I have a question I would like to ask about torque wrenches.
Here at BITOG it seems any time anyone suggest using one for spark plugs, oil drain plug, lug nuts, etc the comments begin to fly.
“My feel is good enough”
“I have been doing this for years I can tell”
On an on like they are in some way feeling like a noob or posses less skill for using one, some seem to be actually insulted if asked if they torque the fastener and get very defensive like someone just challenged their experience or skill.
Manufacturers spend time and money putting together torque specs for a reason, in over 35 years of working with fasteners every day my feel is a good as anyone’s but I still don’t count on my feel to be exact or good enough to guess at specs.
Personally I feel I have done a better job when I use the torque wrench and even mark critical fasteners after I torque them.
Is this an American thing? You know close enough for this job or just a feeling of being inferior for some reason?
In Europe the sign of a good mechanic or a craftsman is one that reads specs and uses them. Those who use the good enough routine are considered poor or second rate.
Don’t get me wrong I am not judging one way or another, it’s just a question.
IMHO if I spend good money on quality torque tools I want to use them for what they were intended.
Here at BITOG it seems any time anyone suggest using one for spark plugs, oil drain plug, lug nuts, etc the comments begin to fly.
“My feel is good enough”
“I have been doing this for years I can tell”
On an on like they are in some way feeling like a noob or posses less skill for using one, some seem to be actually insulted if asked if they torque the fastener and get very defensive like someone just challenged their experience or skill.
Manufacturers spend time and money putting together torque specs for a reason, in over 35 years of working with fasteners every day my feel is a good as anyone’s but I still don’t count on my feel to be exact or good enough to guess at specs.
Personally I feel I have done a better job when I use the torque wrench and even mark critical fasteners after I torque them.
Is this an American thing? You know close enough for this job or just a feeling of being inferior for some reason?
In Europe the sign of a good mechanic or a craftsman is one that reads specs and uses them. Those who use the good enough routine are considered poor or second rate.
Don’t get me wrong I am not judging one way or another, it’s just a question.
IMHO if I spend good money on quality torque tools I want to use them for what they were intended.