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New Torque Wrench

Spector_Ray

Spector_Ray

Aug 8, 2004
5,487
50
Texas
#1
So I'm in the market for a new torque wrench. I'd like to get two(3/8" and 1/2" drive), but for now I'd like the 1/2" drive. Of course I want the best bang for the buck so I'd like to find one with a nice balance of price and quality. A guy told me that he bought one from Harbor Freight Tools, but I don't trust most of the stuff there, at least not a precision tool. What are your suggestions?
 
#2
Spector_Ray said:
So I'm in the market for a new torque wrench. I'd like to get two(3/8" and 1/2" drive), but for now I'd like the 1/2" drive. Of course I want the best bang for the buck so I'd like to find one with a nice balance of price and quality. A guy told me that he bought one from Harbor Freight Tools, but I don't trust most of the stuff there, at least not a precision tool. What are your suggestions?
Click to expand...

If price is no object, snap on.

lowsound
 
#10
Do you just need ft-lbs accuracy? Or would you ever have applications for in-lb accuracy? I've been running into projects where I gotta be really gentle and tighten stuff down only in inch-pounds. So if you find a package deal, grab a 3/8" a 1/2" and a small in-lb as well.


I'm looking at all my industrial supply companies' sales flyers... gimme a while to see what I can find.
 
#11
Yup, if you need inch-pounds, get a 1/4" drive torque wrench. I'd much rather work with a tool designed to operate in the correct torque range.

Not too long ago I did an intake manifold gasket replacement on a Chevy 4.3L Vortec V6. The top half of the intake plenum is a plastic shell...and I ALMOST missed the fact that the torque spec for its rather spindly bolts was given in Inch-pounds. I caught it JUST in time, before I started turning the torque wrench. The more I looked at those bolts, the more I couldn't understand how they could handle that many FOOT-pounds. Good thing I stopped and double-checked myself.

When it comes to torquing stuff, don't just grab a number out of a manual and start reefing on bolts - look at the bolts and setup, and consider whether the number you found makes any sense! Sometimes one gets the wrong number - or interprets it incorrectly.
 
#12
Spector_Ray said:
So I'm in the market for a new torque wrench. I'd like to get two(3/8" and 1/2" drive), but for now I'd like the 1/2" drive. Of course I want the best bang for the buck so I'd like to find one with a nice balance of price and quality. A guy told me that he bought one from Harbor Freight Tools, but I don't trust most of the stuff there, at least not a precision tool. What are your suggestions?
Click to expand...

I have 3 SK TRs that I love. Very high quality, very accurate. I'm fixing to buy a MAC tools dealership later this year. These are 3 tools that WILL NOT be replaced by MAC products in the future. SK stuff is really high Quality, yet they don't have a big name. There's an SK dealer right by my house. I'd be happy to pick one up, and ship it to you, if you can't find one down there.
 
#14
I bought a Craftsman 1/2" drive torque wrench about 23 years ago when I did my first engine rebuild project. It was on sale for about $50 at the time and has served me very well ever since.

Sometimes Harbor Freight has tools that I'd consider buying, but not usually. At least not for anything other than light-duty work.
 
#16
SK makes good tools, but you might want to check these guys out:
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And get a dial-type instead of a click-type, which is about all Sears sells. If you're out to spend the big bucks, go for an electronic.

I've got a couple of CDI 3/8" drive torque wrenches, and they're a joy to use.
 
#20
Since I use these for a living...

Snap On and SK are accurate enough out the box to be calibrated to national standards. MasterCraft and Craftsman generally are not. The others mentioned I have no experience with. The point being is that if you are truely doing something that requires a torque wrench, then you need an accurate torque wrench, otherwise you might as well just guess.

Some one said that SO and SK were over priced for the quality. Not true, unless you don't need the quality to start with.
 

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