Torque Wrench Recommendations
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 26
From: South Texas
Craftsman had their TWs on sale Thansgiving weekend for almost 50% off. I bought both a in/# and Ft/#. They were on sale for $50.00. These are the analog, not the digital. They are more than adequate for the weekend wrencher.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 5
From: warner robins, ga
the three different harbor freight ones were $10, $20, and $30 when i got them. (figured for those prices, might as well get all 3 sizes.) never had a problem with any of them, they dont feel cheap, they came in hard plastic cases and seem to survive my abuse just fine. not sure why people are hating on the harbor freight torque wrenches, theyve served me very well for over a year now.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 507
Likes: 2
From: Florida/Jax
funny...just sitting next to our lead mechanic asking the same thing.
For my needs and cost, just to work on my bike around the house and not for a job, harbor freight is what he recommended....are both sufficient and reliable.
For my needs and cost, just to work on my bike around the house and not for a job, harbor freight is what he recommended....are both sufficient and reliable.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 187
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Oregon
I've had both Craftsman and Harbor Freight, 3/8" and 1/2" drives, for my needs they worked just fine.
Then my son got me a 3/8" Snap-On electronic for Father's Day last year, never would have popped for it myself but it's nice - real nice.
Then my son got me a 3/8" Snap-On electronic for Father's Day last year, never would have popped for it myself but it's nice - real nice.
Last edited by Elgin47; Dec 8, 2010 at 09:24 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 2
From: Palm Bay Florida
For work I use a Snap-on Digital model but that is how I make my living. I used a Craftsmen half inch torque wrench for years ( I still have it at the house for use on the bike) If you buy one from Craigslist you have no way of knowing if it was cared for properly.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
I used make my living with my tools and had a Snap-On Torque wrench then. Actually I still have it, but the ratchet drive broke and Snap-On calls it an antique and doesn't make replacement parts for it. very sad indeed! Ignoring for the moment that this may represent a back door way of discriminating against a Senior Wrench for working around my toys, I bought a Craftsman. Danged if the plastic didn't split just like you are describing . . . so I took it back to Sears . . . no luck without the original receipt and less than a year old. Sure isn't the Craftsman Tool Warranty old. I'm going to call AARP on both these companies! So I went to Harbor Frieght and got a complete set or torque wrenches: 1/4" Drive - Inch Pound - click type, 1/4" Drive - Inch Pound - torsion bar type (for measuring bearing preload turning torque), 3/8" Drive - Ft./Lb - click type and 1/2" Drive - Ft./Lb - click type . . . all total was less than one replacement Craftsman, and a fraction of a new Snap-On of course. . .
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
I'll vote for Craftsman as well. However; you really should buy two torque wrenches. One in ft/lbs and one in in/lbs. Some of the torques are really light and that is getting on the bottom of the scale with the ft/lb wrench. If it were me and I was on a budget, I would go for the ft/lb wrench now and think about getting an in/lb wrench in the future. "Most" but not all critical torques have a relatively high value. I've had a ft/lb torque wrench for years and put an in/lb wrench on my Christmas list this year.
Carl
Carl
Tech23
Last edited by Tech23; Dec 8, 2010 at 11:24 PM.