What Torque Wrench Do You Use?

[Beau B]

IMO the ones from HF are the best value for a home mechanic by far. they're like $20 with a lifetime warranty, and people have tested them to be nearly as accurate as the top shelf items. if you depend on it for your paycheck, get something nice like snap on, but you don't need something that expensive to work on your car once every 6 months.

Otherwise, I wouldn't touch anything from Sears with a ten foot pole. You pay way more and you get even worse quality than HF. I had the same HF torque wrench for 10 years and never had a single issue, I ended up getting another one just because I figured it's probably out of calibration by now. I leave the original one in my trunk, it still works fine.

Most of the critical bolts on an M20 are TTY anyway (torque/angle), which you can't really even mess up unless you forget a stage or something.

I concur with the Harbor Freight (HF) I think Car Craft Magazine did a test a few years back and put the HF as the best buy for the money. It was just as accurate and to be honest unless you are going to take you wrench in to calibrate it every 6 months and "exercise" the wrench before each use, which most home mechanics don't do HF is your best bet. Just IMO

[BruceJ]

I have a couple of Sears torque wrenches. Bought both in 1990. I've worked in a calibration lab for the past 10 years. I recently tested both.

Both were by no worse than 2% off of indicated value when operated CW. Both are spec'ed, like most torque wrenches, to be accurate to 4% of indicated value when operating in a CW manner. Cant really speak for what Sears does these days but I don't doubt they put their brand on whoever delivers them the cheapest.

CDI was bought by Snap-on years ago. Both sell reputable products. As long as they have not been abused most of the micrometer style Tq wrenches they make are good stuff. Typically, both can be adjusted if performing out of Tolerance.

If you are a backyard mech, have low usage, always back off the handle completely after each use, keep it stored in a low humidity environment, and don't drop them, they will last forever. But if you want to know if it is accurate, a cal lab is the only way. If all you want is testing done in a CW manner say so. and ask if its cheaper.

If professional, pay to get them calibrated every year without fail. It will wear with use and you will end up under torqueing.

Tips for use:
1. Many are marked with a line on the handle. Center your hand on the line for normal use.
2. (micrometer style) Always back off the handle to the stop after use.
3. Put it away after use. They don't do well being dropped, left in the rain, etc.
4. UNLESS its made by the mfr, and comes with instructions do not add extensions to the handle of micrometer style Tq wrench. The Tq you think you are getting at the click will be bogus.

[Klug]

I only use the best- set everything Pittsburg torque specifications.

(Harbor Freight)

[nando]

IMO the ones from HF are the best value for a home mechanic by far. they're like $20 with a lifetime warranty, and people have tested them to be nearly as accurate as the top shelf items. if you depend on it for your paycheck, get something nice like snap on, but you don't need something that expensive to work on your car once every 6 months.

Otherwise, I wouldn't touch anything from Sears with a ten foot pole. You pay way more and you get even worse quality than HF. I had the same HF torque wrench for 10 years and never had a single issue, I ended up getting another one just because I figured it's probably out of calibration by now. I leave the original one in my trunk, it still works fine.

Most of the critical bolts on an M20 are TTY anyway (torque/angle), which you can't really even mess up unless you forget a stage or something.

[88SuperETABD]

Hey all, gonna be building the rest of my motor and instead of borrowing my friends again, I can afford to buy some new torque wrenches. Looking to buy a 1/2" drive 30-250ft-lb and a 3/8" 30-250in-lb. I'm looking at CDI (Made by Snap-On), Crafstman (Cuz cheap), or getting my late Grandpa's MAC Tools 1/2" 30-250ft-lbs torque wrench calibrated (its ~20yrs old and still works, but worried about accuracy) and use it & only purchase an in-lbs wrench.


What torque wrench do you use? What would be proper for building motors/car work?