Torque Wrench Question

[firemanmike69]

I'd say go with the craftsman if your just doing tractor stuff around the house/barn. I prefer the click style for ease of use an when you don't always want to stare at a dial. At work i personally have a 3/8 drive craftsman, a 1/2 inch drive snap on flex head, a 1/2 snap on, and a 4:1 torque multiplier so I'm good up to 2000 ftlbs. If you want to get serious and I have to break out the 1 1/2 hydraulic torque wrench then you better watch out

 

[hchxoom]

Note that a split beam overcomes the beam "problem" of not being able to see it in tight spaces... it is just another type of clicker torque wrench, just a bit more reliable IMO than the rotating handle style. Personally, I can't argue with earlier guidance to buy a cheapo and just get close for the purposes disclosed. However, it rarely fails when I buy a tool (whether wrench or tractor or anything in between) that I don't find other uses and then wish I'd gone a little bigger/better. I'm also willing to spend a few extra bucks to buy quality american products that will last and I can pass on.

Following is a link to a useful primer on torque wrenches.
Torque wrench buyers guide

 

[sox3]

I have the Snap On Digital. Best one i have ever owned.
www.snapon.com/goto/ATECH3FR250

 

[brain55]

I have the Snap On Digital. Best one i have ever owned.
www.snapon.com/goto/ATECH3FR250

Great tool, I have one, I primarily use it for torque to yield fasteners. It beats juggling a torque angle gauge.

 

[sox3]

Great tool, I have one, I primarily use it for torque to yield fasteners. It beats juggling a torque angle gauge.

It beats them all! dont have to look at it. Beeps and vibrates when you reach the desired setting.

 

[murphy1244]

For 500 bucks it should serve Beer.

 

[mikehaugen]

For 500 bucks it should serve Beer.

so what do you think this one does...

QCE215A, Torque Wrench, ELECTROTORK®, 25-250 in. lb., 3/8" Drive

 

[Luremaker]

Lew, for those jobs, I would never go out and buy an expensive torque wrench. Buy this one from Harbor Freight for $35. If it breaks, take it back and get another. Those jobs you mention don't require anything expensive in my opinion.

I agree with Jim. I purchased two of those last month for Christmas gifts for only $9.99 each and they are often on sale for $12.99. They are made actually made in Taiwan and not China.

 

[murphy1244]

so what do you think this one does...

QCE215A, Torque Wrench, ELECTROTORK®, 25-250 in. lb., 3/8" Drive

That looks like something you BBQ with.

 

[DFB]

Seen a coupon today for Harbor Freight 1/2 drive torque wrench $9.99! :cool2:

 

[brain55]

Seen a coupon today for Harbor Freight 1/2 drive torque wrench $9.99! :cool2:

Heck, if nothing else for $9.99 you have a cheap hammer, lol.

 

[Baby Grand]

I have 3.
A 1/2" drive beam type SK that I bought 35 years ago when I realized I could either afford a used car or have it serviced at a garage, but not both. It handles about 80% of my torqueing requirements.
A 3/4" drive HF clicker that I needed to retorque my front axle nuts after replacing the bearings on a front wheel drive car.
A 3/8" drive Craftsman clicker that I got last year for its in-lb vs ft-lb scale for torqueing a lawnmower head.
All 3 perform as well as I need them to, which is to say well enough.

 

[paul dyar]

I have a Proto 50-250. 1/2 drive never had socket on it. I would take $120 for.
Paul

 

[kensnelling]

Nothing wrong with buying an expensive clicker type or dial readout torque wrench and using it forever, except most folks forget that they do require having the calibration checked/adjusted from time to time. Springs fatigue and debris gets in the mechanism that can five false readings.

About 25 years ago a friend of mine that worked in the tool crib at American Airlines took my at that time 10 year old Craftsman torque wrench to work with him, and when he checked it it was off by almost 20% and dirty inside. After that I had hi, service it yearly. and it would only be 3-4% off when checked.

After that one finally gave up the ghost (internal breakage, part not available to repair) on the same friends recommendation I started using the inexpensive ones like from Harbor Freight. Out of the box they checked out at 1-2%. and after a year just replace it. You can either use the old one as a ratchet, or do as I do and put it out in the annual garage sale and sell it for 10-15 bucks.

Ken

 

[sparc]

Dont know who made it for Sears but I have a Craftsman digital torque senser that makes any ratchet a troque wrench. Its 1/2" drive and has a remote display with hold feature like on a Fluke meter. You can set it and it will beep when torque is reached. I've had this for over 8 years. It comes calibrated with papers and can be recal'd. I've seen others over the years, they are getting smaller and probably more reliable, heck even HF sells one for about $40, mine was $89 8 years ago, i bought it on sale, regular price was over 100 IIRC. I have click type and beam type torque wrenches, but I use this digital adapter quite a bit and when checked against my other wrenches it appears to be accurate.

 

[DFB]

That digital torque sensor is pretty neat. I never much noticed one before. I see this one in the latest tool catalog down at the bike shop today

ACDelco ARM602-3 3/8" and ARM602-4 1/2" Digital Torque Adapters - Review | Tools In Action - Tools and Gear for the Working Man

 

[94BULLITT]

I would go with a 1/2 Snap on torque wrench.

That digital torque sensor is pretty neat. I never much noticed one before. I see this one in the latest tool catalog down at the bike shop today

ACDelco ARM602-3 3/8" and ARM602-4 1/2" Digital Torque Adapters - Review | Tools In Action - Tools and Gear for the Working Man

I have on of those in a 1/2'' drive. I checked it against my Snap on torque wrench and believe it or not it was accurate. It was only $50, I never use it.