alright, i'm looking to invest in a torque wrench, but can't decide which one to get. they range insanely in prices.

here are the ones i'm considering, please give any input if you have any experience with them or thoughts:

10$ Harbor frieght http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...itemnumber=239

24.99$ JC whitney http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...orque%20wrench

25.99$ JC Whitney
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...orque%20wrench

29.99$ tire rack
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/tools/tw605.jsp

39.99$ JC whitney
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...orque%20wrench

or should I just go for a husky or craftsman one for around 70$

i'd like to get one as cheap as possible, but there's no point in having one if it's going to be inaccurate.

 

The TireRack and the HarborFreight ones look the same. I've read good things about both of them. Either way, you have to be careful not to drop them... or they are no longer in calibration and become useless.

 

Also, once you get the torque wrench be sure to store them with torque set to zero (so calibration remains stable) or near zero.

See
http://www.airheads.org/index.php?Te...%20Conversions

Don't use your torque wrench to remove something very tight. Don't drop it.

 

I have a harbot freight and it works fine I test it with a Craftman and it torques the same. As to if it would last as long as the Craftman or other brands is yet to be determined

 

only used it once. Cost 18 bucks but I like it. 0 -100 ft lbs

 

I got this one from Sears for less than $20. I know it's low tech but it works for me. I got the 1/2" so I wouldn't need an adapter for my 36mm socket when changing the oil filter.

If your a Craftsman Club member you can get a discount on all Craftsman on the special club days :smile: .

 

My cheapy harbor freight torque wrench should be delivered today.
Only snag in the process was that I ordered back on the 17th, my card got charged on the 19th when it "shipped". Some come yesterday I remebered that I had it on order and wondered where it was. So I went to the Harbor Freight site to check my status. I was able to pull the UPS tracking number from the link because their tracking info link was dead. Seems like UPS received the shipping info on the 19th but didn't actually have the package until yesterday.

 

You're willing to spend $20-25K on a car, so why not get the Craftsman torque wrenches? I have two - the 20-250 ft-lb and the smaller in-lb jobbie. Got both for about $110.

Considering how much rides on proper torque, I'd trust the higher-quality tools. Ya takes yer chances and ya pays yer price...

Marty

 

I would absolutely go with a Craftsman which are available easily and come with a lifetime warranty. If you have access to them, Snap-on makes the best torque wrenches. I have two of those in my box and they've been trouble free for the past 20 years.

 

I use a HF one for wheels, and snap-on or S-K for everything else.

From everything I've heard, the Craftsman torque wrench quality is quite low and it's not covered by a lifetime warranty like many people assume. And while some people have been successful at getting Sears to exchange them, I'm not a fan of trying to get over on a business like that.

 

Just to reiterate, no, they definitely do not. Torque wrenches don't fall under their definition of a hand tool.

 

Speaking specifically from my own experience and not second-hand wives' tales, I've had outstanding results from mine, from building a high-perf motor for my old BMW 2002, to many smaller endeavors like suspension. In fact, a few guys who do race prep for DSM cars locally suggested the Craftsman if I didn't have the cash for Snap-On or MAC. And we don't all assume that the lifetime warranty extends to tools like a torque wrench. Or even a miter saw, for that matter.

Marty

 

I just looked at the box mine came in and it states the Full Lifetime warranty . I've never had a problem exchanging any Craftsman tools.

 

i saw the craftsman one, but it got two really poor reviews on pricegrabber, only two reviews made. Furthermore, it's not covered by lifetime warranty, only 90 days. if i were to go for a 60ish one, i think i'd go for the Husky, since it has lifetime

anyone with experience using HF and another one that can compare the two?

 

maybe you got it back in the days when craftsman was more dependable? looky here:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944594000

90 day limited warranty.

 

Side question:

Anyone have a "click" type torque wrench? I bought one about 30 years ago, back when I did a lot of work on cars. Started a family, bought a minivan, yada, yada, yada. Getting back into working on cars now that my daugher is going off to college and I have a fun car to play with.

I haven't used my torque wrench (except on lug bolts) in about 20 years. I have the impression these can be (and should be) calibrated and tested at regular intervals. Where do I take it? How much does it cost?

I asked the guys at Kragen's, and they said, "Duh, gosh, uh... no, those don't need to be calibrated, do they?"

 

Mine is the "Beam-type" like in post #6. Like I said it's low tech but gets the job done .

 

But very few do it. I don't know how much wrenches drift over time, but it's not zero!

And you gotta love Google!
http://www.teamtorque.com/main.html

Matt

 

Here is what I have heard/learned/been told through the years about torque wrenches. Some of this may be based on fact, some on hearsay.

1. They should be calibrated periodically. Consider buying one that you know can be recalibrated by the seller or other service.

2. Do not use them for removing, only for tightening.

3. Store them with the force set to the minimum setting if you have the clicking type.

4. The beam type may be simpler and less expensive, but you may have applications where the beam is hard to read because of the angle or placement of the wrench.

5. Treat the wrench with respect, i.e. do not drop it or use it as a hammer.

I have had one of the Craftsman clicking type since the 1970's and it still looks new.

 

Google? There's other websites besides NAM?

(Duh!) I just googled "torque wrench calibration sacramento" and, with a couple more clicks, found a place about 5 miles away, 2-3 day turnaround, $32.

Thanks, Matt!

 

Nice tips - thanks for sharing them!

I'd like to add another one, taught to me by a guy who used to race TransAm: Never memorize torque specs.

(In other words, don't think you know what it is - look it up!)

 

Consider a Proto Torque Wrench. They are professional quality, much better than the Harbor Freight or other Taiwanese/Chinese tools; but still quite a bit less than Snap-On or MAC. I like Craftsman hand tools just fine, but their torque wrenches aren't all that good anymore. Cost cutting has ruined them.


If price is an absolute determining factor, even a cheapie is better than not using a torque wrench.

Rawhyde

 

I got a really good deal on this:



Snap-On Techwrench 2

 

The discussion is pointless until Mataku reveals what he wants to use his torque wrench for. Torquing wheel bolts? That's one set of answers. Working on the engine? That's another.

Neil
05 MCS
Current torque wrench count: 4

 

I'm getting a sense of deja vu...

I frequent another message board that has a good number of pro mechanics on it. Of coruse, most of them use Snap-on for everything. However, a surprising number of them use Harbor Freight torque wrenches. Apparently, when compared directly, they are more accurate than Craftsman and very close to Snap-on. Now of course, there's the question of how well they hold their calibration, but that wasn't addressed.

Personally, I have 3 Craftsman and 1 H-F covering a range of a few in-lbs up to 300 ft lbs. I just wish the silly things were set up for Newton-Meters better, since I'm usually reading metric specs.