What is a standard wrecking bar?

13th August 2021


What is a standard wrecking bar?


	Shop for Wrecking Bars


		The standard wrecking bar is the most recognisable and widespread type, and uses a traditional design incorporating one bent claw, which provides an inbuilt fulcrum, and a straight end featuring either a chisel edge or second claw.

		Because of its bent or ‘hooked’ profile, this type of wrecking bar is sometimes called a ‘gooseneck’ or ‘swan neck’ bar.

		A standard wrecking bar always features a bent claw with a nail slot, but does not always feature a nail slot at the straight end. A chisel edge does not feature a nail slot, and is therefore unsuitable for lifting nails – a straight end with a chisel edge is better suited to lifting, levering and breaking.

		Where a straight claw is featured, a nail puller is usually incorporated in addition to the extra nail slot, making the bar more versatile as de-nailing tool.

		What standard wrecking bar sizes are available?
		Standard wrecking bars are available in a wide range of lengths from 300-900mm (12-36in), and weights from 380-3000g (13-105oz).

		For comparison, this means that the lightest standard wrecking bar available weighs slightly more than an ordinary can of lemonade …

		… while the heaviest weighs as much as a 3 litre (5 pint) bottle of lemonade.

		Following Archimedes’ ‘Law of the Lever’, we know that the longer the bar, the better the leverage. Therefore, a longer bar is best suited to lifting heavier and larger objects, while a shorter bar will offer the user more control and precision.

		What standard wrecking bar shafts are available?
		The shaft of a standard wrecking bar may be round, hexagonal, octagonal or flat. When choosing which shaft is right for you, these are some of the points you might want to consider:

		What task will you be using your bar for? Heavy-duty tasks For heavy-duty lifting, breaking and demolition tasks, the best type of shaft is one which is thick and flat.

		A thick, flat bar has greater structural strength than other shafts when force is applied along the narrow edge – similarly to the way that a ruler resists bending when force is applied to the edge, rather than the top or underside.

		The weakest of the shafts available is the thin version of the flat shaft, which should not be used for heavy-duty tasks under any circumstances; thin, flat wrecking bars are designed for light lifting, prying and nail pulling only.

		Tight spaces A flat shaft is also best if your task will require you to penetrate tight spaces with your bar. A round, hexagonal or octagonal bar is thicker than a flat bar; therefore, it is easier to penetrate tight spaces, such as the gaps between tightly fastened objects, with a flat bar.

		Precision or care required If it is important that the materials you are lifting or prying with your wrecking bar are not damaged in the process (such as if you will be reclaiming them), the best shaft to opt for is one which distributes the force input over as wide an area as possible.

		In simple terms, this is because the weight of the ‘load’ (the object being worked) will be distributed across the entire surface width of the bar, meaning that the force required to lift or move it is not concentrated on one point. The same principle allows a person to lie on a bed of nails without being hurt, whereas sitting on just one nail would be very painful!

		Due to its width, the flat shaft is best for distributing force over a wide surface area, and carries the least risk of damage to the materials being worked.

		Which type of shaft is most comfortable to hold? Comfort may vary depending on user preference. The only way to guarantee that you pick the shaft which you find the most comfortable to hold is to pick one up and try it for yourself!

		If you don’t have this option, however, it is likely that the most comfortable to hold will be the round, hexagonal and octagonal shafts, with hexagonal and octagonal shafts being easier to grip in wet and slippery conditions. As a general rule, rounded objects fit more comfortably in the hand than square or rectangular objects will.

		The least comfortable to hold is likely to be the flat shaft.

		Which type of shaft is the cheapest? As the metal stock that bars are made of usually comes in round or hexagonal bars, tools with round or hexagonal shafts are inexpensive to produce; and therefore cheaper to buy!

		Though metal stock is available in octagonal bars, these are less widespread and may be more expensive to source than round or hexagonal bars, increasing the cost of manufacture and, as a result, the price of the tool.

		Flat shafts are the most expensive available, as they must be forged into the correct shape, increasing production time and cost, and, therefore, the price.



			What are standard wrecking bars made of?
			Alloy steel

			High quality carbon steel

			High alloy boron steel

			Spring steel

			For more information on each of these materials, refer to our earlier page: What are bars made of?