OT: Torque wrenches

[632 Regal]

although your stuck on harbor freight, check out the "kobalt" torque wrenches at uhhhh WTF umm not hoe depot...well maybe thats where i got it, it was online though. made by an offshoot fron snapon, look up kobalt torque wrench, its top notch, about 60 bux and used by the more critical engine race rebuilders, think mine goes to 150 lbs, its the clicker type.

12 beers, im not as sharp man.

[2MuchTorque]

I just did some research a purchased a 3/8" 0-50ft/lb dial type. It cost more than you are willing to spend…but just remember you get what you pay for.

Check the accuracy of any wrench – not just the overall accuracy (usually 2-4%) but the point at which the wrench is accurate. For example, if you buy a 0-100ft/lb wrench that states it is 2% accurate from 20% to full range then what you have is a wrench that is not (as) accurate from 0-20ft/lb, but is 2% accurate from 20-100ft/lb. My dial type is 2% accurate over the full range.

Why the 3/8"? I already have a ½" 0-150ft/lb bar type (19" long) for bigger stuff. The 0-50ft/lb is for the smaller stuff that I know others can do by 'feel' but it seems that most of my work (not just on the car) is in this range. Also, consider the size. A 12" wrench is going to fit in tight quarters that a 19" wrench cannot. (And, with the dial type one can always use a short length of pipe for extra leverage).

[Ted K]

Home Depot has Husky T-wrenches for around $60.They have nice hard plastic case.

[Rigmaster]

Good points Mr Torque, but I would argue that 99.9999% of the people in the world will be well suited with a standard clicker-type wrench.

In your worst case example, you said that the cheaper wrench may not be very accurate at the lower ranges such as 0-20 lb-ft. I would say that even if it has a 10% error at those low ranges, at 20 lb-ft setting, it may vary from 18-22 lb-ft, which is probably well within the torques spec anyway.


Bret.

I just did some research a purchased a 3/8" 0-50ft/lb dial type. It cost more than you are willing to spend…but just remember you get what you pay for.

Check the accuracy of any wrench – not just the overall accuracy (usually 2-4%) but the point at which the wrench is accurate. For example, if you buy a 0-100ft/lb wrench that states it is 2% accurate from 20% to full range then what you have is a wrench that is not (as) accurate from 0-20ft/lb, but is 2% accurate from 20-100ft/lb. My dial type is 2% accurate over the full range.

Why the 3/8"? I already have a ½" 0-150ft/lb bar type (19" long) for bigger stuff. The 0-50ft/lb is for the smaller stuff that I know others can do by 'feel' but it seems that most of my work (not just on the car) is in this range. Also, consider the size. A 12" wrench is going to fit in tight quarters that a 19" wrench cannot. (And, with the dial type one can always use a short length of pipe for extra leverage).

[MantecaBMW]

Husky long handled T-Wrench 250 ft lb.....$50 bucks with a hard plastic case......can't beat it.....