Simple tools: the Wonderbar
While doing some home renovations this weekend I discovered the beautiful simpicity of the Wonderbar (or flat pry bar). It's a deceivingly plain tool that's perfect for loosening, separating, prying and all other kinds of ripping-shit-out activities.
After a couple of hours dismantling a basement I had a sense for how smartly designed it is. You might think a pry bar is a pry bar, but it's the invisible features that make The Wonderbar special:
- Works in one hand or two (the ends are like handles when you need both hands)
- Well-balanced, so it's easy to flip between ends.
- Offers multiple points of leverage (I used it in five different ways--though only two leverage points are apparent)
- Three ways to rip out nails
- Sharpened edges make a good scraping tool
- I could use the hook end to extend my reach when handling long boards. The flat grip area, which I found uncomfortable at first, helps position the ends so they feel like a natural extension of your hand.
But the great thing--and frankly more tools should be designed with this in mind--was that the Wonderbar made me feel like a ninja of destruction. I could crank on it to pull down an old beam, or I could wiggle the shallow end into a crack to gently remove some moulding I wanted to salvage. It affords force and finesse equally well.
Anyway, I don't mean to bubble over with enthusiasm--I was just happy to find an elegant design in an unlikely place.
