Calibrate A Torque Wrench?
- Thread starter Squddle
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maxpower_hd
Well-known member
At work we send them out yearly to be done. I don't know the cost but $80 seems a bit high. I haven't done the ones I own.
Jim Diesel
Well-known member
My shop will check and calibrate every 12 months, or after a decent knock or fall. I personaly have never had to adjust a torque wrench before, so hopefully there are people on this forum that have.
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I did find this in a quick search. Seems a but involved to me but it can be done.
http://www.wikihow.com/Calibrate-a-Torque-Wrench
http://www.wikihow.com/Calibrate-a-Torque-Wrench
bmwpowere36m3
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Angle Repair, just sent them two Snap-ons $50 a piece.
bcradio
Well-known member
It usually cost us between 60 and $80 to calibrate a torque wrench locally
I was paying East Coast Calibrations $40 to do mine, but they appear to have closed up shop.
Depending on the level of precision you need, you could do it at home. All you really need is a lever arm of known length and a weight of known weight. your calibration is only as good as the standard you compare it to. You pay the calibration lab because they have very good standards. They also have tractability on those standards.
Depending on the level of precision you need, you could do it at home. All you really need is a lever arm of known length and a weight of known weight. your calibration is only as good as the standard you compare it to. You pay the calibration lab because they have very good standards. They also have tractability on those standards.
ludakris04
Well-known member
the reason I bought my Craftsman torque wrench 19 years ago, was because an engine builder/ teacher of mine said they were good and you could send them in to be calibrated.
Fast forward and I don't use mine that much so I haven't thought about it.. I did a quick google search and came up with this.. not sure about it though..
http://www.searscalibration.com/calibration-services-test-measurement-equipment.html
Fast forward and I don't use mine that much so I haven't thought about it.. I did a quick google search and came up with this.. not sure about it though..
http://www.searscalibration.com/calibration-services-test-measurement-equipment.html
nh_yota
Well-known member
Interesting...I wonder how/when they were affiliated with Sears.
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
About 25 years ago, I had a digi-tork clicker I didn't trust. It didn't agree with a cheap beam torque wrench I got from a Warshawsky bargain bin. A beam torque wrench can't be grossly wrong, can it? I knew Sears then had a calibration service for something cheap like around $15. Sounded good!
I dropped it off at Sears and waited about a week. Picked it up and the handle was obviously damaged. The clerk said "Sorry, we don't do calibrations anymore". But they did damage my wrench. Long story short, I was a polite annoyance for about 45 minutes before I got a voucher for a new torque wrench.
Got my brand new torque wrench and found that a cheap, bargain bin beam torque wrench CAN we grossly wrong.
And don't get the torque sticks (calibrated extensions) they are worse than beam torque wrenches. I worked in a facility that did government work. They would not let us use torque sticks. Our own testing confirmed their inaccuracy.
guy48065
Well-known member
The address for that "Sears" cal facility is Kings Road, Garland, TX--which is the old manufacturing facility for Apex tools (GearWrench). Their cal department recently moved to:
Apex Tool Group
1150 Clipper Road
Sumter, SC
Customer service number is 800-621-8814
They are an accredited calibration lab--but that doesn't mean an UNaccredited lab doesn't know what they're doing, and shouldn't matter to a shadetree mechanic.
Angle Repair is probably the highest volume torque wrench calibrator, and not accredited.
These places are experts at this and charge less than $60 including any typical repairs. If you pay more, you're getting robbed.
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$80 is too high. You should expect to pay about $50.
I do not buy into the how to article posted, and dont believe you can do it yourself if you expect any reasonable level of accuracy. Hanging weights, tightening/loosening bolts,etc are all hokey and will most likely not get you in the 3% range.
FWIW, Proto clicker torque wrenches are allegedly designed to hold calibration for 30,000 cycles. Id imagine other professional brands are similar, so it's probably unnecessary for non-professionals to do it annually. If you know anybody that works in a manufacturing company that is ISO, AS9100, or similar, they may be able to call in a favor during lunch and have it checked in a calibration lab for you. At least this way, you'll know if you need to send it out or not.
I do not buy into the how to article posted, and dont believe you can do it yourself if you expect any reasonable level of accuracy. Hanging weights, tightening/loosening bolts,etc are all hokey and will most likely not get you in the 3% range.
FWIW, Proto clicker torque wrenches are allegedly designed to hold calibration for 30,000 cycles. Id imagine other professional brands are similar, so it's probably unnecessary for non-professionals to do it annually. If you know anybody that works in a manufacturing company that is ISO, AS9100, or similar, they may be able to call in a favor during lunch and have it checked in a calibration lab for you. At least this way, you'll know if you need to send it out or not.
Sine Swept
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A block from my house is a cube van, the logo says " Mobile Torque Wrench Calibration"
Seems like the guy I would be looking for.
Seems like the guy I would be looking for.
Bruce57
Well-known member
Sent mine to Angle Repair, price was $45. They have a price list on their website.
Backpack Hunter
Well-known member
Seems expensive when you can get a new one from Harbor Freight for around $20. 
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Team Torque is another outfit that calibrates.
http://www.teamtorque.com/index.html
To be honest, outside of Government agencies where they track calibrations, I've never seen anyone calibrate their torque wrenches. Hell I rarely saw a tech in a dealership ever use a torque wrench
http://www.teamtorque.com/index.html
To be honest, outside of Government agencies where they track calibrations, I've never seen anyone calibrate their torque wrenches. Hell I rarely saw a tech in a dealership ever use a torque wrench
guy48065
Well-known member
This has changed tremendously in the past 10 years as more manufacturers and service companies recognize the value in being able to PROVE they follow procedures and specifications.To be honest, outside of Government agencies where they track calibrations, I've never seen anyone calibrate their torque wrenches. Hell I rarely saw a tech in a dealership ever use a torque wrench
Most companies that fly A QS or ISO flag out front MUST do business with other accredited vendors and suppliers.
Another "poor man's" way to check calibration is to check a clicker against a beam torque wrench using the appropriate 8 point socket size to couple them together.
Also, most places that do "calibration", the initial fee is to just check it against the tolerance and standard. If out of spec, there is usually additional fees for adjustment.
Also, most places that do "calibration", the initial fee is to just check it against the tolerance and standard. If out of spec, there is usually additional fees for adjustment.
^^^ if you don't have 8 point socket, maybe use an 8mm or similar hexagon socket against and Hex bit socket. In a pinch you can use two sockets and a shank of a hex-key to couple them. I've done this to sanity check clicker of unknown provenance before using them on anything.
NOTE: A very easy way to destroy threads is to use an un-calibrated TW --because the handle size is typically 2x or so longer thana standard length ratchet handle in a given drive size. Once the thing is damaged or way off its a major liability. A couple of % is NBD because stuff like lubricant and corrosion will themselves cause a variance approaching 20% depending on who'se technical reference manuals you refer to.
TLDR - sanity check any TW you have before use and if you need calibration, send it to a pro shop and eat the $50.
Also, learn about the ways a TW reading can be distorted by surface treatents as noted above, otherwise even a calibrated instrument will begin to create problems.
NOTE: A very easy way to destroy threads is to use an un-calibrated TW --because the handle size is typically 2x or so longer thana standard length ratchet handle in a given drive size. Once the thing is damaged or way off its a major liability. A couple of % is NBD because stuff like lubricant and corrosion will themselves cause a variance approaching 20% depending on who'se technical reference manuals you refer to.
TLDR - sanity check any TW you have before use and if you need calibration, send it to a pro shop and eat the $50.
Also, learn about the ways a TW reading can be distorted by surface treatents as noted above, otherwise even a calibrated instrument will begin to create problems.
bmwpowere36m3
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Angle Repair, $50 a wrench including shipping to/fro. Just sent two Snap-Ons, for cal, adjustment and clean/lube.
garandman
Well-known member
http://anglerepair.com/repair-calibration-charges/
Dial and click 1/2” or less, calibration only $25.
Standard repair $45.
Dial and click 1/2” or less, calibration only $25.
Standard repair $45.
My calibration nut loosened up on my clicker, and it lost its cal. I bought of of the digital torque gauges from HF (came with a cal certificate, and it matched my beam torque wrench, and my other 2 clickers). Maybe $20? Used it to cal with a hex bit and socket to a ratchet wrench clamped in a vice. Worked great, and everything agrees. Plus, I learned something...
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A number of places do, but from what I've seen, Snap On does it the cheapest.
FigureItOut
Well-known member
I'll throw in another vote for Angle Repair. I paid $40 last year and it included the adjustment. I also happened to mention to someone on the phone that I didn't have a case for my TW. When they sent it back, it was in a brand new, and correct, Armstrong case.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk
Bagherra
Well-known member
Does Angle Repair include a calibration certificate?
for a fee. 22 i think
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The difficulty depends upon your definition of "calibrate." It's extremely easy to see if the wrench is in fact in calibration. Any of the little digital torque adapters widely available are normally very accurate. You connect your torque wrench to them and see if they break over (clicker style) at the torque you set them to while reading the digital torque value on the adapter. Very quick, very easy. If they match you're good to go.
Where the tough part starts is what do you do if the above test showed your wrench to be off calibration. How do you take the wrench apart to adjust whatever part is used to set the calibration. On some torque wrenches this is easy, you loosen the handle to either tighten or loosen the spring on others (such as digital torque wrenches) you need special software, a special cable, a computer and an internet connection. That's how Eclatorq does it to rewrite the calibration EEPROM and that's not exactly easy.
Where the tough part starts is what do you do if the above test showed your wrench to be off calibration. How do you take the wrench apart to adjust whatever part is used to set the calibration. On some torque wrenches this is easy, you loosen the handle to either tighten or loosen the spring on others (such as digital torque wrenches) you need special software, a special cable, a computer and an internet connection. That's how Eclatorq does it to rewrite the calibration EEPROM and that's not exactly easy.
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Any idea on what it cost?
It seems to vary by dealer, but the last number I remember hearing mine say was $75 or $80.
disston
Well-known member
For the professionals it only makes sense to pay for having it done. For me, a part timer working on my own machines, I have several beam wrenches and I regularly set the clickers to what I aiming for and then check it against the beam before using.
I am always working on stuff that calls for a torque ratings of 22 to 24 ft/lbs or 80 to 85 ft/lbs. I have never run into anything that I needed an exact torque setting for. For which I would need a more accurate wrench.
I asked a Snap On truck guy and he said checking Snap On wrenches was free. Adjustment may be more?
I am always working on stuff that calls for a torque ratings of 22 to 24 ft/lbs or 80 to 85 ft/lbs. I have never run into anything that I needed an exact torque setting for. For which I would need a more accurate wrench.
I asked a Snap On truck guy and he said checking Snap On wrenches was free. Adjustment may be more?
They can be checked on the truck for free. Most dealers have a torque checker mounted on the wall in the truck. Actual calibration/repair (other than rebuilding the ratchet head) requires sending the tool out to Snap On's repair center.
Beams don't go out of calibration but the published specs on a lot of them are not exactly calibration standard to start with. 4% is typical. The standard should be a lot better than what is being calibrated. I seem to recall something about one decimal place.
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guy48065
Well-known member
Explain how does a beam torque wrench catch the first peak of a clicker torque wrench?
Asking for a friend...
Asking for a friend...
L5wolvesf
Well-known member
I don't currently use mine enough to warrant regular checks. Last time was 5-ish years ago and I used these guys. If it had cost $80 I wouldn't have gone there. It was maybe 30-ish and I got a report on how far off it was.
http://www.nationalcalibration.com/w/
http://www.nationalcalibration.com/w/
Force_Measurement
New member
If you're looking to calibrate, check this FUTEK's page, Torque Verification/Calibration.