Mayhew Mini Pry Bar Set Review: Straight and Bent Mini Bars Made in the USA

Introduction

Mayhew has entered the mini pry bar space with a pair of offerings: a straight version and a significantly bent version. Both bars together are sold as a package under item number 31092, while the bent bar is sold individually as 31129 and the straight bar as 31128. Both are made in the USA, which puts them in direct competition with Snap-on’s mini pry bars, though there are some meaningful differences between the two.

At roughly 25 dollars for the pair from Amazon, the set costs about what the comparable Snap-on bars do, which makes these worth a close look for anyone who uses small pry bars for clip work, o-ring pickup, and light leverage tasks.

Mayhew Mini Pry Bar Set 31092

The set bundles the straight and bent bars together and is the easiest way to get both profiles in one purchase. The bars run a 1/8-inch square shaft, and the shaft engages the handle over halfway, with the magnet holding at least to the halfway point before it starts to fall off.

Workmanship is impressive for the price. The handles show contouring, texturing, and indentations with no significant molding marks left behind. Both bars are made in the USA, and the pair typically sells for around 25 dollars, with the price sitting at 27 dollars and change at the time of writing, so it has crept up slightly.

Mayhew Bent Mini Pry Bar 31129

The bent version is the standout of the pair, with a fairly significant bend at the tip compared with shorter competitor bars. That bend gives you access angles that a straight bar simply cannot reach, which matters when you are working in tight spaces around small clips and springs.

Like its sibling, the bent bar uses a 1/8-inch square shaft, a textured plastic handle, and a magnet that engages the shaft over halfway into the handle. It is made in the USA and can also be bought on its own if you only need the bent profile.

Mayhew Straight Mini Pry Bar 31128

The straight bar covers the reach-heavy tasks where a bend gets in the way. At about six inches long, it is noticeably longer than the roughly five-inch Snap-on equivalents, which gives extra reach when fishing clips out of recessed areas.

The magnet in the tip is genuinely useful for picking up small fasteners and holding parts in place, and the handle texturing provides reasonable grip even if the handle feels a touch more slippery than the slightly larger Snap-on equivalent.

How They Compare on Strength

Strength testing reveals the main trade-off. The 1/8-inch square shaft is not especially strong; you can bend the shaft if you put real effort into it. Snap-on’s mini bars use a thicker 3/16-inch round shaft and are noticeably stiffer. The reviewer benchmark comparison with other mini bars lands the Mayhews in between stiffer and more flexible options, helped by the extra length.

That said, these are almost precision tools. Little fasteners and clips rarely need much leverage, so the slimmer shaft is usually acceptable, but more shaft options would be welcome. A 3/16-inch version of the set, or Mayhew offering both 1/8-inch and 3/16-inch sets, would give buyers the choice of more effort in a smaller space.

Buying Advice: What to Consider Before Purchasing

Compared with the Snap-on bars, the Mayhews are longer at about six inches, use a square rather than round shaft, and cost roughly the same at around 25 dollars for the pair versus the Snap-on pricing near 12 dollars each through a distributor. Compared with bare-bones pocket-clip alternatives, the Mayhew handles show far more finishing effort.

If you want a stiffer bar for heavier leverage, the 1/8-inch shaft may disappoint. If your work is mostly small clips, o-rings, and light prying, the longer reach, magnet tips, USA manufacturing, and refined handles make these an easy recommendation.

Conclusion

The Mayhew Mini Pry Bar Set is a well-made, USA-produced take on a tool category that needed more competition. The 1/8-inch square shaft limits heavy leverage, but for precision clip and fastener work the length, magnets, and handle quality make the set a solid value at its price point.