Jump to content

How Much Should I Pay For A Decent Torque Wrench


Bingster

Recommended Posts

Unless you need it ASAP - you can pick up a used 1/2" drive Snap-On for under $200 pretty easily and then send it in to be calibrated to make sure that it is in spec. I use them just enough that I justified buying Snap-On pieces (I have a couple of different ones with different torque ranges).

 

Snap-On (or any professional level tool) holds value too - so if you decide you don't really need it or use it enough - you can get most of your money back out of it.

 

Also - check pawn shops - I have picked up some great nearly new or never used professional tools on occasion, but its totally luck of the draw.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, HotRodTractor said:

Unless you need it ASAP - you can pick up a used 1/2" drive Snap-On for under $200 pretty easily and then send it in to be calibrated to make sure that it is in spec. I use them just enough that I justified buying Snap-On pieces (I have a couple of different ones with different torque ranges).

 

Snap-On (or any professional level tool) holds value too - so if you decide you don't really need it or use it enough - you can get most of your money back out of it.

 

Also - check pawn shops - I have picked up some great nearly new or never used professional tools on occasion, but its totally luck of the draw.

Yup watch ebay. I picked up a greasy snap on with case for under $50

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harbor Freight has them all the time for about 12.00 but I've heard that after being used once or twice they become inaccurate.  I always bought Snap-On tools in the past. But if you aren't using them everyday I find it hard to justify the cost. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Don Coatney said:

I never owned a torque wrench until about 20 years ago. Did it all by feel. Never had an engine rebuilt failure except one and that was because I did not  mike the rod bearings correctly and ran it like a race car out of the box.

Why does this not surprise me....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Craftsman makes good wrenches if you're on a budget.  I have several Snap On here at home and that's all that is used at the shop.  I've really gotten to like the dial variety....  Click wrenches are all fine too.  Whatever you get used have calibrated (as mentioned already).  I have all my wrenches calibrated at Washington Calibration in Tempe, AZ.  Great outfit to work with.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nobody has mentioned the bending beam type yet

, but they are worth discussing.

 

Very accurate, almost impossible to go out of tolerance, as long as the scale and pointer are at zero at rest.  Cheaper than other types.  But, are difficult to use in all positions. 

 

I use an old one to check my click types.  Anchor it in the vise link it to the clicker using a square to square adapter I made and read the scale while waiting for the click. 

 

I used to work for a major airline and we had a huge certification lab that had to periodically verify all the measurement tools used by over 5000 mechanics.   The techs that worked there told me they had never seen a bending beam wrench fail the accuracy test.

Edited by kencombs
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ken...........I assembled the 318 Poly using a bending beam torque wrench, this was in 1974 and the engines still holding together.......lol............still got the wrench which has a scale on both sides so it can do left or right hand threaded bolts and it gets used........andyd   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Don Coatney said:

I never owned a torque wrench until about 20 years ago. Did it all by feel. Never had an engine rebuilt failure except one and that was because I did not  mike the rod bearings correctly and ran it like a race car out of the box.

 

I pretty much learned my mechanic skills working on my '33 Plymouth using the "Instruction Manual" that came with the car as a guide. There are absolutely no torque specifications published for that era car. Without torque specs who needs a torque wrench?

 

When I got to the engine, I decided to follow the torque specs given for slightly newer versions of the engine. And that is about all I've ever used my torque wrench for.

 

8 hours ago, kencombs said:

Nobody has mentioned the bending beam type yet

, but they are worth discussing.

 

Very accurate, almost impossible to go out of tolerance, as long as the scale and pointer are at zero at rest.  Cheaper than other types.  But, are difficult to use in all positions. 

 

I use an old one to check my click types.  Anchor it in the vise link it to the clicker using a square to square adapter I made and read the scale while waiting for the click. 

 

I used to work for a major airline and we had a huge certification lab that had to periodically verify all the measurement tools used by over 5000 mechanics.   The techs that worked there told me they had never seen a bending beam wrench fail the accuracy test.

 

Any "click type" torque wrench can get out of spec but the bending beam type is by its very design going to stay calibrated forever barring some horrible abuse (cutting, filing or torching the beam). And they are also cheaper. So, of course, that is what I got those many years ago and still have.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I stayed away from the beam type simply because getting accurate readings require a straight down look at the beam.  Compare it to sitting in the passenger seat and glancing at the speedometer compared to behind the wheel reading.  Spring type aren't that bad as long as you take the tension off after using it.  Even if it's off a bit, at least all the nuts/bolts just tightened are at the same torque which is a reason why a torque wrench should be used in the first place.    When I was in the business professionally,  tightening head bolts that were at shoulder height or higher, pulling torques that were closer to 200 ft.lbs than 100, looking down on a beam style or from a step ladder were not good choices. I'm not sure you can do real accurate readings with a beam style bent over a fender either.   

 

You probably don't need the 200 $ plus wrenches for your occasional usage.  The 40-50 $ spring type that you can set would be my choice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have noticed in our local autoparts store an adaptor for your typical 1/2" wrench;

ToolPro Digital Torque Adaptor, , scaau_hi-res

 

ToolPro Digital Torque Adaptor, , scaau_hi-res

Never used one before.

Edited by maok
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a heads up if you use a click type wrench with the settings on the bar - my dad had one which started to undo at the point arrowed. It meant his settings were about 20 lbs out. Blew 3 head gaskets before we figured out the problem.

 

Rick

6474470S.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/24/2018 at 5:31 PM, maok said:

I have noticed in our local autoparts store an adaptor for your typical 1/2" wrench;

ToolPro Digital Torque Adaptor, , scaau_hi-res

 

ToolPro Digital Torque Adaptor, , scaau_hi-res

Never used one before.

 

This looks like an interesting device. I assume it is using an electronic strain gauge on the shaft between the input and output. If so, then with decent electronics, it should be pretty accurate and probably stay accurate. I should to look into those a bit more.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That electronic gizmo would be interesting attached to a bending beam torque wrench, I'd think you'd be able to check your accuracy............lol...........or maybe not.......andyd 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I was a kid futzing around with go carts and mini bikes, I bought a K Mart beam scale and pointer wrench for working on single cylinder engines, I think I paid $12.47 for it. When cars came along it got a lot of use by me and the neighborhood. I got a Craftsman click style to about $30.00.  Just did some valve work on my snow blower so I pulled the old k mart wrench to reinstall the head. Then I ran the click style wrench over the bolts and found 2 bolts a hair loose, probably due to aforementioned viewing angle error.

Edited by greg g
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Andydodge said:

That electronic gizmo would be interesting attached to a bending beam torque wrench, I'd think you'd be able to check your accuracy............lol...........or maybe not.......andyd 

 

Maybe. The HF version apparently has a peak read function so that should show what you applied through the bending beam torque wrench. Of course you'd have to trust the value given by the gizmo.

 

FWIW, the HF version looks the same as the one posted earlier in this thread other than having a "Quinn" name on it. It wouldn't surprise me if they all come from the same Chinese factory.

 

Now I am thinking how I could rig a test setup to see how accurate a torque read you get. Got to be simple and fool proof as I am getting to be more of a fool and simpleton as I get older.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beam types would be the most reliable. I have both types: click and beam in craftsman. I also bought a cheap o beam type years ago that has the socket head on both sides of the business end of the wrench, so if you are torquing something upside down you can read the scale as well - pretty handy... I still use the click and then recheck with the beam on critical items. For high torques my buddy has a big snap on wrench I’ll borrow on the rare occasion. Important to reset the click type to zero when not being used.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use