Not sure where to post this but....I'm looking for something reliable and accurate. Going to be using it on engines, parts, lug nuts and everything in between. Would it be best to get a "cheaper" one (IE:harbor freight) for parts such as lug nuts and a better quality one for more sensitive parts?

 

craftsman

 

Yes,I agree with the craftsmen advice.I would stay away from any of the electronic ones.You will need two to do the common torques.If the wrench range is 25- 100#s don't try and torque a bolt to 25#s.The wrench is very inaccurate at the ends of the range.Try and keep the values near the center of the range.

 

Would it be best to get one of the Harbor Freight for the lower ranges? Just found this post...

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

I'm in the same boat. If I did all the work on my car, I would probably want to spend a lot of money on high-end professional Snap-On tools. But I only use mine for swapping wheels, at track events and at the start and end of winter. Click on photo for link.

3/8" drive, $12.99 at Harbor Freight:


3/8" drive, $19.99 at Harbor Freight:


1/2" drive, $21.99 at Harbor Freight (includes carrying case):


1/2" drive, $29.99 at Tire Rack (includes carrying case, extension bar, and 1/2"-3/8" adapter):


If you don't get the one from the Tire Rack which already comes with one, then I recommend also buying an extension bar, to move the torque wrench away from your car's fenders when torquing the lug nuts.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

i don't know about Harbor Freight I've had friends with bad experiences with some of the more "specialty tools" ..if you need something cheap and good a nice craftsmen is what i'd go with ..good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Throwdown &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i don't know about Harbor Freight I've had friends with bad experiences with some of the more "specialty tools" ..if you need something cheap and good a nice craftsmen is what i'd go with ..good luck </TD></TR></TABLE>

I rather have two ya know., for like the more import stuff then a little one for lug nuts and things like that. But yeah I guess it's a hit or miss with Harbor Freight stuff.

 

Anyone else?

 

i wouldnt buy wrenches or torque wrenches from harbor freight.....stuff that you use daily i would suggest something alittle more better than harbor freight...i bought some wrenches and impact sockets for work and they all broke...just get craftsman, they are goodand not so expensive

 

I have 5 torque wrenches.

1/2" drive Craftsman for crankshaft pulley bolt, lug nuts, high torque items, etc.
3/8" drive Craftsman for suspension work, tranny bolts, mount bolts, etc.
3/8" drive Craftsman that I originally used for engine building, but I still use it if I don't want to cart my expensive Mac Tools one to random places
3/8" drive Mac Tools (10 to 100lb*ft) for engine building
1/4" drive Craftsman for M6 fasteners

What I dislike most about the standard Craftsman torque wrenches are the plastic locking collars. They often stick, break, or don't lock/unlock consistently. Another reason why I bought the Mac Tools one.

 

Honestly I dont think it matters what brand you buy, but I would get it professionally calibrated.

 

i have the new digital torque wrench from snap on. i kinda agree with muckman get it calibrated, but my personal preference is snap on.

 

had every craftmans torque wrench. Spend the money and buy the 3/8 Snap-on(0-100lbs?) and the Snap-on 1/2(50-200 lbs). Remember, we are torqueing things are critical.

 

Where or how do you get it calibrated?

 

my snap on dealer takes care of it.

 

I had a craftsman but I returned it. Never accurate and the adjusting collar was impossible to read. You put it on the 30lb mark and the collar should say 0, but instead says 2, so you dont know if you're on 30 or 32 lbs. So the markings were off by at least 2 ft. lbs and when i was actually using it it seemed very inaccurate. I had to tighten some bolts around 28 lbs and it felt like i had to use a lot of force until it clicked, but when i went to work my wheels at 80 it felt like it clicked with about 50lbs of pressure. The guys at Sears said the ones at the store are kinda cheap and the accurate ones are only available online.

 

snap on!

 

Anyone fimiliar with http://www.toolsource.com/ost/...00439

 

Split beam style torque wrenches are what I perfer. I use Snap On though. Also get one that only tightens, so if some jackass borrows it he's not loosing bolts with it too. Although you shouldn't let people borrow your torque wrench.

 

i used all craftsmans!

 

but i bet you paid 9$ for them haha.

 

Snap-on, FTW!

 

i have a matco 1/2" drive torque wrench for sale if you're interested.... pm me if you are

 

I have two split beam craftsmen tq wrenches:

a 3/8 that goes 0-75
and a 1/2 that goes 0-150

I have less than $60 invested in them

They are more accurate, encounter less problems, and cheaper.

 

if your building a motor then go with a good torque wrench like snap on, matco, or mac. If you want one for lug nuts or something then get a craftsman or something similar. There is no point to buy a inexpensive one that isnt going to last if you are going to torque engine bolts and such.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IN VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have 5 torque wrenches.

1/2" drive Craftsman for crankshaft pulley bolt, lug nuts, high torque items, etc.
3/8" drive Craftsman for suspension work, tranny bolts, mount bolts, etc.
3/8" drive Craftsman that I originally used for engine building, but I still use it if I don't want to cart my expensive Mac Tools one to random places
3/8" drive Mac Tools (10 to 100lb*ft) for engine building
1/4" drive Craftsman for M6 fasteners

What I dislike most about the standard Craftsman torque wrenches are the plastic locking collars. They often stick, break, or don't lock/unlock consistently. Another reason why I bought the Mac Tools one.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Thats going a little overboard.

 

I accumulated them over the last six years. At least two of them are broken in little ways that **** me off on a regular basis if I were to use them all the time.