Torque wrench range

[jbourke]

I want to buy a lifetime-lasting torque wrench and wonder what torque range you guys would recommend? Shogun's site has a PDF on all the required torque settings and 99% seems to be under 150Nm.

Thanks,

John

[zhandax]

That is about 110 ft. lbs. I picked up a nearly new MAC on eBay with a fairly recent calibration cert. that goes to 150 Ft. lbs (about 203 NM) for about $70 and it has done everything I have needed. 110 will get most things if you can get a first quality instrument with recent calibration cert cheap. If not, there is always fleabay. For 150 NM, you will want a 1/2" drive with a good long handle (around 18"). Get as much as you can in a first quality instrument. I would prefer a used MAC or SnapOn to a new no-name.

[nizmainiac]

i've got a snap-on one that torques up to 300Nm

[rob101]

I've got a Hytorc that goes up to 3000 ft.lbs
so beat that!
God i am huge.

[nizmainiac]

is that a commercial one?

[zhandax]

The way this is going, I will stay away from the big files discussion.

[rob101]

its a hydraulic one, but you wouldn't use it on a car. i think its 3/4" drive, we mainly use it on bolts around 1-2" head size.

Personally if i was a gringo i wouldn't be buying anything but snap on for torque wrenches. they have some good stuff like the wrench with detachable heads, good when you don't have enough head room.

[nizmainiac]

i used to use a commercial one that went upto 1500Nm and that was 1" drive, used for torqueing up lorry wheels and the like, i've never heard of a hydrulic one before though (you learn something new everyday) what sort of machinery do you use that on then?

[rob101]

mainly slew bolts. bolts to attach the turret to the chassis of cranes. you must torque them correctly to ensure proper care of the bearing. there and pneumatic ones as well now, continous but without the impact of rattle guns. hydraulic ones are remarkably simple you just dial in a pressure on a regulator and look on a chart for the wrench and you've set your torque they are just a hydraulic cylinder with a rachet basically. hand tightening with wrenches over 1500 ft lbs i think you use multipliers which are gear reductions that you put in between the wrench and the socket.

[brosher]

Well I don't think there is one single tq wrench that is good for life. Northern tool has a great deal on some. 5-80ft-lb $35 and a 10-150ft-lb $40. You also should consider some in-lb scale wrenches for more delicate wrenching.

http://www.northerntool.com