Just as the topic says, does anyone know of a good torque wrench manufacuturer? I'm looking for one, but don't know where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Snap-on if you have the $$. Craftsman is good too.

 

I have four Snap-On torque wrenches and one MAC tools one too. I love all of them the same.

 

Don't skimp here.... Purchase what you can afford. No harbor freight.

 

I use craftsman.....no probs here...also under LIFETIME warrenty.

 

Craftsman Just got mine two weeks ago doing a rebuild.

i remebmer when I bought some harbor freight tools home and showed my dad (who is a mechanic) he just laughed and laughed and asked me if I called these things tools.

 

I own snap-on and a craftsman and 9 times out of 10 I reach for the snap-on

But like some of the other guys said get the best one you can afford

 

I have a Harbor Freight torque wrench... my dad (works at a refinery) took the wrench in and had one of his techs check the calibration and it was as accurate as any wrench (up against top shelf stuff) they had in the shop. Been happy with it ever since. You can **** all you want about the quality of your tools but if you're only working on one or two cars it just doesn't pay off to equip your shop with Snap-on.

 

you also never regret buying quality

 

Give your dad a on me. That's funny.

 

Better check again with Sears. This isn't true. I have craftsman torque wrenches too (because I feel the quality is very good), but since it has moving parts, it IS NOT covered under a lifetime warranty; only a 90 day. Unless you get the non-machanical Torque wrench...then it is lifetime, but the quality/acuracy goes down.

 

yes just to add on this
about every 3-4000 clicks it needs to be re-checked for accuracy.

 

thanks for the tips!

how much will a typical craftsman torque wrench cost as compared with the snap-on?

 

i have a snap on 1/2"drive click type, and bought a 3/8" drive craftsman (because it was the only one i could get) beam type, i use the 1/2 for tires and whatnot, and the 3/8 beam type to rebuild engines, i feel theyre more accurate and give you a good feel when putting an engine together

snap on is really expensive
if your not working on cars all day everyday, just get craftsman and save yourself a good 200 bucks or so

 

SK makes a very nice reasonably priced torque wrench. Actually SK/Facom stuff is very nice in general.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MAN65_TTW355.html

Warren

 

Hmmmmm sk??? Dude spend the money. Get sh*t that WILL WORK, will be acurate. You DO NOT want to skimp here, no matter what. Bottom end parts cost $$$.... Do it right. Crapsman at the minimum. Trust me. No harbor freight, or K-Mart stuff here.... Spend the $$$

 

yea i have the 3/8 craftsman, and if u look closely at the card it came with, because it will naturally lose accuracy with time, it isn't under lifetime warranty like other craftsman hand tools. mine is the click type, easy to use and has been great to me, and i think it definitely cost under 60

 

Beam types can be adjusted at home -- just line up the pointer on "zero" and it's adjusted. Plus, they're WAY cheaper.

Click types need to be calibrated periodically, but they generally ratchet (handy!) and you don't have to look at the scale while you're using it. This might not sound important, but sometimes, like when you're tugging on a crankshaft pulley bolt with both hands, you can't SEE the scale easily.

Also, like most precision test instruments, torque wrenches are most accurate in the middle of their scale -- not at either end. So you'll probably want a 3/8" drive for the lower torque stuff and a 1/2" drive for the bigger stuff.

Like others have said, stick with name brands. Personally, I would NOT get a Snap-On or a Mac simply cuz they're too expensive. IMHO, a "home mechanic" doesn't NEED that kind of quality -- Craftsman, Husky, SK, et al are about a third to half the price and will be "good enough."

 

Who told you that Snap-On is a division of Sears? I think that you are misinformed reguarding that. You can go to http://www.snap-on.com/inside/1920.asp and see how Snap-On started, it's kind of interesting actually.

Ohh and btw, Snap-On does not just make automotive tools...

 

SK/Facom makes very nice tools. Have you ever USED any SK/Facom stuff? It's no where even close to being like Craftsman.

Warren

 

**** Craftsman, mine just broke and it costs $60 for a repair/adjust.

90 day warranty, not lifetime.

I babied that thing too, stored it at low torque settings, etc.

 

where can you get your click type calibrated?

 

Snap on is not a division of sears. Snap on is their own company in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Snap on makes a lower model tool called a Kobalt sold a Lowes but not all Kobalt tools are made by snap on. Mac tools are ****, craftsman are shittier.
When you are a mechanic like me your paycheck depends on good tools. Ive had craftsman and broke them many many times. Ive had Mac and broke them even more. I have a huge Snap on set and Ive only had to replace 3 sockets and one 1/4" ratchet. Snap on is the only way to go for a good torque wrench. We have a torque scale at our shop too because we do alot of work on mercedes and volvos. and they are the pickiest about torque specs and my Snap on torque wrench has never been off my more than 1/2in lb. So IMO the only way is SNAP-ON

 

Yes I have, and yes it is much different. As in worse than craftsman....