon.

 

[craptabulous]

I couldn't find a 40 inch 3/4" drive breaker bar made in the US, but did find a 24 inch 3/4" drive breaker bar made by Wright Tool which is a US made product; price was $79. It did appear to be high quality.

I agree totally, no way to know if the metal was heat treated properly, too brittle, etc. Only thing is the Great Neck bar was made in Taiwan, so probably better quality control than mainland China, just a guess though. If I were a rich man I'd buy $30,000 worth of Snap On tools off the truck, but that's not happening soon.

actually the snap on 3/4 set is only 3300$

i bought mine with a full set of deep sockets shallow sockets from 7/8-2 . breaker bar , ratchet , spinner , t handle , 3 extensions and a 3/4 - 1/2 adapter . all the sockets lock to the ratchet or extensions or breaker bar with there fancy little socket locks .

however i use mine every single day at work . i have a 4 ' handle for my set as well as a 2' i paid 500$ for it all used .

 

[Kernal]

Snap On tools are for sure high quality, I would love to own some. I scan fleabay now and then for used Snap On stuff but it's hard to know exactly what you'll get in the mail if you win a bid. Went out and bought another Pittsburgh Pro brand breaker bar from Harbor Freight, this time a 3/8 drive about 18 inches long for $19. Looks to me like they are making better quality than before, but still not close to Snap On.

 

[EUROTECH1986535]

Snap On tools are for sure high quality, I would love to own some. I scan fleabay now and then for used Snap On stuff but it's hard to know exactly what you'll get in the mail if you win a bid. Went out and bought another Pittsburgh Pro brand breaker bar from Harbor Freight, this time a 3/8 drive about 18 inches long for $19. Looks to me like they are making better quality than before, but still not close to Snap On.

snapon aint what it used to be i break them too but i have been told i am a brute