Torque wrench?

I just went to the local auto parts store where I know the owner and asked him if he'd warranty the $60 import on the shelf. He said, "For you, Sure thing!" so I bought it. Rebuilt 2 engines with it so far without fail. No sweat! I'd rather have a Snap-On, but I'd rather not pay their price too!
 
I was a lead driveablity technician for a Chevrolet dealership before I went through the fire academy and paramedic school...it's how I paid for a degree from Texas A&M and my firefighter training. I bought three torque wrenches... an inch pound, a foot pound and a torque angle meter, they are all Snap-on. I my opinion Snap-on and Mac are the best tool makers out there, but at the same time VERY expensive. My suggestion to you is...find a Snap-on tool truck. Snap-on also makes a brand called Blue Point...they are usually about half the price of Snap-on and are the SAME EXACT TOOL with the exact same warrenty...most tool dealers won't tell you this b/c they can make more money selling Snap-on. But if you ask for it by name most will get it for you.


Gari
 
+1 for the pawn shops.... or the neighbor's garage...as Engine6 suggested...

I was fortunate and inherited a Snap-On from my dad that is probably as old as I am... I know when I showed it to a Snap-On distributor, trying to find a replacement accessory for the kit, he wanted to buy it really bad... and was willing to trade me a new one for it...
 
i use snap-on,and have an old crafsman.in my line of work now i don't use them as much,but if i do i find myself using the crafsman more. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
How many of you guys use a torque wrench? I am looking for something under $100 that covers 15-75 in-lbs. Any ideas?



You are looking for the "holy Grail" of gunsmithing wrenches.
I've been looking for one of those myself.(For a long time.)

One would think that a mfg. would fill this nitch in the market as there are thousands of us that would like a torque wrench that covers the range needed for scope bases and rings plus the action screws.
 
Quote:
Quote:
How many of you guys use a torque wrench? I am looking for something under $100 that covers 15-75 in-lbs. Any ideas?



You are looking for the "holy Grail" of gunsmithing wrenches.
I've been looking for one of those myself.(For a long time.)

One would think that a mfg. would fill this nitch in the market as there are thousands of us that would like a torque wrench that covers the range needed for scope bases and rings plus the action screws.



Swamp Fox: My thoughts exactly!

There are plenty starting in the 20/30 in-lb and up range but nothing around 10/15 for bases and rings and 45/65 for action screws.

That is exactly what I am looking for - a wrench that covers bases, rings, and action screws.

This is the closest I have found. It is expensive and I don't like the dial mechanism. I don't want to stare at a needle unless I am speeding on the freeway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Craftsman or The Pitt. wrench from Harbor Freight may be the ticket for action screws but what about the lower 10-15 in-lb range for bases and rings? Is there a seperate wrench for that?
 
iv got a 3/8 and a 1/2 inch snap on they are the best you can buy iv had them for well over 25years and they still look brand new, they work just as good as a brand new one, maby even better.
 
If you feel you need a torque wrench, you should only get a good one, otherwise tightening by "feel" will serve just as well.

Trying to get a "wide range" instrument also defeats the purpose. The wider the range, the less accurate it will be at any point in that range.

Stay away from "deflection" type wrenches, especially when measuring inch lbs. They are notoriously inaccurate right out of the box.

The best will be dial or digital, though there are some "decent" click types that should last forever without recalibration, with no more use than a hobbyist will put them to.

For our application where we are tightening screws, I'd recommend a torque driver, not a "wrench".

Good torque wrenches are precision calibrated tools, the same as your micrometers. They can be pretty easily knocked out of calibration so be careful with them. I wouldn't borrow one from a neighbor or buy one from a pawn shop.

I have a couple of Precision Instruments drivers that I'm happy with. These aren't cheap, I think I paid about $150 apiece (there are more expensive), but these are pretty good and hold their accuracy (2%) pretty well.

I have a 0-24in.lb. that measures in 8oz increments and a 0-75 in. lb. in 1lb increments.

Having gone through that long spiel, I also know a lot of guys that torque by "feel" and their guns don't seem to suffer from it at all, soooo...
 
Since I stopped rebuilding engines the only use I have found for a torque wrench is the barrel nut on an AR. That is 65#+/- to the next index hole. What do you need in/lbs for?
 
nmleon: Thanks for posting brother! Why didn't I think of that? Duh??? Did some searching and "torque screwdriver" opens up a whole new universe of options, including the in-lb range I have been looking for. More than I wanted to spend, but I will keep looking. Thanks again.

blinddog: Badger base and rings - I guess I don't NEED it, just thought I would look into it. Never needed it before but you know what happens when you start reading too many internet posts. . .
 


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