.Thank You very much for sharing your experience with Torque Wrenches.Now I need to shop for the best price?Thanks Again!
Which Torque Wrench Is Best Buy?
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 3
From: Broken Arrow, OK
Originally Posted by Hangfire
I'd say go with the Snap On if you have to do it right!
Don't forget a torque angle meter. Most new cars are going to this method. The meter is only about $15, but is valuable when the spec is 20 ft-lbs + 34 degrees. After you do the initial torque, mark a line across all the bolts in the same direction so you will know which ones are already done if you have to take a break from the job for a few minutes.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
We all had our torque wrenchs calibrated at the shop a couple of years ago (get offered the service by a client once a year) one of the other mechanics sent his harbor freight. Mine are Craftsman, Proto, and Hazet as well as a no name one I bought when I was 16 at Wards. Between all five torque wrenchs the one that was off by more than one percent was the proto that UPS had delivered. Craftsman warranty on Torque wrenchs are the same as Snap~on's, Harbor Freights etc. None of them cover calibration, although they offer the service to calibrate them, but judging by the torque wrench that UPS brought you need to get it calibrated locally so it doesn't get thrown out in shipping.
Craftsman's liftime replacement warranty does cover the old beam style.
Craftsman's liftime replacement warranty does cover the old beam style.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
I have both craftsman and snapon and have had one of them for 22 years a year ago they were recalibrated and they said that all of them were still ok, the oldest one is a snapon and the next is a craftsman. my snap on dealer has been a mac rep, and a matco rep and he likes the snap on best because in the shops snap on sells best and as he says " its a man show thing" SNAP ON UGH! UGH! UGH! get em tim
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
I am a fan of most Craftsman products. But I will not buy another Craftsman torque wrench. I find the dialed in setting will not stay put. (Torque wrenches do not carry the lifetime warranty).
I just bought a SK 3/8 10-100 ft-lb unit. Very nice positive vernier lock, but the engraved numbers are hard to see in low light. We used Utica wrenches at GE Aerospace. Now, those where some nice pieces. They came with a calibration card and were traceable back to the National Standards Bureau. I priced the out...$300…you get what you pay for.
I just bought a SK 3/8 10-100 ft-lb unit. Very nice positive vernier lock, but the engraved numbers are hard to see in low light. We used Utica wrenches at GE Aerospace. Now, those where some nice pieces. They came with a calibration card and were traceable back to the National Standards Bureau. I priced the out...$300…you get what you pay for.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
I have heard that it is important to back off to "0" setting on clicker type t. wrenches when they are not in use----such as the end of the day, etc. This is to prolong the accuracy,etc. Has anyone else heard this?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 1
From: Great NW
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
My snap on's came with a certificate of calibration. This a example of my 1/4 inlbs. clicker type
Ex.-
Tolerrance +or-4%
Clockwise Readings
40.00 40.76 1.9%
120.00 119.61 -0.3%
200.00 200.57 .03%
Counterclockwise
40.00 39.62 -1.0%
120.00 118.57 -1.2%
200.00 200.28 0.1%
When we went thru our ISO inspection my crafstman where out as much as 12% I use them as breaker bars now.
Ex.-
Tolerrance +or-4%
Clockwise Readings
40.00 40.76 1.9%
120.00 119.61 -0.3%
200.00 200.57 .03%
Counterclockwise
40.00 39.62 -1.0%
120.00 118.57 -1.2%
200.00 200.28 0.1%
When we went thru our ISO inspection my crafstman where out as much as 12% I use them as breaker bars now.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Originally Posted by bigredsbronco
yes, if you read the little instruction sheet that comes with most of them it tells you that you must return it to the lowest setting ( may not be zero) after use.
Read the instructions
