Torque Wrench

[YankeeFan]

Just started to look for one. Anyone have suggestions on a good company and style. Was edging towards the micrometer style with a "clinker" when the set torque was reached. But there are so many manufacturers out there, was hoping someone could offer some companies to buy from and not buy from.

Howard

[Al-53]

Well Craftmans makes a nice one..plus lifetime warranty on hand tools....I have one and its a pretty rugged tool....I think I paid close to 100.00 for it...20-150 ft pounds...1/2 drive...I use it mainly for torqueing my wheels and motorcycle wheels....

I have a smaller one also for doing engine parts...and auto use...

stay away from ther Harbor freight ones....cheap made and very inaccurate....

now if you want to go a step up with more money go snap on....Sears sells the KD brand also and they are very close to snap on....very good tools...they did not have them when I got mine a few years back....


I have a torque wrench in 1/4 1/2 3/8 drive....

also try ebay...some nice deals ...buy quality....cheap tools loose calibration fast....


remember they come in foot pounds and inch pounds....get the right one for your applications....

Al

[CoryB]

Craftsman warranties the beam-style torque wrenches for life but not the clickers. Those are 1-year only. I know this from painful personal experience.

The Husky brand clickers from Home Depot are allegedly made by the same manufacturer as Craftsman and carry the same warranty for about half of the price.

As Al-53 stated, stay away from the super cheap things at Harbor Freight and similar places.

[ScottB]

I got mine from Craftsman also ... had some tool special and quite reasonable with discount as I remember.

[trhland]

check out snap-on. on sale for 300 bucks:D

[Al-53]

Craftsman warranties the beam-style torque wrenches for life but not the clickers. Those are 1-year only. I know this from painful personal experience.

The Husky brand clickers from Home Depot are allegedly made by the same manufacturer as Craftsman and carry the same warranty for about half of the price.

As Al-53 stated, stay away from the super cheap things at Harbor Freight and similar places.


you are right..I went and looked at the box mine came in...its a warranty for 2 years....I guess they even lowered it more...


also stay away from the Kobalt tools...they use to be made by Snap On ..but they changed who they have brand thier tools now..very cheap looking now...


AL

[julian]

I have a couple of the Craftsman clickers, "Microtork" and made in the USA - they are over 15 years old and they still work fine.
I use them occasionally, not for business. I never had a problem with them, after you use them you dial them back down to Zero for storage, and put them back in their boxes and into the tool chest so they don't get banged around.

[killrflake]

I've also got the Craftsman 1/2 inch drive and have no problems for aprox. 7 or more years I've had it. Mostly used for wheels. I have the smaller 3/8 in. that reads in inch/lbs. also. I know you can buy better but the price of those brands are a bit to high for what I need.

[wytstang]

Craftsman or Snap-On or even MAC tools will be a fine choice.