OT: Torque wrenches

[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.

[MantecaBMW]

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

[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).