Torque wrench

Hi all, just curious what everyone uses for a torque wrench. I have a Snap on digital one that quite frankly is a piece of crap. The ratcheting head never worked nice and now slips. The digital read out quits if you grab it buy the end.

so I am looking to buy a very high quality one. I don’t like crappy tools.

 

Split beam.

https://torqwrench.com/products/split-beam-clicks/
Or
http://www.cditorque.com/

 

Thanks!


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I use an Icon from harbor freight.

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As far as "good" torque wrenches, I always recommended Snap On! That was what we used in all our engine building work. Admittedly, I have no experience with their digital torque wrenches so maybe, like so many things, their quality is not what it once was.

Only thing I'd suggest re torque wrenches for auto work is that it's best to have at least two - a 1/2" drive and a 3/8" drive since torque wrenches are most accurate in the middle of their range.

 

I use a Craftsman torque wrench that has worked perfectly for a few years now.

 

I've been using a German made torque wrench named Gedore. You can flip the drive and torque left handed bolts while still tightening in the same direction. Very cool.

 

If its a snap on it should be guaranteed for life. Get a replacement and see how that one works.

 

Snap On. Another once great American company.

I will not buy from them anymore.I have the guy by the shop about twice a year to replace broken **** but wont give them a dollar.

 

Same as last one. Complete garbage. End cap is battery contact and is a big piece of the grip area of handle. Wiggle end cap and it loses battery contact.

I have 2 and Snap On will not even accept them as a trade in. The tool is rubbish.

 

I have avoided electronic torque wrenches for straight torque work. It's too inconvenient to always have the batteries go dead when you need it. The exception I make is a 1/2 inch Gear Wrench one used only for torque angle work. That stuff is hard to do manually.

For straight engine work torque, I have several Gear Wrench pieces, and a couple of older Snap On balance beam click types that I recalibrate every year.

For tires work, I have a couple of old Snap On torque wrenches permanently set for those values and that is all they are used for.

 

In general when I want a really good tool, I always invest in a German tool. Hazet makes some nice ones, or Knipex if budget is no object. Wera, USAG, Facom, Stahlville, are all excellent manufacturers. Unfortunately the US is not governed by strict safety, and most importantly materials standards, so many things are now made in China with inferior materials and processes. Unfortunately that is also the case in most of the world, as almost everyone is producing stuff in China. You need to really read the fine print. I only buy Henkles knives for my kitchen, because Solingen steel is the best I’ve ever used. However, Henkles now has $500 kitchen knives and $50 knives. Their real line is still made in Solingen and you can stab it through a 4” thick oak door, then they have an “Amazon” line that’s made in China that is mediocre at best. I suspect it’s the same with other tool manufacturers. Maybe Snap-on ain’t what it used to be.

 

Most of my hand tools date back to the 40s and 50s. Inherited from grandfather (locomotive mechanic) then father. A few I bought in the 60s (mostly power tools). Made in a different time when even no name brands had quality I guess.

 

Hazet is very common in Germany. Our shop used them to process labor time studies for GM/OPEL.
We had to be finicky about torquing because the development/prototype mule cars went for other tests after we had them.
Means, we torqued everything. Even a taillight cover screw ;-)

 

Mine does the same thing, end cap causes the thing to shut off, ratchet head is made from Chinesium. I doubt SnapOn made these, they bought some cheap Chinese knockoff and just branded them. When I checked into it they only warranty these for two years.


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I agree, I have some Wera tools and they are well made, like SnapOn used to be.


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Friend of mine has a set of SnapOn sockets and ratchets from the 1970’s he got from his dad. They are exceptional.


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I am pretty sure the Tech Wrench is made by them. Their split beams are Precision Industries marked up. Whether they made it or not its junk and so is many of their regular tools. Combination wrenches. The ones I bought in the 70's and even 80's are very good quality. To reduce warranty costs they are making them from a very springy alloy so the jaws just spread and slip. None of its worth a ****.

Many European tools are much better. Winzer, a Texas based industrial supply company for a number of years were selling Hazet tools at about 1/3 the price of Snap On and far greater quality.

 

CDI makes snap-on tq wrenches... Level of quality though... Seems to be lacking. So it's probably a low line for CDI.

Precision instruments is a very good wrench. I'd start there honestly. If not mistaken they hold the patents.

 

That's sad to hear. Even over here in the UK Snap On was king when I served my time 30 years ago. You wouldn't dream of using anything else as a self respecting car mechanic. At least 30% of my weekly wage went to that van, most in repayments for endless debt with them! Broke my heart when my garage was burgled and the whole lot was taken, although a shiny new set of insurance supplied Snap On tools and chests partly made up for it.

Who is the tool of choice for pros in the US now?

 

That's a good question and probably various.
Tools found in the various chests and boxes here...
Snap_on circa 60's-90's
Craftsman circa 50's
MAC
Facom
S&K
Hazet & Stahwille
Koken... This one is a favorite, $$$$ though and difficult to get.

And there's a bunch of specialty stuff from various mfg like Baum, etc..

 

Koken makes some handy and very innovative special tools but hard to find.

Snap On had a strangle hold on the industry because of their distribution system. In this age of online everything, Amazon etc that has to be hurting them.

Obviously I don't buy like I used to but as a shop owner it becomes a no brainer when a problem arises and you know of a tool, say a $100 or $200 tool that will save an hour or two you look it up and get it thrown on the big brown truck. If its an odd ball tap or whatever as often as not Amazon will get me one tomorrow. It doesn't have to be German Aerospace quality... Will it address THIS PROBLEM NOW? Sure wasn't this easy 40 years ago. Want a 20 x 1.5 tap? Get out the 800 directory and start calling. Maybe in a few weeks.

 

We've got two locations, North West WA and down here in socal. I'm spoiled with everything a day or less in hand. Plenty of times when I've been in the PNW... Ha.. hahaha... That's an order and it'll be a week. Distinctly recall having to order an M16x1 die... Took 9 days to get.

Yup, and if McMaster carr doesn't have.. It doesn't exist.
McMaster and bellmetric are great resources.

Koken has great tools, really really wish it wasn't such a pita to aquire, then again.. I'd spend more then I needed to.

 

It seems to me that there are certain categories of things where "digital" just doesn't belong.

 

I have two Snap-On click type torque wrenches that I bought in 1979 when I first became an aircraft mechanic. They have been calibrated annually ever since and always have been found accurate.