Good Torque Wrench?

[TonyIN]

Ok... tried a search in this forum, but came up with a zero.
Need a new 1/2" drive click torque wrench:

Have now a 20 yr old Craftsman that I've replaced the guts in 3 or 4 times, and put back together more than that. Now the handle is shot. I don't abuse my tools (ok, maybe I do pry things with a screwdriver... but not the torque wrench!)

This tool gets used a few weekends a year. Sometimes for a full week at a time, sometimes not for a couple months.

Will be used for tractors and the cars.

Really liked the older Snap-On my friend loaned me after the Craftsman exploded, but not too eager to spend the bucks for the use it will get. I will if needed, but thought I would check with you all around here to see what else might be out there. Any ideas?

Thanks

Tony

 

[gmccool]

I"ve got a Snap-On & really like it. I know Snap On is expensive but most if not all my Snap On tools (& I have a lot) are worth more now than when I bought them new.

 

[GarryinNC]

If you use one even as much as you say, get a snap on, you will really like it and won't ever think about the cost. Should last a lifetime. I have a 1/2 drive that goes to 250 ft. lb. and you can leave it set when you store it, because of the design. It also will not work to loosen anything, ratchet in one direction only.

Garry

 

[torch guy]

Google precision instruments. They build the snap on stuff. Generally 1/4 cheaper.

 

[baldwin racing]

I also have the digital 3/8 snap on torque wrench and love it(sorry not 1/2)....I rebuild atv's and snowmobiles all the time and I still have the org. one, It uses aa batteries often but worth the $300 I paid for it... the first motor I built with it paid for it self... I do have a craftsman 1/2 torque wrench probly 4-5 years old never had any trouble with it. 20-250ft. lbs mine you have to pull the bottom down and turn to lbs you want. it has a display window in it? I used the same one at BJ's wholesale club in the tire center as well and there rough on stuff, theres always worked great to....
I don't see the craftsman one I have on there web site anymore? I will take a pic tom of it....

kelly

 

[jake2]

Saw this posted a couple of months ago.

Neat....comes with it's own cute little box....and you can use any size ratchet or bar you've got close.

AND....If you have a 25% off coupon from the Sunday paper....It"s an even better deal.

 

[david from mo]

I agree if its good enough for snapon its good enough for me.

 

[jake2]

Saw this posted a couple of months ago.

Neat....comes with it's own cute little box....and you can use any size ratchet or bar you've got close.

AND....If you have a 25% off coupon from the Sunday paper....It"s an even better deal.


OK....Now, I've got the link in there.
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital torue adapter 68283.html

 

[old]

Unless you have a place that will calibrate them I will NEVER own another clicker type torque wrench. Almost cost me $3000 due to one that was so far off that if I had not felt it was wrong would have cost me a new rebuilt engine

 

[504]

Snap on,Matco and the $20.00 cheap ones.(I have owned, or do own them all) The best and most accurate is a beam type, yard sale Craftsman, they will set you back $10.00 and last forever.

 

[Bob]

Yep, that"s what I have & have posted the company info as you did. It fell upon deaf ears.

They make some GREAT great torque wrenches.

Folks think Strap On makes everything they sell in some swell masculine version or the ideal "rainbows and unicorns" factory, but there"s some other suppliers/alternatives out there.

 

[36 Coupe]

My beam type is over 50 years old.Got it from Montgomery Ward.Spent a lot of years with out a torque wrench.Used an inch pounds beam type on small engines later on.Bought a used beam type for my son for 3 bucks.

 

[JT in CT]

I bought a Craftsman 1/2" clicker torque wrench back when they were all steel (no plastic handle) and used it professionally for 27 years. Always reset it to zero before putting it away. Later I worked for a medical supply company and brought it into the metrology lab that had all the FDA required precision tool calibrating equipment to test it. It tested dead on the money 35 years after I bought it.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Mine are either snap-on or proto. I bought both of them in pawn shops. 20 years ago. The proto is 3/4 and 3ft long. Goes to about 300 the snap-on is 1/2 goes to about 200or 250. Both work good for me.
If you want to you can use a pull scale on the end of your ratchet or breaker bar just figure the pull according to the length of the handle. 50pounds on a 1 foot wrench is 50ft pounds.

 

[PaulW_NJ]

I"ve been meaning to send my old steel Craftsman off for calibration before I redo the head on my aluminum block Toyota, but reading this and doing a search, I came across this article. Anyone ever try something like this? May be worth a shot . ..

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/show...rm-your-own-torque-wrench-calibration-testing

 

[the tractor vet]

Bought my Snap on back if 68 and it has been recal. i don't know how many times over the years and broke once a couple years back and repaired . Yep even back then it was expensive but for 45 years it has done a bunch and still going . probably outlast me .

 

[GarryinNC]

I am not brainwashed on SnapOn but they do have good torque wrenches. I guess Mac, Proto and many others do also.

My favorite SnapOn tools are wrenches,ratchets and sockets. The rest of it does not matter much to me.

Garry

 

[torch guy]

Precision instruments. They build the Snap Ons

 

[55deere70]

Snap-On click type is what I have. Always set it to lowest setting when not in use.

 

[hd6gtom]

If a "professional" mechanic came to me and applied for a job and he was going to use a beamstyle torque wrench for any job, he would continue to look for a job. It is a proven fact, the more you use them, the weaker they get at the flex point. Buy a professional style torque wrench that can be recalibrated such as the other posters have said. Have it professionally recalabrated when it needs to be. We had six or seven in our shop and had one or two recalabrated every 3 months.

 

[TonyIN]

Great input guys - thanks!
I'm going to look hard at the precision instruments. Probably a little better than 2x the price of another craftsman, but that plastic handle always bothered me and its just one of those tools that when it goes down, you're shutdown until its fixed.
Thanks

Tony