Torque Wrench
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 403
From:
RE: Torque Wrench
ORIGINAL: Aziraphale
I have this one: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
I got it on sale for $50 and it seems to work great for me. 25-250. Anything under 25 is barely tightened so I wasn't too worried about going smaller.
I have this one: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes
I got it on sale for $50 and it seems to work great for me. 25-250. Anything under 25 is barely tightened so I wasn't too worried about going smaller.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
RE: Torque Wrench
Just smaller units of the same scale - there's a conversion you can do to go between ft/lbs and inch/lbs. And then there's the metric Newton/Meters.
Most torque specs are provided in ft/lbs anyway. I did find with the BMW that a lot were in inch/lbs, and on smaller fasteners with low torque specs I too thought "ehh, why bother"... Then I discovered that when BMW gives a torque rating they mean it.. soft bolts, I was snapping them left and right - never had that issue on other cars when going by feel.
Most torque specs are provided in ft/lbs anyway. I did find with the BMW that a lot were in inch/lbs, and on smaller fasteners with low torque specs I too thought "ehh, why bother"... Then I discovered that when BMW gives a torque rating they mean it.. soft bolts, I was snapping them left and right - never had that issue on other cars when going by feel.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,278
From: Gainesville, FL
RE: Torque Wrench
Is it not 12 inch lbs per 1 ft lbs? I'm being serious here. I have a 10-150 ft lbs torque wrench.
ORIGINAL: A_J
Just smaller units of the same scale - there's a conversion you can do to go between ft/lbs and inch/lbs. And then there's the metric Newton/Meters.
Most torque specs are provided in ft/lbs anyway. I did find with the BMW that a lot were in inch/lbs, and on smaller fasteners with low torque specs I too thought "ehh, why bother"... Then I discovered that when BMW gives a torque rating they mean it.. soft bolts, I was snapping them left and right - never had that issue on other cars when going by feel.
Just smaller units of the same scale - there's a conversion you can do to go between ft/lbs and inch/lbs. And then there's the metric Newton/Meters.
Most torque specs are provided in ft/lbs anyway. I did find with the BMW that a lot were in inch/lbs, and on smaller fasteners with low torque specs I too thought "ehh, why bother"... Then I discovered that when BMW gives a torque rating they mean it.. soft bolts, I was snapping them left and right - never had that issue on other cars when going by feel.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
RE: Torque Wrench
Yea, according to Wiki you're right:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot-pound_force
I had it in my head that there was more math involved!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot-pound_force
I had it in my head that there was more math involved!
I ♥ Acer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,527
From:
RE: Torque Wrench
I'm a stickler for tools and don't use craftsman for anything other than maybe a breaker bar.
I take my tires off A LOT so I don't mess around when it comes to a torque wrench. Mine cost $300 and is worth every penny. I want to be sure I'm torquing down 80 ft. lbs everytime. I can't count how many studs and lugs I've destroyed using a cheap torque wrench in my lifetime.
I take my tires off A LOT so I don't mess around when it comes to a torque wrench. Mine cost $300 and is worth every penny. I want to be sure I'm torquing down 80 ft. lbs everytime. I can't count how many studs and lugs I've destroyed using a cheap torque wrench in my lifetime.
s197 Junkie
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 16,088
From: IN
RE: Torque Wrench
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?P...mp;ProdID=9485
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?P...mp;ProdID=9635
Got both of these...they are fabulous. Made by snap-on actually.
http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?P...mp;ProdID=9635
Got both of these...they are fabulous. Made by snap-on actually.
Gentleman's Relish
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,189
From: AZ
RE: Torque Wrench
I have a 1/2" drive and a 3/8" drive torque wrenchand a 1/2" drive and 3/8" drive breaker bar. I can't stress this enough.
DO NOT use a torque wrench for loosening thingsit will jack up the calibration.
Brands, I have yet to see a real differnce between the $40 tq wrench vs a $140 other than over time the cheaper one will look more worn. I can honestly say I've used the 3/8" drive TQ wrench maybe twice in 8 years (valve cover bolts and some sort of sensor on a friends car). Only used it because measurements were in inch-pounds and the first increment was under 10 ft/lbs. The leverage on the larger 1/2" is much easier especially when you are under the car or over-extending your reach.
DO NOT use a torque wrench for loosening thingsit will jack up the calibration.
Brands, I have yet to see a real differnce between the $40 tq wrench vs a $140 other than over time the cheaper one will look more worn. I can honestly say I've used the 3/8" drive TQ wrench maybe twice in 8 years (valve cover bolts and some sort of sensor on a friends car). Only used it because measurements were in inch-pounds and the first increment was under 10 ft/lbs. The leverage on the larger 1/2" is much easier especially when you are under the car or over-extending your reach.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,459
From: Northern Virginia
RE: Torque Wrench
ORIGINAL: WhoMe
I considered this one but it read 25-250 inch lbs. Whats the difference between foot and inch pounds?
I considered this one but it read 25-250 inch lbs. Whats the difference between foot and inch pounds?
This is the one I have: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...&ihtoken=1
It works for most things you need on a car to be a shade tree. 20-150 ft/lbs I did get it for about $50 so I wasn't too far off on that
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 403
From:
RE: Torque Wrench
After some searching I've decided on a Husky 1/2 wrench sold at Home Depot and a Kobalt breaker bar sold at Lowes. While my first choice were the craftsmen wrenches, after reading a few poor reviews on Sear's own website I've decided agaisnt it. Also while Sear's offers a one year warrenty on thier craftsmen torque wrenches, the Husky wrench and Kobalt breaker bar come with a lifetime warrenty. I cant thank you guys enough..your advice and info have been invaluable.