Regular or digital torque wrench suggestions?

CRAFTSMAN old fashioned beam style best bang for the buck

 

Loosen the cap. That helps a lot.

 

Loosen the cap so that it's not touching the battery? Or is there something else at play here? I've actually taken to removing the batteries completely in between uses.

 

My HF 3/8 torque wrench has been fantastic. Used if from 5ftlbs to 75ish, and is within 5% based on some testing a friend and I did.

 

Yes. I leave mine in the case like that. Taking the batteries out is just as good.

 

Anybody who tells you that they've "got a great torque wrench" or "never had any problems with brand x" is not providing any useful information unless they've had it calibrated regularly. Sure, they may indicate that you've reached a given torque value, but how close to the desired value are they? Remember, a torque wrench is used where exacting / consistent levels of torque are required. For that type of application, I don't like to scrimp. I have Snap-On and Proto torque wrenches that all get calibrated regularly. Oh, and make sure you back the torque setting back to zero after using any "click stop" type torque wrench.

As for click stop vs. digital readout, I've never had the batteries go dead in my click stop wrenches because they don't have any. I'm a big fan of simple here.

 

In the past couple of years I acquired two Precision Instruments Split Beam Torque wrenches. They are the exact same wrenches sold by Snap On, without the ridiculous price tags. And yes, I’ve QC tested them for Accuracy and Precision.

Precision Instruments PREC3FR250F Silver 1/2" Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head

$189 Precision Instruments PREC3FR250F Silver 1/2" Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XMSFIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4yVLBbTCSGQDE

Precision Instruments PREC2FR100F Wrench (3/8" Dr. "Split Beam" Torque w/Flex head (20-100 Ft./Lbs))

$161 Precision Instruments PREC2FR100F Wrench (3/8" Dr. Split Beam Torque w/Flex Head (20-100 Ft./Lbs))

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YOX568/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yFVLBbBMHAG73

Prior to these two, I used 1/2” and 3/8 HF Torque wrenches. The 1/2” was horrible for accuracy (well above 13% of target value.) The 3/8” was decent on accuracy, but precision was out of wack.

Both HF torque wrenches are now relegated to long handled ratchet duty. Lol

 

I purchased a Kobalt 50/250 lbs recently and tested it with a digital. It’s pretty accurate, I’m happy with it

 

Yeah. There are times where I definitely wished I had a torque wrench in the lower inch-lb range. My 3/8” doesn’t go lower than 20 ft-lbs.

There’s probably a good reason that P.I. doesn’t offer a split beam, flex head 1/4” torque wrench similar to my 3/8” and 1/2”

I wish they did. I like having the flexhead. And not having to unwind the wrench to zero for storage.

 

There are very few bolts that would require 1/4". 3/8" will work...

 

I have a Craftsman digital 1/2" and 3 /8" torque wrenches that work well for me. I bought a nice 1 /4" regular torque wrench off Ebay.

the Craftsman list on their website most of the time for $ 119 but put them on sale for $59. Just have to keep watching

 

$44 TEKTON TRQ21101 TEKTON 1/4" Drive Dual-Direction Click Torque Wrench (10-150 in.-lb.) | TRQ21101

TEKTON TRQ21101 1/4-Inch Drive Dual-Direction Click Torque Wrench (10-150 in.-lb./1.1-16.9 Nm)

Check eBay for this
One .Nice wrench

 

@coreseller 's post right after yours is correct regarding Craftsman. I bought the $80 Craftsman and it broke in less than a year. Been using a Pittsburgh Harbor Freight one ever since and it works great.

 

Calibration is key.

I would consider Husky, Kobalt and Craftsman a good middle of the road tq wrench.

I’ve had a Husky 1/4” ratchet for almost 20 years and It has never broke! I’ve put it through some serious stress too. Broken plenty of Craftsman and other brands.

 

at least.


Link from Amazon? 50 one?

 

Search Tekton TRQ 21101

 

Due to industry standards, most* click wrenches are calibrated at +/- 4%(cw) of the max torque rating on the wrench. Digitals are anywhere from 4% to 1% so if you're looking for the most accurate then go digital...but honestly you need to ask yourself what are you going to be using it for? Tightening lug nuts, rebuilding an engine, etc. More than likely a click/mechanical/beam style torque wrench will be fine. Most of the fasteners you'll be tightening are engineered to have an acceptable tolerance higher than your torque wrench.

 

I saw a deal on a Craftsman click type torque wrench which was $79 for $39. Thought it was a good deal, so I bought it. Horrible mistake. I first put it to 25lbs just to feel what the click is like on my truck that's already at spec. Nothing. It just kept spinning the lug. I'm sure something is wrong with it. Going to take it back.

 

Same here. I'm not a power user of the wrench but I have a 3/8" and 1/2" Tekton from Amazon and they have worked fine for the last 3 years or so.

$72 TEKTON 1/2" Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench (25-250 ft.-lb.) | 24340

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5ZL1NS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Just for general knowledge, I am a professional aviation mechanic, I own numerous Snap-on wrenches and they are calibrated regularly. They are worth the money for a heavy user.

The beam type are great for torques that are required to be held to stretch the bolt. But generally for such as that I use a dial indicator type. Click wrenches are perfectly adequate for 95% of torques.

Even with a good torque wrench, of a type suitable for the task, there is some technique involved in getting consistent results.