Inch lb torque wrench recommendations
- Thread starter dlundblad
- Start date
- Status
What drive are you looking for?
Are you wanting a beam or micrometer (clicker) type?
GearWrench has some beam types for around 40.00
http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?find=&category=4941
I have the Harbor Freight torque wrenches for now. (Saving up for a Precision Instruments) No complaints as of yet.
Are you wanting a beam or micrometer (clicker) type?
GearWrench has some beam types for around 40.00
http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?find=&category=4941
I have the Harbor Freight torque wrenches for now. (Saving up for a Precision Instruments) No complaints as of yet.
Last edited:
I work in a calibration lab and calibrate all sorts of torque wrenches. The beam type seldom go bad, but are difficult to use in tight spaces. The "clicker" types are the easiest to use. I like the Craftsman clicker wrenches. They have a nice crisp click, generally work within tolerance, are long enough to give sufficient leverage, and are on sale at Sears quite frequently. The Harbor Freight ones are Ok, but they are generally on the short side and don't give as good leverage as others.
Check out the US made Husky from Home Depot. Over your budget, but worth it IMO.
I have the craftsman 3/8 torque wrench click style, I couldn't be happier with it. I use it to torque lug nuts on my forte mainly, and have also used it for spark plugs. As a previous poster mentioned, they have a nice crisp click, and are extremely smooth working. I also have a 1/2 harbor freight for my Saturn lug nuts, it works nicely too but sometimes it slips? like its not catching on the gears, but I can live with that it happens so rarely.
I have the 1/2" drive and 3/8" drive ones from NAPA.
They were very cheap and I am very happy with them both.
They were very cheap and I am very happy with them both.
Are you looking for 3/8 drive inch pound? For inch you can use 1/4" drive with a 3/8 adapter if needed.
Once you hit about 100 in. lbs you are well within the range to use a low scale 3/8" Nm or lb·ft tool
Once you hit about 100 in. lbs you are well within the range to use a low scale 3/8" Nm or lb·ft tool
Originally Posted By: Trav
Are you looking for 3/8 drive inch pound? For inch you can use 1/4" drive with a 3/8 adapter if needed.
Once you hit about 100 in. lbs you are well within the range to use a low scale 3/8" Nm or lb·ft tool
This is a consideration. Ill be getting it for adjusting my transmission bands. Space is a bit limited so the 1/4" might be a better alternative.
I was in at Sears today and took a look at their wrenches. $40 for 3/8" wasn't too bad. Only a 1 yr warranty though.. Boo.
Are you looking for 3/8 drive inch pound? For inch you can use 1/4" drive with a 3/8 adapter if needed.
Once you hit about 100 in. lbs you are well within the range to use a low scale 3/8" Nm or lb·ft tool
This is a consideration. Ill be getting it for adjusting my transmission bands. Space is a bit limited so the 1/4" might be a better alternative.
I was in at Sears today and took a look at their wrenches. $40 for 3/8" wasn't too bad. Only a 1 yr warranty though.. Boo.
For transmission bands a low inch 1/4 drive is great. Its smaller size really helps in tight spaces.
How low in in.lb do you need to go?
Something like this would be great if its in the range.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CDI-301LDIN-14-i...ols&vxp=mtr
How low in in.lb do you need to go?
Something like this would be great if its in the range.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CDI-301LDIN-14-i...ols&vxp=mtr
Last edited:
I recently bought the made in the USA GearWrench 85051 25-250 in/lb to replace my old craftsman and I have been very pleased with it. It was nearly double your $50 limit though.
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
This is a consideration. Ill be getting it for adjusting my transmission bands. Space is a bit limited so the 1/4" might be a better alternative.
I was in at Sears today and took a look at their wrenches. $40 for 3/8" wasn't too bad. Only a 1 yr warranty though.. Boo.
What is the exact torque spec you need? That will determine the range you need.
For 1/4" I have a little beam torque wrench that goes up to 120 in-lbs. I use it for bikes mostly.
For 3/8" I have one that goes from 50-250 in-lbs.
As far as warranty, most quality torque wrench brands I can think of only have a one year warranty. It's a precision tool that needs to be used properly.
This is a consideration. Ill be getting it for adjusting my transmission bands. Space is a bit limited so the 1/4" might be a better alternative.
I was in at Sears today and took a look at their wrenches. $40 for 3/8" wasn't too bad. Only a 1 yr warranty though.. Boo.
What is the exact torque spec you need? That will determine the range you need.
For 1/4" I have a little beam torque wrench that goes up to 120 in-lbs. I use it for bikes mostly.
For 3/8" I have one that goes from 50-250 in-lbs.
As far as warranty, most quality torque wrench brands I can think of only have a one year warranty. It's a precision tool that needs to be used properly.
I have had Craftsman click-style torque wrenches, and they break. I gave up on them after a barely-used one broke the ratcheting mechanism. The replacement was a redesigned head which cost about the same as a new wrench.
My go-to wrenches are the inexpensive Harbor Freight ones. I've read occasional complaints that people break bolts because they never felt the click. The 1/4" one does admittedly have a more subtle click, but it's user error when you break a bolt. You should always try a changed setting before using it on the bolt. Both to get a feel for the force required and to verify that you can detect the click.
My go-to wrenches are the inexpensive Harbor Freight ones. I've read occasional complaints that people break bolts because they never felt the click. The 1/4" one does admittedly have a more subtle click, but it's user error when you break a bolt. You should always try a changed setting before using it on the bolt. Both to get a feel for the force required and to verify that you can detect the click.
Two 35 year old Proto and one Snap-On."Made in the USA"
I ended up going with a Harbor Freight model. I was unaware that HF carried an inch lb torque wrench.
I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on a tool that I can get for a small fraction of the price at HF with a lifetime warranty. I am a shade tree mechanic so it will fit my needs just fine.
I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on a tool that I can get for a small fraction of the price at HF with a lifetime warranty. I am a shade tree mechanic so it will fit my needs just fine.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
You better make sure to run some kind of rudimentary check on it before going wild with it.
I have done a few simple tests and it seems spot on with a $100 craftsman wrench from the mid 80's. I also plan on getting the HF torque wrench calibrator in the near future.
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-torue-adapter-68283.html
Its on sale too.
You better make sure to run some kind of rudimentary check on it before going wild with it.
I have done a few simple tests and it seems spot on with a $100 craftsman wrench from the mid 80's. I also plan on getting the HF torque wrench calibrator in the near future.
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-torue-adapter-68283.html
Its on sale too.
- Status
