Digital Torque wrench

The Sears one is junk, stay away from that one for sure.

I haven't found too many bargins at Girot's, it used to be silly, mostly stuff for the casual garage waxer type, but in looking there recently they seem to have gotten more reasonable in their pricing. The price on that one looks good, but the number of teeth in the rachet isn't very high (harder to use where the swing is limited). Depends on what you are using it for. If you are just torquing wheels a clicker is less expensive and easier to use anyway.

We recently bought a GearWrench 1/2 drive electronic torque wrench for putting gas turbines together and it is excellent. In addition to typical torque measurement, it has an angle of turn measurement that is important to us. Northern tool has it for $269, but I did a search and found it for a lot less ($169) at an Amazon seller. It also came with a limited lifetime warranty, which we thought was pretty important.

 

go with Snap-On. great tools!

 

Digital introduces uncertainty as the analog strain gauge voltage must be converted to digital readings and the sensor is given to uncalibration over time without warning or internal self check. Plus I've never hear an advantage to adding electronics to a torque wrench. If you must yearly calibrate the digital wrench against an old-fashioned analogy gauge why not use the time tested analog torque wrench in the first place. Where am I wrong?

 

You are not wrong, you are exactly right. An old fashioned beam torque wrench is more than adequate for anything that is not being done at a dealership involving documented torque plus angle.

 

Get yourself a Snapon

 

This is an alternative to a traditional digital torque wrench. I was a bit skeptical but found it works well enough, the drawback is that it is quite bulky which might restrict access, and it's unlikey to be as "robust" as a dedicated torque wrench, whcih is offset by the lower price.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EeQeH5YAcA

M

 

Sounds interesting for use as a calibration device. But is it any good? That's the trouble with buying tools with almost no reputation or track record.

Bob S.

 

+1 on what has been said from others. I have no issue with going with the Griot's, but understand that "digital" does not make it any more accurate. What is important whether beam, clicker or digital is that it is well made, and properly calibrated. From there, you have to have it checked on a regular basis, as it is only as accurate as the last time it was checked.

Also, as mentioned, no Sears Craftsman... A friend had two brand new Craftsman clicker type torque wrenches checked, and both were out of calibration, right out of the box! At the same time, I had my 20 year old Utica Tools clicker checked at the same time and it was spot on. Utica Tools are expensive, but well made, and come with a calibration certificate.

http://www.cooperpowertools.com/brands/torque/

 

As far as I know, Griot's does not make any tools. Take a look a the following link and judge for yourself.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947712000P?prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7

 

I have the one from Griots. I love it. Works perfectly. Do yourself a favor and also get a breaker bar for a couple bucks. That way you wont have to beat on the nice digital one.


BTW, the Griots one comes with a calibration certificate that tells you the accuracy of the results. And if I remember correctly, it included an offer to send it in to the calibration company to have it tested and possibly re calibrated if ever needed

 

Griot's does not make tools. BUT, I examined both tools closely and there are enough difference that I am not convinced they are made by the same vendor. The button layout is different, the distal "neck" and "head" are different as well. The hard cases are different too. About the only similarity they share is the display and handle.

Also, read the the comments on the warranty from Sears...after 120 days there is none. Griot's warrants everything he sells for life. While I find many of the items from Griot's overpriced, there is no doubt he (Richard Griot) stands behind everything he sells, and their customer service is #1.

 

+1 on buying a breaker bar. NEVER use your torque wrench for that. My Utica torque wrench finally broke earlier this year, due to my lazyness and not reaching for a breaker bar to loosen some lug bolts on the gf's Toyota Tundra. Fortunately they repaired it for $100 and sent me a new certificate of calibration. So I still have my 25 year old wrench back in my tool box.

You can find a decent 1/2" drive 24" breaker bar at HarborFrieght for $14 or $15.

 

Griots products can usually be found cheaper at other places.

 

Less so than in years past. More and more I am seeing that Richard is either having products specifically made for him only. And when you can find the same product elsewhere, you will not get the technical support or lifetime warranty. Most all of his "consumables" like waxes, window cleaner, spray wax, wheel cleaner and rubber treatment products they manufacture in house. I have noticed his pricing is much more competitive in the past year, probably partly due to the current economy.

I used to be dubious of his products and prices, but became a fan about 8 or 9 years ago, after seeing first hand the demostrations of his products, and his on going support of the many car clubs throughout the northwest. He gives back incredibly, in support to all the local car clubs in both cash, free products and technical support and open houses at his facility. I have occaisionally had problems with a couple products of his (low profile jack was one recent one) and they replaced them without blinking an eye with a new one.

 

Snap-on or a Mac Tools for this tool

 

torqueing

 

We need electronic torque wrenches and I have come to like them so much I use nothing else. It is true, like many other things the early ones had some reliabiity issues but the new high quality ones are exellent tools. Both of my Snap On Techwrenches hold calibration as well or better than any torque wrench I have ever owned. They also provide functions no mechanical wrench ever will.



It's like anything else. You guys try to save a buck and get junk.

 

I have always been happy with my Craftsman, 3 click types, and 1 electronic one. They always hold their calibration and I can also calibrate them myself.

 

I know all Costco tire centers have a torque wrench calibration tool, and they check each wrench monthly and log it in a book.

For home (occasional) use, I would think if you get it checked every 3 or 4 years, that is plently, or anytime after dropping it or something.
If it did not come with a certificate of calibration filled out with serial number, I would want it checked immediately.

 

I calibrate my right before a really big engine job. That means, I gotta do it this month.

 

I agree that Snapon is the best. They are also sold as CDI Torque which is a subsidiary of SnapOn

plus or minus 2% is the industry standard for calibration.

 

I just bought a Gearwrench 1/2 inch 250lb with angle torque wrench. It came yesterday, the red plastic case has a taped on label "Manufactured to specifications by the Danaher Company"

The case, the display, the control (but not the grip) look very identical to the Sears 3/8 100lbs model that I already have that I am confident in saying that the same OEM company is supplying slightly different versions of the same design to many different brands. The difference is very cosmetic.

If I have to guess, the Griots garage buys from the same place. I can't even tell if it is made in China or not...