Best torque wrenches

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JHZR2

JHZR2

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Hi,

I need some torque wrenches - one big one for tires, etc., and a small one for oil drain plugs etc...

So, I suppose I need one that is in its best accuracy range around 75-80ft lbs and another around 20-25 ft-lb

Is snap on the company to buy from??? their 200-1000 in-lb model seems like it may be a good way to cover all bases...


Now, how does accuracy work??? If snap-on has a wrench that can go up to 1000 in-lbs (83 lb-ft), and is claiming to have:
Guaranteed Accuracy: Within ± 4% clockwise and ± 6% counterclockwise from 20% of full scale to full scale.

does this mean that if it is advertised as a 200-1000 wrench, that it is within these accuracy ranges for 200-1000 in-lb, or does the accuracy guarantee mean that itis within the ranges from 20% above 200 up through 1000???

THanks!

JMH
 
if you're just doing tires, buy the $69 clicker from Sears... spending $400+ on a Snappy would just be a waste. with the money you save, you can buy a 3/8 drive one for your drain plugs.
 
I dont just do tires.. Im not doing head gasket jobs in my garage, but then again, I do some semi-advanced stuff, and since Im only 26, Ill be using this item for the next 50 years, so I dont mind paying for the best... or two best ones.

Thanks,

JMH
 
Heh, looks like you saw my Christmas list
wink.gif


I've got a Husky clicker and it works well. SK makes a good one as well and it is reasonably priced. I agree, the snappy is way more than you will ever use. The clicker (not the dial type) are the way to go because they are more compact. Craftsman has a new digital one that a friend of mine bought, but it seemed kind of gimmicky to me. I use the heck out of my Husky and it hasn't failed me yet. If I did it over again though I would probably buy the SK. It is the same price and I just like the feel of it a little better. The SK socket set I have is the best tool I've got.

I've never calibrated my torque wrench, but I have compared it to my neighbors Snap-on (he is a professional Honda Racing mechanic) and it seems to be spot on.

You will probably want two, one for inch pounds if you do light stuff (or ever work on a Harley). But if you only get one I would get this one : SK Clicker Torque Wrench 10-100 ftlbs
 
In answer to your question on Accuracy, here is the description from the SK wrench I just posted above:

Accuracy:
20 - 100% of scale....To the right +4% of reading & to the left +6% of reading

0 - 20% of scale.....+2 increments.

Hmm, the SK seems to be the same accuracy as the Snap-on. How much is the Snap-on?

Nothing against Snap-on (I've got a set of Snap-on screwdrivers that are absolutely awesome). They are just expensive as all heck. The Craftsman/SK/Kobalt/Husky will last you your lifetime. The Snap-on will last you 3 lifetimes.
 
One good selling point for Craftsman is that the guy behind the counter making $8 an hour is going to care how you broke your torque wrench, they will just give you a new one. I had a friend that used a 1/2 breaker bar with a 1/2-3/8 adapter to a 3/8-1/4 adapter on a stubborn bolt. He broke the adapter and the socket. He was completely honest with Sears, told them the story and the manager just laughed and gave him a new adapter and socket. Plus, you can always find a Sears...
 
I sprang for the digital Techwrench from Snap-on. I got one each of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" in order to cover all torquing needs. They do use batteries at a greater rate than I would like, but like most Snap-on tools they are a pleasure to use. Since I invested in the set, I note Sears is selling a very similar product. Don't count on either Sears or Snap-on for a warrantee exchange on these if you break them. Both will charge you for repairs.
 
SnapOn, Matco, Mac, etc. Repair the ratchet mechanism N/C. Calibration and torque function is not warranted. Got the bucks, blow em (tool men gotta eat too). Around a home shop Craftman, SK, or whatever they sell at HD or Lowes will last till you loan it and forget who to. Remember to the N'th degree accuracy isn't as important as consistencey/repeatability.
Bob
 
Quote:

if you're just doing tires, buy the $69 clicker from Sears... spending $400+ on a Snappy would just be a waste. with the money you save, you can buy a 3/8 drive one for your drain plugs.

Click to expand...


The click models from Sears are a good value when they are on sale, but don't seem to be all that different from what you will find at Home Depot under their brand.
 
another name to look at is PDI. they are owned by snap on. When I was in the USAF 90% of the torque wrenches were snap on or pdi.

don't plan on the highest accuracy on the lower 20% of the scale as a rule of thumb.
 
I do many different things that require a wide range of torque values. I found it better to purchase 1 wrench to cover one area of values rather accurately and another to cover the other ranges. Not saying the "one-size-fits-all" is a bad thing, especially if cost is a factor. All 3 of mine are Snap-On clickers and see the calibration table about every third year. None so far has needed any adjustment or been out of tolerance by more than 5%. They all get used pretty hard and stand up to the beating extremely well. They are all about 15 years old and I see no reason why my son won't be enjoying them for many years also once they get passed onto him.

We have a brace of Craftsmans at the track for strictly lugnut work. Whether its hamfisted use by folks without a tool nature or general wear and tear, I don't know. But it seems that we are taking one back about every six months. Most of it focuses on the racheting mechanism and the locking collar for the range adjuster.
 
Quote:

One good selling point for Craftsman ..they will just give you a new one. ...

Click to expand...


No..craftsman torque wrenches don't fall under the lifetime guarantee.

But anyway You should not get no more than a 0 to 50 ft lbs in a click torque wrench for drain plugs/spark plugs etc. More than that and the 'click' will be hard to feel and it will be inaccurate below 10 ft lbs. I bought a craftsman about 30 years ago and I still have it. Had the calibation checked twice.

I would not but a Snapon..but I agree..get a good one.
 
The huskys at home depot are better than sears craftsman ones, and the warrantee is the same--lifetime. The problem with the craftsman is the locking mechanism on the adjustment, it doesn't lock well. So when your pulling on the wrench handle (especially at higher torques) the handle can twist, changing the setting you put it at. The Husky is the "pull back the collar and set torque then release collar" type for a positive lock. Bonney-Utica also makes decent torque wrenches. IMO, and I've turned wrenches for a lot of years, snap ons (and other tool trucks) are way over rated, and extreemly over priced. I once tried to bet a friend that my IR impact gun would rotate his Snap-on impact gun backwards if we connected them together. He refused to play. All his tools were snap-on. I have IR air tools, craftsman and husky hand tools.
 
Quote:

So when your pulling on the wrench handle (especially at higher torques) the handle can twist, changing the setting you put it at. The Husky is the "pull back the collar and set torque then release collar" type for a positive lock.

Click to expand...


I want to say that Craftsman has both locking styles; it depends on whether its the "Digitork" or "Microtork" model.

By the way, I put off buying a torque wrench for a long time, and eventually picked up both a 3/8" and a 1/2" when they were on sale at Sears. I was able to get a pretty good savings by catching the sales.
 
I saw a colleague using a digital Snap-On (24-200 in-lbs) that vibrated when proper torque was reached. Nifty..
 
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