OT: Torque wrenches

[liquidtiger720]

So, I am in the market for a torque wrench and don't know terrible much about them. I really do not want to spend over $120 for one, so I have a few questions.

1. Would a limit of 150ft/lb's be enough for me, the ocassional DIY'er(I really dont/wont do anything major).
2. Clicker type or beam type? I was leaning toward clicking type.
3. Do the clicker type's have to be recalibrated? If so, how much would it costs, how often would I have to do it, and where?
4. How does this one look? I was eyeing this the last time I was at sears, and its on sale now. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...orque+Wrenches

5. would having a 1/2 - 3/8 inch socket adapter effect the torque values?

Thank you in advance.

[Mobius]

1. Would a limit of 150ft/lb's be enough for me, the ocassional DIY'er(I really dont/wont do anything major).

Enough for everything except the wheel hub bolts (214 ft/lbs) and perhaps some crankshaft bolts.

2. Clicker type or beam type? I was leaning toward clicking type.

Oh, absolutely click type. Beam wrenches work, but half the time they're useless because you can't see the damn scale without contorting yourself into some terribly akward position.

3. Do the clicker type's have to be recalibrated? If so, how much would it costs, how often would I have to do it, and where?

Not for quite some time, as long as you store them with the tension set back at 0 ft/lbs.

4. How does this one look? I was eyeing this the last time I was at sears, and its on sale now. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...orque+Wrenches

That's the one I have. Works fine for me.

5. would having a 1/2 - 3/8 inch socket adapter effect the torque values?

Na, not enough to matter. Using a long extension could, however.

[Rigmaster]

My 0.02 cents about this- buy a cheap ~$20 1/2" clicker type wrench from Harbor Freight or one of the chain auto parts stores. This will cover 99% of the things you need to torque on your car, and if it breaks or gets way out of calibration, you can use it as a breaker bar and buy another one and not lose much $$$.

Keep in mind that sear Craftsman torque wrenches are NOT covered by their lifetime handtool warranty- not sure but I think they have a 1 year warranty.

If you are "the ocassional DIY'er", I can't imagine you needing anything more than the 1/2" clicker with a 0~150 lb-ft range. To be honest, the only thing I really use my torque wrench on around here are cyl head bolts and wheel lug bolts when I'm at the track- and the ocassional crankshaft main + rod bolts + nuts.......
Most of the other stuff gets tightened by feel, and that works for me.

Bret.

[liquidtiger720]

like this? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...itemnumber=239

Thank you for your opinions. Maybe ill get the cheapo one and spend the saved money on some other tools =).

[Rigmaster]

Yep, that's the one- FYI, my local HF retail store flyer has it on sale for $11.99 until Mar 26th..... Hard to beat that price IMHO.

Bret.

[Mobius]

My 0.02 cents about this- buy a cheap ~$20 1/2" clicker type wrench from Harbor Freight or one of the chain auto parts stores. This will cover 99% of the things you need to torque on your car, and if it breaks or gets way out of calibration, you can use it as a breaker bar and buy another one and not lose much $$$.

Ugh. I'll just say this. My Harbor Freight torque wrench broke before I could torque all my wheel bolts down. Cheap, worthless crap.

[Kalevera]

Tools are so cool. I've been collecting a lot of them recently...even built a few (a la Don Gale and his "Poor Man's" line of products....hehe).

Best tools to have, in my opinion: 1) AIR compressor and impact wrench, 2) Oxy-Acetylene Torch (and/or a MIG welder and a Plasma Cutter), 3) a good die grinder, and last but not least 4) (just for immaturity's sake) -- the one in your pants

You can do a hell of a lot with that stuff

best, whit

[Shimamura3]

Tools are so cool. I've been collecting a lot of them recently...even built a few (a la Don Gale and his "Poor Man's" line of products....hehe).

Best tools to have, in my opinion: 1) AIR compressor and impact wrench, 2) Oxy-Acetylene Torch (and/or a MIG welder and a Plasma Cutter), 3) a good die grinder, and last but not least 4) (just for immaturity's sake) -- the one in your pants

You can do a hell of a lot with that stuff

best, whit

Ditto - I'd like to add a TIG to round off your list. Nothing's cooler than a plasma cutter!

[Kalevera]

ooh...yes, quite handy. I don't own one, though

[liquidtiger720]

too advanced for me lowell =).

...dosnt that harborfreight thing have a lifetime warantee? meaning if it broke, they will replace it? or is that outside of the warantee