Any comments on this torque wrench?

[volunteers]

I saw this Craftsman Micro-Clicker Torque Wrench 1/2" Drive listed $39.99 on black friday. The price is good, but I didn't see any review on it. Anybody has experience with it?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00931425000P?sid=IAx20071126x000001&aff=Y
and how to compare with this one:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944595000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

 

[Buckgnarly]

Saw those this past weekend....made in China if that matters to you.
They, along with the impacts, are switching to China I guess....

 

[JLee1469]

If its made in China might as well get the HF 1/2 for $9.99. The reviews of the second wrench don't look good either.

 

[BHH]

My thoughts on this are as follows. If you are using a torque wrench clearly it is for a specific reason. Only important crucial things need to be torqued to a specific setting. Such as lug nuts. Don't cheap out on something you will be putting you or your families lives dependency on.

 

[volunteers]

for the 1/2'' torque wrench, i will use it for lug nuts. Is it good enough? or any other suggested wrench?

My thoughts on this are as follows. If you are using a torque wrench clearly it is for a specific reason. Only important crucial things need to be torqued to a specific setting. Such as lug nuts. Don't cheap out on something you will be putting you or your families lives dependency on.

 

[BHH]

for the 1/2'' torque wrench, i will use it for lug nuts. Is it good enough? or any other suggested wrench?

After my research here it seems most people prefer the split beam type. precision instruments is who I went with.

 

[Coach James]

For lug nuts, this is all you need.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944642000P?prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7

Been using mine for this for years and no issues of any kind.


Coach

 

[IBJanky]

I have a HF torque wrench that I bought for $10 and it works just fine.

myke

 

[Seanbev24]

My thoughts on this are as follows. If you are using a torque wrench clearly it is for a specific reason. Only important crucial things need to be torqued to a specific setting. Such as lug nuts. Don't cheap out on something you will be putting you or your families lives dependency on.

You lost me at lug nuts. I agree that they should be torqued, but the wrench doesn't need to be super accurate. You'll never see a problem if it ends up +/- 10 lbs. I use a 1/2" HF torque wrench all the time for lug nuts just to save battery life and not beat up my Snap-On digital wrench. For something like head bolts, that's a different story.

 

[Seanbev24]

for the 1/2'' torque wrench, i will use it for lug nuts. Is it good enough? or any other suggested wrench?

Either is fine. My only issue with craftsman torque wrenches is the stupid plastic handles eventually falling apart

 

[BajaBound]

look at Precision Instruments split beam. It's a 130 bucks but will do lug nuts and head bolts equally as precise. just my 0.2

 

[Seanbev24]

look at Precision Instruments split beam. It's a 130 bucks but will do lug nuts and head bolts equally as precise. just my 0.2

Can't go wrong with one of those

 

[Danglerb]

Not being cheap may make you feel better, but these days it doesn't mean your money bought quality or reliability. The HF torque wrenches have a good track record for accuracy and the Craftsman do not.

Lug bolts don't scare me, head bolts do, but my motor has a bunch of twitchy head bolt issues even when you use a Techangle, so I'm not likely to use anything less.

 

[Grogan14]

Heck, why not get one encrusted with emeralds and sapphires?

 

[WR250F]

Hit a few pawn shops in your area.

Almost every pawn shop I've been to has at least one torque wrench for sale.

I picked up three this year, sent them to Team Torque for calibration and the report on all three came back they were in spec.

I scored a Proto for $30, a Snap On split beam for less than $100 with all the paperwork and case, and another CX Proto with the calibration cert for $45.

Are any of these any better than a HF unit ? I don't know, I don't own a HF unit.

But, the above three were to replace Craftsman wrenches I've had for years that just didn't hold up. The set ring broke on one, one wouldn't adjust properly and the third was a beam.

I still have the beam, and it works great, but some of the fasteners I needed to torque didn't allow me to view the scale due to the angle the socket fit on the bolt.

 

[Lost Road]

I found a Proto at a garage sale. Love it!

 

[TreePointer]

For lug nuts, this is all you need.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944642000P?prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7

Been using mine for this for years and no issues of any kind.


Coach

I learned on those beam style wrenches and that's what I was leaning towards, but I needed more range with the 1/2" drive for my tractor. The lug nuts specify 114 ft-lbs, but there are other wheel bolts that specify 177 ft-lbs. I ended up getting the PI Split Beam (40-250 ft-lbs) and have been pleased so far.

 

[allinon72]

Avoid Craftsman torque wrenches like the plague. Poorly made.

 

[Coach James]

Avoid Craftsman torque wrenches like the plague. Poorly made.

My C-man beam wrench has torqued lug nuts for 5+ years with no issues. My C-man microtork has torqued bolts up to 20 ft-lbs for 3 or 4 years with no issues.

Coach