One-of-A-Kind
Credit: Photo: David Sharpe
Opening the Artillery Pry Bar System case on the job, I felt like a secret agent. My target: horse-hair plaster, two layers of linoleum, hardboard siding, a section of roof framing, and a bunch of studs.
But first, a little back story: Joe Skach wasn't satisfied with the tools he had available to remove siding, so he put his 25 years of experience as a toolmaker to work and came up with his own pry bar system that is like nothing else out there. Instead of a single tool that's adequate for a number of tasks or a bunch of job-specific tools, the Artillery Pry Bar System is a collection of handles, extensions, fulcrums, and blades that you can arrange to target each demolition task with pinpoint focus, including 3/4-inch, 1-3/4-inch, 3-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, and spike-puller blades –more than enough to meet the needs of most users.
I tried the 8-inch-wide blade mounted to the standard fulcrum, regular 27-inch handle, and the 15-inch extension to rip roof shingles. The regular handle and fulcrum with 6-inch blade worked great on sidewall shingles and exterior trim. The mini fulcrum and the short handle popped out doorframes and pulled nails out of rafters and studs quickly. And with the 90-degree decking fulcrum and fulcrum extensions, I ripped off decking without bending over. The only thing lacking here is a cat's paw–like nail-pulling blade, but that's one of the additions to the system Skach is thinking about. I don't think it will be long before he has a blade, fulcrum, and handle for every possible deconstruction task in the book.
–Mike Guertin
Sources of Supply
Artillery Tool
Artillery Pry Bar System: $295–$350, depending on options
503-968-2108 www.artillerytools.com
Dalluge
4420 (24"): $30
Tri-Claw 4000: $25
815-648-2446 www.vaughanmfg.com
Demo Dawg
Big Dawg (30"): $60
888-363-3697 www.demodawg.com
Estwing
ProClaw PryMaster RSC: $21
ProClaw PC 300: $18
815-397-9558 www.estwing.com
Forrester Mfg.
Duckbill Deck Wrecker
(DW-1): $60
866-256-4499 www.deckwrecker.com
Fulton Corp.
The Wrecker (36", TW36WB): $30
800-252-0002 www.fultoncorp.com
Great Neck Saw Mfrs.
WR30 Wrecking Bar (30"): $12
516-746-5352www.greatnecksaw.com
Innovative Products of America
Indexing Pry Bar (20", 007879): $55
888-786-7899 www.ipatools.com
Stanley
Fubar: $40
800-782-6539 www.stanleyworks.com
Stiletto Tool Co.
Clawbar With Dimpler: $84
800-987-1849 www.stilettotools.com
The Gutster
Gutster Demo-Bar: $70
732-868-8303 www.thegutster.com
Vaughan & Bushnell
Superbar (15", B215): $10
Ripping Bar (18", RB18): $15
Superbar XL (21", B215L): $12
Bear Claw Scraper Bar
(9-3/4", BC/SB10): $13
Mini Bar (5-1/2", 222): $4
815-648-2446 www.vaughanmfg.com