I abandoned my trusty old one before the move east and need a new unit. Any suggestions for good quality/price ratio options on the current market?

Kirk

 

FWIW, the craftsman wrenches are not covered by their life time warranty.

I'd see if you can score a deal on a snap-on unit.

heh, he said unit. heheh.

 

I currently have a $19 one I bought from harbor freight and a very nice snap-on wrench I bought off ebay. Strangely, I use the cheap one more often.

If I were buying another one today, it would be an S-K. -- Some of their stuff is being branded as Facom now I think.

 

I bought a Husky from Home Depot. Can't remember the price to save my life, but it was on the lower end of the price spectrum and cheaper than the comparable Craftsman. I've had it for two years with no problems.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I currently have a $19 one I bought from harbor freight </TD></TR></TABLE>

same here, i got mine during the sidewalk sale

 

I still use a 1/2 drive Craftsman that I've had for about 10 years or so with a plastic grip. I used to have an all metal Craftsman that I got as a teenager and broke after a long time. By that time in about '93 or so they said they were no longer lifetime warranted but they gave me a new one after I reminded them that when mine was purchased they were covered for lifetime. Either way, I think most inherent problems would show up in a year of use and otherwise they would be expected to get a pretty long life if properly cared for. Because something is warranted a year, doesn't necessarily mean it will break in a year, just that you can't get free ones for the rest of your life. If mine broke today, I'd have no qualms about getting another. If you can wait 'til Xmas, they always have tool sales.

 

I second Lee's Craftsman experience. They either die of old age or abuse. I had the (at the time) $50 model and that lasted ~13years. It did crack that plastic lock ring that fixes the torque setting early on, but that wasn't a big deal. Probably from the occasional drop-laying it down on the ground to much. It just gave out last year... actually it still works somewhat, it's just that the handle devleoped some play so the torque settings don't correspond anymore. I use it as a breaker now and bought the updated model to replace it. If it is fautly it should break during the warrantly and there's Sears and OSH nearby most of civilization. If I had a Mac or SnapOn I'd probably waste more time babying it to than using it.

The Craftsman is like $69 regular, $59 on sale occasionally at Sears, and once this year it was $49 at Orchard Supply Hardware.

Hmmm, since it was about '89 when I got the first one maybe I should get it replaced under warranty too

 

I have two Ebay Snap-on units. I got one for $80 & the other for $85. One of the things to consider is that the better torque wrenches can be recalibrated.

That being said, I still have my 1/2" Craftsman after four years of hard use.

 

i bought a 3/8'' craftsman for $20

seems to do the job

 

Where did you guys find the 50 or 20 dollar Craftsman one? Mine is a Craftsman, and cost ~$80. It is recalibrateable, and when SpiceyRice unscrewed it (by going past "stop" until it stopped )at Road Atlanta last month, all I had to do was take it apart, and put it back together. Quality piece of equipment, as long as you don't want to go above 80 ft.-lbs.....
By the way Ewan, I fixed it.

 

It depends what sort of use it will see.

Torquing lug nuts and stuff - Craftsman, Husky, etc are fine.

Assembling engines and other more sensitive stuff - get a SnapOn.

 

I've actually been told that for engine assembly, etc. the old dial version was really better (you know, the cheap one with the needle that indicates what torque you are at on a dial) and more precise.
just what I heard.

 

I still use my 20 year old Craftsman, and when I had it last tested, it clicked 3 ft-lbs light. I was impressed that it was that close, and it still works nicely.

On the other hand though, I was crewing for my buddy with a Pro Spec Miata, and he has a new Craftsman wrench. It is way different, and seemed cheaper in construction, and I did not have as much faith in it. I didn't say anything to him about that, but when he crewed for me later and was using my torque wrench, he said "Wow, this is way better than my Craftsman that I just got, maybe I should take that thing back".

So, I don't know what is currently a good "unit", but I have learned that the Craftsman isn't what it used to be.

Jim

 

Here is a neat tool. I had to have one, so I told a friend that I knew would get it if I told him about, and sure enough he bought one the next day. So I use it now sometimes.

It beeps as you get close to your programmed torque setting, and goes solid tone when you hit the programmed torque, and siren mode when you exceed. Great toy. My wife didn't understand the excitement over it though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I currently have a $19 one I bought from harbor freight and a very nice snap-on wrench I bought off ebay. Strangely, I use the cheap one more often.

If I were buying another one today, it would be an S-K. -- Some of their stuff is being branded as Facom now I think. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have the HF and the 1/2 Craftsman. You can get the HF for $9.99 from their catalog (or take the catalog to the store and they'll honor it). Not sure about recalibrating it, but there is a lifetime warranty. Every time it breaks you just take it in with the receipt and they'll give you a new one. I've already had mine replaced, but it's a good one to take to the track and use for lug nuts, etc.

 

the normal one from sears only goes to 20lbs, but for cam cap bolts, only 18lb is needed.

 

&lt;--- has the 3/8 drive Snap-On "unit"

it is easy to use and can be re-calibrated anytime. I love this torque wrench. If i had to do it all over again i would of got the same one i bought. Lifetime guarantee is awesome

 

I think the 1/2" units tend to be "beefier" in general. And if you're like me, if you buy a 100lb wrench, you'll immeadiately need 116ftlbs for the next project you do.

I traded up to a 1/2"x250lb Husky from my 3/8"x100lb at Home Depot after I broke it (trying to go beyond 100). They just took it back for in-store credit no questions asked.

 

I bought the 3/8" 80 pound Craftsman about 1 1/2 years ago.
Not long ago something happened and the handle didn't function properly.
I took it back, and they swapped me a new one for free.

Maybe it depends who the salesperson is?

And I recommend that one, too.

And I looked into the electronic one a bit, here's the link

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I currently have a $19 one I bought from harbor freight and a very nice snap-on wrench I bought off ebay. Strangely, I use the cheap one more often.

If I were buying another one today, it would be an S-K. -- Some of their stuff is being branded as Facom now I think. </TD></TR></TABLE>

haha me too. i broke one trying to do some axle nuts ok ya so this one i use for lugnuts and stuff. head studs it can handle too, i just know im probably a little off.

i did notice however that sometimes anything under 30lbs doesnt get a click, so theres a chance of over-torquing. so if its around 20lbs i start at 10 then go up in steps to be sure it clicks. i plan to either get the craftsman micro one or get one of those old school needle ones..

 

My harbor freight ones have been good. I have a 1/2" and a 1/4". Occasionally the lower values (like 30lb and less) don't get a click, but if you reset the ratchet or make it click by tightening a larger bolt (at the low value setting) you should be all set.
Zero problems otherwise and they supposedly have the same accuracy as everything else.

Ben

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">One of the things to consider is that the better torque wrenches can be recalibrated.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The $19 Craftsman can be calibrated too--for free. Look at the wrench when you aren't using it. If the needle isn't pointing to 0, bend it until it points to 0. I would call it a downside that the better click-types have to be calibrated.

 

I'm a little uhm, uhh... "biased"... But I like the Snap-On torque Wrenches... Lifetime warranty on materials, and they can be re-calibrated... We have also recently released a NEW torque wrench. Fully digital unit. With the push of a button, it re-calibrates itself, and can measure in ft/lb, in/lb, and Newton Meters... Same lifetime warranty. If you are interested in purchasing one, PM me....

Dan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MrBite &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The $19 Craftsman can be calibrated too--for free. Look at the wrench when you aren't using it. If the needle isn't pointing to 0, bend it until it points to 0. I would call it a downside that the better click-types have to be calibrated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Remind me not to use your torque wrench... EVER....

Dan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lt. Dan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Remind me not to use your torque wrench... EVER....

Dan</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why not? Explain how this is a bad thing.

A good friend of mine has one that he has used for 20+ years this way, and it reads exactly the same torque as my brand new one. I'm not saying grab some pliers and mangle the pointer, just push it so it reads 0 at 0 torque.


Modified by MrBite at 11:35 AM 10/18/2003