Good torque wrench
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by mlub
Any suggestions on a good quality torque wrench at a reasonable price? brands, sellers...thankye
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,928
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm still using the same 1/2" beam Craftman I bought over 20 years ago. I never dropped it and never miss-treated it. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Snap-on and Mac are WAY overkill for this type of guy. No offense. Hell, my dad built/rebuilt at LEAST 50 engines in his time and he used, I think, a Bonney or S&K...still way cheaper than Snap-on or Mac... How many engines will this wrench rebuild?
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Lima Ohio
I bought a Craftsman, because of their lifetime warranty. Well, when the piece of crap broke, I returned it only to find out they only have a year warranty. So that money went down the drain. Any else?
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach California
I agree Crafstman with the lifetime warranty and the fact you can get it at any Sears. If your a mechanic for your trade, then maybe snap-on is worth the money, otherwise just go with craftsman.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
I'm very happy with my Craftsman "clicker". I can't honestly say if when I set it at 75 pounds if I'm getting 75 pounds, or maybe I'm getting 78 pounds, or 72 pounds. At least it's consistent. The stores will now rebuild the ratchet portion while you wait, and that is the weak link on these tools. I don't believe the lifetime warranty applys to the torque wrenches, but I could be wrong. BUY AMERICAN!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
I have a 30 year old Craftsman 20-15- ft/lb clicker. It's a nice tool and not plastic like the current issue. I would like to get a 20-250ft/lb wrench too. I went online when looking for my 0-30in/lb dial wrench and found several tool companies selling them. If it's a quality tool and you don't abuse it then it should out live you.I don't know if I would buy another Craftsman today though.
Gary
Gary
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater Florida
I used to calibrate torque wrenches for a living and still did part time until last year. Most torque wrenches are +4% and - 6%. This is in the range of....above 20% of the lowest reading and below 80% of the highest reading. In other words, if you had a wrench which was 100 lbft, the wrench is only 4% accurate clockwise and 6% accurate counterclockwise, between 20 and 80. lbft.
The only wrench which consistently maintained it's repeatability was Proto, which is made by Stanley Tools.
Utica, Mountz, & Standard Pneumatic also make a nice torque wrench.
Craftsmans andTrueCraft (made by the same company) aren't even in the hunt.
The biggest killer of a torque wrench is not returning it to the lowest setting when finished. Beam torque wrenches are the most accurate unless over torqued.
The only wrench which consistently maintained it's repeatability was Proto, which is made by Stanley Tools.
Utica, Mountz, & Standard Pneumatic also make a nice torque wrench.
Craftsmans andTrueCraft (made by the same company) aren't even in the hunt.
The biggest killer of a torque wrench is not returning it to the lowest setting when finished. Beam torque wrenches are the most accurate unless over torqued.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
Previously had the top of the line Craftsman digital torque wrench.
Did not realize the numbers which are mounted on a wheel had come
loose internally. Broke several lug nuts and a wheel stud (fortunately was on the front) till I realized the problem. Took it back to Sears
thinking there was a lifetime warranty. Only was one year, they
offered to send it out for service for $175. It cost new $100.
If you want to purchase a name brand at a reasonable price
try this company:
www.thetoolwarehouse.net
I have ordered from them a number of times and received fast service
with everything in stock. They sell SK torque wrenches as well as
other brands.
Did not realize the numbers which are mounted on a wheel had come
loose internally. Broke several lug nuts and a wheel stud (fortunately was on the front) till I realized the problem. Took it back to Sears
thinking there was a lifetime warranty. Only was one year, they
offered to send it out for service for $175. It cost new $100.
If you want to purchase a name brand at a reasonable price
try this company:
www.thetoolwarehouse.net
I have ordered from them a number of times and received fast service
with everything in stock. They sell SK torque wrenches as well as
other brands.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by cw823
I bought a Craftsman, because of their lifetime warranty. Well, when the piece of crap broke, I returned it only to find out they only have a year warranty. So that money went down the drain. Any else?
Last edited by Eddie 70; Sep 29, 2004 at 06:53 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Craftsman torque wrenches are junk. I bought their 1/2 inch clicker and did only one engine rebuild with it. The next time I went to use it the ratchet started slipping. I took it back to Sears and they told me I was SOL. I bought two Husky wrenches (3/8 & 1/2) from either Lowes or Home Depot and they offer a lifetime replacement warranty. So far I've given those wrenches 100 times the work of the Craftsman and they still work fine. Craftsman hand tools are great but I'd stay far away from their torque wrenches.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
I just "lost" the ratchet head to my Snap-on clicker torque wrench. My 30 year old Utica (Bonney) still checks out in spec and has served me trough 5 Corvettes, 4 Z/28 Camaros, a couple of SS Chevelles/El Caminos, numerous Mopars, and even a few Fords. I LOVE my Snap-on BUT, I am not happy with the failure (owned for 3-4 years at this point in time.)
