Looking for a manly Torque Wrench!

[saberz]

1/2 drive I suppose for use on lug nuts, I could always get an adapter for the 3/8th.

Not looking to blow a lot of money on it, but want something reliable, dependable and easily warrantied. I checked both the Husky and Craftsman brands and they are both $80. If I could find a discount coupon/code for them I'd be even happier but alas nothing. Which of the two? Both have Lifetime Warranties.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I've had this Gorilla one since 2001... still working fine, although I've never bothered to have it (re)calibrated... maybe I should.

I've used it on lug bolts, sparkplugs, my motorcycle axle nuts, even on my car's oil filter top.

 

[defektes]

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00944642000P?vName=Tools+%26+Equipment&keyword=torque+wrench&prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=L7

29.99, Made in America, Lifetime warranty.

This was the first torque wrench I ever purchased many years ago, and it still works! Of course I have the newer fancy ones now from Snap-On.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

I've had a 3/8" and 1/2" Craftsman set for 10-12 years now, both are still working fine. But without me ever getting them calibrated, who knows?

 

[saberz]

Wow that price is great, and it comes with the adapters and extension bar. Feel well made?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Anies
Feel well made?

The Gorilla one? Generally yes. You only need to be careful about the tightening screw at the end... if you unscrew it too far (when adjusting the torque position), it will fall out along with some other guts inside and you'll have to put it back together... they could have designed this part better by not allowing you to unscrew it all the way out. I've gotten used to it... doesn't really bother me.

 

[saberz]

So generally are the lower cost Craftsman wrenches good or you pay what you get for?

 

[Geo_Prizm]

My personal rule, if it is made in America, it is generally well-made (coming from a recent immigrant). Craftsman started having some tools made in China too, I would just look at the country of origin.

 

[SZR48207]

That Gorilla one looks identical to the $20 one I got from Harbor Freight... or like the $25 one at Wal Mart.

FWIW, I love my harbor freight torque wrench. I just don't like that I have to torque my wheels to 140 ft/lb, which is pretty much near the max limit of the wrench's range.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Reddy45, what vehicle do you have? Most cars require only about 90 ft-lb of torque.

 

[defektes]

Originally Posted By: Anies
So generally are the lower cost Craftsman wrenches good or you pay what you get for?


I've had no problems with it, and I still use it often. My only complaint is that the paint on the scale is easy to scratch, but no biggie with this one cause its lifetime warrantied.

 

[tig1]

If you have a Harbor Freight close by their torque wrenches work fine. I use their 1/2 inch wrench for torqueing lug nuts. Also their 3/8 wrench works well also.

 

[Popinski]

Originally Posted By: defektes
29.99, Made in America, Lifetime warranty.

 

[Vikas]

I have HF 1/4 small one but I am not really convinced if it is accurate enough. It is marked in inch-lb. When I tried to "guess" clicking force when it was set at 60 inch-lb, it felt about five ft-lb but when I set it at 84 inch-lb it felt *lot* more than the five ft-lb i.e. it did not feel like seven ft-lb.

I need to come up with some contraption to check the calibration using weights, table, adapters, few fasteners, some bailing wire etc etc ...

- Vikas

 

[doitmyself]

This is so old, it's not funny anymore. But what the heck, here's your manly torque wrench:

 

[saberz]

lol love the scale.

 

[lipadj46]

The craftsman torque wrenches only have a year warranty and have a plastic ring that breaks and makes them useless. This gearwrench torque wrench is the way to go, made in america by danahar:

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-85054-2-Inch-25-250-Micrometer/dp/B000TDEFRM

This metric only sata torque wrench is made in the USA by danahar for the chinese market and is the same as above except with a different head. Awesome deal if you can convert metric to pounds (if even needed):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MATCO-SAT...omotiveQ5fTools

 

[TaterSalad]

A bit off-topic, but is there a way to easily (cheaply) check the accuracy and/or calibrate a torque wrench?

 

[defektes]

Originally Posted By: lipadj46
The craftsman torque wrenches only have a year warranty and have a plastic ring that breaks and makes them useless. This gearwrench torque wrench is the way to go, made in america by danahar:

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-85054-2-Inch-25-250-Micrometer/dp/B000TDEFRM

This metric only sata torque wrench is made in the USA by danahar for the chinese market and is the same as above except with a different head. Awesome deal if you can convert metric to pounds (if even needed):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MATCO-SAT...omotiveQ5fTools


the one I linked has a forever warranty, all craftsman beam wrenches are lifetime.

 

[lipadj46]

Beams are good to have around. I like a torque wrench that I don't necessarily need to look at the scale to know when I'm atthe proper torque.