I chanced upon this video of a test between the $400 Snap On vs. the $100 Harbor Freight torque wrench.
The tests look pretty solid and the HF one was more accurate than the Snap On. The HF also has a lifetime warranty vs a 1 year warranty.
I always thought the HF adds comparing their tools to more expensive ones was bogus, but now maybe not... very interesting

 

So much for getting what you pay for . I find that quite shocking .

 

Snap on has really fallen behind a lot of the tool manufacturers, lately. My dad is a mechanic who largely uses snap on tools, but it seems like every time I see his tool box at his work he's getting more diversified in what he has. Warranty length and how the truck driver treats you is huge to him, and both departments Snap On has fallen behind some of the other brands.

 

I've never bought Snap On, but I always thought they were over priced. I did think they were higher quality though and that people that used the tools in their profession could benefit from them.
Now I'm beginning to wonder. Advancements in technology has allowed manufactures to make quality products cheaper. Tests like these get you thinking.
Since the cheaper tool has a lifetime warranty, it doesn't matter if the Snap On will last longer.

 

Not too surprising. When I was a lot younger I thought tools made the mechanic, and I bought nothing but Snap-On, SK, Proto, etc. No Craftsman, Globemaster, Jet, etc. A few times I broke Snap-On sockets, but couldn't wait for the dealer to make his weekly rounds, so I went out and bought off-brands as temporary replacements, which I still have after 50+ years. And today I have the most diversified tool assortment you could imagine. I still have wrenches that I made for special applications that had no brand name at all. In fact, I still have my 1% accuracy Snap-on torque wrenches that I never use anymore because It doesn't really matter that much.

 

 

Kinda surprised by the report. Any torque wrench used in critical assembly should be re-certified periodically. Aircraft maintenance comes to mind. I would think professional engine builders would do the same.

 

I got HF inch-pounds to work on the BMW R1100S, which is pretty sensitive when it comes to correct torque.
I was impressed enough to get the foot-pounds too, but would suggest that, for peace of mind when it comes to
calibration, it's important to take the tension off after every use. Pretty impressive for the price....

 

You might consider one wrench, one video, etc.

 

I'm a Aircraft Mechanic. All tooling such as a torque wrenches, voltmeters, etc..require a calibration check every year. You can't use personal equipment. Of course most people couldn't afford the cost of recertification every year.

 

 

As an automotive apprentice in the late 70's, I only had 3 choices of tools. Snap-on, Mac, and Craftsman. The tool truck's had the finance option, which appealed to many young mechanics. Now the sky's the limit for available tool's. If, and when I but tool's, I will buy the less expensive brand's. I'm far removed from wrenching for a living, so I buy very little these days. Good luck.

 

Mixer man. i have a question for you. I need a 250 lb torque wrench when I do the front brakes on my ford F-150. I also needed one when I did my rear axle on the fire truck. Should I buy the HF torque wrench or a torque multiplier? These are not used but once in a while. And hopefully not the fire truck again/

 

Ethyl the Tool Truck and me....none of the "Big 4" Franchises would let me build this truck....see that white area behind the cab?//// I want to put the Preamble to the Constitution there....

Im proud to show the eagle...
Good morning FTE! Tools/SERVICE are my business. When my(Matco) tool truck was stolen in 2015, I had decisions to make about how I was going to proceed. While I was grateful for my original Matco District Manager for helping me get into business and for getting me going...After 7 years changes in management at Matco and the franchise requirements and restrictions were starting to chafe me some. Also the mantra that the franchise's chant that a territories are all equal is not true. To a much larger degree than they will ever admit its like the old real estate adiage location...location...etc. So while the theft of my truck was a huge knock down...it really ended up being a good thing freeing me to go independent.
The big 4 franchises (Matco,Snap-on,Mac,Cornwell)only do 2 things for the end user consumer and for the dealer. They only promise to supply/support a tool that you will recognise as a quality tool and to teach the dealer how to do his business so he CAN most likely make a living. This is good for both the consumer and the dealer. The consumer gets someone who CAN conduct business and the consumer get tools that are backed up by a reputable company. The thing is once that "education"was done I had little reason to still remain a franchisee. And since the big 4 hardly build their own stuff...all I have to do is educate and show the tools are the same only the stamp on the tool is really different.
I left the auto dealership life as a manager to work as a employee for Mac driving one of their tool trucks as my first venture into tool sales 20 years ago. I loved working for Mac and its quality back in the day. Four years later Mac changed its mind and did not want employees any longer and we parted ways. My wife was not ready back then to take the risk that this business has then so I went on to work again as an employee for Snap-on in a brand new division as an equipment specialist. I had a huge territory and went to a cazillion tool truck dealer meetings to get them to give me leads etc. Snap-on large company politics were interesting to say the least....The tool truck dealers on a whole did not like the equipment division...they saw it as competition to limit their money making opportunities...I understood their feelings....truth is most of them were horrible at the equipment thing and needed a guy like me but they would rather not do anything and not get a cent than get a sale and ONLY a percentage effectively sharing some of the Profit money with a guy that was an employee....it was challenging to say the least.....Then life and stuff pushed and I finally did what it took to get my own franchise with Matco...basically after sort of holding a gun to my wife's head she agreed to take a chance and we became Matco franchisee's.....After the theft of the Matco truck...it took 2 years to put everything back together to become an independant....Advanced Tool Solutions was born.. I am a GearWrench Street Team Member so I sell their stuff and sport the custom stars and stripes wrap they allowed me to design and then paid for. I also sell anything you can find on the other Big 4 trucks but without their big 4 name and logo on it..here is what you need to know about tools....the 4 big guys...Matco, Snap-on, Mac, Cornwell do NOT make of many of their tools. They "private label" a BUNCH...more often than not you can buy the SAME tool from the manufacturer that actually made the tool also....sometimes the handle will be a different color or shape but the working tool is the same exact thing ..The big 4 charge so much more because they need to to make profits....Another distribution channel like each of the big 4 are for that exact same tool costs money so there is a markup in the price of the tools for that additional channel....I eliminate this additional channel with my business now...I go get the original tool before the guy who made it has a chance to lazer etch it with a big 4 franchises name--- Its WAY less money with the original name and that is what my clients will buy from me. The same tool without my service is available also online you just need to be knowledgeable you know check into it...I and good tool sales guys set ourselves apart from the internet in that we supply a service to bring you the tools. I also come from a repair background so I can advise on what will do the job best. I want you to win. So I have that going for me. I offer credit terms like the other tool trucks so there is that. If you dont want to pay my or another toolguys mark up and get those services.....buy what I sell online...but then deal with that tool and the whole process yourself.......plus as an independent I AND REALLY THE CONSUMER choose the tools I sell...I CAN NOW come across town to you when you move on to a new job....NONE of the Big 4 are beyond the consumer now...at one time they were the only game....now the consumer can choose what and how to get his tools...I offer one of those choices.... you have choices today be a smart consumer...dont be a brand groupee....be a pro...pick up the tool see how it feels to you...ask a trusted associate how it works. look for it in its original state if it happens to be branded with any of the big4 logo....or pay more and buy that big name....the consumer has the power today more than ever....the big 4 need to realize this and open the door to better customer relations to make sure they continue get their share...Power to the consumer! Im happy to answer questions if any of you have them....I can give back to FTE that way for sure for all the help I have received....thanks for letting me share.

 

A torque multiplier (X2 or X4) is going to cost at least twice as much as the HF torque wrench. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Personally, I use one of these for the higher torque settings, and I have checked it against my 150 ft lb Snap-On 1% torque wrench and it's spot on.


Curious what requires 250 ft lb of torque on the front brakes of a F-150? I really don't know.