my craftsman 3/8" drive click head 10-100 lbs. went out.
what brand do you guys use?
i don't have the $300+ for a Snap-On unit.
i figure you guys would have some good tool recommendations.

snap one torq wrench into one or more spares and see if they read the same when fighting each other directly. If not, find out why. That is what I do every time I torq a long block.

I'm not as picky about intakes, exhaust, lug nuts since I can just "tell" when they're right [famous last words...] though I do use a torq wrench even on these.

also a near 30 year old Craftsman 0-150 click set wrench. Had it calibrated some years ago and was barely off a lb. or two. New ones seem to be about $70 today. Also have a backup 1/2" 0-140 Craftsman beam type and in 3/8" a Craftsman 0-600 inch-pound beam type. Like the newer electronic readout units but I do wonder if they would hold up and still operate 30 years later!

Still, if I used them a lot (and I don't) I would spring for the electronic ones.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944595000P

I have a Matco 1/2" that I bought around 30 yrs ago. Always worth the extra money to get good tools. If you buy cheap tools, you get cheap tools.

my dad always said good tools will last and junk will break.but he was snap on tool dealer.

1/2, 3/8 ft lb.

I am going to buy an in lb version soon, I have an old no-name and dont trust it


---------------------------------
- 70 Fastback Mustang, 489 cid FE, TKO-600 5 speed, 3.70 9 inch
- 71 F100 shortbed 4x4, 397 cid FE, headers, Street Dominator, 280H, 5 lug Dana 60, 4 speed

I have three Snap On and one Harbor Freight. The Harbor Freight is 20 - 200 Ft / Lbs. All four calibrated again this year no problems. All of them are at least ten years old and get used a lot.



1912 Model T Ford touring Salmon (ugh!)
1913 Model T Ford Touring original Black paint
1915 Model T Ford Roadster Black
1915 Model T Ford touring Black of course!
1967 Cougar GT 390 Cardinal Red / Black
1968 Cougar GTE 427 Augusta Green / Saddle
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/15029/50071-2

I have 2 Snap-On ft. lb. torque wrenches, and a Snap-On inch-lb. torque wrench. I have had great luck with mine, they are all I trust. I use mine for work, so I expect them to be top quality and they have been so far. The oldest one I have was purchased in 1991. I'd buy another Snap-On for sure.
If you need one only occasionally, you probably don't need to spend the big bucks on a Snap-On. Craftsman, or ITC, or something like that would be fine.

I would have agreed with you ten years ago, but the HF torque wrench we use here is getting thrashed pretty hard. It has flown hundreds of thousands of miles bouncing around in the back of the airplane, getting dropped and of course torqueing down main wheel nuts at 150 Lb - Ft when it is being used. Been calibrated 9 times, perfect every time.

The Snap - On torque wrenches have of course seen all the same abuse and also work fine.



1912 Model T Ford touring Salmon (ugh!)
1913 Model T Ford Touring original Black paint
1915 Model T Ford Roadster Black
1915 Model T Ford touring Black of course!
1967 Cougar GT 390 Cardinal Red / Black
1968 Cougar GTE 427 Augusta Green / Saddle
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/15029/50071-2

Fedco

you know alot of guys dont like the digitals i use both . and i can say i love my digital . you got the vibration sound and the dummy lights to tell u whats up . it tell you how much u went over . and instead of reading the handle like the twist ones everything is at a push of a button . but if ur looking cheap craftsman or harbor freight , northern tool .

...they have an outstanding feel to them...they let you know when you are approaching set torque.

Snap on..I use the gauge kind (not cheap)not the clicker( dont trust em). They have several different percentage error level grades. IMO its one of those things you spend money on to buy once.

breaker bar and "clicker elbow". (just kidding, mine is an older snap on unit that i had inherited from my dad, calibrated, of course)........