Johnson Bar, or Pry Truck

How to move five tons



The "Johnson bar" (also known as pry truck, pry bar, mule, or wheeled steel lever) is a tool that solves those problems, and it has a host of other uses which you will discover. The pry truck is a miracle of simplicity and unbelievable strength. Moving a 1500 pound (680kg) lathe is child's play with one of these levers, and I have moved multi-ton steel shipping containers (empty) with them. With two levers (and two people) almost any large object can be shifted and moved into position or onto more convenient conveyance (dollies, casters, or just onto steel pipe rollers.) Given two people, some time, and some shims, one can get large objects raised off the floor enough to slide a palette under with a palette jack or dollies. While it seems like this should remain in the realm of "industrial moving".


Oak Lever Dollies
5,000 lbs.
$150-$200
Available from
Gilmore-Kramer Company
Steel PryLeverBar
6-foot
$175
Available from
US Cargo Tools
Posted on July 10, 2006 at 05:00 AM | +del.icio.us +digg +reddit

Parallel Jaws Pliers

Tight gripper






They excel at crimping and grasping near the tips since they apply uniform pressure across the whole face. Since the jaw faces stay parallel, these pliers may be used in a pinch to hold or turn a small fastener without deforming its face. A small groove running down the center length of one jaw lets you use these pliers to tension cable or wire, and many models come with an effective wire cutter on the side.

This robust spring-loaded pair of Shimano pliers is made for fishermen. Parallel-jaw pliers are also apparently used by jewellers and tennis-racket stringers among others.

Shimano Blue Water Pliers
$30
Available from Tackle To Go

Jeweler's Parallel Action Pliers
$22
Availble from Shor International

Parallel Jaws Pliers
$25
Available from Tennis Warehouse