Using a Beam Type TQ Wrench w/ a Mirror

[thescreensavers]

My Only Option is to use a 0-60 inch lb Beam type Torque Wrench. I have to get to 34 inch-lb

I have plenty of space to use it correctly.

I have read you can use a mirror to increase the accuracy by reducing or eliminating the parallax effect.

How exactly do you do it? You Put a square mirror Perpendicular to the Number you are trying to hit and look at the mirror.

Product image of what I got

 

[Scott_Tucker]

What are you tightening that needs only 34 inch pounds?

 

[eljefino]

When you're setting up the mirror and before you lean on the wrench see that it's zeroed.

If you have a cordless drill with clicky torque settings, load it into this in lb wrench and see if you can set it consistently to the torque you want, then use a 1/4" drive adapter and socket on it.

 

[Rick in PA]

I don't see a mirror on the torque wrench scale. We have some older electrostatic meters in work that are equipped with a mirrored band on the scale to reduce parallax. The trick is to move your head while reading the meter. When the needle lines-up with it's reflection (the two images become one) your eye is perfectly perpendicular to the scale. Then you have a parallax free reading.

The trick to minimizing parallax with this torque wrench would be to get the scale perpendicular to your line of vision and then get your eye directly above the pointer. Doing the best you can.

 

[Eddie]

2.8 ft/lbs is really a small torque. I doubt your bean wrench is any good at that low a setting. If it is a critical value, maybe AP will loan or rent you an inch pound torque wrench. Ed

 

[doitmyself]

His 0 - 60 inch pound wrench should be excellent at 34 inch lbs.

Even when you can see the scale well, a piece of black electrical tape at the desired torque setting still helps.

Practice on some small screws mounted in a vice to get the feel and proper technique down.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
2.8 ft/lbs is really a small torque. I doubt your bean wrench is any good at that low a setting. If it is a critical value, maybe AP will loan or rent you an inch pound torque wrench. Ed


As another poster noted, his torque wrench is specifically designed for low-torque situations. I have a similar torque wrench for bicycles and super-small engine bolts.

To the OP-
What are you torquing where a tiny amount of error will actually matter? In anything I've ever done, a moderate amount of parallax error is the least of my worries and wouldn't affect the final outcome enough to matter.

 

[thescreensavers]

This is for a College Class Project.

We have to calculate preload. And then actually test if our preload was correct.

We calculated 34.3 obv with this TQ wrench I am using isnt great for the single digits but 1 line is 3.3 and so ill go a tiny bit over.


We have two of these(3 steel parts each from mcmaster then welded together and machined..etc), with an Aluminum Gasket to mess with our calculations. Testing on a Tensile-Test Machine tomorrow actually.