Torque wrench

[Jeepfisher]

Looking for recommendation on torque wrench. Don't have 200 bones to dish out on SnapOn but want a good one for around the shop doing lugs etc.... so something that goes up to 100 or 110.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

The beam ones sell for $5-20, and never fail.
I have ans SK and its been flawless.

 

[toplessHO]

I picked up a click type C man on sale for about $40
still have my beam type but to be honest Ive been spoiled

 

[tvtaurus]

I picked up a click type C man on sale for about $40
still have my beam type but to be honest Ive been spoiled

^2nd that! I'm spoiled with having expensive CDI and Snapon torque wrenches being supplied to us in the aviation field. We even have the silent dial type units for checking belt tension.

 

[mudflap]

I read a review on this other day while waiting at the barber shop... Best budget torque wrench... Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman.. The Kobalt came out on top.. But for just a little more the Gearwrench beat them all.... and i hear good stuff about the Tekton.. but have not seen any reviews...

 

[toplessHO]

and Gasp! the Cman was made in USA too

 

[d.mcfarland]

What's your budget? The Precision Instruments ones on tooltopia.com are made in the USA, brand new, and high quality. I think they are about $100.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

This one is getting good reviews, been watching it for some time now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FDJCH0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Jeepfisher]

This one is getting good reviews, been watching it for some time now.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FDJCH0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Actually this is the one I rented from auto zone to install my spacers on my Jeep. I found it to be solid and worked well. It was then that I started looking for one and came on here to ask. May look into this one more closely. Would rather one made in "Merica" just because.

 

[L.Cheapo]

and Gasp! the Cman was made in USA too

I hate to say it, but my Craftsman USA 1/2" drive torque wrench was an utter POS. Always babied and kept in a case, only used by me (diy, one vehicle at the time) and never dropped, the lock ring broke probably the 3rd time I used it. The plastic handle split and cracked on its own in a drawer untouched. No warranty. It's now a long reach hammer.

Replaced with Snap On. Worth it.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Actually this is the one I rented from auto zone to install my spacers on my Jeep. I found it to be solid and worked well. It was then that I started looking for one and came on here to ask. May look into this one more closely. Would rather one made in "Merica" just because.

Im thinking of getting it as my KD 1/2" Twrench is getting old. Everybody is so high on Tekton in general around GJ but the Tekton 24335 1/2" clicker is trash. I have some Tekton stuff, it is OK but nothing special. Made in USA good point bro, my KD is USA [it's 15 years old] it's too bad we get seduced by Chinese prices I was reading earlier today that Harbor Freight pays pennies literally for their merchandise. Those slaves in the Chinese factories must have a hell of a life.

 

[FlightParamedic]

I would think a 1/2" from Harbor Freight would be fine if you just want it for lug nuts, etc.

I wouldn't use it for a cylinder head job or anything...but I do use mine for lugs. Haven't had a wheel fall off yet...

 

[toplessHO]

I would think a 1/2" from Harbor Freight would be fine if you just want it for lug nuts, etc.

I wouldn't use it for a cylinder head job or anything...but I do use mine for lugs. Haven't had a wheel fall off yet...

you know the old saying torque til it snaps,back off a half turn

 

[firworks]

What's your budget? The Precision Instruments ones on tooltopia.com are made in the USA, brand new, and high quality. I think they are about $100.

Yep, if you can drop $100-ish bones those are fantastic. I'm never going back. It's one of my favorite tool purchases.

View media item 60928View media item 60926View media item 60925

 

[BillK]

Jeep,
Keep in mind that torque wrenches are most accurate near the middle of their range. If you want to be able to torque lug nuts to 100 lbs you need a wrench that goes to 200. Then that wrench will be pretty useless for smaller jobs in the 20-50 lb range. I actually have four of them at the shop to cover everything and really need to buy another.

 

[Jeepfisher]

Jeep,
Keep in mind that torque wrenches are most accurate near the middle of their range. If you want to be able to torque lug nuts to 100 lbs you need a wrench that goes to 200. Then that wrench will be pretty useless for smaller jobs in the 20-50 lb range. I actually have four of them at the shop to cover everything and really need to buy another.

Thanks... I appreciate that.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Thanks... I appreciate that.

More accurate yes. But the rest of the torque wrenches range will still fall within +/- 4% or whatever they advertise. Keep that in mind as well.

Hell, my Snap On tech angle is +/- 4% right in the middle of the range. Set it at 40 ft lbs and sometimes you get 41 sometimes you get 39.2 other times you get 43.

 

[MrGiggles]

Tekton

 

[L.Cheapo]

More accurate yes. But the rest of the torque wrenches range will still fall within +/- 4% or whatever they advertise. Keep that in mind as well.

Hell, my Snap On tech angle is +/- 4% right in the middle of the range. Set it at 40 ft lbs and sometimes you get 41 sometimes you get 39.2 other times you get 43.

Is yours an older one? My techangles are +/- 2% CW 20-100% scale. In the actual calibration paperwork, it was well within that spec.

 

[Squankum]

Ditto re. Precison Instruments. Google about within garagejournal, and you'll fine many positive reviews -- and that they're supplying Snap On.

The one in the pics above has a nice feature - you don't have to change the dial setting before you stow it. Compared to all the twisting I was doing every month or two on my Cman 1/2", from 100 or 110 lb.-ft. back to low range, that feels like luxury. (OTOH, little setting knob on that one is fast and easy.)

 

[Tonyuk]

I use a Norbar torque wrench, its excellent and still accurate after 4 years. I got it tested at work at it was still within 4%. One of the few brand still made in the UK

Easy to set up and use also.

Tonyuk

 

[guy48065]

Jeep,
Keep in mind that torque wrenches are most accurate near the middle of their range. If you want to be able to torque lug nuts to 100 lbs you need a wrench that goes to 200. Then that wrench will be pretty useless for smaller jobs in the 20-50 lb range. I actually have four of them at the shop to cover everything and really need to buy another.

Prove it.
At the typical spec of ±4% from 20-100% a 100ft-lb wrench must be within .8 FP at 20, 4FP at 100. So--"most accurate" at the bottom of calibrated range.

 

[stonesfan68]

Ditto re. Precison Instruments. Google about within garagejournal, and you'll fine many positive reviews -- and that they're supplying Snap On.

CDI is the Snap-on company that makes torque wrenches. Precision Instruments is a separate company. Both make great torque wrenches in the USA.

I ended up getting a 3/8" Snap-on flex head, split-beam type wrench off of eBay for about $120. It is in nearly new condition.


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[firworks]

CDI is the Snap-on company that makes torque wrenches. Precision Instruments is a separate company. Both make great torque wrenches in the USA.

I ended up getting a 3/8" Snap-on flex head, split-beam type wrench off of eBay for about $120. It is in nearly new condition.


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He's correct in the past. They did supply Snap On with some of their torque wrenches (split-beam style). Just not all of them. I believe they do not anymore.

 

[Shark Pilot]

I just bought a CDI (http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com/cat-20-1-85/flex-head-micrometer-adjustable-torque-wrench.htm) which is part of Snap On Industrial Brands - whether or not CDI supplies Snap On is up for debate - but for $115 from Toolsource I can't complain.

For torquing lug nuts a 1/2" HF for like $11 is probably fine for that application. Inevitably, you will need a few different sized wrenches to cover the various fasteners on your vehicle if you are doing any type of serious wrenching. If you can swing it you should just buy the better quality USA wrench like CDI or Precision Instruments which often can be had for just slightly more $ than mid-priced Taiwanese made stuff.

 

[country83]

He's correct in the past. They did supply Snap On with some of their torque wrenches (split-beam style). Just not all of them. I believe they do not anymore.

Precision supplied them in the past. Snap-on bought CDI probably about 20 years ago and now calls it Snap-on Specialty Tools. They make virtually all Snap-on's torque wrenches now.

Plus now SO recently bought Sturtevant Richmont and another company (Norbar, maybe? I can't remember off the top of my head).

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[SnapOnAddiction]

I bought my CDI made Wright Tool. Torque wrench for $50 off ebay and it was like brand new with all the original stickers and not a scratch ,don't look like it was used once.

Also bought the same torque wrench labeled Cornwell from the same guy on ebay for the same price although it was a little more used and sold it for profit though.

Those were 1/2 also got a mint Cornwell / Skidmore 3/8 (conveeted 1/4) for $35, Anyways just check ebay you can get a snap on labled cdi for under 200.

 

[jakewolf]

I'll throw in another vote for a PI wrench. I love mine. I certainly have my share of harbor freight tools in my box, but their torque wrench wasn't a keeper in my book. I was more than happy to retire it when the PI one arrived in the mail. Mine is going on 4 some years of use and still works flawlessly.