Torque Wrench question
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 1,531
From: Ohio
Like you, I only need a torque wrench for minor jobs. So I decided to go ahead and get the HF ones in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 in. I never had an in/lb wrench and used to use reducers when all I had was the 1/2 in. The way see it, I'm better off now, for $60, than I was before
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 257
Likes: 6
From: Auburn, WA
I like tools, as for torque wrenches I have 4 at home that I use:
5 -50 in.lbs 1/4 drive
50-250 in.lbs 3/8 drive
20-100 ft. bs 3/8 drive
30-250 ft.lbs 1/2 in drive
and the 1/2 inch drive 0-140 ft.lbs beam torque wrench that my grandfather gave me for my 15th birthday, does not get used anymore but I would never get rid of it.
5 -50 in.lbs 1/4 drive
50-250 in.lbs 3/8 drive
20-100 ft. bs 3/8 drive
30-250 ft.lbs 1/2 in drive
and the 1/2 inch drive 0-140 ft.lbs beam torque wrench that my grandfather gave me for my 15th birthday, does not get used anymore but I would never get rid of it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,650
Likes: 9,112
From: Snow Hill, NC
Mine are cheap but I loosen them up and store them in their appropriate case in a tool box drawer.
I use them rarely but I have 3 sizes, just bought a Craftsmen digital 1/2" haven't tried it.
I use them rarely but I have 3 sizes, just bought a Craftsmen digital 1/2" haven't tried it.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 204
Likes: 26
From: Northern Illinois
Of course you can use an inch pound torque wrench for foot pound applications. As long as the converted foot pound number falls within the inch pound torque wrench's range, you're good. If you have a torque wrench that goes up to 200 inch pounds, the max foot pounds you can torque with that wrench 16.6 pounds.
So, let's say you had to torque something to 15 foot pounds.....you can use your inch pound torque wrench set at 180 inch pounds and it's the same. Multiply or divide by 12, depending on what you are doing.
If you already have the torque wrench to cover what you need to do, you don't have to go out and buy another wrench. There is no "being safe" about this. It is all the same as long as you do your calculation.
So, let's say you had to torque something to 15 foot pounds.....you can use your inch pound torque wrench set at 180 inch pounds and it's the same. Multiply or divide by 12, depending on what you are doing.
If you already have the torque wrench to cover what you need to do, you don't have to go out and buy another wrench. There is no "being safe" about this. It is all the same as long as you do your calculation.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
I know this because I was a QC/QA inspector in nuke plants for about 12 years.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 232
From: Ohio
NQA-1 (the old commercial nuclear power plant quality standard) required that all torque wrenches be sized so that the torque you were trying to achieve fell between 33% and 75% of the wrenches full range. This is the zone of maximum accuracy for any given wrench.
I know this because I was a QC/QA inspector in nuke plants for about 12 years.
I know this because I was a QC/QA inspector in nuke plants for about 12 years.
