Bars

About Bars

Bars are essential lever tools that belong in every tradesperson's toolkit and prove invaluable for DIY enthusiasts tackling demanding projects. These robust implements harness the mechanical advantage of leverage to multiply force, making challenging tasks like lifting heavy objects, prying apart materials, demolishing structures, and extracting stubborn fixings remarkably manageable. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks a comprehensive range encompassing crow bars, digging bars, lifting bars, nail bars, pry bars, and wrecking bars—each engineered for specific applications and built to withstand tremendous forces whilst providing precise control.

Manufactured from hardened, drop-forged steel by trusted brands including Stanley, Faithfull, and Roughneck, these professional-grade tools deliver the durability and reliability that tradespeople demand from daily site work. Whether you're stripping out old structures, breaking compacted ground, removing floorboards, or tackling home renovation projects, selecting the appropriate bar ensures efficiency, safety, and professional results that stand the test of time.

Applications

Bars are indispensable tools across numerous trades and applications:

• Demolition Contractors - stripping out interiors, removing fixtures, and breaking down structures
• Builders and General Tradesmen - site clearance, formwork removal, and construction tasks
• Groundworkers and Landscapers - breaking compacted ground, lifting paving slabs, and excavation work
• Carpenters and Joiners - removing skirting boards, lifting floorboards, and extracting nails
• Roofers - lifting materials, removing old tiles and battens
• Maintenance Engineers - accessing machinery, removing panels, and facilities maintenance
• DIY Enthusiasts - home renovation, garden projects, and property maintenance
• Salvage Specialists - carefully extracting architectural features and materials

Choosing The Right Bars

Application and Task Type: Identify your primary use. Demolition work demands robust wrecking bars, whilst precision carpentry benefits from smaller nail bars. Groundwork requires purpose-built digging bars with pointed ends, and lifting applications need bars with appropriate leverage ratios.

Length and Leverage: Bar length directly affects leverage and portability. Longer bars (900mm-1800mm) provide maximum mechanical advantage for heavy-duty tasks but can be unwieldy in confined spaces. Shorter bars (250mm-600mm) offer manoeuvrability for detailed work.

Material and Construction: Professional-grade bars feature drop-forged, heat-treated steel for superior strength. Chrome vanadium or carbon steel construction ensures resistance to bending under extreme loads. Look for painted or powder-coated finishes to prevent corrosion.

End Configurations: Different end designs suit specific tasks. Chisel points penetrate tight gaps, curved ends provide better leverage, forked claws extract nails efficiently, and flat ends are ideal for prying between materials.

Safety Information

Always wear safety glasses to protect against flying debris during demolition work, and heavy-duty work gloves to prevent splinters whilst improving grip. Position yourself to push or pull away from your body, maintaining a stable stance with feet shoulder-width apart. Inspect the work area for hidden services including electrical cables, gas pipes, and water mains before prying or demolition work. Examine bars before use for cracks, bends, or mushrooming which could cause metal fragments to break free. Apply steady, controlled pressure rather than sudden jerking movements, and never position hands or feet under suspended loads when using bars for lifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a crow bar and a wrecking bar?
Crow bars typically feature a straighter design with a flattened prying end and forked claw, making them versatile for general prying and nail extraction. Wrecking bars are heavier-duty with more aggressive curves, specifically engineered for demolition work with greater leverage and more robust construction to withstand extreme forces.

What length bar do I need for general DIY work?
For most DIY applications, a 600mm-900mm crow bar or wrecking bar provides excellent balance between leverage and manoeuvrability. This length handles typical tasks like removing skirting boards and lifting floorboards whilst remaining manageable in domestic settings. MyToolShed.co.uk recommends adding a smaller 300mm pry bar for precision work in tight spaces.

How do I prevent damaging surfaces when using a pry bar?
Place scrap wood, plywood, or protective material between the bar and the surface to distribute force over a wider area and prevent marking. This is particularly important with finished surfaces or materials you intend to preserve, and also provides a more stable fulcrum point for improved leverage.