Digital snap on torque wrenches?

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

I read a post or two on them from the search, but was wondering what they used for the mechanism in them? My snap on guy says that they don't use a spring like a conventional clicker type torque wrench, and that they use a different type of mechanism for measuring torque, however he could not eleborate on this any more than that. I am just wondering what it uses, and how easily will it wear out? I know a couple of guys with these, but none have had them more than a few months. One of them managed to strip out all of the internals because the wrench was turned off. I am tyring to decide whether to put my money into a digital wrench, or a clicker

Thanks.

 

[SuperKid]

I'd just stick with the old tried an true clicker. That's just me, though.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I'd like to get one of them digital torque wrenches Snap On has to offer but they are just too expensive

 

[Fast Orange]

The S-O Techwrenches are a little costly,but if you use a torque wrench often and accuracy and ease of use are important to you,they're worth it. I have both the 3/8"(100 ft/lb) and the 1/2"(250 ft/lb) models,I was doing a lot of engine work at the time I bought them and I wanted good accurate units.They were worth every cent they cost (I bought them used).
If you work on a variety of different engines and find yourself doing conversions between in/lbs,ft/lbs and newton/meters,these wrenches do the conversions for you-a push of a button changes the working unit of measurement to any of the three.
The only gripe I have about these is a too short auto shut off time-I think it's about 1 minute-that's good if you're working on an engine on a stand,but in the car,it can be a nuisance-every time you change positions,you have to see if the wrench is still on.
After several months of daily use,I sent the 1/2" wrench out for calibration-the accuracy stayed between 1 and 1-1/2 % over the scale of the wrench. The advertized accuracy is 2%.

George

 

[kartracer55]

Elroy can probably explain this to you. If he doesnt chime in you could maybe PM him. Hes touched upon similar subjects before.

just a thought

Jim

 

[joenero]

I've got 4 of the snap on clickers. They are beautiful tools, function great, and are rock solid. The smaller ones are tighter in terms of accuracy but the large ones are great too.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

One of our former mechanics, got one of these free, with the purchase of his toolbox. (yeah, right, I'm sure it was just added in). As he REALLY overpaid for his box, this WAS one of his few tools. I must iterate, DO NOT LEAVE THE BATTERIES IN THIS, they can corode. Also, after you have built you engine or two, and get to just maintence, the next time you need this style, the battery will be dead.


I was looking at the OTC ones that plug into a multimeter, and digitally read torque, similar the the digital Craftsman. But you can't beat the price and dependability of a good old fashioned torque wrench (a FAA friend sent mine in with his, after I helped him with a bunch of stuff, the only one that was off was a brand new one, ARGH)

 

[EdNJ]

One of our former mechanics, got one of these free, with the purchase of his toolbox. (yeah, right, I'm sure it was just added in). As he REALLY overpaid for his box, this WAS one of his few tools. I must iterate, DO NOT LEAVE THE BATTERIES IN THIS, they can corode. Also, after you have built you engine or two, and get to just maintence, the next time you need this style, the battery will be dead.

Yup,these digital Snap-On's kill batteries. I remove mine after use and have a bunch of spares in the same drawers

 

[drbill]

We use them where I work but the company pays for them. We have 3 in our department 1/4 3/8 1/2 They are available to be used by 30 techs and get used alot. They have worked flawlessly.
But for my self I would stick with the clicker type. If you have never used a digital torque wrench it's easy to go too far when tightening. It beeps at you and vibrates in your hand when you get to the torque.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

They probably use a piezo electric transducer to measure the torque.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/E7ACA50182E9D56486256856005AB37C

Charles

 

[eschoendorff]

They probably use a piezo electric transducer to measure the torque.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/E7ACA50182E9D56486256856005AB37C

Charles

I thought that piezo electric transducers were used to amplify acoustic guitars!

 

[Ramblur]

Yup,these digital Snap-On's kill batteries. I remove mine after use and have a bunch of spares in the same drawers

Ditto, mine has quite the appetite for batteries. I'll eventually switch to
the rechargables. Love the wrench though.

 

[KeukaDan]

I thought that piezo electric transducers were used to amplify acoustic guitars!

Piezoelectrics are amazing materials. The can be used for everything from creating a spark to sonar transducers all the way to torque sensors. They essentially work by either vibrating when electricity is applied to the piezoceramic, or by creating electricity when force is applied to the piezoceramic.