Regular or digital torque wrench suggestions?

I ordered one of these off the eBay sale today, $113 shipped. I had initially set a lower budget on a torque wrench, but decided it was worth spending a little more.

 

cant go wrong with craftsman in my opinion. Guaranteed for life!

 

I don't think they are very good right now. I purchased one, set it to 25lbs on my already 83lbs lug nuts. It kept spinning. I immediately took it back.

 

@toyotatacomaTRD Yeah thats not good lol. Mine are probably close to 10 years old (a 3/8" inch pound and a 1/2" foot pound) and I've never had any problems with them.

 

I purchased the precision instruments torque wrench. This is how easy all torque wrenches should be. You don't have to twist it back when you're not using it. The quality is night and day over the Craftsman I bought and returned and the harbor freight one I used for several years. Well worth spending a little more.

 

I have three Craftsman click type wrenches. Inch/lbs, ft/lbs 3/8, and ft/lbs 1/2. Just performed a calibration check after about 3 years use. All but 3/8 was dead on, and it was not off by much. They are somewhat aggravating to re-calibrate; you do the adjustment through the back of the handle, but doable. If I were building jet engines or nuclear reactors, I would have top shelf tools and get them calibrated regularly, but when the torque ranges of the fasteners I deal with are well inside the error margin of mine, I’ll stick with with them.

 

CDI makes great torque wrenches- I have several by them. Cheaper than Snap On but more expensive than HF or Craftsman. I can't understand why anyone would want digital unless you are working with TTY bolts constantly and want the angle function.

 

Really need to ask yourself how often you are going to use it. If its once in the while, then no need to drop $100 or more when ones can be had for considerably less.

 

I’m curious what is considered a good calibration schedule for if or when someone gets one? I would assume it’s in the manual with the wrench?

 

Click last longer

 

Im a tech and I dont even want to think of how much I have invested in torque wrenches. I have both digital and click, now keep in mind Im talking $600+ tools here but I have a little more trust in my digital, thats what I tend to use for engines and working on my motocross. That being said I much prefer the positive click when you reach your desired value using a click type, the digital just lights up and beeps I find myself rechecking bolt more often with the digital even though its more accurate.

 

Agree. I have the 3/8 that goes from something like 5-75 ft lb and the 1/2 that covers 50-250. I figure I have 99% of my torquing needs covered.

 

Whatever you buy take them to a tire shop and get them tested - they have it on the wall just ask and they might do it for you.