Another Torque Wrench Question - Lowes?

mthomas58 · 12-01-2008, 12:54 PM

Looking to pick up an inexpensive torque wrench to complete engine swap related items (flywheel bolts, half axles, etc.). No Harbor Freight crap or 90-day warrranty Craftsman for me this go round.

Lowes torque wrenches carry a lifetime "hassle free" (whatever that means) warranty! Anyone here have one? Satisfied?

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

I've been very happy with Kobalt tools from Lowes - But I like my craftsman torque wrench too.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

I have several torque wrenches. The Lowes is the cheapest, and the one I use most often.

mthomas58 · 12-01-2008, 03:15 PM

I like what I'm hearing. Thanks guys!

arbita1 · arbita1's Garage

I have the Husky's from Home Depot and like them.

x98boardwell · x98boardwell's Garage

I own two Kobalt 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrenches. They work great.

I heard that Craftsman (Sears) has a sale currently on the torque wrenches. They also have a 1/4" for the small drives. I have never seen one of those at Lowe's from Kobalt.

Bryan

porschenut · 12-01-2008, 09:32 PM

I was looking at torque wrenches at Sears yesterday and none were on sale.

x98boardwell · x98boardwell's Garage

My bad, my buddy said they were on sale this past weekend but maybe only in certain areas (which I wouldn't think they would do it that way), but sorry for the mis information. Good luck in the search.

Porschenut, thanks for chiming in regarding Sears. I would hate to send someone down there and be shocked at the sticker price. I think they are about the same price as at Lowe's.

Bryan

JackMan · 12-02-2008, 04:24 AM

For What it's worth, I bought a Snap On Torque wrench. Ok, before you moan and groan about them being overpriced, get this. Most Snap On salespeople make most of their profit from the financing of tool purchases to cash strapped mechanics. I got mine at a 35% discount to the offered price. I just paid cash.

hcoles · 12-02-2008, 07:24 AM

my 35+ year old Craftsman finally got a few worn teeth and it slips once in awhile. So I got a used Snapon on ebay. FWIW - Waynes book recommends getting the set of torque wrenches you will use for rebuilding checked for accuracy. I built a mechanism to test the torque settings. Interestingly enough... my Craftsman has remained consistant for 35 years of use.. I checked it on a torque wrench checking machine at a place I worked 30 years ago and again 3 years ago and the readings were very close. I would guess the internal mechanism of a click type has the patent expired and all companies can now use it..
The problem I found is that many of the fasteners on the 911 fall between the highish end of the 225 in-lbs wrench and the bottom of the 250 ft-lb wrench. I should make a graphic for this and post.

T77911S · 12-02-2008, 07:37 AM

i bought a 3/8 and 1/2 craftsman. they were on sale. i have had 4 craftsmans calibrated. 2 were dead on and mine were about 1 -2 lbs off.
do you have something against craftsman?

hcoles · 12-02-2008, 07:47 AM

for me - I don't have any thing against any of them... as far as I know they all work fine if checked...

One of the best fasteners companies is Unbrako and they have a very interesting chart.

Accuracy of Fastener Tightness for Various Common Methods

Feel = +/- 35% (experienced mechanic)
Torque Wrench = +/- 25%
Turn of the Nut = +/- 15%
PLI Washers = +/- 10%
Bolt Elongation = +/- 3-5%
Strain Guage = +/- 1%

hcoles · 12-02-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshaobui742889

i always saw a guy selling runescape money .but dont know if my account will be banned when i bought?

wtf is this? doesn't seem to torque wrench related.

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcoles

wtf is this? doesn't seem to torque wrench related.

Have seen similar lately in other threads...WTF?

My Kobalt and Craftsmen work just fine,..Their cals seem to hold well although I don't use them very often.

For the small (24 - 240 In lb, 1/4"), I've a digital Snap-On Techwrench (not too cheap). I like this wrench,...use it on the VCs.

Best,

Doyle

chibone_914 · 12-02-2008, 03:09 PM

I once had a proto torque wrench that worked great. (Stolen along with toolbox).

Now I have two Snap-On torque wrenches.

The 3/8" drive, 5-75lbs is perfect for engine work.

My 1/2" drive for suspension, wheels and anything 80 lbs on upward.

Got it off EBay for $40 bucks! I set the wheel, when I get to the desired torque, the indicator light comes on. Very cool!

hcoles · 12-03-2008, 06:10 AM

other posts here or other places recommend not to use/trust the bottom 25% of the torque wrench range... I guess this would be on a click type...

Steve 82SC · 12-03-2008, 07:58 AM

I have three Craftsman/Sears wrenches and they've stayed within accuracy measurements. However, the Craftsman torque wrenches do not carry the same lifetime guarantee as do their handtools. The ratcheting mechanism on my inch-pound wrench does not function any longer in the back-off mode.........I have to tighten, lift off, re-seat, and again tighten.....no big deal for those small jobs, but still, it's not functioning properly. Sears politely told me "no" at the store level and further up their chain-of-command. Sure enough, I dug out the accompanying pamphlets and it's a 90 day warrantee.

Steve

hcoles · 12-03-2008, 08:04 AM

yeah.... also no lifetime on tool boxes.. and beware a possible new Sears trick... on the item cardboard tag.. it has Craftsman written.. but on on the item itself. I bought a grass clipper and was the same as the model I brought in that broke... but the "new" one did not have Craftsman stamped in the metal and also no sticker. I mentioned this to the clerk... I saved the receipt and cardboard hanger that came with the item for the next time when it breaks.

e p slick · e p slick's Garage

I'm surprised some of you guys would compromise and use a cheapo Taiwanese torque wrench on one of Prof. Dr. Ing h.c. Ferdinand Porsche wonderful creations! For Christ sakes - you are not working on a Yugo or Jeep! I imagine you cats who use the cheap tools spend the savings on mirror bras, driving gloves and expensive sun glasses. Get a grip, literally, and do the job properly with the proper tools.

EP Slick - Tucson

arrivederci · 12-03-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e p slick

I'm surprised some of you guys would compromise and use a cheapo Taiwanese torque wrench on one of Prof. Dr. Ing h.c. Ferdinand Porsche wonderful creations! For Christ sakes - you are not working on a Yugo or Jeep! I imagine you cats who use the cheap tools spend the savings on mirror bras, driving gloves and expensive sun glasses. Get a grip, literally, and do the job properly with the proper tools.

EP Slick - Tucson

Funny that you'd post about the sanctity of the Porsche creations, while you'd also stuff a V8 in the back of a flared 76 911 and put a turbo badge on the back. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

The mechanic makes more of a difference in doing the job properly than the origin of the tools.