OT - torque wrenches

[Doc B]

I bought a cheap Harbor Freight 3/8" torque wrench a couple years ago, that worked pretty OK. It was stolen out of my garage by the local meth heads and I replaced it with another identical HF torque wrench. This one has stopped clicking except for just enough random clicks to fool you into thinking it still works, after just a couple of months use. Stripped a (luckily) non-critical fitting last night because of it.

I'm running a lot of steel screws into aluminum castings on my motorcycle project, which is way risky with a s**t torque wrench. So I read some reviews and bought a Husky 3/8" torque wrench at Home Depot. More money, $75, but it seems to be a much better made product. Fingers crossed.

 

[mcandmar]

Nothing like a good tool. I have a collection of torque wrenches, some set aside for engine assembly only, i.e. only ever come out of the box to torque critical items like rod caps, while others are designated for general purpose use.  That way the ones that matter are always in top condition, and as close to spec as possible.  You probably already know this, but always unscrew them so there is no tension on the spring when you store them otherwise the calibration will drift.

I can highly recommend Teng Tools, top quality Swedish made with a lifetime warranty. Their phone book sized catalog makes for some quality tool porn, great bathroom reading material.

My favorite wrench is still my big 5 foot long 3/4" Norbar rated for 1000ft/lbs, it just laughs at crack pulley bolts. Proper man sized wrench

 

[aragorn723]

friends don't let friends buy harbor freight    I bought a compressor-powered spray gun from them once that quit before the job was even done..  Craftsman makes a more traditional (non-click) torque wrench for about $30..  Lowes has some really nice wrenches too (kobalt brand).

Dave

 

[SailorMac]

A few years ago I stripped an oil pan bolt with that HF torque wrench. Bought a Craftsman click-type torque wrench which works well. Although lately haven't been near a Sears, so been buying Cobalt at Lowes; like their tools a lot..

 

[Doc B]

I have had a Craftsman deflection torque wrench forever. Probably bought it for my 68 Camaro in 1976. I find it hard to use when you need repeatable precision. Great for lug nuts though. I had a Craftsman click wrench many year ago. Torque setting lock ring on that old model was crap plastic and it broke off after a while.

Just tried out the HD wrench and it seems to work well. I hear you about buying good tools once, however HF sometimes has inexpensive stuff just good enough to get a single job done. And some stuff is quite decent - I have been using their soda blaster to great effect for a few months now and the wire feed welder is pretty decent for light repairs. The tire buster, well, not bad for getting tires off, sucks for mounting them. Motorcycle swingarm lift - great, can't see spending bongo bucks on some fancy gold one that does the same thing. Ditto the truck bed front wheel holder, holds the bike just fine for cheap.

One great value of the web is certainly customer reviews of all of this cheap stuff.

 

[JamieMcC]

If you have a stripped thread and don't want to go up a gauge in fastener size for aesthetic reasons you could use a Helicoil insert to regain the original thread and keep all the bolt heads the same. A Helicoil kit is a handy thing, mine has saved my bacon a number of times.

 

[Grainger49]

Dan,

Any Craftsman tool, as you probably know, is a lifetime tool.  If it breaks they replace it. 

I have experience with steel bolts and aluminum, I have owned 3 Corvairs.  I have an inch-pound Craftsman, a click Craftsman and an old double bar Champion.  The double bar worked torqueing the heads on my Turbo Mustang back in the early 80s.

Aragon,

Not all HF tools are crap.  I have a battery screwdriver/drill that has lasted 10+ years and a scattering of smaller tools that are just right for some specific jobs.  They are not for daily and professional use.

friends don't let friends buy harbor freight    .  .  .  . 

Dave

 

[mcandmar]

I have a thing for Corvairs, my father is a Porsche nut so i've always had a fascination with the murican interpretation, i even love how they look (2nd gen coupe for me).  I guess you do too having owned three of them

We really need to start a car/bike thread, seems most of us are no stranger to grease under the finger nails...

 

[RPMac]

There is a reason professionals use Snap-on and Mac tools.

Just saying...

 

[Doc B]

Absolutely, and there's a reason I use a Tek scope and a Sound Tech 1510A. But if was only going to use them for a hobby I probably wouldn't have bought them, and I can easily recommend something less expensive to someone who isn't a professional. I just don't feel like dropping $600 on a torque wrench at the moment.

BTW Grainger, have you been to Sears lately? You are talking about Sears when we were in our 20's. Their most popular Craftsman clicking torque wrench is guaranteed for 90 days - which is about how long my HF one lasted.

 

[Lar]

Just an added note on tools, quite often its not just the quality of the tool but how its used or abused.
Then the question goes, who is the tool? 
I have broken wrenches and bolts in the past just from over torque, that made me the tool!  :-[
But there is no question that using a quality tool is certainly a way to go if you can afford them.

 

[JamieMcC]

There is a reason professionals use Snap-on and Mac tools.

Just saying...

Unfortunately they also have a habit of disappearing when your not looking  :'(

 

[Grainger49]

  .  .  .  BTW Grainger, have you been to Sears lately? You are talking about Sears when we were in our 20's. Their most popular Craftsman clicking torque wrench is guaranteed for 90 days - which is about how long my HF one lasted. 

There goes a cherished memory.  They still have lifetime warranty on the black and green all rubber garden hoses.

 

[Doc B]

I remember my engine builder in my autocross days getting really fed up with the Snap-on guy coming by his shop to pitch something every time he would turn around. That would be a tough sales job. With the durability they have the seller probably counts on those tools going missing for a good percentage of his sales.

And Grainger I think maybe they still lifetime warrantee some Craftsman tools that don't have moving parts or electronic components. Of course that pretty much limits it to open end wrenches.