Torque Wrench

[Keddie]

Anyone have any info on a good torque wrench. I've purchased 2 cheaper torque wrenches from shows and they never hold up. I know 5 million dollar snap on's are nice but anyone know where I can get one for a decent price? eBay????

What about digital? Should I trust them?

Thanks

Erick

[JackG]

Originally Posted by Keddie

Anyone have any info on a good torque wrench. I've purchased 2 cheaper torque wrenches from shows and they never hold up. I know 5 million dollar snap on's are nice but anyone know where I can get one for a decent price? eBay????

What about digital? Should I trust them?

Thanks

Erick

Try Craftsman at Sears. Catch them on sale and they aren't expensive, and you can use the lifetime warranty if something happens. Mine have been OK so far.

Jack

[andrewb]

I personally have a biased opinion because I sell Cornwell hand tools but I would really reccomend an SK torque wrench or a Craftsman if you wanted something cheaper.


-andrew

[986Jim]

I picked up a really nice snap on from our local second hand place (Hock Shop) and sent it to Snap on to be tested to make sure it's accurate. They calibrated it for me for 10 bux and I picked it up. Pretty good for $50.

[blinkwatt]

I heard Snap-On makes good tools.

[Ronzi]

I think it depends on what you are going to use it for. If you want/need a torque wrench basically to set the torque on your wheel nuts, then a Craftsman clicker type is great.
If you are going to use one for engine assembly, then you might want to invest a little more in a dial or digital wrench, and then have it calibrated so that you KNOW how accurate it is.
Garage sales and tool auctions can be great places to get quality tools at good prices, but you really have to know your stuff with regard to values or you can end up paying over retail for used eqpt.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

As mentioned, the Click Type are fine for general use, but their accuracy isn't linear. They tend to be off at either extreme of their scales. But, the best is still the old Beam Type. They're not sexy, but they are inherently more accurate - the Best Engine Builders still rely primarily on this type. And, they are also magnitudes less expensive and don't require inconvenient recalibrating, which should really be done annually regardless of how much you use it.

I read an SAE random study of 500 Click Type Torque Wrenches (from various manufacturers, including the well-known brands). Their research indicated that 50% of these were off, and of these, 30% were off by more than 50%!. I use both, but stick to the Beam Type for serious work...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99