Buying a torque wrench. Advice needed

I am putting an engine back together and the time has come to purchase a torque wrench. However there seems to be a wide variety of different KINDS of torque wrenches. Some of them go for $25, others go for $200. Any suggestions? Does it really help that much to have a digital one, or can I use a "beam" torque wrench just as well. I want whatever is going to get the job done and not frustrate me without spending an arm and a leg.

Anyone?

 

those ones where your turn the handle to what you want, then tighten it are the bee's knees.

however, at our house we have one with the dial over the gauge, where you push until the metal bends to what lb you want... realy you cant go wrong


if you can get a dial one that click for 50 bucks and isnt made by MIS, MIT, or Chicago pneumatics, i'd go for it

 

You can certainly use a "beam" type; I got by with a pair (one HD one lighter use) for years. The drawback to a beam type is always having the accessibility to swing it and still read the scale.

The "clicker" type are just easier to use; you're still going to need two:

One for the big stuff (up to 89 ft/lbs for axle nuts) and one in inch-pounds for things like the 5.8ft/lb clutch spring bolts.

Since Crafstman doesn't extend the "forever warranty" to their torque wrenches I got PO'ed when one of mine broke (the locking ring quit locking) and got a K-D instead. (Still made in the USA.) If you shop online you can find some sweet deals on them.

 

Good to know, guys. I WAS looking at Craftsman because of a gift card to Sears that I got... Now I think I'll look elsewhere. While we are at it, do you have any suggestions for air compressor manufacturers?

 

the wrath of BigFitz!


I see it now! Donald Duck wreaking havoc on Sears, pushing down aisles, knocking down Elderly women and small children

 

air compressors, -----craftsman

 

after having to rebuild a Craftsman compressor SIX TIMES, I can't say that I agree with you on that one.... :-(

 

we've had ours for 2 years no probs... but i get your point

 

torque wrench 101 eaa

 

stereomind, or anyone - any other advice on compressors. I HAVE heard a "never buy craftsman power tools" rule. I would like to spend under $200 and run most automotive tools.

 

Pay close attention to the CFM requirements of the tools you plan to use.

The greatest air ratchet is useless without the CFM to run it.

 

I'm currently using a 21-gallon Central Pneumatic (read: Chinese-grade Harbor Freight stuff). It's an oil-lubricated single cylinder and it works just fine with all my air tools, including an impact and a gravity-fed paint gun. It was about $150 on sale. I've not had a single problem with it other than having to re-plumb it (I like to use the teflon paste instead of tape) and adjust the cut-in/cut-out valve so it would hold more air. it maxes at 120psi at the moment.

EDIT:

This one.

 

I have a 1/2" Drive Craftsman Torque-sensing Torque Wrench.
I could not be more pleased with how it has performed.

THE most popular tool with Auto Mechanics, World wide, is the Craftsman "Quick-release" Ratchet Handle.
Sears admitted selling over 26,000,000 of them, back in 1976, when the Ratchets inventor sued SEARS for stealing his idea.

The name "CRAFTSMAN" is stamped into both sides of its handle.
What should be stamped there, other than CRAFTSMAN is:
PETE ROBERTS, who lives inn Gardner, Mass., about 25-miles from RickCoMatic Global Headquarters. (My house).

TIME Magazine Article
October 23rd, 1978
(32 Years ago ... )

>> " During his free time as an 18-year-old clerk in a Sears, Roebuck store in Gardner, Mass., Peter Roberts invented a quick-release ratchet wrench that enabled a mechanic to change sockets with one hand. At his boss's suggestion, Roberts offered his invention to Sears. Executives told him that his wrench probably would not sell well and that patents were pending for similar tools. But Sears eventually bought the rights to Roberts' wrench for $10,000.

A year later, Roberts discovered his invention prominently displayed in a Sears catalog. As it turned out, while trying to discourage him about the value of the tool, the company had test-marketed it and converted about 75% of its wrenches to his design. Sears went on to sell 26 million of the wrenches for a profit of about $44 million. Roberts sued. In December 1976 a federal jury decided that Sears had obtained Roberts' patent fraudulently. The jury awarded him $1 million. Last week, after Sears had fought the decision all the way to the Supreme Court and lost, Roberts, now a 33-year-old grocer in Red Bank, Tenn., collected his money. What will he do with it? "I'll do some more tinkering," he says. "I think I have some more good ideas."/ "<<

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... z0bKmvkWIp

 

urg. I've had my Craftsman 5hp- 35gal air compressor for about 17 years now and although the first one had a problem, it was replaced under warranty and except for a leaky gauge (they sent me a new one for free) it's been fine.

ALL of my hand tools are Craftsman. All of my toolboxes are Craftsman.

Five of my seven torque wrenches are Craftsman. This "lifetime warranty doesn't apply" thing was news to me; I like the K-D pull-down type locking ring better.
http://www.kd-tools.com/34593460.htm One of each of these and you're all set.
These guys are pretty reasonable: http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-2530- ... -3459.aspx
The real kicker is you can buy the K-D wrenches from Sears.com-- for way too much $$$. (They want $108 for the 3459.)

Oh, and Schoot: I don't often knock over little old ladies and the last time I got thrown out of a store was Target when I got in an argument with an obnoxious manager because they refused to sell me an unassembled bicycle.

 

Hey Fitz - I'm not knocking Craftsman hand tools... They are quite good.

I just had really,really bad luck with their air compressor... There's no lifetime warranty on them, apparently... About six months after warranty expired, it quit building pressure over 60 psi. I discovered that there was a little horseshoe-looking o-ring that blew out from heat and pressure. I called Sears, and long story short, they would not sell me one. The only option they gave me was to take the whole compressor to them to fix, and the amount could be almost as much as a new unit.

So now I have a very nice Craftsman portable air tank that I keep full of air for tires and such.