Torque wrench recommendations?

[widebody911]

I'm looking for a 1/2" drive torque wrench as a gift. Something nicer than Harbor Freight but lower than Snap-On. Sears has one that looked promising, but it's out of stock. MAC Tool's site is a pile of crap and I didn't have the patience to navigate the dancing baloney long enough to findanything. Any other suggestions?

[djmcmath]

Do you have a local tool shop? Silverdale has a little local shop run by an elderly Joe who sells pretty decent stuff at great prices. Perhaps your local Home Depot? I have a gener-o breaker bar from them that's pretty reasonable, with a Craftsman-style guarantee an' everything.

FYI, I have a Sears wrench that does acceptably well. It's not fantastic, but it clicks at what feels like the right torques, so I can't complain.

Dan

[RickM]

Thom, perhaps someone can see if they can get the Sears wrench locally and ship to you....if your heart is set on it.

[concentric]

I got one from Home Depot made by Husky that's decent. Might want to check that out.

[Steve 82SC]

I was told that Craftsman hand tools are made by Husky, the Home Depot in-house brand. Their torque wrenches are identical to the Craftsman torque wrenches that I have. As I recall, the 1/2 drive model is about $55-$60 bucks. I was also impressed recently with the quality of the hand-tools that Lowe's sells. Maybe the professional tech would want something with more tenacious longevity, but for many of us who just address our own rides, Sears, Lowes and Home Depot probably fits the bill.

Steve

[FastDave]

How about one made in USA for $119 25-250 ft/lb?

[chibone_914]

I have two. The Snap-On, 3/8 drive for my engine assembly. The Proto, 1/2 drive for everything else. I paid about $95.00 for it but that was about 20 years ago. I've never had a problem with the Proto torque wrench. I have them both re-calibrated every 2 years. (Can be more or less, depending on how much you use it)

[john70t]

USA made or Japan is almost always a good bet(nevermind they're assembled somewhere else).
Where does someone get them "calibrated" (accurately), besides testing it side-by-side with a new high-end wrench?

[Steve 82SC]

A friend of mine is an engineer and is now involved in the sales aspect of the company. His company makes calibration equipment, with Snap-On being one of his accounts. He checked all of my torque wrenches (3/8 inch lbs, 3/8 foot lbs, and 1/2 inch foot lbs) on one of the calibration meters that he sells to Snap-On. All of my wrenches are click-type and are between five to ten years old. All were within 2-3% of specs. Then he checked my beam-type wrench which I never use anymore and it was off 35%! If you don't drop them or use them as a breaker-bar, they should stay correctly calibrated for some time.

Steve

[azasadny]

S&K makes a nice 1/2" torque wrench for under $100

[Teutonics]

Try sears.com ...I never go into the store anymore.

[Rufblackbird]

I'd recommend against Husky...mine fell apart a bit after the warranty expired, and I didn't even use it that much.

[nostatic]

ok, so here's a semi-stupid question. What size socket are the lug nuts on a 911? To stay on topic it goes with the new torque wrench.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I got the Craftsman one with the nice digital scale on it (they call it "digital" but it isn't electric or anything - it just has a nice easy-to-read window with the digits for the setting behind it). I really love that thing. It was about $70 IIRC. Very nice solid feel and no doubt about the "click" when it reaches the setting selected.

[john70t]

nostatic, 19mm seems to work, but IMO still slightly loose. I just use the lug-end with the blue tape wrapped around it (same with the red-stripe painted 13mm socket). Much less hunting that way.

[FastDave]

Where does someone get them "calibrated" (accurately), besides testing it side-by-side with a new high-end wrench?

I send all warranty & non-warranty torque wrenches to:
Angle Repair & Calibration Service, Inc.
175 Angle Drive
Beckley, WV 25801
304-253-5729
www.anglerepair.com
Cost averages about $50 for most 1/2"dr torque wrenches

[djmcmath]

Todd, that's not a stupid question at all, but now I'm confused. I always thought they were 19mm? I've been using a 19mm regularly on my lug nuts -- am I using the wrong size?

Dan

[Joeaksa]

One nice thing about buying a Snap On is that to get it calibrated you take it to the truck and they do it. No mailing it off...

That said, I never buy off of the truck unless I have to, and look on Ebay for most of my tools like that. You can even buy a tool off of Ebay that is damaged and Snap On will usually replace it, no qestions asked.

Other companies also do this, like MAC and Proto, so its worth looking around. Craftsman is good but someone who uses their tools often its well worth moving up a bit in quality. The Snap On tools I bought while in mechanic's school in 1979 are still in "as new" condition, so when you look at their cost its cheaper to buy quality once IMHO.

JoeA

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

my torque wrenches are 1/2 drive.

in missouri, like k.c. and south, the home depot house brand is KOBALT. i like them. must buy when on sale tho$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Rufblackbird]

I've been using a 19mm socket for the lug nuts...18mm doesn't fit and I don't think they'd use a standard nut size!