Chris Fowler

I'm looking to get a good torque wrench. I guess I need a foot pound one first.

Should I just head to Sears and pick up a new Craftsman one or would it be good to try for a used Snap-On one from ebay?

82dukman

Chris, I just got a new Craftsman one from my wife for Christmas. 18"(I think) handle, 20-150 Ft lbs and also lists the torque in nanometers(don't know what you would use that for)
She paid $57 for it I think. If you are not working( I am) Sears has their huge tool blow out sale today. I would definately go for new.
My .02

Mack

After using an old beam type torque wrench for years, I broke down and bought a Craftsman click type. I wish I'd done it a long time ago. :cool:


[Modified by Mack76, 12:13 PM 12/26/2001]

2ND77

Chris. I would go with the new craftsman. while in the Navy, i worked on weapon systems. We got our torque wrenches from the "lowest bidder". Craftsman was the norm. They had to be calibrated every 3 months and exercised each time before use. They help up well and hardly every required replcement for calibration (our tollerances were very tight). So, unless you are going to use it many times a day, every day like a full time mechanic, I would go there. Craftsman makes great weekend wrench turner tools and they are guarunteed!

My two cents.

Ron

Edzred72

I would be very leary about buying a used one. :yesnod: Proper care is required for the longevity of this tool, and you don't know how it was cared for by the previous owner. Craftsman suggests removing all tension on the inner spring, by storing it in the 5 to 5.5lb range. NOT doing this will effect its accuracy. I'd but a new one... they are not that expensive. I have the Craftsman Ft/lbs and Inch/Lbs wrenches and I love em. Good luck :cheers:

Chris Fowler

Might just be time for a run to Sears, then. :D

I got a $60 Sears gift certificate for X-Mas. Sounds just about perfect. :yesnod:

ZD75blue

Craftsman, comes with a waranty... best thing on the planet... you break it and no questions asked take it back
ZD

Chris Fowler

Just bought my Craftsman torque wrench. :D

vettfixr

Not necessarily true ZD and I'm probably going to go against the grain of this thread. Craftsman does not warrant it's torque wrenches as it warrants it's other hand tools. The torque wrenches are only warranted for 90 days (I think). How do I know? I bought a 1/2 inch torque wrench from them and used it to assemble my engine a couple of years ago. I used it for a period of about 2 or 3 weeks. Earlier this year I was doing some work and needed to use it again and the ratchet mechanism broke. I went to Sears and they said they couldn't do anything for me except take it for repairs which they would charge me for. I was astonished because I've been using craftsman tools since I was 12 (a very long time ago) and never had a problem with them. I'm not bashing their tools because my roll away is full of them but be forewarned about their torque wrenches. I have a 3/8 inch Husky that I've used for a long time and it's given me no problem at all. I'll probably get a Husky or Kobalt when I replace the 1/2 inch. Just my $.02.

Dalannex

Vettfixr is correct about Sears warranty. I am a big fan of Craftsman, and own a bunch of Snap On as well. I would go with Craftsman. It is virtually impossible to get any warranty out of Snap-On. Craftsman doesn't warranty torque wrenches (neither does Snap-On), but that is kind of understandable. Use it in the first 90 days so that you know it doesn't have any construction flaws, then it really shouldn't be their problem after that. A torque wrench needs to be taken care of properly. I think Vettfixr's problem just happens to be a bad situation, but we have to all understand that Sears needs to protect themselves against stupid people, and in the process people that do know what they're doing, like Vettfixr, have a problem and get screwed by that policy.

I have a Sears wrench that had the "lug nut special". It has rubber on the end and handle to keep from scuffing things. It took about a drop of oil on that rubber and it swelled up and fell off. I would suggest going for an all metal construction.

Gator81

Hey, Chris,
I'm with Vetfixr.
I can tell you from personal experience, Sears will NOT replace a broken Craftsman torque wrench under the lifetime warranty that covers their other hand tools. It has a short warranty, like 90 days, or maybe 1 year, but that's all. The lock ring on my Craftsman torque wrench broke after maybe 3 or 4 years (several engine swaps and countless minor projects later), and they would not replace it.

I bought a pair of Husky torque wrenches, in 3/8" for inch-pounds and 1/2" for foot-pounds, from Home Depot. The lock ring broke (same as the Craftsman! :eek: ) after maybe a year of regular use. I took it back to Home Depot. They didn't even ask to see a receipt. The guy pulled one off the rack, handed it to me, took the broken one, and said "thanks for buying Husky tools".

I'd rather have one that never broke (does a Snap-On torque wrench have any plastic parts?) but I wouldn't hesitate to buy Husky tools from Home Depot.

good luck! :seeya

john73bb

Here's a nice one no ebay, brand new too. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1312615918

:) :) :)

That one would be good for torquing the heads on your caterpillar engine when you put it in your vette! :D

GTR1999

I have a Craftsman 1/2" wrench I got from my buddy 24 years ago when he switched to Snap On. It's all chrome plated metal- no plastic at all. I always store it at the lowest setting to remove tension on the spring. The socket lock button was the only thing wrong with it when I got it and it has worked fine ever since. I thought about getting a new one but didn't like the plastic handle they have now. All in all, Craftsman still makes good tools and I have 90% of them in my tool boxes!

SharkAttack

I have the Craftsman click-type and it works great. Also, Sears should be running their after-Christmas sale so now is a good time to buy.