Torque Wrenches...

[deansbimmer]

HF wrenches still have to be calibrated before they can be sold as a precision instrument. I've tightened heads on M20's with them before, they're fine. But if absolute accuracy is required I have a story. I have several Snap on click and digital wrenches. I just got my wrenches back from calibration so I knew they would be spot on. I tightened a lug to 75lb with all three Snapons which were almost dead even with eachother, then wanted to see where the trusty HF wrench fell into the mix. I tightened the lug almost 3/4 turn tighter with the HF, so the HF is not as accurate. (or as consistently calibrated- one may be spot on, the next awful) If they were that good, all the cool techs would be using them. But, for infrequent use, they're a must have.

[LJ851]

Sort of OT....which do you prefer/find most accurate?

Most manufacturers spec the accuracy of their torque wrenches. Click type are not the most accurate, usually it is a beam or dial type wrench (Snap-on Torque-O-Meter)

Another point to remember is that the accuracy of most torque wrenches is better on the upper end of the scale. It's better to torque 60 on a 15-75 wrench than to torque 60 on a 50-250 wrench.

[TrentW]

This Snap-On wrench is the best deal I've found:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LA1EDO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/177-2425544-5659233?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0884565JQH1XZAQKQ731&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=B002LA19P2

[z31maniac]

Is there something wrong with what i said? Do you disagree with my statement? Did i condemn any one brand?

No, even though a test showed the cheapest brand to be more accurate, you said "get a decent one."

[slammin.e28]

This Snap-On wrench is the best deal I've found:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...d_i=B002LA19P2

Not too bad!

[Exodus_2pt0]

No, even though a test showed the cheapest brand to be more accurate, you said "get a decent one."

It may have been more accurate out of the box, but I would love to see the same test done after 6 months of use.

Not too bad!

Agreed, at that price there is no excuse not to purchase a proven product.

[gooseadrian]

Alright. Thanks fellas.

[lambo]

I have a 1/2 inch craftsmen torque wrench that I got for 40 bucks, half off :D

[AndrewBird]

Wait, 100lbs. two feet down the handle should be 200lbs. of force. It's definitely not 50.

Much easier would be 50lbs. one foot down the handle.

Yes, you are right. Edited my post to be correct.

[priapism]

HF wrenches still have to be calibrated before they can be sold as a precision instrument.

How do you calibrate a torque wrench?

[b*saint]

So this was my mistake. I upgraded my Cman dial type to a twin beam snapon deal. I gave my dial type to my brother. WRONG. The twin beam CDI doesn't have the measuring resolution as my dial type.

In the end I still need one, I round with my twin beam. I do use an ex aircraft maintenance Armstrong dial type. Super duper nice.

AND you calibrate a torque wrench by having a company calibrate it for you.

[b*saint]

HF wrenches still have to be calibrated before they can be sold as a precision instrument. I've tightened heads on M20's with them before, they're fine. But if absolute accuracy is required I have a story. I have several Snap on click and digital wrenches. I just got my wrenches back from calibration so I knew they would be spot on. I tightened a lug to 75lb with all three Snapons which were almost dead even with eachother, then wanted to see where the trusty HF wrench fell into the mix. I tightened the lug almost 3/4 turn tighter with the HF, so the HF is not as accurate. (or as consistently calibrated- one may be spot on, the next awful) If they were that good, all the cool techs would be using them. But, for infrequent use, they're a must have.

Truth. Even if the HF is spot on, after a set of 4 wheels, I bet you dollars to donuts its out of calibration. Its the difference between Fowler and Interapid.

[BigTe30]

I've got a HF and it seems to do a good enough job. My buddy's got a HF and a craftsman, he tsets them against each other and there always spot on

[Jand3rson]

I have the HF Pittsburgh one, and it works just fine. I haven't used it for head bolts, but I've used it on flywheel and a few other bolts, and it works perfectly.

One of the things people often forget about HF is that most of their tools (not every one, and I know this), but most of them are the exact same tools that are sold to other brands to be re-branded as their own.

[AndrewBird]

The other thing too that no one has mentioned is that consistency is more important then the actual torque value. Most things that have a torque spec (like head bolts) mostly have a spec so that they are tightened evenly. As long as all the bolts are the same torque, it isn't as important that they exactly the correct torque amount (within reason). 5 ft lbs likely would cause no noticeable difference in operation.

So as long as these cheapy wrenches are consistent and close to accurate, you should be fine. Especially for something like wheel bolts.