The Martinez Tool Co. titanium MTC Pry Bar ($85) quickly earned a spot as an everyday carry in my tool belt. Its uses are endless, and the tool is of exceptional quality. Most notably, it’s made from 1⁄8-in.-thick rustproof titanium, which is stronger than steel at half the weight. Titanium may bend when the pressure is high, but it springs back into shape.

There’s a delicate balance between a full-size flat bar and smaller trim bars. The length of this bar is a happy medium at 9 in. It is closely related to a glazier’s bar but is made of stock that’s a bit thicker. One advantage of this bar is that you can give it the edge you like without creating an issue with the warranty. I took a belt sander to the straight end and gave it an edge similar to that of a chisel but with a greater taper and no bevel.

Even with the heat of sanding, the metal was unaffected and the color remains the same. The bar’s flat end is ideal for removing moldings and for sensitive demolition. The bar’s 90° bend is useful for prying and lifting door sills level. As a do-it-all ­carpenter working on framing to finish work, interior and ­exterior, I say a Martinez ­titanium pry bar should be in your arsenal. I use it every day and enjoy having it at my side.

Justin Cline, a lead carpenter in Cape May, N.J.

Photo: courtesy of the manufacturers

From Fine Homebuilding #317

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