That's a killer hack. I have the HF 25' breaker bar and it is very strong and it saved my butt removing a stubborn 22mm strut bolt. I paid $15 for mine and it was just on sale for like 17 bucks.
According to someone on the FB tool groups the Crescent 1/2" Drive Flex Handle/Breaker Bar 18" - CRW16N is a direct swap no drilling or modification other than swapping heads as both tools are manufactured by Apex. Ordered my crescent bar and used my student account in Matco to get the head for 20$ shipped, hoping it goes well
I ordered Gearwrench breaker bars cause they are Apex as well. The forks aren’t long enough for the Marco head, I think the indexing teeth make it larger. So it’s doable but would need to grind down the U so the bolt can line up. Did the crescent bar work? I figured it would be same as Gearwrench but I guess not.
Matco heads are $120 now, because everyone and their mother had to post this all over the place. The reason they were originally $36 is assuming you had the OG tool from them. Well, I got 3 before that price increase, so I guess WARRANTY, the 3/8ths fits right on the HF ratcheting breaker bar which is around $20. I added one little rubber gasket from home depot just to keep the flex head extra tight. It's really nice actuality, 18"
I don't feel too bad for taking advantage of my MatCo guy. He's an asshole. Plus just like Harbor Freight, MatCo doesn't actually manufacture any of their tools. They're basically selling a lot of Astro Pneumatic and Sunex tools at 400% mark up and rebranding it. 😅😅
I think everything except the ratchets it’s sourced somewhere else. Wrenches are from Taiwan. The ratcheting are from Kabo and the icon at harbor freight are as well, basically identical. The Marco ratchets they claim are still made in US
I don't get how matco sells the ratchet head for under $40 but if ya buy a complete ratchet it's almost $300. Wouldn't think the handle would cost that much money.
They eat the overhead on replacement heads in the Initial sale. Videos like this will push Matco to require proof of purchase to buy replacement heads...
Got mine drilled out 25/64 bit same diameter as the bolt used a vice, went slow hole is completely straight. Bolt fits perfectly, but….. since the the bolt fits perfectly it’s loose and flops around. My thought is that since you did it by hand there was probably some variation and angle when drilling cause I noticed you had to get the threads started and really tighten the bolt to get it to pull through the head… that’s why yours is so in there so firm which is actually a good thing. Now I have to figure out how to use the spring to achieve tension…
Ok so i tried it this weekend and failed.. i thought i needed a 23/64 bit, but its a 25/64 i guess! So im going to try to find the exact bit that you have in this video because the Bosch cobalt WILL NOT drill out this hard material! I tried on my big Craftsman floor model, Wen benchtop drill press and my Milwaukee Fuel drills... nothing!! It just ate the tips of the spirals up!
I like your ingenuity, if you hadn’t had to drill it out and things fit a little cleaner I would say that’s a win. However i feel like you would have been just as well off buying a cheaper ratchet brand. I have a pretty nice PowerBuilt 25” flex head 1/2” drive that was $50 on zoro with a coupon. I also have a Diehard 1/2” from Advance Auto for $35, and the best overall by far is Tekton, you can get a 25” straight and 15” flex for about $75 for both
And, now I need to go buy another breaker bar. Trying to find a good 3/8 with a thinner steel handle, so I can put a Snap-On handle. There's another video showing the amount of bits a guy went through, that was brutal, it got very hot, the best bits to use are glass and tile/masonry hf is fine. I'm looking at carslyle and gw for a good 3/8" , I'm not crazy about the 3/8th hf options. Any ideas for a good 17"+ 3/8, thanks..(*to drill through for a long ratchet) 🎉
Anybody know if the icon bar can do this too? You can get a longer handle that way. Just ordered my head. I have a fixed long handle matco 88 and it is by far my favorite.
I burnt out that Milwaukee bit going too fast. Just a warning. You’ll notice in the video he has his drill set to 1. Definitely take it slow and make sure you’re getting metal chips coming off
I seen this vid Thursday and got the head from my matco guy for 39 bucks after tax and got the breaker bar today for 24 bucks and made my i think i am going try it with the 3/8 one to just to see if it works
25/64!! I bought the 23/64 from Bosch because of the comment below and it is NOT the right size! You need a 25/64 and I'm buying the Milwaukee version because the Bosch cobalt is total trash!! Edit: if you pause it and look at the empty drill bit package you'll see the 25/64 size indicated on it.
25/64.. try the Milwaukee Hard Metal drill bits. Don't do what I did and try 3 others before it, as the Bosch cobalt drill bit wouldn't even eat the chrome off of it!
25/64.. it is not 23/64!! I wasted money on 3 bits before finding the Milwaukee Hard Metal drills and the Milwaukee ate thru it like butter! I love the ratchet too!
That's a killer hack. I have the HF 25' breaker bar and it is very strong and it saved my butt removing a stubborn 22mm strut bolt. I paid $15 for mine and it was just on sale for like 17 bucks.
According to someone on the FB tool groups the Crescent 1/2" Drive Flex Handle/Breaker Bar 18" - CRW16N is a direct swap no drilling or modification other than swapping heads as both tools are manufactured by Apex. Ordered my crescent bar and used my student account in Matco to get the head for 20$ shipped, hoping it goes well
Let us know how it goes.. I did the Pittsburgh bar and Matco 88 head, and I love it! That long handle is sooooo nice!
What happened? I have a new 3/8 matco head
I ordered Gearwrench breaker bars cause they are Apex as well. The forks aren’t long enough for the Marco head, I think the indexing teeth make it larger. So it’s doable but would need to grind down the U so the bolt can line up. Did the crescent bar work? I figured it would be same as Gearwrench but I guess not.
Matco heads are $120 now, because everyone and their mother had to post this all over the place. The reason they were originally $36 is assuming you had the OG tool from them. Well, I got 3 before that price increase, so I guess WARRANTY, the 3/8ths fits right on the HF ratcheting breaker bar which is around $20. I added one little rubber gasket from home depot just to keep the flex head extra tight. It's really nice actuality, 18"
@@bartman2468 harbor freight breaker bar and (Carslyle I think)
I did this build with a Pittsburgh flex head. I did a video on it. The hole setup was under $50 and I use it all the time.
I already have the Icon 25" bar, maybe should slap one of these Matcos on and have it ratchet, spare anvil in the drawer.
I did this last year & I rarely need it, but when I do it is super nice!
I don't feel too bad for taking advantage of my MatCo guy. He's an asshole.
Plus just like Harbor Freight, MatCo doesn't actually manufacture any of their tools. They're basically selling a lot of Astro Pneumatic and Sunex tools at 400% mark up and rebranding it. 😅😅
I think everything except the ratchets it’s sourced somewhere else. Wrenches are from Taiwan. The ratcheting are from Kabo and the icon at harbor freight are as well, basically identical. The Marco ratchets they claim are still made in US
I don't get how matco sells the ratchet head for under $40 but if ya buy a complete ratchet it's almost $300. Wouldn't think the handle would cost that much money.
They eat the overhead on replacement heads in the Initial sale. Videos like this will push Matco to require proof of purchase to buy replacement heads...
@justinoff1 but with a lifetime warranty on their ratchets they should never have to sell one to someone that already owns the ratchet.
@@towboatjeff lifetime warranty doesn't mean what you think it means. You can't warranty a ratchet you e used as a hammer or used a snype on
Got mine drilled out 25/64 bit same diameter as the bolt used a vice, went slow hole is completely straight. Bolt fits perfectly, but….. since the the bolt fits perfectly it’s loose and flops around. My thought is that since you did it by hand there was probably some variation and angle when drilling cause I noticed you had to get the threads started and really tighten the bolt to get it to pull through the head… that’s why yours is so in there so firm which is actually a good thing. Now I have to figure out how to use the spring to achieve tension…
This is just gold. I can’t believe Matco sells their ratchet head for $35 how many positions is that head? 72 or 88?
It’s an 88
@@thejunkyarddriftersheeesh nice
I did the same thing but with the Pittsburgh ratchet 1/2 inch head and it works great
Justin Dow did the same thing you did.
That is where I learned it from
Doesnt it have to drilled if you use the pittsburg ratchet head?
I see you edited out where you tore the crap out of the rubber shelf liner lol
Minor details 🤫
I like frankenstein tools like this. Good job
Great video, maybe you can switch out the comfort grip to a Matco, more comfortable. 👍
Great idea! I made one of these too, and I may try that!
Ok so i tried it this weekend and failed.. i thought i needed a 23/64 bit, but its a 25/64 i guess! So im going to try to find the exact bit that you have in this video because the Bosch cobalt WILL NOT drill out this hard material! I tried on my big Craftsman floor model, Wen benchtop drill press and my Milwaukee Fuel drills... nothing!! It just ate the tips of the spirals up!
Did you ever get it done? I had to sharpen my bit a couple times with a grinder
I just did this a few weeks ago. Best $40 ratchet ive had
I like your ingenuity, if you hadn’t had to drill it out and things fit a little cleaner I would say that’s a win. However i feel like you would have been just as well off buying a cheaper ratchet brand. I have a pretty nice PowerBuilt 25” flex head 1/2” drive that was $50 on zoro with a coupon. I also have a Diehard 1/2” from Advance Auto for $35, and the best overall by far is Tekton, you can get a 25” straight and 15” flex for about $75 for both
Someone at matco must have saw this because they jacked up the price
Been seeing that and it truly bums me out, hopefully I’ll find another hack in the future to help people get a cheap leg up
Here from Facebook
Price has recently jumped up to $105 for this head. The 1/4 and 3/8 heads also increased in price.
And, now I need to go buy another breaker bar. Trying to find a good 3/8 with a thinner steel handle, so I can put a Snap-On handle. There's another video showing the amount of bits a guy went through, that was brutal, it got very hot, the best bits to use are glass and tile/masonry hf is fine. I'm looking at carslyle and gw for a good 3/8" , I'm not crazy about the 3/8th hf options. Any ideas for a good 17"+ 3/8, thanks..(*to drill through for a long ratchet) 🎉
Heck yea✌️👊 I like that
Matco raised the price on the ratchet head to $105 now 😢
I got mines 2 weeks ago for 40 lol
Just shows that they can sell at lower price but want to squeeze every penny out of people.
Anybody know if the icon bar can do this too? You can get a longer handle that way.
Just ordered my head. I have a fixed long handle matco 88 and it is by far my favorite.
I like it
I burnt out that Milwaukee bit going too fast. Just a warning. You’ll notice in the video he has his drill set to 1. Definitely take it slow and make sure you’re getting metal chips coming off
What size drill bit?
I seen this vid Thursday and got the head from my matco guy for 39 bucks after tax and got the breaker bar today for 24 bucks and made my i think i am going try it with the 3/8 one to just to see if it works
Let me know if it dose!
Will do it won't be till this weekend but I'll let u no
@@419offroad2 did the 3/8 work ?
Did it work?
Did it work?
Measures the bolt with caliper it’s 25/64”. So guy in the comments is 100% correct.
What size drill bit did you use?
23/64
25/64!! I bought the 23/64 from Bosch because of the comment below and it is NOT the right size! You need a 25/64 and I'm buying the Milwaukee version because the Bosch cobalt is total trash!!
Edit: if you pause it and look at the empty drill bit package you'll see the 25/64 size indicated on it.
@@FahimibnDawudI burnt out the Milwaukee but I’m a dumbass and had the drill set to high speed. Needs to be low speed I guess. Gonna try again
Can you do this with a snap on head?
Did he really say don’t try this at home? 😂
Does anyone know if this can work with the 3/8's size for both brands ?
what size drill bit you use ?
25/64.. try the Milwaukee Hard Metal drill bits. Don't do what I did and try 3 others before it, as the Bosch cobalt drill bit wouldn't even eat the chrome off of it!
Yea I never listen to disclaimers I’m doing this
What size was the drill bit
25/64.. it is not 23/64!! I wasted money on 3 bits before finding the Milwaukee Hard Metal drills and the Milwaukee ate thru it like butter! I love the ratchet too!
Can you use the 3/8th head?
Unsure, I haven’t seen if it’s do able, I might have to try in the future
3/8 head would be way too small for the forks on the 1/2 bar. If you find a 3/8 bar it may work with modification depending on the manufacturer.
Now buy a Snap-On handle , lol , i used gaffer tape to cover my handle
Do a reverse......buy a Snap-On handle to reuse the Pittsburgh Anvil, lol.
What’s up with all these flex head ?