How do these torque wrenches compare quality wise?

[txbonds]

Anyone compared these?

Current Taiwan made cobalt - sort of looks like a copy of CDI
Current USA made Husky (from other posts it possibly looks same as gear wrench/matco/etc)
Prior generation Husky Pro - not sure on COO - had plastic handle


I have an older 3/8 husky pro and a newer 1/2 kobalt Taiwan. Just wondering which is best bet now for new purchase and if the newer husky or kobalt are better or worse than the older husky pro.


and as a follow up how would the CDI torque wrenches from Snap On / Williams compare?


Thanks for any insight from folks that use these a lot as I will use mine infrequently but want something that will hold up better than the old plastic handle husky did.

 

[skruft]

I have some of the Snap-on Torqmeter with the gauge, an old Craftsman click type, and an ancient Blackhawk with the gauge. They all work. I prefer the click type.

 

[txbonds]

I prefer the micrometer style units over the dual beam or digital gauge units.

My old husky pro and the newer kobalt units have the lock ring that you pull towards the handle to make adjustments. Easy enough but sometimes hard to pull and turn at same time for large adjustment changes. This is what is wearing out on the old husky pro with plastic handle. The newer usa made husky has a twist style lock ring that seems easier in some ways to use.


I guess I'm just trying to figure out where to get best bang for buck on a replacement 3/8 torque wrench and the local options I'm finding are the husky usa, the Taiwan kobalt. It also looks like I could order an SK or CDI (SnapOn) for 50 to 75 percent more.

 

[jim1987]

New husky is USA made also rebadged as matco and gearwrench

 

[txbonds]

New husky is USA made also rebadged as matco and gearwrench

I picked that up in reading but I also know that doesn't always mean better or preferable in use, so that's why I was asking. That said if they are really that much better than the others I will look that way when time to pick up my replacement. Thanks.

 

[jim1987]

I picked that up in reading but I also know that doesn't always mean better or preferable in use, so that's why I was asking. That said if they are really that much better than the others I will look that way when time to pick up my replacement. Thanks.

Well to throw in a wrench, a $10 hf torque wrench tested just as well as any other in craft magazines test.

 

[txbonds]

Well to throw in a wrench, a $10 hf torque wrench tested just as well as any other in carquest magazines test.

Is there a link to that article? I'm not finding anything when searching as I only get links to the auto parts place. Thanks again.


EDIT: did you mean Car Craft? I found a link to that on the HF website.

 

[jim1987]

Ya, sorry