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Torque wrench preferences?

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by cornwall325, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. Jul 27, 2020 at 3:08 PM
    #1
    cornwall325

    cornwall325 [OP] Work in Progress

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    What brand and type of torque wrenches are you using? I’ve decided I need to buy one instead of borrowing. I don’t mind to spend the money and I want to be assured I have a good quality tool. I will be using this torque wrench on my truck for oil changes primarily. What kind of prices and where is the best place to buy? A friend of mine has a Snap-on and if I understood him right he can have the calibration checked every year for free.
     
  2. Jul 27, 2020 at 4:22 PM
    #2
    Bravohook

    Bravohook New Member

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    I have a Tekton in 1/2" & 3/8" drives. I would not buy either again. I don't like the screw type locking mechanism on either it will always twist no mater how tight I get it.

    For $110 bucks you can get a Harbor Freight ICON series 1/2" drive torque wrench with a snap collar on it that will lock in on the set torque. My Tekton always rolls up when I'm torquing anything .
     
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  3. Jul 27, 2020 at 4:50 PM
    #3
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    I have two CDIs and a $10 cheap harbor freight. I’d trust all of them on whatever needs to be torqued (if it’s within the range); although it is nice to see the “a Snap-On company” on the CDIs when doing suspension work. They’re reasonably priced and come in a nice blow molded case. Don’t appear to be made in USA anymore but I’m sure they’re still held to a high standard. Worth considering for sure
     
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  4. Jul 27, 2020 at 4:58 PM
    #4
    chugs

    chugs New Member

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  5. Jul 27, 2020 at 5:39 PM
    #5
    831Tun

    831Tun heartless Bastrd

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    Snap On red dots, 1/2 and 3/8
     
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  6. Jul 27, 2020 at 5:44 PM
    #6
    sask3m

    sask3m New Member

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    I bought this 1/2" drive one, works great. It's more like the older beam style but has a button you press and when you hit your setting it clicks loud enough to easily hear. These types are far better than the cheap racheting ones as they don't go out of calibration, downside is it doesn't rachet.
    https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-6...ting+Beam+Torque+Wrench&qid=1595896866&sr=8-1
     
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  7. Jul 27, 2020 at 6:03 PM
    #7
    Haggis777

    Haggis777 I.L.J.C.M.L.

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  8. Jul 27, 2020 at 6:16 PM
    #8
    TG705

    TG705 Braaaap

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    snap on tech angle digital 1/4, 3/8, 1/2
     
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  9. Jul 27, 2020 at 7:27 PM
    #9
    cornwall325

    cornwall325 [OP] Work in Progress

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    For you Snap-on guys what kind of premium can I expect to pay? Also, is it correct that yearly calibration checks are free?
     
  10. Jul 27, 2020 at 7:34 PM
    #10
    chickunfut

    chickunfut Low-buck Ramp Truck

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    Proto. Well built and made in the USA.
     
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  11. Jul 27, 2020 at 7:34 PM
    #11
    TG705

    TG705 Braaaap

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    King 2.5 coilovers, King 3.0 rear bypasses, Camburg uniball UCAs, RCI skid plates, Camburg front bumper, warn zeon 10s platinum winch, monster hook reaper shackles, Rigid Industries lights, SDHQ sliders, SDHQ A-pillar brackets, SPOD, 17" Method standard wheels, 315/70/17 Cooper STT tires, Morimoto XB LED headlights, Boon dock steel rear bumper, Durobumps front bumpstops, Deaver U748 with MCM shackles
    I paid $550 for the 1/4, $550 for the 3/8, and $650 for the 1/2. if I remember correctly yes calibration is free
     
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  12. Jul 27, 2020 at 8:29 PM
    #12
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    Just something to think about. Id research because from everything I’ve read it probably won’t be as easy as you think getting a free calibration. Unless you’re buying a ton of tools from your local Snap-On rep; you’re going to have a hard time getting a freebie
     
  13. Jul 27, 2020 at 11:49 PM
    #13
    Bravohook

    Bravohook New Member

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    It's funny seeing die hard snap on guys stand by them since they r not made in the usa anymore. Chinese is Chinese doesn't matter who put their final name on it. Least with HF I can take it back to a store front and get a replacement.

    I pulled the sleeves off my plier pack I got from HF and they were stamped MAC tools on the metal. Probably just a fluke but come on guys. Everything comes from China now a days.
     
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  14. Jul 28, 2020 at 3:42 AM
    #14
    glowblue

    glowblue From time to time

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    I’ve got a Tekton 1/2” from Amazon. I like it, priced right and for what I use it for works great.
     
  15. Jul 28, 2020 at 4:46 AM
    #15
    RitcheyRch

    RitcheyRch New Member

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    I like my Snap-On Digital Torque Wrenches
     
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  16. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:02 AM
    #16
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    We calibrate and repair literally thousands of all types and makes of torque wrenches at our Denver cal lab. It's true that most non industrial T wrenches are made in China. Emphasis on "non industrial" T wrenches. By far the highest quality with best specs and performance are the German made Stahwille's that we get in. No springs to fail. Purely mechanical and you can get various ratcheting heads for them. German "stahl" is steel. Our torque guys call them steel willies. haha Widely preferred in the aerospace sector and industrial situations in harsh environments or heavy repeated use and easy to repair if you manage to break one..
    https://www.stahlwille-americas.com/en/


    Here's a steel willie that was just calibrated

    20200728_070453.jpg
     
  17. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:10 AM
    #17
    Brlowe

    Brlowe Tundra Owner

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  18. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:15 AM
    #18
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    According to our in house torque guru>>>>
    The cheap brands listed here for the most part have a 90% failure rate for meeting specifications. Especially HF, Husky, NAPA. Here is a pic of a "made in USA" CDI wrench>>>

    20200728_070900.jpg
     
  19. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:22 AM
    #19
    Oey12

    Oey12 New Member

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    I had a Husky and a Kobalt which both failed with honesty very little use. I purchased my CDI many years before I was gifted the other two. The CDI has held up great and is a very high quality piece...for a DIYer. At this point I personally would not spend my money on any other brand.
     
  20. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:25 AM
    #20
    huntertn

    huntertn New Member

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    I have Snapon and CDI. I have never had Snapon calibrate anything for free. We have always sent all our stuff out to the cal lab once a year. Some of my older Snapons have had parts replaced but still pass.
     
  21. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:33 AM
    #21
    omgboost

    omgboost The Accountant

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    I have harbor freight 3/8" and 1/2" torque wrenches. With coupon, they come outtout to $10 and the value can't be beat. Knock on wood, they have served me well on oil changes, tire rotations, suspension work and brake rotors and pads changes. They carry lifetime warranty on hand tools so just bring it in for an exchange if it does fail. Haven't had an issue with the twist handle.

    I did have a 3/8" ratcheting breaker bar fail on me and I just took it back to the store for a swap. Most of the other HF hand tools I have have been pretty solid.
     
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  22. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:36 AM
    #22
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Here is what we use to verify torque wrenches. The only way actually:

    20200728_072452.jpg
    20200728_072356.jpg
    20200728_072413.jpg
    20200728_072427.jpg
     
  23. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:40 AM
    #23
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Here is a Stahlwille. Notice no springs to fail or tilt blocks to wear out?
    Not all tilt block used in most brands are the same hardness. Cheap sourced tilt blocks will wear out faster. Same with issues with springs.

    20200728_072631.jpg
    20200728_072812.jpg
    Our torque guru's finger...cheesy tilt block on the left. Good one on the right. "What's in your torque wrench?"
     
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  24. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:43 AM
    #24
    DZ_

    DZ_ New Member

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    Here are the torque wrenches I have collected over the years. Takes me from about 5 in-lbs up to 250 ft-lbs.

    I bought the Precision Instruments 250 so I could torque the LCA bolts(?) to 220 ft-lbs. The CDI I bought for setting torque on the smaller fasteners found on my motorcycle. The Seekonk I use for firearms maintenance and work and the Borka (bottom right) is used in the field for fasteners needing 10-85 in-lbs. They are all very nice and for torques that overlap between the wrenches, they seem to agree. The Borka is somewhat technique dependent, meaning you need to be consistent in how you use it.

    I love tools and like to buy the right tool for the job. I can honestly say I have never torqued any fasteners associated with doing oil changes. If that is the extent of what you are doing, you may not truly need one.


    get torqued.jpg
     
  25. Jul 28, 2020 at 6:46 AM
    #25
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Japanese made Tonichi's are highly recommended.
     
  26. Jul 28, 2020 at 7:37 AM
    #26
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    How often are your instruments calibrated and sent in for service?
     
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  27. Jul 28, 2020 at 7:54 AM
    #27
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Our torque stand transducers are done on a 6 month cal cycle and verified with calibrated torque wheels and state certified weights.
    Customers specify what cal cycle they want for their wrenches. If they don't know then we recommend one depending on use.

    This is what we are 17025 accredited to perform torque and hydraulic measurements.

    20200728_090213.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  28. Jul 28, 2020 at 10:14 AM
    #28
    cornwall325

    cornwall325 [OP] Work in Progress

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    I am mostly concerned with the plastic oil filter housing. I plan to buy one and have it for the next oil change. I still figure it’s not a bad idea to have a torque wrench around, even if I only need it time to time.
     
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  29. Jul 28, 2020 at 10:18 AM
    #29
    Brlowe

    Brlowe Tundra Owner

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    I have been using my husky wrench for about 10 years now with a RV, and 3 different cars. I have used it for a complete engine and trans swap in the RV, brake jobs, valve adjustments and suspension rebuilds and it is still working great. I have 4 different sized torque wrenches. I do not know of a one size fits all wrench.
     
  30. Jul 28, 2020 at 10:21 AM
    #30
    cornwall325

    cornwall325 [OP] Work in Progress

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    I won’t be doing engine/trans swaps or any kind of suspension rebuilding. I’d just be using a torque wrench for basic maintenance type stuff.
     

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