Craftsman torque wrenches any good?
- Thread starter gnx547
- Start date
1969
Well-known member
Actually they are pretty good IMO. I used one for years, then bought a PI split beam. I now much prefer the split beam.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
No personal experience with the click type, but I've seen MANY comments on this board about the lock ring breaking and Sears not willing to replace it, enough comments that I would not bother with it. Too many other good torque wrenches out there.
Charles
Charles
the one i use at work has a broken lock ring. there are reports of the calibrations nuts coming loose in the handle but the one i have been using is fine. lots of other wrenches that are a few bucks more than the craftsman and much better
HomeBrewA4
Well-known member
I use the a 3/8 beam style when building motors, simply because I like the beam style's accuracy and I have also seen many SO, Craftsman, MAC click style/digital be out of spec out of the box, or the digitals zeroing out mid turn.
Torque wrench from Sears is something like 90 days cal, 1 year parts.
HF torque wrench is about $10 on sale, lifetime warranty.
Sears is I am sure a better wrench, but if you are OK with 5% accuracy the HF may be a more practical option.
Regardless of brand or type, any torque wrench should be tested and/or calibrated at least once a year.
With a clicker, I like to set it 20% or more low and do half a dozen torque to clicks before setting a final value, to grease the mechanism or whatever happens internally.
HF torque wrench is about $10 on sale, lifetime warranty.
Sears is I am sure a better wrench, but if you are OK with 5% accuracy the HF may be a more practical option.
Regardless of brand or type, any torque wrench should be tested and/or calibrated at least once a year.
With a clicker, I like to set it 20% or more low and do half a dozen torque to clicks before setting a final value, to grease the mechanism or whatever happens internally.
allinon72
Well-known member
They are garbage, a simple Google search will yield all you need to know about them. My lock ring broke and now I have a $100 breaker bar.
moparmuscle88
Well-known member
my dad has a newer beam style thats within 10 ft lbs which has been close enough for us, however, if your doing very precise work then a snap on or similar quality wrench would be a logical choice
treasureseeker
Well-known member
We had a guy that came out once a year to check the calibration of tools he did torque wrenches, air pressure gauges and stuff like that. Some of the cheap torque wrenches had kept the best torque, but the other mechanics complained about Craftsman breaking. I have a 3/8” and 1/4” Sk and am very happy with them. Pretty much every fastener had to be torqued than paint marked, so we used them a lot. There was something plastic that broke on the Craftsman but that was a few years ago and maybe they corrected that now.
nate379
Banned
+- 5% is actually a fairly tight tolerance. That is what most of ours are at work and we put together $$$$$$ bomb and missle systems.
I have had to send back several expensive torque wrenches brand new out of the box because they couldn't get in that spec... Snap On, Matco, MAC, Armstrong, etc.
I have had to send back several expensive torque wrenches brand new out of the box because they couldn't get in that spec... Snap On, Matco, MAC, Armstrong, etc.
dankicksass
Well-known member
I've got deflecting beam Craftsman torque wrenches in my box and they'll last forever. I wouldn't buy their digital or analog clickers. For the money, the PI split beam is probably your best bet.
unless you can get them dirt cheap they **** and are no better than craftsman in the durability department. The old ones prior to when they went to a nylon handle were far superior.
Honestly just get yourself a Precision Instruments Split beam, they really arent that much more. Usually 100-200 through ebay depending on the model. The nice thing about the Split beams is theres no spring to screw up as well so if some novice grabs it and starts cranking on bolts you wont have a useless torque wrench and its still solid enough to scold them over the head with it.
GBNZ
Well-known member
I use the 1/2Drive older style back in the 90s no problems at all built plenty of engines with it then again i dont lend it out.
My buddy is a Helicopter mechanic. He is required to have his torque wrenches tested and verified to be accurate.
He says the craftsman digi-torque is pretty good home use tool for the money. He said some of the others are laughable. He had one he got at Harbor Freight tested one time, it wasn't even close.
He says the craftsman digi-torque is pretty good home use tool for the money. He said some of the others are laughable. He had one he got at Harbor Freight tested one time, it wasn't even close.
mrholeshot
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I have a couple of Craftsman Microtorque I use for regular stuff. They are about 20 years old. I use them for cast iron Intakes, waterpumps and just general purpose use. I have one of the 3/8 and one 1/2 inch. The locking ring on the 3/8 cracked about 5 years ago but it's still useable. Ive never had them recalibrated but seem on par when I compare them to my Sanp-On and Williams I use for engine building.
Chris_PT
Well-known member
I have one and I have built my entire twin turbo corvette with it. Its been great to me.
treasureseeker
Well-known member
I didn’t realized SK switched over to plastic on part of their torque wrenches. Not something I would recommend. My 1/4' and 3/8” are all steel and five years old.
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
I have one and so far so good. Yes the plastic handle is one drawback and it makes the wrench look kind of cheep and toyish. But hey I doubt that you could get a USA made wrench for close to the same price. I cant account for acuracy because Ive never had it calibrated and Ive never put it up against a higher dollar wench but I like mine and it seems to work well. So im going to say that i would recomend it. Perhaps not my first choice but it was given to me as a gift. But as many have said before the handles do feel cheep and I have heard many stories of them breaking. but keep in mind if you drop a tourqe wrench it can no longer leagaly be considered to be in calibration. Im sure if you drop one its good enough for cars but if you drop one at a garage or hangar it is out of calibration
BEST LUCK
Sean Scott
BEST LUCK
Sean Scott
Jeff
Well-known member
I have the beam type Craftsman. For the limited use I need it for it performs just fine. I also kept the package insert because it's the only torque wrench that Sears gives a lifetime warranty.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
rayzor32
Well-known member
I have a click type 3/8" that i've built many small block and big block chevy motors with. My dad gave it to me, it has been great, snap on would be better but its gotten the job done for me. I even left it cranked up for a year in the drawer and it still tested accurate. I don't think you can beat them for the money.. Only thing is they are not lifetime warranty not even snap on is. I like the click types the best.
eyeboltman
Well-known member
I like mine , But it is used only 5-6 times a year
Things are rarely made by the company whose name is on the label. SK torque wrenches are made by a division of Apex that owns Gearwrench, Armstrong and KD. They manufacture similar models for CTA and ADT and probably several other companies. My Husky (Home Depot) is theirs also; I don't know about current models. My Husky and ADT wrenches have been trouble free for many years. They are made with either a plastic or metal handle, for more durability at a higher price, but the "guts" and accuracy are the same. They are Made In USA. Another American made, quality wrench is CDI , which is a division of Snap On.
Yes, CMan's wrenches are made by a division that Apex owns...these guys also make a lot of wrenches for everyone and I had written to them a few months back:
------------
Good Afternoon.
Thanks for reaching out to us. We are America's oldest continuous manufacturer of torque wrenches and torque testing equipment. Over the years (since 1938) we have made for several name brands and continue to do so, with our main focus being Precision Instruments branded product.
We design, engineer, stamp, machine, chrome and assemble our products in Des Plaines IL.
Regarding Sears Craftsmen, we are not their supplier, although, they have gone through multiple suppliers over the years. If you have any questions please feel free to call me direct @ 1-866-897-3624 x111.
Kind Regards,
Todd Goodrick
National Sales Manager
Precision Instruments, Inc.
www.torqwrench.com
P: 866-897-3624 / F: 847-824-7629
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
SK/Ideal Industries bought Apex Torque wrench awhile ago so they are the manufacturing division now not a purchaser any more. I used to have Craftsman torque wrenches but went to metal handle click types because too many problems with plastic parts or the plastic windows on the one type plus sears service on them was pricey and not very quality driven. The bending beams are fine. I now have Proto, Sturtavant made older SK labeled and some Central Tools USA wrenches.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Assuming that you're using a torque wrench for home type repairs, get a HF wrench. I bought one for spot torque checks and it was fine for the tolerances that we had. For the money, it's a good deal, IMO.
For home use, I have a C-Man click type torque wrench that I bought 30 years ago. The only problem I had was that the printed paper strip that indicates your torque setting came apart. Although Sears normally doesn't guarantee them, they made an exception for me because it was a manufacturing defect. Since then, for 20 years, it has been a reliable wrench. Also, checking it on a torque analizer, it's accurate. However, for what they cost now, and with my experience, I don't think they're a great deal.
Otherwise, you can she'll out $$$ for an Armstrong, OTC, or other brands mentioned here.
Whatever you get, be sure that you always set the torque very low when you aren't using it to keep the spring accurate.
For home use, I have a C-Man click type torque wrench that I bought 30 years ago. The only problem I had was that the printed paper strip that indicates your torque setting came apart. Although Sears normally doesn't guarantee them, they made an exception for me because it was a manufacturing defect. Since then, for 20 years, it has been a reliable wrench. Also, checking it on a torque analizer, it's accurate. However, for what they cost now, and with my experience, I don't think they're a great deal.
Otherwise, you can she'll out $$$ for an Armstrong, OTC, or other brands mentioned here.
Whatever you get, be sure that you always set the torque very low when you aren't using it to keep the spring accurate.
guy48065
Well-known member
Ideal bought Western Forge and Pratt Reed. Apex is the "old" Danaher (Jacobs, Armstrong, Matco, Allen, etc.).
guy48065
Well-known member
The problem with HF torque wrenches is their lousy quality control and questionable metallurgy. A clicker totally depends on the hardness of a spring and a little hardened square block pressed between 2 hardened surfaces. If ANY of these simple components are softer than spec the accuracy will drift over time.
Calibration costs 5X what their wrench costs. In my experience people who buy a $10 wrench won't pay $60 for annual calibration, but those that spend $200 on a name brand wrench will.
I have a few Cman beam style wrenches and a few others (I think CDI or PI) that someone gave me. The guy that gave them to me was meticulous about his tools and I can be pretty sure of how good they are
.anndel
Well-known member
This is very late but I would go with CDI which got bought out by Snap On several years ago. I have both a CDI and Craftsman (30 years old made in USA) clicker and both work fine. If I were to buy another, I would go with a CDI beam style TW.
chris142
Well-known member
Whats this lock ring you guy say breaks? got a pic? Im not sure what your talking about
Nothing like bringing back a 5 year old thread!
First, Craftsman torque wrenches are now made in China, so who knows who the actual current manufacturer is.
BITOG brother Chris142, it was the plastic handle locking ring on the old U.S. made Craftsman that commonly broke:
Ponchoguy, I think you may be right that SK tools has ties to the OLD Danaher/Apex manufacturer of US made torque tools......which is/was JS Technologies of Marietta Georgia. Craftsman, NAPA, Armstrong, MATCO, Gearwrench all shared JS Technologies parentage. Their cheaper line was the plastic handle model shown above and at the bottom. The better line of NAPA, Armstrong, etc., JS Technologies wrenches have/had this type of handle: (Armstrong shown)
If you go to the current SK catalog, they now show a very similar handle torque wrench: Go to page 135 and 136 (recognize the beam wrenches on pg. 136????) http://www.skhandtool.com/products/catalog/skhtml/index.html#139/z
So, you are saying that Ideal/SK now owns JS Technologies......or do they just get their torque wrenches from them?? I ask, because SK used to get some (plastic handle)or all of their torque wrenches from JS Technologies before their ownership change.
An older SK plastic handle wrench:
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