Torque wrenches

[Telperion]

I'm all in favor of "buy once, cry once" so is there a substantial difference in quality between the $40 wrench I see at the auto parts store and the $150 CDI models I'm looking at online?  Both are the click-style micrometer models.

[charby]

I have a $30 Ft LB craftsman and a $30 Craftsman Inch Lb with a beam scale. It works just fine for me.

I have been wanting to get a click type and I'm probably going to end up buying one with a lifetime warranty. I've considered a Husky (home depot brand) because it is a lifetime warranty and the price is pretty good $70. I own some Husky hand tools and they are the same quality of Craftsman.

The one I am looking at is a 50-250lb 1/2" drive. I would use my Craftsman one for things less than 50#.

I may also purchase the Craftsman 1/2" drive click type if I find one used on Ebay.

If you are looking at using it a lot, such as a lot of auto repair I would spend the money on a MAC or Snap On. My torque wrenches are used mostly to torque lug nuts. Knock on wood most of my repairs I have done lately haven't required a lot of torque work, but that will probably change if I decide to rebuild the front end on my Jimmy.

-C

[never_retreat]

I spent the nut buying a Snap on 200 pounder a few years ago. I bought it originally for working on aluminum engines in my jet skis. But a must for any engine work.

[Gewehr98]

I think I spent all of $29.95 for the inch-pound torque wrench I use when gunsmithing.  I doubt I can send it to a metrology lab to be calibrated, but it's close enough for torquing Mauser/Remington action screws and scope rings. 

[Bigjake]

If you're gonna be bolting together any form of engine guts, get a good one.  nothing negates a couple grand of block & head machine work like a mis-torqued rod or main cap.

[Monkeyleg]

I bought a 20 lb. to 250 lb. Craftsman micrometer-style torque wrench over twenty years ago. It was $75 then.

I baby that thing, and it's treated me right.

I have a beam-style inch-pound wrench that was cheap, and I don't trust it.

[Paddy]

I think I spent all of $29.95 for the inch-pound torque wrench I use when gunsmithing.

Where did you find that for $30?  I was looking for an inch-pounds torque wrench awhile back and they were north of $60, (from Brownell's, I think)

[zahc]

You know you can check torque wrenches for calibration yourself.

[Gewehr98]

Harbor Freight Tools.

[Brad Johnson]

Another vote for the high-enders.  Snap-On, Mac, Proto, Cornwell, etc.  High, yes.  But very accurate and extremely durable.  Plus, they will recheck the calibration at no charge.

Brad

[Paddy]

Thanks.  I can't find an inch pounds wrench on their website, though.  Probably discontinued.

[Gewehr98]

Keep looking:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2696

[Paddy]

Aha! Thanks. It's on the way. 

[coppertales]

I have had a 3/8 inch drive inch lb and a 1/2 drive foot lb torque wrenches, the bar type, that I have had for 45 years and they still are just fine.  I have always wanted a click type but I have been too cheap to buy one.  Besides, I don't use them that often. You just have to take care of  your tools......chris3

[mfree]

Take the setting on a click-type torque wrench down to zero before you store it.