Torque Wrench checkers & testers - anyone own one?

[Pwaley]

Does anyone here have the luxury of a high-end wall or fixed table mounted digital torque wrench checker/tester?

I've been thinking about buying one new, or open box as I don't like sending my tools in for "recalibration" only for some hack to scratch up my expensive torque tools. Personal preference so take what you will but I like to do things myself whenever possible.

Stahlwille, Norbar, Gedore, & Tohnichi are what I'm dreaming about! The Tohnichi & Stahlwille look the most quality but I think we can agree that accuracy and repeatability is more important than aesthetics. Snap-on has a made in USA one that's affordable at <$700 MSRP. It would look neat mounted on a concrete wall so you can check your neighbors and friends torque wrenches on a regular.

 

[corn chip]

if you have the money why not. get the stahlwille. go big or go home

 

[WWheeler]

Nope, I do not. It'd be nice though. It's just too rich for my blood.

I might get **** about it but I do occasionally check mine against a Horror Fright digital torque adapter and that's plenty OK enough for me and my budget. I set up my phone to video tape it so I can go back and better see what it was reading and it seems to me at least to be a pretty reliable/consistent way of checking.

If I ever do have any doubts though I have local access to have mine calibrated for free but it involves asking a favor from a friend who works in a mfg quality lab and calling in favors like that is something I only like to do as rarely as I can get away with. I've only ever called that favor in once before just because it was when he first offered so I took all my wrenches to him, and in any case, just like with the HF adapter I've not yet ran into any of my torque wrenches being out more than +/-4%.

 

[unslow1]

I occasionally check mine against a deflecting beam wrench.

 

[Pwaley]

if you have the money why not. get the stahlwille. go big or go home

Stahlwille is my favorite for sure and can't go wrong, just $$$!

Nope, I do not. It'd be nice though. It's just too rich for my blood.

I might get **** about it but I do occasionally check mine against a Horror Fright digital torque adapter and that's plenty OK enough for me and my budget. I set up my phone to video tape it so I can go back and better see what it was reading and it seems to me at least to be a pretty reliable/consistent way of checking.

If I ever do have any doubts though I have local access to have mine calibrated for free but it involves asking a favor from a friend who works in a mfg quality lab and calling in favors like that is something I only like to do as rarely as I can get away with. I've only ever called that favor in once before just because it was when he first offered so I took all my wrenches to him, and in any case, just like with the HF adapter I've not yet ran into any of my torque wrenches being out more than +/-4%.

Yeah, having such a tool at home is just a very nice luxury and adds some extra spice to the wall or fixed table. That's a cool connection to have, a friend who works in a lab who has access to industrial level calibration equipment. Yeah, most things we do are overkill but it's fun and harmless!

I occasionally check mine against a deflecting beam wrench.

How accurate is this method? Ideally <2% I hope!

 

[visionguru]

If you have money to burn, garage space to set up, go for the best looking one to you. The Stahlwille looks nice.

Digital torque wrench is mostly an electronic sensor, and can be calibrated electronically to be super accurate. The chances are that similar or same sensors are used regardless of brands.

I have this $30 Powerbuilt adapter. When comparing against my Snap On Techangles (1/4", 3/8",1/2"), which were calibrated to 1% or less, it's dead on, barely any difference in torque readings. I'm using it to calibrate my clickers.

A money saving, space saving solution might be: buy 3 of this kind of adapters; test their accuracy (with accurate device); keep the most accurate(<1%), and throw it in the toolbox.

 

[Cruzan80]

Agreed. I have one of the digital adapters (I think mine is HF). Always read close to either a clicker or the digital torque wrench I have.

Been meaning to try and find one that goes low enough so I can check calibration on the 1/4" dr stuff I have. Torque screwdrivers, etc. Pick them up cheap, and would help when re-selling them to be able to say I checked them against a known good reader...

 

[ricleh]

I have 3 torque testers for different ranges. I used to buy used torque wrenches and torque screwdrivers and fix and recalibrate them. I still have over 90 torque devices I believe. I don't work on stuff as much as I used to so I always check the calibration of my torque wrench or screwdriver before I use it. All of mine have been calibrated and I can't remember the last time I went to use one that was out of calibration when I tested it. If I am doing a big job I might use 5 or 6 torque wrenches with each one set to a particular value for that job. About 95% of my torque instruments are calibrated to +/- 1% or 2% over the 20% to 100% range of the instrument. The rest are calibrated to +/- 4% over the 20% to 100% range of the instrument. I still have a lot of spare parts to repair and recalibrate the torque instruments and from time to time I purchase something on ebay and rebuild it. My torque testers and made by CDI which is owned by Snapon. I have had the torque testers tested a couple times by CDI and they have never had to be recalibrated so far.