Harbor Freight Torque Wrench(es) For $10 +S/H

[toored]

Possible Presidents Day Only Sale on the toque wrenches at Harbor Freight. I've
only tried the discount code on the 1/2".

Link to torque wrenches at Harbor Freight

At checkout enter the below code in the "Coupon Code" box:
27353065


So someone on another board posted this deal.....these torques wrenches may last longer than the Craftsmans that are being posted. Also, this one has a "Lifetime Warranty"!

"Lifetime Warranty. We guarantee this Tool to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Limitations apply."

 

[unslow1]

There are coupons floating around to get each size for $10. I have all three. Tested against my SK split beam and they read the same.

 

[kunkernator]

Yup, these torque wrenches are great. I own all three, and they have been very accurate.

In addition to hem being better than the Craftsman wrenches, I read somewhere that someone calibrated one against a Snap On wrench and the HF one held the calibration better.

Made in Taiwan, for anyone curious. They come in a nice blow mold case.

 

[hammlm]

There are coupons floating around to get each size for $10. I have all three. Tested against my SK split beam and they read the same.

I would like to see those coupons posted up here, if anyone has them digitally.

 

[Hinson]

Here's coupons for 2 of them:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048280&d=1330737985

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048282&d=1330737985

 

[Hinson]

I posted links for the low range 3/8" and the 1/2" coupons, just waiting for mod approval. The coupons are valid until 5/3/12

 

[Imcrazy]

IIRC there was a test of torque wrenches in Car Craft Magazine in this months or last months issue. The HF wrenches were accurate.

FWIW my torque wrenches are SO so I am not trying to convice anyone here to buy them, only to provide info if you want to check the article out yourself.

 

[mayday0017]

hm... $30 for 3 torque wrenchs and they have lifetime warranty... Think I'll bite and just keep my high end wrench to check them against from time to time. I will feel much better if I do something stupid with one of these then my nice digital one I have now.

 

[ishiboo]

Interesting.

I am not sure initial accuracy is necessarily related to long-term accuracy, for most home users who don't have their torque wrenches calibrated yearly, do the HF wrenches still hold up?

I have a HF 1/2 I use for things like lawn mower blade bolts and other stuff I don't want to mess up, but I've always assumed it's probably only a bit more accurate than hand tightening.

I bought the digital Craftsman on the $60 sale, but I haven't picked it up yet... I have a feeling I'll return it and buy the $100 GearWrench made in the US.

 

[BTC]

It is interesting to hear that they are actually accurate. This would have been something I would have never considered purchasing at Harbor Freight. I need some torque wrenches.

 

[RedFordTruck]

They also have batteries on clearance... better jump on this deal fast!

http://www.harborfreight.com/clearance/192-volt-replacement-battery-96554.html

 

[Rewind97]

On another boad I'm on, a buddy of mine in the military who uses torque wrenches for a living (and calibrates them) told me they are real good wrenches.

 

[Bull]

I also read the latest issue of Car Craft where they tested these against much more expensive units. But who knows, they might get paid for their review...?

I am tempted by this, even though I am a USA-all-the-way kind of guy. My wallet cannot absorb the cost of multiple USA torque wrenches!

 

[pendragon1998]

I consistently see people saying that the HF torque wrenches are accurate. If you doubt it, you could always get one of these digital torque adaptors (or a similar product) and test it for yourself in a vise.

 

[ezriderga]

hm... $30 for 3 torque wrenchs and they have lifetime warranty... Think I'll bite and just keep my high end wrench to check them against from time to time. I will feel much better if I do something stupid with one of these then my nice digital one I have now.

I agree.

 

[creativecars]

They also have batteries on clearance... better jump on this deal fast!

http://www.harborfreight.com/clearance/192-volt-replacement-battery-96554.html

You say that, but I have tested these
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-pack-aa-alkaline-batteries-92404.html

against Duracell and Energizer and they performerd just as well and better. This was for my daughters science project using flashlight bulbs as an energy draw.

 

[Imcrazy]

I also read the latest issue of Car Craft where they tested these against much more expensive units. But who knows, they might get paid for their review...?

If that were the case, why should we not also assume that they may have also been paid by the manufacturers of the more expensive torque wrenches?

Just playing devils advocate.

 

[Bull]

I consistently see people saying that the HF torque wrenches are accurate. If you doubt it, you could always get one of these digital torque adaptors (or a similar product) and test it for yourself in a vise.

Car Craft tested that thing, too. Although, using a HF tester to verify accuracy of HF wrenches seems flawed to me.

If that were the case, why should we not also assume that they may have also been paid by the manufacturers of the more expensive torque wrenches?

Just playing devils advocate.

My position is that Car Craft might get paid to promote products, period. I don't know what their model is. I know HF advertises a lot with them. No, if Auto Restorer ran a test, it would mean more to me since they don't accept money to promote products.

 

[Jim Stabe]

The important thing with clicker torque wrenches is to release the tension after use. If you store them without taking the setting to zero the accuracy will go away in a month or two. That is true of any of them, not just HF.

 

[Bull]

Jim, what makes one better than the other over the long term, assuming always setting to zero for storage?

 

[pendragon1998]

I always understood that when storing, you should reduce the setting to near zero, but not entirely to zero.

If you’re using a mechanical click-type wrench, this one turns out to be absolutely true. A click-type torque wrench presses a ball into a detent that’s held in place by a spring. The wrench is normally adjusted by twisting the handle on the wrench. Twisting it in compresses the spring and requires more torque to pop the ball out of the detent. This is how it measures torque.

But if the spring is stored with the wrench “loaded” or set for a high torque rating, the pressure on the spring can cause it to weaken over time. To protect the wrench it should always be returned to the lowest setting before storing it back into your toolbox. For big wrenches (measuring in ft-lbs increments) the lowest setting is usually 20 ft-lbs. If, for some reason, you have a click-type torque wrench that goes all the way down to zero, leave the wrench set to 10 or 20 pounds. You always want to keep a minimum amount of pressure on the spring so that the ball can’t fall all the way out of the detent.

SOURCE

 

[Bull]

Here's coupons for 2 of them:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048280&d=1330737985

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048282&d=1330737985

Why are these coming up as "403 Forbidden" for me?

 

[Hinson]

Sorry Bull, they are doing it for me too from here, just google "harbor freight torque wrench coupon" should be second option that comes up. It's on slickdeals.

 

[Bull]

So, I added the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/3 wrenches to my cart and used the coupon code from the first post. It only applied to the 1/4 drive, the prices for the 3/8 and 1/2 stayed the same. It reduced the pre-shipping sub-total from $52 and change to $42 and change.

If anyone is getting three for $30, let me know the secret.

 

[MPOWERD]

Doesn't HF only accept 1 coupon per purchase?

 

[Bull]

Doesn't HF only accept 1 coupon per purchase?

I thought the coupon would apply to the whole order for some reason, I guess because the OP mentioned getting them for $10 each. But if you can only use one coupon per order, and it's $7 shipping for each order, then I'm looking at $17 each and not $10.

The nearest HF is maybe 35 minutes away, in a city I never go to.

I mean, $17 x 3 is pretty cheap for torque wrenches, but it might not be a tipping point for me.

 

[Skin]

You say that, but I have tested these
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-pack-aa-alkaline-batteries-92404.html

against Duracell and Energizer and they performerd just as well and better. This was for my daughters science project using flashlight bulbs as an energy draw.

Chinese batteries are fine for a shop light that gets used on a daily basis but I would never put them in something rarely used I care about. Chinese batteries like to explode after a year or two with surprising regularity.

 

[MPOWERD]

I thought the coupon would apply to the whole order for some reason, I guess because the OP mentioned getting them for $10 each. But if you can only use one coupon per order, and it's $7 shipping for each order, then I'm looking at $17 each and not $10.

The nearest HF is maybe 35 minutes away, in a city I never go to.

I mean, $17 x 3 is pretty cheap for torque wrenches, but it might not be a tipping point for me.

I got the discount to work on the 1/2 with the code 61448181 and the 3/8s with the code 27353065 at the same time. The trick was to enter each code after adding each torque wrench to the shopping cart. I was not able to get a discount to work on the 1/4 inch. Probably need to find a new code for that one...

So 6.99 flat rate shipping for 2 wrenches instead of for just 1...

 

[MPOWERD]

Here's coupons for 2 of them:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048280&d=1330737985

http://slickdeals.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1048282&d=1330737985

I posted links for the low range 3/8" and the 1/2" coupons, just waiting for mod approval. The coupons are valid until 5/3/12

Those codes expired on May 3rd of 2012... its 2013 now.

See my post above on how to get the 1/2 and 3/8s torque wrenches for 9.99 each until at least the end of the February.

 

[unslow1]

Those coupons are in almost every automotive magazine. Also Maxim and *******.
The code is 47248222. Expires 5/15/13. I walked in to get all three at that price. The coupon lists limit 5. The clerk just applied it to 1 of each.

If that doesn't work let me know and I'll scan it.

 

[MPOWERD]

I got the discount to work on the 1/2 with the code 61448181 and the 3/8s with the code 27353065 at the same time. The trick was to enter each code after adding each torque wrench to the shopping cart. I was not able to get a discount to work on the 1/4 inch. Probably need to find a new code for that one...

So 6.99 flat rate shipping for 2 wrenches instead of for just 1...

Even better I got all three for 32.97 by emptying the cart, then adding the more expensive 1/4" and using code 27353065 then adding the 1/2 inch and using code 61448181 to take 10.00 of each of them, and then adding the 3/8s which is already onsale for 12.98 so you can get all three for 39.96 with freight...

Any other order of entrance to the cart didnt work for me to get the max $20.00 off with these codes...

 

[MPOWERD]

Those coupons are in almost every automotive magazine. Also Maxim and *******.
The code is 47248222. Expires 5/15/13. I walked in to get all three at that price.

If that doesn't work let me know and I'll scan it.

That code worked to get the final 3.00 off the 3/8s Torque wrench to reduce the cart cost to 29.97 before freight...

For me to pick it up at the store I need a copy so would you mind scanning it in and posting it...?

 

[unslow1]

Deleted

 

[unslow1]

A link to my photo bucket. I scanned a few there.

http://s1023.photobucket.com/albums/af358/unslow1/

 

[03protege]

I have the 3/8" and 1/2" and from my hillbilly test I believe they match my Proto torque wrenches very well, or at least good enough for gubment work.

I do plan on adding the HF 1/4" to my collection as I don't feel like investing big money into something I hardly use. Also for 20-200 in lbs I generally just hand tighten so I figure even if this is off a little it's better than it would have other wise been.

The biggest differnce I notice is weight and build quality, the Proto wrenches are substantially heavier than these and I would bet that translates into the durability. Either way for the price you can't go wrong. The 1/2" has become my lug nut wrench to keep wear off my nicer one.

 

[charba951]

Picked one up for 20 bucks last week...Oh well

 

[SMKS]

Car Craft tested that thing, too. Although, using a HF tester to verify accuracy of HF wrenches seems flawed to me.

I have the HF torque tester. I used it to check my four torque wrenches (1 HF and 3 USA). All the torque wrenches checked out as more than accurate enough for my needs.

So either they're all accurate or they're all inaccurate by the same amount.

I think the HF tester is more than accurate enough for a DIY'er to check their torque wrenches. It comes with a calibration certificate and has a simple mechanism.

 

[djb2]

I always understood that when storing, you should reduce the setting to near zero, but not entirely to zero.

I have to wonder about how old-fashioned the advice is.

A spring with the correct metallurgy and tempering, used well within its elastic range, shouldn't weaken over time.

Sure, there are poorly made springs that take a set. But it's easy to find example of old heavily loaded and used springs that still work (e.g. valve springs that still meet factory specs). Steelmaking

I usually lower the setting on my torque wrenches, but I don't worry about it if I forget.

 

[Hootbro]

I have to wonder about how old-fashioned the advice is.

A spring with the correct metallurgy and tempering, used well within its elastic range, shouldn't weaken over time.

Sure, there are poorly made springs that take a set. But it's easy to find example of old heavily loaded and used springs that still work (e.g. valve springs that still meet factory specs). Steelmaking

I usually lower the setting on my torque wrenches, but I don't worry about it if I forget.

Old fashion or not, it is well tempered advice and is basic "mechanics 101" taught in any Aviation school.

I worked a tool crib for a few years that probably dealt with over 100+ torque wrenches on a regular calibration check cycle. In almost all cases where a torque wrench failed calibration, it was because it was dropped or stored in a tensioned setting. These where high dollar ones also.

 

[ajchien]

Ive got the 1/4 and 1/2 HF clickers. I occaisionally put them in a vise, put a 8 point socket on a 3/8 CMan beam wrench to see how they're doing. The 1/4 is pretty much right on, whereas the 1/2 is consistently about 5 ft-lbs off tighter than the marking throughout the range. Ive had them for about 2 years now.

As for the HF batteries, all I know is that the rechargeables had a pretty low capacity - so at 1.2V they dont last long. However, they're great for using in baby toys.