3/8 torque wrench recommendations

[Mikhail]

Hi All.
It’s time to upgrade my 10$ Harbor Freight 3/8 torque wrench.
Looking to purchase something decent at this time: made in US, Germany or Japan. Willing to spend around $150, (possibly up to $200) I was looking at
Precision Instruments PRE-C2FR50F. Any comments on this unit? Any other recommendations?

 

[Mike.ASC]

I have one, it's awesome.

 

[toolaholic]

This is my workhorse in 3/8 . GEARWRENCH 3/8" Drive Flex Head Micrometer Torque Wrench 5-75 ft/lbs. - 85086 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HR2AAC6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JiminAZ]

Here is the one I bought. CDI makes a number of scales/ranges.

If I were buying today I'd likely use toolsdelivered.com

CDI is a "Snap On" company, makes them for Snap On. Only difference is the CDI units use an imported ratchet head.

They also make the style you have in the OP.

 

[bpjr]

I've got a Klein torque wrench and its been aok. For what its worth I also have 2 HF torque wrenches and 2 bar types. I check them with my pricey Klein and they are so close its hard to measure the difference. I suppose repeatability is the issue between them.

 

[brownbagg]

all of my torque wrenches are proto

 

[bob15]

Seekonk: https://www.seekonk.com/21/home.htm

SR: https://www.srtorque.com/

 

[Treeman]

Mikail,

do you want your wrench pictured at 10 - 50 ft. lb. or their more common model that is 20 - 100 ft. lb.?

 

[visionguru]

Hi All.
It’s time to upgrade my 10$ Harbor Freight 3/8 torque wrench.
Looking to purchase something decent at this time: made in US, Germany or Japan. Willing to spend around $150, (possibly up to $200) I was looking at
Precision Instruments PRE-C2FR50F. Any comments on this unit? Any other recommendations?

10-50 ft-lb seems a narrow range for a 3/8" TW. The thing looks on the bulky side. Most likely it has a low tooth count ratchet. It' an aging design, the accuracy is slight less than many micrometer style.

I have Snap On techangle, so much more convenient than mechanical ones. Anyway, I'd avoid things from Germany and Japan because they most likely are Newton-meter instead of ft-lb.

I've had Harbor Freight, Gearwrench, Matco, Craftsman, Snap On TWs. I think Gearwrench is a great value (if shopping carefully) in both mechanical and digital TWs.

I'd get a used Snap On, which will always worth something down the road.

 

[zippster]

The Precision Instruments split beams are fantastic. I have a 3/8 and 1/2 that are both over 5 years old and they have never gone out of calibration. That said. They are slightly bulky but durable as all he!!.

Techangle wrenches are also fantastic. I purchased my last one used from a pawnshop for $75. I then paid the $100 fee to send it to snap on for a calibration and handle update. It's now my go to.

If you need to go on the cheaper end of things the Icon from HF is actually a nice wrench. You could also order a masterforce click type wrench from menards. They are made in Taiwan, accurate, and hold up very well. Come with a lifetime warranty.

 

[Flat Thunder Channel]

I have a husky brand 3/8 and 1/2 drive torque wrench. I bought them many years ago, but they are nice units in a blow mold case. Not for sure what they have changed over the years, but I did notice in the mid 2000's that they swapped their American made regular ratchets from USA made to Chinese. I exchanged a broken ratchet and wished I keep the old broken USA version. The new 'free' replacement was not nearly as good of a product. The ratcheting was more course it clunked loudly and more aggressive than the broken one. Maybe check out the torque wrenches and see how they feel / where they are made. I saw in an earlier post Seekonk brand wrenches. I bought a special torque limiting ratchet from them for work around 2006. They have nice tools. I just looked at their website and wanted to buy another torque wrench. Time to stop playing on the internet.

 

[Qualitytools]

I would also look at NORBAR, excellent accuracy, comes with calibration certificate. They also make them for WERA or they use to.

 

[Mikhail]

Mikail,

do you want your wrench pictured at 10 - 50 ft. lb. or their more common model that is 20 - 100 ft. lb.?

It would be nice to have 10-50 ft lb wrench for spark plugs, valve cover and other purposes

 

[bob15]

It would be nice to have 10-50 ft lb wrench for spark plugs, valve cover and other purposes

Sturtevant Richmont, # 869748, 8-50ft/lbs: https://omegatec.com/869748-sturtev...MI9q7ohrKl6QIVGo7ICh06MwhDEAQYAiABEgKYZPD_BwE

https://www.srtorque.com/error-proofing-tools/micrometer-adjustable-torque-wrenches/knurl-grip-micrometer-adjustable-click-wrenches/knurl-grip-sdr-series-micrometer-adjustable-click-wrench/

 

[parks31]

Central Tools is USA brand good quality and can be sent back to be calibrated.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792KWWYF/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Their storm brand is not USA made.

 

[Wamsutta]

Sturtevant Richmont

Now you're getting into some serious torque wrenches.

 

[txvwnut]

Can’t go wrong with Precision Instruments.

 

[Skin]

I like USA as much as the next guy and have Techangles myself but on a budget i'd be very tempted to look into the Icon ones (Lifetime warranty, 90 tooth heads, reversible) or the new Gearwrench digitals. The stuff coming out of Taiwan recently looks frankly awesome.

 

[Tinner]

all of my torque wrenches are proto

Same here. In addition to being a quality tool, Proto will calibrate and repair them for next to nothing.