Buying Torque Wrench
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Craftsman does NOT warrant their torque wrenches at all. I know as I had one that I bought many moons ago and didn't use right off. First use, it broke on me. My uneducated experience at the time was, no problem, all Craftsman tools are warrantied forever. WRONG. They told me "too bad" and that was it. I still hang onto that specific torque wrench so I can shove it in their face some day. Now they do warrant their normal hand tools forever and I have returned a few of those over the years without issue. As for a real torque wrench, I personally use a "Proto" and its well worth the money. Snapon would be high-end as well. Also consider getting yourself a 3/8 inch drive torque wrench in inch pounds for the smaller things that need to be tightened to specific values as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
They will all turn a bolt, and they'll all make a lil clicking sound, but who knows which ones are accurate.
The important thing is to have them calibrated from time to time to insure accuracy. Doesn't matter if it's a Snap-on or Greatneck, they all can lose accuracy.
Also, make sure to return the setting to zero when finished with it.
And keep in mind of all the opinions here, not that they're wrong, but consider what they mean by "never failed me" or "always worked for me", ect etc. Of course they all work, what's to break? Just have them checked from time to time for accuracy. (have I said that enough yet lol )
The important thing is to have them calibrated from time to time to insure accuracy. Doesn't matter if it's a Snap-on or Greatneck, they all can lose accuracy.
Also, make sure to return the setting to zero when finished with it.
And keep in mind of all the opinions here, not that they're wrong, but consider what they mean by "never failed me" or "always worked for me", ect etc. Of course they all work, what's to break? Just have them checked from time to time for accuracy. (have I said that enough yet lol )
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The CRAFTSMAN is 90 days. Their beam type is lifetime. The stores are open almost everyday of the year.
SNAP ON is one year. Don't you still buy them off franchised trucks?
Even "limited lifetime warranty" PROTO "does not extend to products that have been improperly used, altered, or repaired by any entity other than Stanley-Proto."
If you abuse/neglect any torque wrench you've wasted your money. Treat tools right and they should last a lifetime with or without a warranty. And if one needs to be repaired or re-calibrated (whatever the manufacturer), it's going to be gone for awhile.
This reminds me of arguing about driving a Corvette vs driving an old Yugo. Both will get you from A to B. How much are you willing to pay for the pleasure?
SNAP ON is one year. Don't you still buy them off franchised trucks?
Even "limited lifetime warranty" PROTO "does not extend to products that have been improperly used, altered, or repaired by any entity other than Stanley-Proto."
If you abuse/neglect any torque wrench you've wasted your money. Treat tools right and they should last a lifetime with or without a warranty. And if one needs to be repaired or re-calibrated (whatever the manufacturer), it's going to be gone for awhile.
This reminds me of arguing about driving a Corvette vs driving an old Yugo. Both will get you from A to B. How much are you willing to pay for the pleasure?
Last edited by hotwheels57; Dec 13, 2010 at 05:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 163
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks fellas. Sounds like the name of the game is to take care of the tool, reset to 0 when done, buy something with a warranty and buy something that can be recalibrated. And BTW, so much for fun vette projects, I'm off to fix a leaking upper intake manifold gasket on my 3.8 V6 Monte.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
craftsman is a brand, not a manufacturer as far as i understand them.
i've had a craftsman torque wrench that seemed to work fine. set it to torque and it would break at that point. based on my gut, it seemed to break at about the right point.
i seem to recall also have something of an old school torque wrench that measured torque based on the deflection of the bar relative to a scale. it was not a break away. that was a long time ago.
wow, digging up ancient memories.
i've had a craftsman torque wrench that seemed to work fine. set it to torque and it would break at that point. based on my gut, it seemed to break at about the right point.
i seem to recall also have something of an old school torque wrench that measured torque based on the deflection of the bar relative to a scale. it was not a break away. that was a long time ago.
wow, digging up ancient memories.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Yeah, this one that I bought was back in the 70's for sure. It measured torque using a "strain guage" mounted internal to the tube. My very first use, I barely applied pressure to it and it snapped off at the neck. Took it back and was told, "Too Bad".
Last edited by dgrant3830; Dec 14, 2010 at 09:46 AM. Reason: fix spelling...duh
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse NY
Just because its snap-on doesnt mean its the best torque wrench around. At my old job working on blackhawks we had to buy our own tools. Our torque wrenches were kept track of and sent to calibration every 6 months. I've seen plenty of brand new snap-on torque wrenches come back as a fail the first time they get sent to cal. The guy who drove the snap-on truck would always give you a new one if it didnt pass the first time. If you arent sending it off the get tested you have no idea how accurate it is. I also knew a guy who worked in the calibration shop at in the air force. He wasnt all that impressed with snap-on torque wrenches either. I will admit that I do like their design. The handle is nice and slim and operates smoothly. For the most part snap-on is usually worth the extra money, but not always. Saw plenty of guys using crafstman torque wrenches with no issues passing cal.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 34
From: Lincoln Nebraska
FWIW- I have access to a calibration lab at the company I work for. A year ago I bought a Harbor Freight "Pittsburgh" brand 3/8 torque wrench (range 0 - 80 ft lbs) and immediately took it to the calibration lab... it tested within 2% accuracy. I've since had it re-checked once...it was still within 4%. The cal lab folks are used to working with Snap-on and MAC tools...and expressed surprise at the accuracy of this "cheap" Taiwan-made torque wrench.
