For precision work I wouldnt use it.It maybe ok for torqing wheels and suspension parts.I will keep my Snap-on's.I think Craftsmans would be a better choice for the home mechanic.

 

This was a real ad from a couple of years ago. Would you trust your life to this crap?

 

I plan on buying a HF torque wrench. That way when someone wants to borrow my good one, I can loan them the HF one.

 

I bought a cheap TQ rench over 25 years ago at a discount tool outlet, and can say with certainty, it works just fine. I looked at the HF unit once, looks like the same one, but who can say? I agree completely with rebelheart. For most things like lug nuts and brake work, these are fine. I would not use it for any engine work. The inch pound 3/8" drive unit I bought at the same time? Never used until last year, and when you abuse one of these(shame on me) they break. I haven't missed it. For $10, you can't go wrong.

 

Buy American made if you can! Lots of good American companies out there that make a quality product. Read the label. Educate yourself. I appreciate the US vs. China thing but the reality is that most companies in China actually do have very good quality control. They may have poor designs but they do make pretty good products and they are getting better. They do NOT have good metallurgy control because they have very limited supply of steel and more importantly scrap iron and steel! Springs can not be made from iron (coefficient of elasticity is very small like .5% for G2500) and still work as a spring and stainless is a poor material for springs for a variety of reasons.
Torque wrenches have a finite life, a narrow band of repeatability over a short period of time and can give wildly varying readings if abused. A "one off test" comparrison between a HF and a Snap On is not a good or statistically effecient test. Don't kid yourself. Operator error can account for 50% of the inaccuracy when torquing ten nuts in a row. I have done many R & R studies on torque techniques. Certain torque specifications are critical on internal engine components and externals like head bolts but for torquing nuts on a wheel you do not need to have anything like +/- 5% accuracy but it helps. The important thing there is consistancy from nut to nut so that the wheel is not intentionally warped. Most people over torque everything and have no idea what XX lbs/foot torque feel like with a bare wrench. A $10 wrench is useless as a gage in my mind and you do, indeed, get what you pay for. Sorry for the rant! A critical specification poorly executed will cost you far more than the price of a cheap tool. It's YOUR car and money.