Torque Wrench Checker

[The Critic]

I recently paid $125 to get my 3/8" dr TechAngle inspected and calibrated (if-needed). Snap-On wanted extra coin for the certificate, so I never found out if the calibration was even necessary.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Tor...r—1-2-and-3/8"-(25-250-ft-lb)/QCDTC3250

This product caught my attention. As someone who owns a fleet of torque wrenches, I can see the ROI here. Does anyone else own one?

 

[Timmastertech]

snapon man has one on the truck, cornwell man has his version on the truck. We use them to check our wrenches

 

[samven]

It would be fine if you just need to check your wrenches but if you are in a field where your tools have to have a calibration certificate this will just be another item to send in for calibration. If you just need to check them this is much cheaper https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-to-250-ft-lb-digital-torque-adapter-58706.html

 

[tbm5690]

It would be fine if you just need to check your wrenches but if you are in a field where your tools have to have a calibration certificate this will just be another item to send in for calibration. If you just need to check them this is much cheaper https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-to-250-ft-lb-digital-torque-adapter-58706.html

That's questionable on accuracy, no?

 

[JWC86]

All of the snap on trucks have them. If you have a truck guy near by you could just do that if you wanted. Not very convenient thou.

 

[Trav]

That's questionable on accuracy, no?

I have them just to do a quick check, they are pretty darn accurate.

 

[GSCJR]

I had mine checked for free about 15 years ago at a technician's workshop. It was probably 10 years old at the time, and with heavy usage as an apprentice it did NOT require any adjustments. Has anyone tried the, tape measure, vise and weight method?

I don't know anyone that has one like mine: company, but made in the with excellent quality :

https://graytools.com/product/12-drive-heavy-duty-ratchet-head-torque-wrench

 

[Hirev]

Before I retired had access to multiple certified torque wrench calibration units. I bought a 3/8" and 1/2" HF Quinn digital torque adapters. Both of them checked out real close to the work units. So I just use these units to check out my herd of torque wrenchs.

Our assembly people had to get them recertified every 6 months or if they dropped one it had to be removed from the area and get recertified. Crazy thing I have snap on 1/2" xx-250 ft lb torque wrench from around 1983 that stays right in there.

 

[JoelB]

Calibrating tooling is such a rabbit hole. If you're unsure of the accuracy of your wrench then you should also question the accuracy of this tool. You could really only trust this checker if you had it verified by a certified lab at regular intervals. We have everything calibrated yearly at my work.

The rabbit hole continues as you ponder what the labs use to check their equipment.

 

[VWRand]

Calibrating tooling is such a rabbit hole. If you're unsure of the accuracy of your wrench then you should also question the accuracy of this tool. You could really only trust this checker if you had it verified by a certified lab at regular intervals. We have everything calibrated yearly at my work.

The rabbit hole continues as you ponder what the labs use to check their equipment.

I used to be responsible for managing calibration in a mid sized manufacturing plant. A valid calibration certificate will list the before and after measurements (if any adjustments are made) and reference the device used for calibration, along with its own calibration date. All should be traceable to recognized NIST standards. Calibration labs are held to pretty stringent standards such as ISO 17025 or A2LA accreditation.

 

[willbur]

I recently paid $125 to get my 3/8" dr TechAngle inspected and calibrated (if-needed). Snap-On wanted extra coin for the certificate, so I never found out if the calibration was even necessary.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Torque-Digital-Checker/Electronic-Torque-Digital-Checker—1-2-and-3/8"-(25-250-ft-lb)/QCDTC3250

This product caught my attention. As someone who owns a fleet of torque wrenches, I can see the ROI here. Does anyone else own one?

I do it with one of those strain based torque adapters like Trav recommends and HF sells. I always check at the middle of range value bc that is where the torque wrench is most accurate, IMO

 

[Trav]

I used one to check my Norbar and it was dead on, ditto the Precision TW. The spit beam was off but not terrible but not good either, Precision charges $75 ($95 with certificate) so I sent it to them and paid the $95. The Norbar pro was amazing, I use it a lot and it is the same exact number as on the tool used to check it, zero difference. Checking them once in awhile really gives me confidence using the tool.

https://torqwrench.com/products/tool-repair-rga/rga-flat-rate-repair-1-2-sq-dr-c3-split-beam-series/

 

[Lenny5160]

Has anyone tried the, tape measure, vise and weight method?

Sometimes I'll use my 20-150 lb/ft clicker at the very bottom of its range. Before doing so, I set it at 20 lb/ft and used a fish scale and loose zip-tie 12" from the center of the anvil to verify that it was clicking properly at 20 lb of force from that point.

 

[Chris142]

All of the snap on trucks have them. If you have a truck guy near by you could just do that if you wanted. Not very convenient thou.

Not all do. None of the S/ O guys in my area have one. Neither does Mac or the independent guy. Can't speak for Matco or Cornwell as those guys can't seem to stay in business more than a few weeks.

 

[CarLuver]

i use one of those hf ones to check my torque wrenches. i clamp an extension in a vise and put the hf on top of it . i sues it to calibrate my old craftman digitorq wrench after the nuts inside came loose . a little trial and error and its right on . i tested a couple of the HF 3/8 and 1/2 inch torque wrenches and they were both about 6 percent low . close enough .

 

[iCurious]

I have them just to do a quick check, they are pretty darn accurate.

This is wayyy cheaper than buying a torque wrench for accuracy.