i need a torque wrench

[brownbagg]

my wish list is a rachet clicker 1/2 drive 20-150 ft lbs
budget $200

no way in hell can i afford snap on

been thinking proto

what you say?

 

[kythri]

I won't profess my expertise in this arena, but 20 lb-ft seems a bit low for a 1/2" drive - that seems more in the arena of a 3/8" drive.

Most 1/2" seem to start arount 50 lb-ft.

If the Proto meets your requirements, I don't think it's a bad option at all.

I see in 1/2" drive, Proto makes a 16-80 lb-ft, a 30-150 lb-ft and a 50-250 lb-ft.

 

[Jbullfrog]

The electronic torque wrenches can be had at the pawn shop for under $200.

 

[rodm1]

40-250 Ft./Lbs
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XMSFIM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[fordmazda]

do not and I mean absolutely not buy anything but a click type torque wrench. or dial style. not digital. go with a snap on or mac. invest in something you can trust to work consistently for a long time without recalibration. remember you get what you pay for

 

[SMKS]

The vast majority of torque wrenches are only rated accurate from 20% to 100% of full scale, even though some manufacturers will add numbers below the 20% mark.

For example, take the PI wrench listed above:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XMSFIM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The listing says it goes from 40-250 ft-lbs. But PI says on their site that they only meet their 4% accuracy from 20-100% of scale:
http://www.torqwrench.com/tools/C.php

Extremely Accurate-Accurate within 4% of reading from 20% of full scale to full scale.

So, it's really only considered accurate from 50-250 ft-lbs.

 

[bigenos]

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1304_torque_wrench_testing/

The full article showed the Craftsman, HF, and Snap-On all within a margin of error of one another. The digital torque adapter from HF was by far the most accurate and repeatable in their testing. I own a craftsman, but I only use it for lug nuts and suspension. I'd get it certified before building an engine or anything like that.

 

[wafrederick]

Problem with the HF torque wrenches is you throw them away when they break.Calibration places won't even touch them.

 

[ez-duzit]

Look for a quality used one in excellent condition.

 

[SMKS]

Problem with the HF torque wrenches is you throw them away when they break.Calibration places won't even touch them.

Why is that even a problem? They're only $10 with a coupon.

Plus, you can use the kit in the ratchet head to repair a Proto ratchet.

 

[kythri]

Problem with the HF torque wrenches is you throw them away when they break.Calibration places won't even touch them.

Not that I'd go to the expense of having a cheap torque wrench calibrated, but how do you know this?

Do you have first-hand knowledge of this? Why wouldn't a calibration shop take one in?

 

[firebox40dash5]

Not that I'd go to the expense of having a cheap torque wrench calibrated, but how do you know this?

Do you have first-hand knowledge of this? Why wouldn't a calibration shop take one in?

No doubt in part because no one in their right mind would pay twice the purchase price to have an old one worked on.

"Oh, you mean you guys won't recalibrate this for me? Well drat, guess I'll just run to the store and buy 2 more of them for what I was going to hand you assuming there were no other problems."

 

[Shadowdog500]

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1304_torque_wrench_testing/

The full article showed the Craftsman, HF, and Snap-On all within a margin of error of one another. The digital torque adapter from HF was by far the most accurate and repeatable in their testing. I own a craftsman, but I only use it for lug nuts and suspension. I'd get it certified before building an engine or anything like that.

Do you have a link to the full article?

The one you referenced only discusses what happens when you leave a harbor freight click style torque wrench set at 70ft-lb for 30 and 60 days.

Chris

 

[kythri]

No doubt in part because no one in their right mind would pay twice the purchase price to have an old one worked on.

"Oh, you mean you guys won't recalibrate this for me? Well drat, guess I'll just run to the store and buy 2 more of them for what I was going to hand you assuming there were no other problems."

So, they'd refuse to calibrate it because most people wouldn't bring it in?

Like I said, I doubt most people would, but I don't see that as being a reason they'd refuse the business. When/if my Craftsman torque wrenches get to the point of requiring recalibration, I'll look to buy something better that would be worth the expense.

Is there a technical reason for it? Is there something that makes an HF torque wrench unable to be calibrated?

 

[priceman1414]

Over the summer, in the Hot Deals section, there was a topic about SK torque wrenches (an older style that was made by a separate company) being sold on ebay for about $60 plus $20 shipping (roughly same price for 3/8" and 1/2" models).

I have the 1/2" and 3/8" (inch pound) models and like them, but I'm a home diy-er who doesn't use them every day.

 

[royesses]

Try Harry:
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Torquewr/97353.html

 

[7thDimension]

The HF wrenches aren't bad... I have one that's a few years old, and I also have one of those digital torque adapters (which I've checked against many other wrenches). And the HF one is still accurate to around .5-1.5 ft-ibs at 50, 70, and 90 ft-ibs... I have forgot to turn it back to zero after use a few times before.

You can get them for $9 with a coupon, and they have a lifetime warranty, so you can't lose. Actually, with the lifetime warranty, you could just return it whenever it loses calibration...

 

[firebox40dash5]

So, they'd refuse to calibrate it because most people wouldn't bring it in?

Like I said, I doubt most people would, but I don't see that as being a reason they'd refuse the business. When/if my Craftsman torque wrenches get to the point of requiring recalibration, I'll look to buy something better that would be worth the expense.

Is there a technical reason for it? Is there something that makes an HF torque wrench unable to be calibrated?

Try bringing a Polaroid or a Mickey Mouse camera to a real camera shop and ask them to work on it.

Places that specialize in one thing tend to get kind of passionate about that thing. My small engine guy won't touch low-rent Chinese equipment, either. I can imagine that since the cost is often well under what they'd want to fix it for, they've had plenty of people trying to cheap out on fixing it, too.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I would go to the OE of snap on. CDI, i think? Www.cditorque.com. Wait, it looks like Snap on now owns them.....I would not buy a truck brand thinking it's better quality,they don't make their own torque wrenches.....

 

[Farmall450]

I won't profess my expertise in this arena, but 20 lb-ft seems a bit low for a 1/2" drive - that seems more in the arena of a 3/8" drive.

Most 1/2" seem to start arount 50 lb-ft.

If the Proto meets your requirements, I don't think it's a bad option at all.

I see in 1/2" drive, Proto makes a 16-80 lb-ft, a 30-150 lb-ft and a 50-250 lb-ft.

I've never seen a clicker in 1/2 that didn't go to 10?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

The newer Husky USA torque wrenches are the same models sold by Matco & Gearwrench (all made by Apex), with a couple of cosmetic changes (rubber grip on Husky, logo/selector different), at a fraction of the price. Mine have been great to me.

1/2" Drive
$84.97 (vs $311.65 through Matco)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-2-in-Click-Torque-Wrench-H2DTW/202916180
(The Listing says 50-250ft/lbs, but on the actual packaging it says 25-250ft/lbs)

3/8" Drive
$74.97 (vs $275.65 through Matco)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-8-in-Click-Torque-Wrench-H3DTW/202916179

Here are the 1/2" drives visually compared side by side.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3259086&postcount=45

My coworker and I later tested if they clicked at the same settings on various nuts and bolts on vehicles in the shop, and they were dead on with each other. Still hoping Husky picks up the USA 1/4" torque wrenches in the future.

 

[ez-duzit]

My torque wrench ranges:

1/2"-drive Craftsman (new ~$60) 20-150 ft-lbs.

3/8"-drive Snap-On (mint ~$120) 40-210 in-lbs.

1/4"-drive SO Torque-O-Meter (mint ~$50) 0-50 in-lbs.

Just never could abide buying and putting up with the cheapest ****.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I don't know if clickers are that much better than the rest, but I have a Brownline digital torque wrench that seems to work pretty well.

 

[iroc409]

I have 4 torque wrenches, though one of them I just picked up because it was on sale cheap.

I have a 1/2" Craftsman click-type that is a few years old that I use for things like wheel lugs

I have a small HF clicky, I can't remember if it's 3/8" or 1/4"... I think 3/8". It's low-torque for things like certain drain bolts, I've used it on throttle bodies, etc. It's tested accurate against my beam wrenches. I usually have to crank down on the lock nut with pliers to hold its setting, though.

I have two USA-made beam wrenches (1/2 & 3/8) for when I need "really accurate".

With these 4, I haven't spent a lot, but with the beam wrenches I think I have good accuracy. One was a gift, so especially if you count that I've spent way below $200.

 

[SMKS]

I've never seen a clicker in 1/2 that didn't go to 10?

Lots of them don't go to 10 ft-lbs. That's very low for a large wrench.

 

[ez-duzit]

Not to mention that it would be crazy inaccurate at 10 ft-lbs.

 

[kblazer87]

my wish list is a rachet clicker 1/2 drive 20-150 ft lbs budget $200 no way in hell can i afford snap on

If you keep looking for the deals you can most certainly afford Snap on torque wrenches for less than your 200.00 budget.

I have a 3/8" drive digital Techwrench, a 1/2" drive Snap on split beam and a 3/8" drive Snap on split beam. All bought used and I have a total of 275.00 in all 3 of them.

 

[Farmall450]

Lots of them don't go to 10 ft-lbs. That's very low for a large wrench.

Strange.

The school has quite a few from napa, I'm not sure if they're Carlyle or the older house brand that was before them.

Let me go look at my HF one, I just assumed since some went to 10, they all did.

 

[619DioFan]

My 1/2 and 3/8 torque wrenches are husky and work very well. my 1/4 ( inch lbs ) is HF. doesn't get used that much so no reason to spend a lot on that one.

 

[wafrederick]

This place does not service the HF torque wrenches including other foriegn made torque wrenches, http://www.anglerepair.com/brands/

 

[cyberslick188]

Try bringing a Polaroid or a Mickey Mouse camera to a real camera shop and ask them to work on it.

Places that specialize in one thing tend to get kind of passionate about that thing. My small engine guy won't touch low-rent Chinese equipment, either. I can imagine that since the cost is often well under what they'd want to fix it for, they've had plenty of people trying to cheap out on fixing it, too.

So you are refusing to provide citations or reasons why they would refuse to calibrate it.

Sounds like complete ******** to me. Your analogy is also bogus. This isn't comparing a mickey mouse camera to a $4000 Canon.

This is a low end tool compared to middle of the road tools. You are comparing a toy to a professional tool. The harbor freight torque wrenches perform well, even incredible at the price point, and evidence has been provided to prove it.

You have no evidence and no logic other than name brand bashing. Take it somewhere else.

 

[SMKS]

As noted, I have read before that the calibration places won't service imported wrenches.

Note: We do not service foreign manufactured torque wrenches.

I don't think that matters in the case of the HF wrench. It's so cheap that if it ever broke just toss it in the scrap bin.

My 1/2" HF torque wrench is about 8 years old and has been used a lot. It still works well and it is still in spec, according to my torque adapter. If it broke tomorrow, I would go to HF and buy another one. My CDI and Armstrong torque wrenches are nicer, but the HF unit works fine.

 

[Farmall450]

As noted, I have read before that the calibration places won't service imported wrenches.



I don't think that matters in the case of the HF wrench. It's so cheap that if it ever broke just toss it in the scrap bin.

My 1/2" HF torque wrench is about 8 years old and has been used a lot. It still works well and it is still in spec, according to my torque adapter. If it broke tomorrow, I would go to HF and buy another one. My CDI and Armstrong torque wrenches are nicer, but the HF unit works fine.

Keep it going a while longer and you'll be at $1/year for use!

You'd have to be pretty old to do that with a snappy