Torque Wrench Storage

[whackywaxer]

I have heard it is best to store a Torque Wrench set to a low setting near the bottom of the range but not at zero ......is this true...?

 

[kartracer55]

I dont know, but winding it to either zero or 10 ft lbs is much better than leaving it at 100 or whatever. I usually just wind them down until I dont feel tension on the spring, regardless or whether it falls at 10 or 5 ft lbs.

Jim

 

[vjquan]

I believe it's true. It's to release tension on the spring. I set mine on the lowest reading for the wrench.

 

[Luckydevil]

Every torque wrench instruction manual I have seen says to zero them out when done using them.

I imagine that constant stress on the internal spring would make the tolerances a little weak over time.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have heard it is best to store a Torque Wrench set to a low setting near the bottom of the range but not at zero ......is this true...?

One or two brands of torque wrenches cannot stand to have the tension relieved completely, it will allow things to shift inside the tool and when you reapply tension via the setting ring, the pieces won't reseat properly. I recall Proto being one of them. I was told this by the guy who calibrates our company torque wrenches, and our company has thousands of them, and he has been doing them for several years now, so I'm sure he knows.

Charles

 

[whackywaxer]

Thanks .......I appreciate the input.

 

[e-tek]

Just stick with the old school pointer-type - you can hand calibrate it and store it anywhere!

 

[unclemat]

I just got my Proto torque wrenches calibrated by Proto directly - came back with stickers saying to store them with setting on 20% of the scale.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I just got my Proto torque wrenches calibrated by Proto directly - came back with stickers saying to store them with setting on 20% of the scale.

I bet that was not cheap!

 

[franzdom]

Actually one I have says to leave it in a low setting, not the lowest. And they definitely don't want to be left at zero, I mean none of them say zero anyway.

 

[Tool Pants]

Here is a sticker on one of my old Uticas.

There are some styles of torque wrenches you do not need to store at the lowest setting. I have about 8 torque wrenches and they are all the style you should store at the lowest setting.

 

[egilp]

it depends on the type you have some can you just leave att 100nm and the one we sell we say they should be put to 0 when finished..... it´s easy and cheap to calibrate....

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I don't know of any adjustable torque wrench that has a zero setting on the scale. Most start at 20% of max. A 100 lb/ft torque wrench would start at 20 lb. You would want to set it to the LOWEST setting on the scale.

Precision Instruments split beam torque wrenches are one variety that do not need to be returned to the low setting, as there are no springs inside to be damaged, this is stated in the instructions that come with the tool.

Charles

 

[Stick Figure]

which is why i purchased my precision instruments wrenches. I got tired of the arguments about what to turn them down to. For what its worth, snap on sells the same wrenches w/ their on heads on them.

 

[nate379]

We have to store everything at the lowest setting at work other than the non adjustable ones of course.

We have several thousand dollars of torque wrenches from 5 in lbs to 1800 ft/lbs. Some go to the calibration lab every 3 months. Brand new stuff goes in before it goes into service as well. It's amazing how many BRAND NEW one I have kicked back because they couldn't meet spec. Ordered 4 new Matco ones a while back, all 4 were WAY off and 2 were so bad they couldn't be adjusted enough to calibrate correctly.

I have had great luck with Craftsman of all things though. $75 torque wrench that calibrates way better than a $350 Snap On, how does that make sense?

 

[nate379]

lowest setting, aka "zero'd out"

I don't know of any adjustable torque wrench that has a zero setting on the scale. Most start at 20% of max. A 100 lb/ft torque wrench would start at 20 lb. You would want to set it to the LOWEST setting on the scale.

Precision Instruments split beam torque wrenches are one variety that do not need to be returned to the low setting, as there are no springs inside to be damaged, this is stated in the instructions that come with the tool.

Charles

 

[nissan_crawler]

We have to store everything at the lowest setting at work other than the non adjustable ones of course.

We have several thousand dollars of torque wrenches from 5 in lbs to 1800 ft/lbs. Some go to the calibration lab every 3 months. Brand new stuff goes in before it goes into service as well. It's amazing how many BRAND NEW one I have kicked back because they couldn't meet spec. Ordered 4 new Matco ones a while back, all 4 were WAY off and 2 were so bad they couldn't be adjusted enough to calibrate correctly.

I have had great luck with Craftsman of all things though. $75 torque wrench that calibrates way better than a $350 Snap On, how does that make sense?

Believe it or not, HF torque wrenches meet cal more reliably than snap-on ones at work. I was a little miffed when my snap-on failed cal, and my $9 cummins tool truck torque wrench passed.