Craftsman Ultra Bar

R

RickJ

Joined
Mar 2, 2003
Messages
3,381
I picked up the little pry bar from Sears today called the Ultra Bar, anybody have one in there Urban Survival Kit?
 
That looks like good kit, but I went with the smallest Stanley Fubar. My reasoning was that a hammer comes in handy and of all the demolitioin hammers I could find it was the best for actually using as a hammer, with the exception of the Stiletto TiBar, which is way out of my price range. The other hammers I tried, the larger Fubars and the Dead On Annihalator (although the Annihalator also has a primitive axe built in, but I'm willing most people on this forum are probably covered in the chopper department), were too unwieldy for me to use effectively as a hammer. This is a pretty versatile tool and can be had for around $20.
 
No but if you go to sears/craftsman's website you can see it, all it is is a small pry bar, for about $4.99 and made in the U.S.A.
 
Thanx. I know that little rascal, I just did not recognize the model name.
 
kage said:
...and the Dead On Annihalator (although the Annihalator also has a primitive axe built in, but I'm willing most people on this forum are probably covered in the chopper department), were too unwieldy for me to use effectively as a hammer. ...
Click to expand...

I just wanted to mention that the annihalator may be dangerously flawed.

Here is a video of one being tested, and even though the testing is tongue in cheek, the hammer fails miserably at the 4 minute mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylQQj1bH-yY

Perhaps some of our knife makers can chime in and comment in that ugly fracture. To me it looks more like cast metal then a forged tool. There are also other failure reports from people who report similar cracks and failures after just a few minutes of use. I have broken a few tools before, but I don't think I recall having anything break like the thing on this video - this thing fractured like glass.

n2s
 
I like the Estwing I-beam pry bar. Very light, very stiff, and thin edges for getting into narrow cracks. :)
 
not2sharp said:
I just wanted to mention that the annihalator may be dangerously flawed.

Here is a video of one being tested, and even though the testing is tongue in cheek, the hammer fails miserably at the 4 minute mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylQQj1bH-yY

Perhaps some of our knife makers can chime in and comment in that ugly fracture. To me it looks more like cast metal then a forged tool. There are also other failure reports from people who report similar cracks and failures after just a few minutes of use. I have broken a few tools before, but I don't think I recall having anything break like the thing on this video - this thing fractured like glass.

n2s
Click to expand...

Was just reading a customer review of this on a rather large site they are sold on and the guy mentioned a similar problem with another part of the tool under reasonably expected circumstances in construction. Looks like a case of a good idea with some bad execution maybe? I have had similar things happen with ripping bars in the past when using them to pry with.
 
I'm afraid that Craftsman isn't going to pry much, basically being a glorified paint can opener. A cat's paw, or <$10 nail puller will handle a lot heavier work.
I especially like Estwing's 18" "I-Beam Construction Pry Bar", but it's, well, 18" long.
Found a pic I've posted before for a little size reference. The Knipex Cobras are the 7 and 10", so you can see that nail puller isn't that compact, either, but they do make smaller ones:
imgp1557d.jpg
 
Haven't seen the Craftsman in person but it looks just like the normal Stanley pry-bar, I did look at the Stanley Fubar but fortunately for me the Estwing I-beam prybar was right next to it and aside from hammering.... the Estwing outperforms it. I'm talking about construction, 2x4's etc. but for "breaching", defense, etc. I really like the Estwing and it's lighter too.... but not too light.


Eli
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I like the Estwing I-beam pry bar. Very light, very stiff, and thin edges for getting into narrow cracks. :)
Click to expand...
Agreed!!!

I wrapped a portion of the handle with rubber electrical tape as it tends to vibrate a bit when you force things apart with a hammer over 22ozs.
 
On a sort of related note, I found an old Stanley USA-made gooseneck bar just yesterday in the chicken run. It was buried in the mud near where the sump pump water drains--I think that all the rain we've had lately eroded the clay around it. It was totally orange with rust but after a good scraping, hand sanding with 40 grit paper, a rust eraser, and steel wool I got it nice and cleaned up. Lots of small pits in it but it's got plenty of life in it yet. Had some mushrooming on the gooseneck from hammering, but I filed it back down. :):thumbup:
 
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