torque wrenches - which design?

[KRZY403]

I'm currently shopping for a torque wrench and I know there are several different designs out there. Which wrench type has the most precision and reliability for the ~$100 range?

I also noticed there are ones that are 1/2" , 3/8"etc. What exactly do these numbers mean?

[GQBalla]

the socket types.

some sockets are 1/2 inch and some are 3/8 inches

what are you goin to use the torque wrench for?

if its for your wheels than just go to princess auto and buy one for 20 bucks!

[RickDaTuner]

Good toque wrenches don't come in the 100 dollar range, if you're thinking the canadian tire ones, think again. They are consistently off by 12-25ft/lbs @ 100Ft/lbs they can not be trusted.

The princes auto ones are a little bit better for less money but the person who assembles them doesn't really care about its calibration. They just slap them together and give you a sheet stating what the wrench will do at what ever setting. These are usally off by 5-12 ft/lbs again.

The best of the best is the Snap-on Tech Wrenches but they are big money, 500 for the standard 1/2" one, 25-250ft/ft/lbs range.
Their accuracy is with in .5% of the desired torque value.

1/4, 3/8, 1/2 is the socket size that they work with, 3/8 is good for medium duty stuff, like torquing exhaust manifold bolts, and various other engine bolts, the 1/4 is for delicate work like intake manifold bolts, cam caps, rocker arm divot holders and the 1/2 is for chassis bolts, head bolts and anything that requires more than 80ft/lbs of force

as for reliability, neither the canadian tire, or the Princess auto ones are all that great. sure a TQ wrench should be re calibrated every year, but these ones will go out of whack if you forget to unload them over night.

hope that helps you out

if you willing to spend $350.00, you can buy my snap-on tech wrench

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?s=&threadid=281419

[Xtrema]

If you are using it for lug nut on tires, accuracy isn't that crucial.

Just set it for 80lb and apply even torque across all nuts.

[alloroc]

For a home user don't get a click type.

Get an onld style one with a bar. They can be manually calibrated just tweak the bar to it sits a zero and you are good to go.

[KRZY403]

Yea I'm planning to use the wrench to tighten lug nuts for wheels, so judging from your guys' responses I should probably just get a cheap one then since accuracy isn't that crucial.

[prae]

I will probably get flamed for posting it... but you dont REALLY need a torque wrench to put your lug nuts on. Just get 'em tight with the tire iron in your trunk, or maybe a 15" breaker bar at most.

The big thing is to simply re-check the tightness of all your lugs after say 100km.

I'd wager most shops just torque lugs on with an impact hammer :poosie:

[benyl]

Originally posted by prae
I will probably get flamed for posting it... but you dont REALLY need a torque wrench to put your lug nuts on. Just get 'em tight with the tire iron in your trunk, or maybe a 15" breaker bar at most.

The big thing is to simply re-check the tightness of all your lugs after say 100km.

I'd wager most shops just torque lugs on with an impact hammer :poosie:

Enjoy your warped rotors.

My tire shops only use hand tightening and torque wrenches. Owner beware.

[ExtraSlow]

for torquing lug nuts, the Princess Auto ones are fine.

I use the 1/2" drive Dual scale model. it's less than $50, and it's long enough that even torquing truck lugs to 120 ft-lbs, it's not hard to get enough leverage.

If this is just going to be for car lugs, a smaller/shorter one would suffice.

If you are doing fine work, like assembling engines, then you'd want something a little more precise.

[KRZY403]

just went to princess auto this evening and got one for $25. I was reading the instructions and it said not to turn it below the lowest setting (I think its 10 lbs-ft). What happens if you turn it past the lowest setting?

[RickDaTuner]

Originally posted by KRZY403
just went to princess auto this evening and got one for $25. I was reading the instructions and it said not to turn it below the lowest setting (I think its 10 lbs-ft). What happens if you turn it past the lowest setting?

the tension rod can fall out, and when you reinsert it the calibration is off dramatically

Awesome, enjoy your new tool.

FWIW i used to use a PA torque wrench to righten wheel nuts all the time, as was stated above equal force on the wheel nuts is what's key

[xinirgi]

A friend of mine has a MasterCraft (Canadian Tire) torque wrench, I have a MAC one. Side by side for wheel lug nut torques, they were identical.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by xinirgi
A friend of mine has a MasterCraft (Canadian Tire) torque wrench, I have a MAC one. Side by side for wheel lug nut torques, they were identical.

Both Made In China?

(why is this in the home and garden section?)

[J NRG]

.

[The_Rural_Juror]

what about the mastercraft maximums?

[Kloubek]

I hate Maximum product. It is seriously minimum quality, imo.

[benyl]

haha, I just bought a Mastercraft Maximum today. It is on sale!

[xinirgi]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR


Both Made In China?

(why is this in the home and garden section?)

No idea, wouldn't second guess it though. Mine is work issued and also gets sent out for calibration yearly. I like to think it's spot-on.

(no idea)

[schocker]

Originally posted by benyl
haha, I just bought a Mastercraft Maximum today. It is on sale!
I have the 1/2", has worked well sofar for just minimal car work and torquing wheels and such. Cant complain when I got it for 50% off i think it was.

[frozenrice]

Where would someone take a torque wrench to get calibrated? Google and Yellow page searches aren't coming up with anything. Maybe I'm using the wrong search terms.

[2EFNFAST]

Too much fear mongering in this thread, lol.

I wouldn't trust a princess auto torque wrench, but a home depot one will be fine.

I have 3 husky (1/4, 1/2 and 3/8'') and after 2yrs they're still w/i 5% accuracy@100ft-lbs.

A $100 click-style will be fine, and won't need to be calibrated every few months, and shouldn't get out of calibration, unless you're a moron who bangs it around, lets it drop to the ground, etc....

[ExtraSlow]

Originally posted by 2EFNFAST
I wouldn't trust a princess auto torque wrench, but a home depot one will be fine.
They're all made in the same factory in China.

[2EFNFAST]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow

They're all made in the same factory in China.

How much do you want to bet a snap-on torque wrench is made in China too :rofl:

[SR240SX]

I used a Canadian Tire torque wrench to do the head gasket on my 240sx. Torqued down the head bolts with it and havent had a problem in 2 years...So I would say they work.

[J NRG]

.

[heavyD]

I've done a lot of work with my Craftsman torque wrenches over the years and have never cracked or warped anything.

[A2VR6]

I've been using my Mastercraft 1/2 torque wrench for 7 or 8 years for all kinds of things and never had a problem.

[JohnnySand]

What do you guys have to say about digital torque wrenches? Princess has them on sale right now.

http://www.princessauto.com/tools/hand-tools/sockets-accessories/8230443-1/2-dr-digital-torque-wrench?keyword=torque+wrench

[Graham_A_M]

When it comes to torque wrenches, if you want somewhat accurate readings: Go for Bluepoint & Armstrong. You can get both at Northern Metallic, here in Calgary's Foothills industrial.

They're almost as good as Snap On & Mac tools but without the stupid price tags, (Snap On's I mean specially: Mac isn't so bad).

I use both and they seriously do not quit no matter what you subject them too.

[VetteRacin]

Whoever said accuracy is not crucial- well im sorry but you are an idiot. There is a reason every car manufacturer has a specif value for wheel torque for each car model. 10ft-lbs CAN and I have seen so 1st hand mean the difference between a wheel falling off and staying on.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

lots of imports actually have a range for torque, I think its nissan who will actually say (89ft/lbs - 109 ft/lbs) for their SUV's, so accuracy isnt as crucial.

That said, I would only get a 90$ torque wrench for at home, and a 300+ wrench for at work.

I just go the beam type Mac for my work, I'm happy with it, although snap on sells the exact same one I bought for 20$ less lol.

[g-m]

so nobody is going to answer the guy who asked where you can go to check the calibration? He isn't the only one who is wondering.

[HHURICANE1]

^ There is a place in Edmonton that does calibration. I don't know the name of the place but is the only one I have heard of.

[Graham_A_M]

There are a few places in Nisku that do torque wrench calibration.

Thats just because tools used for working on oilfield equipment need to be 90%++ accurate.

I'd call up Haliburton/Weatherford/Schlumberger and ask where they get their wrenches certified at. I remember back when I was with Schlumberger wireline: we'd send out our wrenches to a given 3rd party company to be certified twice a year.

[g-m]

^ yea thats a really good idea, thx. I did reservoir/exploitation work as an intern, I can't believe I didn't think of that.

[2EFNFAST]

Originally posted by g-m
so nobody is going to answer the guy who asked where you can go to check the calibration? He isn't the only one who is wondering.

http://www.n-tech.ab.ca/

$60/wrench, 2 or 3day turnaround.

[JZS_147]

I'm suprised no one mentioned Gear Wrench. Gear Wrench stuff is decent, and reasonably priced.

[g-m]

Originally posted by 2EFNFAST


http://www.n-tech.ab.ca/

$60/wrench, 2 or 3day turnaround.

Excellent, thanks!