Do you recalibrate your torque wrench?

[hemioiler]

I have a mastercraft torque wrench (from Canadian Tire), it's a few years old now.

Do these things have to be recalibrated every once in a while? I read a while ago that you should store them at the lowest torque setting but I just keep mine where I last used it which is about 130 ft/lbs for my wheels.

Had to pull my wheel off yesterday and when torquing it down it almost felt like it "pinged" before the 130 ft/lbs, maybe I just have a poor memory for what 130 should feel like.

 

[oldcodger]

The instructions that came with mine (Craftsman) say to store at the lowest setting. I have not had mine calibrated but I believe they should be calibrated at some interval but for common automotive work I think you are OK if the wrench has not been abused.

 

[The Critic]

I usually send mine in every few years or whenever I drop it, whichever comes first.

My Snap-On techangles do have a cycle counter; I just go by the cycle count instead of the time requirement since I don't work on anything that requires me to be in compliance.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Just buy new ones and use the old ones as breaker bars.

 

[jhellwig]

Most applications like wheels just need a close and repeatable torque so calibration is not that important. Most fiber paper and mono metal gasket torquing falls into this also. Bearing loading or torque to yield and the like is where you need a decent calibration.

 

[Timmastertech]

We send wrenches out annually, between the two of us we always have something in the shop in each drive size within 6 months of calibration.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I would love to get my old Snappy calibrated; not sure how to go about it.

 

[Chris142]

I would love to get my old Snappy calibrated; not sure how to go about it.
View attachment 227722

You can google calibration companies near you or have the snap on guy do it

 

[hemioiler]

Most applications like wheels just need a close and repeatable torque so calibration is not that important. Most fiber paper and mono metal gasket torquing falls into this also. Bearing loading or torque to yield and the like is where you need a decent calibration.

I suspect using any torque wrench for stuff like wheels puts us far ahead of most guys who go by the number of cracks in their elbow.

 

[redhat]

I had my 3/8 and 1/2 Quinn wrenches calibrated by Angle. https://anglerepair.com/

very affordable service

 

[John105]

If I were a pro who worked on vehicles for a living I would, but since I’m just a shade tree I am ok not calibrating them. It would be interesting to see if values have changed versus the certificates in the cases.

Question for those who calibrate, does it change much?

 

[Trav]

Just check it against one of these before sending it out.

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM6...rque+adapter&mfadid=adm&qid=1719784234&sr=8-5

 

[Oliveoil2]

I suspect using any torque wrench for stuff like wheels puts us far ahead of most guys who go by the number of cracks in their elbow.

Three white knuckles 70, and 4 white knuckles 90.

 

[Chris142]

I just got my inch pound one fixed as it didnt click....Ever.. I had my snap on 1/2 drive one calibrated after I loaned it to a dingdong that was using it as a breaker bar.

 

[NYEngineer]

I used to give mine to the Snap on guy every couple of years. He'd charge me 25 dollars per wrench. One time I suspect he forgot and when I asked him he said Oh Yeah! and handed me my wrench without a certificate or anything and charged me 25 bucks and said it was perfect. I KNOW he didn't send it out so now, I compare my wrenches to each other and if one seems like it needs calibration, I send it to a place myself.

 

[willbur]

You can google calibration companies near you or have the snap on guy do it

My local Costco would let me use their torque check/calibrate machine to check mine.

 

[Chris142]

My local Costco would let me use their torque check/calibrate machine to check mine.

Costco has that?

 

[Snagglefoot]

You can always purchase an electronic torque measurement tool that Project Farm uses. The Mastercraft tools are cheap enough to chuck if it doesn’t pass. I’ve had one freeze up on me and took it to the Canadian Tire store without a receipt. The lady at the checkout just asked me to get an identical new one. No charge.

 

[BobsArmory]

My work tools have to be qualified/certified every 3 months so every once in a while I'll bring my own in and let the pros do mine when they aren't busy.

 

[Nessism1]

Bending beam torque wrenches never go out of calibration. You can check your fancy wrench against one of those if you don't feel like paying the calibration fee.