glassetcher

So the other day when I was putting my new snows on, I thought it would sure be nice to have a torque wrench! I used to have one until after our move from Ohio to Wisconsin it came up missing. I guess one of the movers thought he needed it more than I did. Anyway, I'm thinking this would be a nice Xmas present from one of my boys.

So, whlich torque wrench do you guys have and why do you like it better that other ones? Thanks for your input.

Zoom, Zoom!

midlife crisis

I have a cheap beam type and find it difficult to use - reading the needle at 90 degrees. Wish I'd gotten a click type.

legokcen

I've got the craftsman clicking kind. I got it for Christmas a couple years ago and I really like it.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Bought this one. Fairly inexpensive and works great.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944596000

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

i got a snap-on digital one. expensive, but it's accurate and very easy to use. it will never go out of calibration either. punch in the ft/lbs or Nm of your choice and crank down until it beeps or vibrates.

RedSheDevil

since sears hardware is closing its stores, you may find a good price on a craftsman if a store is closing near you ...

glassetcher

I was reading some reviews of Craftsman torque wrenches on epinion.com and - well, lets just say that these reviewers probaboy won't be on the Sears Christmas card list this year! They had some pretty bad things to say about their durability - plastic parts breaking a lot. I'm thinking I want to stay away from them.

Go48

Yeah, the first one I bought broke almost immediately. You couldn't screw the handle to change the setting. Took it right back and got another one that has worked fine for 4-5 years. Also got one of the inch-pound torque wrenches this year. Nice thing about Craftsman tools is that most have a lifetime guarantee and Sears will replace them with no questions asked.

RedSheDevil

i wonder if the craftsman quality has gone down... tho the lifetime guarantee is a bonus!

glassetcher

The reviewers said when they took it back to get the Craftsman free replacement after it broke, Sears told them although the Craftsman name was on it, it is not a "hand tool" which is lifetime guaranteed, but it is a "Power Tool"! - 90 day guarantee only. Not Good!

RedSheDevil

you gotta be kiddin me!!! that is ridiculous!!! i thought ALL craftsman tools were lifetime guaranteed.

no wonder their stores are closing ...

RedSheDevil

this piqued my interest, so i did a little searching. seems sears has been trying to fly under the radar by only guaranteeing their hand tools. so sad ...

heres the actual HAND TOOL warranty page


want to read about a bunch of people pissed off about the confusion? go here

glassetcher

Is there any reason I would need a torque wrench with a max setting of more than 150 ft#s for day to day RX-8 maintenance? I see the wheel lugs are 85-100 ft#s.

conedodger

I have one that's similiar to Valpac's, only a few years older. I've had it for over 7 years w/ no problems. Used it for building a few engines but mainly for changing tires. Tried to get it calibrated once but didn't have any luck. The local Sears repair facility stated that they don't recalibrate them.???? And they do come w/ only a 90 day warranty.

glassetcher

Well, have you ever had one of those items that has been missing for weeks, or months, or heaven forbid, YEARS. And then one day the thought crosses your mind that there is that one spot way in the back of your work bench that you have not looked into in, well, YEARS. Yup, there it was! My 20 year old Buffalo Tools 20-150 ft lb, reversible torque wrench!

So, after about four hours or researching torque wrenches on the web It looks like I'll probably just get another pair of socks for Xmas.

Thank you all for your comments. Maybe they will help someone else in choosing their Xmas present!

Zoom, Zoom!

midlife crisis

Sears hasn't covered torque wrenches for 20 years. The crapsmen label just shows that it's trash. Try Proto and even (gasp) Ace for better tools.

Astral

I bought this click-type torque wrench from tirerack: http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/tools/tw605.jsp

$30. It was pretty easy to use and worked great to install the winter wheels on my 8. I would've definitely over-torqued the wheels without it. It seems like it will be pretty durable, but, of course, only time will tell. I would definitely recommend it for installing wheels, for $30.

glassetcher

Looks like an interesting TR (torque wrench) from tire rack. From my research today, I was narrowing it down to TRs that:

1. Had a 20 to 150 ft lb range as a minimum (20 to 250 ft lb better)

2. Have a life time warranty. 1 year OK, 90 day or less indicates very questionable qauality!

3. Reversible capability to handle right or left handed threads.

4. Be sure no reviews indicate that there any plastic parts in the mechanism. Probably a good failure point!

MHO - Zoom, Zoom - glassetcher

Astral

For the TireRack wrench, I see no mention of warranty anywhere. It does have reverse capability. I don't know if there are any plastic parts in the mechanism, but the outside has no plastic. The wrench's manual states +/- 4% accuracy. The wrench is half-inch drive and comes with a 5" extension and a 3/8" drive adapter.

RX-Aight

Wrong! not trying to be a jerk but any torque wrench will go out of adjustment if left dialed in and not reset to ZERO after done. Even a $400 snap-on one.

So for everyone out there that doesn't know reset it to zero after done and it will stay accurate.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Absolutely! If you dont unload the spring, it takes a set and goes will go out of calibration. As far as Craftsman quality, this is my second (craftsmen) I have ever owned. The first one, was at least fifteen years old and I'd still have it had I not drove over it.

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

it's digital...it'll reset once you turn it off. i was told that it doesn't need to be calibrated by my snap-on guy.

this is the one i have (in 3/8" and 1/2")

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

glassetcher

So how would I know if my old TW is out of calibration? How far can they be off? 10%? 25%? 50%? Is there some way for me to calibrate it?

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Not a DIY'er. Unless you have one of these.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/41998/index4.html

mamccubbin

I have had the Craftsman one for a few years now and have been pleased. One piece of advive I would offer no matter what you buy is don't use the wrench for actually putting the lug nuts on and taking them off. Use the lug wrench, then the torque wrench just to finish the job. Sorry if that sounds simple, I just know it's a good way to save the tool from some stress.