Torque Wrench Purchase...

[B17Crew]

I’m looking at buying a new torque wrench, I’ll be using it to tighten down wheel lug nuts on my LT4. I was hoping to get some advice from you guys as to what you have used on your Corvettes and what brand/style you prefer.

Is a Craftsman torque wrench a good choice? I know not to buy a beam type, but other than that I’m in the dark. Any help would be appreciated.

B17Crew

 

[warren s]

I have a Snap on "Click" type and a Craftsman beam type. They are both fine. The beam type was 1/4 the price, if you dont abuse it and dont throw throw it in the tool box its fine. Never used one to put on lug nuts though.

 

[Ken]

Nothing wrong with Craftsman at all. Cost Plus Tools stocks all kinds of automotive tools, and Harbor Freight sometimes has some great deals.

 

[B17Crew]

Hi warren, and thanks!
I’ll look a little closer at the beam type, I was worried about their accuracy. I’ve heard about the Click type, the action of those sounds like what I’d lean towards. The click would be a good indicator for someone like me who is working with a torque wrench for the first time.

Hi Ken, thank you too!
The link to Cost Plus Tools is like a candy store. Harbor Freight had a nice selection of torque wrenches, I was liking the digital one till I looked at the price! $379.99-399.00. Me thinks me better stick with the lower tech versions!

B17Crew

 

[KOPBET]

What I use . . .

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944597000

 

[B17Crew]

Hi KOPBET, thanks for the link, I going to see if I can’t get a look at that particular one at my local Sears tonight.

I also going to check the Sunday paper to see if Sears has an Independence Day celebration sale coming up. Around holidays, Sears seems to offer discounts.

Measuring 25 to 250 ft. lbs should cover most of my wrenching needs. At $100.00, it’s about what I was expecting to spend for a good wrench.

B17Crew

 

[JonM]

I wish these wern't so expensive...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/catalog2.asp?tool=hand&Cat_ID=2321742&Cat_NAME=Torque&Sub_Cat_ID=2321889&Sub_Cat_NAME=Electronic+Torque+Wrenches&store=snapon-store

 

[B17Crew]

Thanks JonM!
$1,235.00! :eek That’s quite a bit of money for a torque wrench. Must be a serious piece of equipment.

B17Crew

 

[mqqn]

I’m looking at buying a new torque wrench, I’ll be using it to tighten down wheel lug nuts on my LT4. I was hoping to get some advice from you guys as to what you have used on your Corvettes and what brand/style you prefer.

Is a Craftsman torque wrench a good choice? I know not to buy a beam type, but other than that I’m in the dark. Any help would be appreciated.

B17Crew

Hi B17Crew -

Craftsman is a fairly good choice for home use. They typically are not very exacting when checked against a calibration, but good enough.

In our tech department, they use Snap-on and recailbrate every three months.

For my lug nuts, I use an el Cheapo from Tire Rack - sufficient for lug nuts.

I have Craftsman for the more precise home needs (motorcycles - engines etc.)

best regards -

mqqn

 

[froggy47]

I got the Harbor Freight one on sale for about $15. I would not use it to do a head gasket, but I figure it's fine for lug nuts. It clicks off and I think it goes from 25 to 150 or so. Too lazy to go in the garage & look.

 

[B17Crew]

Hi mqqn,
Thanks for the response. Snap-on is another brand I was considering.

I have received great advice from all of you, I appreciate it in that it’s going to help me make informed purchase. I have learned that the sky is the limit when it comes to prices for some torque wrenches (tw) and that a satisfactory wrench can be had at a reasonable price.

Thanks for the input mqqn.

froggy47,
Thanks for the reply, I checked out Ken’s link to Harbor Freight, as he mentioned, the prices do seem reasonable. Looks like you got a tw you are happy with at a great price. Going to see if Sears is having a 4th of July sale. A while back, Sears had a one day only sale that had EVERY Craftsman tool at half off! I wasn’t aware of the sale until it was too late.:cry

Once again, many thanks to all you who have helped me out here.

B17Crew

 

[JohnZ]

The click-type Craftsman wrenches are fine for normal home use; they stay in calibration longer if you return the indicator sleeve to "0" after using them, as it takes the load off the internal spring that triggers the "click'.

 

[B17Crew]

Hi JohnZ,
Great advice! I wasn’t aware of setting to “0” for maintaining the calibration for a longer period of time.

This is helpful info for someone like me.

B17Crew

 

[IH2LOSE]

Just watch what range you want to be in.

What is the torque specs for lug nuts?


If you dont have to go so high on the top side of the range I wouldnt.

I replaced an old craftsman beam type torque wrench for the click style hopefully the new style will serve me as well as the old style did.

there were two of them at sears I was deciding between when I bought mine one was about 12 dollars more because it came with a protective case.well worth the extra money

 

[Rain]

Isnt it 100 for lugs?

I don't own a TW yet, and had planned on using my fathers day gift card from Harbor Freight.
but, if sears puts crafstman tools on sale this weekend, I might go that digital route too.

Rain

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

I think the torque for aluminum is 75 ft/lbs and for magnesium is 100 ft/lbs.


Craftsman Digitork for me. I found one in a pawn shop for $40 that looked like it had hardly been used. It matches up pretty well with other torque wrenches too.

 

[B17Crew]

Hi IH2LOSE,
I think Rain is right, it’s around 100 ft lbs on the 96 for the lugs.

I saw the black case that you can get with the Craftsman tw. I’d definitely go with that for $12.00 more if that’s the one I get.

Hi Rain,
I’m waiting to see if Sears has put the good stuff on sale too. I just called Sears to see if they have any word of a sale; salesman told me that they don’t know if they’ll have a sale and what the percentage off would be. Guess I have to call again Saturday morning.

Hi yellow 2002 germany,
I didn’t see the Craftsman Digitork, I’m going to ask about that one, Sears is on my way home, so maybe tonight I can get a look at one. Thank you for mentioning it.

B17Crew

 

[Rain]

Keep us posted - Maybe we all will get a nice new TW for the 4th!

Thanks
Rain

 

[B17Crew]

Hi Rain,
Friday, July 2, 4:15 pm.

Called Sears, asked if there was going to be a 4th of July sale. Salesman tells me that Sunday, they are going to be having 10-20% off -- storewide, tools included.

So looks like Sunday will be the day to buy!

B17Crew

 

[ErnieN85]

I'm on my third Craftsman (not good) they don't warranty them they say they are not a hand tool!

This time I did it right and got one from Griots.
They cover all their stuff lifetime. free calibration too!
No more craftsman torque wrenches for me!