inch-pound Torque wrench

[satterfi]

I need an inch-pound torque wrench.

I don't want to spend mega-bucks for something with .001% accuracy and Ethernet communication capability.

Are the "Made in China" 3/8" drive, clicker type torque wrenches OK?

 

[Brad]

They should be OK for limited use. I use one of the cheapos for my lug nuts.

Also, you can troll eBay for bigger name wrenches. I picked up a nearly brand new Snap-On torque wrench for less than the price of a Craftsman. You can find some good deals if you look close enough.

 

[GSV]

You can try Ebay but good tools are worth the money.

I have 3 Craftsman torque wrenches and they have been great. I strongly recommend the ones that click and release when you hit a pre-set torque setting.

 

[labman]

I have bought several things from harbor freight. I doubt they would stand up to hard use, but for occasional use should be OK. I guess you could rig up some kind of an arm holding a weight to check the accuracy. It just doesn't make sense to buy a bunch of expensive tools for doing your own work on a couple of trucks and cars. Still more and more jobs can't be done without special tools like a torque wrench.

[ June 22, 2003, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: BOBISTHEOILGUY ]

 

[Jimbo]

I have a 3/8 drive beam-type Craftsman that was relatively cheap. Try Sears.

 

[cryptokid]

if you need an inch pound torque wrench and are working on horizontal surface and will not frequently need this torque wrench (only very occasionally)
wouldnt it make more sence to hang an appropriatly sized weight off the handle of a wratchet?

 

[Shannow]

Back when we were commisioning power stations, there was a gung-ho young engineer, who had latched onto the idea of calibration certificates with all instrumentation. So much so that he was a real pain in the quoit.

So he asked a Tech Assistant (T.A.) for a torque wrench to do up some transformer attachments. The T.A. complied.

The guy then asked for a calibration certificate, as he was not prepared to use the torque wrench without one.

T.A. pointed out that they were regularly tested and tagged as tested, but no certificates were generated (nor necessary really).

So the T.A. produced a certificate (wonders of computery), with a disclaimer that the torque wrench was calibrated at sea level, and needed a correction if used at a different altitude.

The Grad Engineer had a **** of a time trying to find altitude corrections for his calibrated torque wrench.

 

[cryptokid]

things do weigh less at higher altitudes. although that is incredibly anal.

 

[Smoky14]

I got a complete set of "calibrated" torque wrenches at a mil surplus sale for $15. These are mil spec and can be re-calibrated if necessary. Uncle Sam has the best equipment if you can find it.
Smoky the cheap

 

[tom slick]

you can convert in-lbs to ft-lbs by dividing by 12 if that helps you.

if you ever drop your torque wrench you MUST recalibrate it if you want it to be accurate. if you are using a cheap torque wrench it will be cheaper to buy a new one.
all torque wrenches for aircraft use in the Air Force are calibrated every 3 months, sooner with any rough handling. i have never heard of any altitude correction. i would only think that would apply to a very specific, high tolerance torque. automobiles and aircraft and not that specific.
a torque wrench is not as accurate at the lower 20% of it's scale, so if you need to torque something (for instance) to 20 in-lbs don't buy a 20-80 in-lb torque wrench.

 

[Rick in PA]

I like the beam type. Simple and not much to get knocked out of wack on them.

 

[moribundman]

I just got a nice new torque wrench. It's doesn't have the range satterfi is looking for (mine is 10-100 Nm), but I thought I'd show it anyway.

 

[mph]

quote:

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Originally posted by tom slick:
i have never heard of any altitude correction

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I'm pretty sure the altitude correction table is stored next to the muffler bearings and metric screwdrivers.

 

[Shannow]

quote:

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Originally posted by mph:
I'm pretty sure the altitude correction table is stored next to the muffler bearings and metric screwdrivers.

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You got it.

I might tell the story about this guy and the vacuum pump (to evacuate hydrogen cylinders) one day if there's enough interest.

 

[acranox]

I've got a Husky torque wrench, and it's pretty good. I'm pretty sure there was a smaller one that did In-Lbs...anyhow, I think it's still fairly accurate even after I used it as a breaker bar once to remove a really stubborn bolt (i just set it to the max, and pulled with all my might, the thing clicked, but I kept pulling and pulling, and pulling, until about 30 minutes later the friggin bolt came out.)

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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(i just set it to the max, and pulled with all my might, the thing clicked, but I kept pulling and pulling, and pulling, until about 30 minutes later the friggin bolt came out.)

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!!!