New Torque Wrench... what brand?

[harriw]

Hey folks,

I'm asking SWMBO for a new torque wrench for Christmas. 50-250 ft-lbs, 1/2" drive. I bought a craftsman one several years ago, and had nothing but problems with it. The first one was defective from the start - never clicked over. They replaced it of course, but the second new one only lasted about a year before the spring mechanism blew up on me like a cheap, tightly wound watch. (Yes - I wipe down and de-tension my wrenches immediately when I'm done with them, always set them down carefully, don't use them as breaker bars, and store them lovingly in my toolbox). Considering how little I used it, that was simply unacceptable. To top it off, I had a BEAR of a time getting Sears to return my money, as apparently they've decided that a torque wrench is NOT a hand tool, and the lifetime guarantee no longer applies to them.

So, craftsman is out (though for the record, I've had my 3/8" 10-75 ft-lb craftsman torque wrench for 5 years and have had no trouble with it, and have MANY other craftsman tools that I am quite pleased with). I know MAC, snap-on, etc. are the best, but they're crazy expensive, and more importantly, I want to be able to walk into the store to get a new one if it ever breaks. I don't think the snap-on truck wants to come visit me in my driveway.

So, does anyone use either a Kobalt (Lowes) or Husky (Home Depot) torque wrench? As far as I know, Stanley still makes the Husky one, but I'm not sure who makes the Kobalt now (Snap-on - actually CDI - used to, but Lowes and snap-on went their seperate ways several years ago as I understand it. From what I've read, those older snap-on/CDI-made Kobalts were the way to go). Both DO have lifetime guarantees and are priced similarly to craftsman, but the Kobalt wrench is about $20 more I think (don't quote me, but I think Kobalt/Husky is roughly $80/$100).

Can anyone speak to the quality, reliability, and accuracy of these two brands (or have other recommendations)? Anyone know who makes the Kobalt ones now?

Thanks a lot guys!

-Bill

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I have worked for over 20 years in the Oil and gas industry on big pipline engines. We only use SK, Snap-on or PROTO torque wrenches. If we only use those for industry work, it should tell you something about them. We also run them through a calibration program at least once per year. The only complaint I have is with PROTO. There ratchet teeth seem to break off with heavy use.

 

[mini274]

you sparked my intrest on the who makes Kobalt question so i call my father-inlaw who works for snan-on... snap-on makes Williams, Catapillar, and some harley davidson... danaher makes Kobalt

 

[harriw]

Good to know - thanks.

Hmmm... If I'm not mistaken, Danaher makes craftsman too, so maybe i want to stear clear of that Kobalt torque wrench...

Anyone used the Husky one? (Or the Kobalt and craftsman, and can speak to their similarities/differences?)

I'll take a look at snap-on's site, but I don't think that's going to be in my budget...

Thanks again.

-Bill

 

[Doom's Day Custom]

husky tools are made by stanely tools which are pretty much snap-on old cast for there tools and i know this because i have snap- on tools that are old but are stanely's new tools!!!!!

 

[IlovemybroncII]

ive got the kobalt from lowes no problems and i dont set it back down i just put it in case and forget it untill i need it again

 

[Shran]

I have never had good luck with any Kobalt tools. The only thing of that brand I would buy is that big ass toolbox Lowe's has that has the CD player and fridge built into it.

I got my 3/8 torque wrench from Checker... seems to be holding up good, but I don't use it much. For a 1/2, I just have the beam type...works OK

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I got a Great Neck 1/2" drive clicker-type that goes to 150 ft-lbs for about $25 I think last year. I've used it quite a bit and it always has and still works great. As for accuracy, I've bolted two engines together with it and they both still run great. I'm happy with it.

I also work at a nuclear power plant. When we want accurate bolt tightness, we thermally stretch the studs at an exact temperature, put the washers/nuts on with an exact tolerance (usually thousandths of an inch) and then let the stud cool. This yields a bolt tightness within 5% accuracy if I remember right. The best torque wrenches are only capable of about 30% accuracy. But cars aren't nuclear reactors, so 30% is good enough.

 

[TheTopher]

+1 on the kobalt. I have the 3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches and never a single problem.


They have a lifetime warranty on hand tools just like craftsman if I'm not mistaken although I can't tell you much about it as I've never had to use it.


90% of my tools are kobalt since lowes gave me a credit card. (don't bother telling me I'm a retard for using it, I already know) The only problem I've ever had with any of their tools is half of them are made in China.

 

[mini274]

when i first started i bought craftsman but now i got a wife i get snap-on for christmas and b-day every year... I LOVE MY WIFE

 

[TheTopher]

when i first started i bought craftsman but now i got a wife i get snap-on for christmas and b-day every year... I LOVE MY WIFE

You are one lucky man.

 

[mini274]

yes i know tryin to talk her father out of a 3 stack box fully stocked for christmas this year hes got 4 of them he dont need it.. bad part is all the tools are still in wrappers

 

[AllanD]

I have half a dozen torque wrenches and the only craftsman wrenches I still have are ancient Bend beam & Pointer type wrenches.

I'll only list my "important" ones:
1)I have ONE S-K torque wrench, but it's an In/Lb 3/8 drive that I only
use for valve cover bolts and such

2) my little bitty 0-30in/lb bendy beam that I use for measuring pinion
bearing preload.

3)My go-to general use torque wrench is a SnapOn TQFR-100A
it's a 20-100ft/lb 3/8 drive fast adjust torque wrench

I HAD another near identical wrench in 1/2" drive a TQFR250
but it "grew legs" and wandered off....

THEN there is my "Bigus Wrenchus" as everyone calls it
it's a military spec 3/4" drive clicker torque, non ratchet.
But since max scale is 4800in/lb (400ft/lb) it EASILY torques
anything on a light truck.

I originally got it to torque hub nuts on FWD cars
(Spec on my Saab was 235 ft/lb) With this big bastard
you can do that with one finger

My recommendation is one of the SnapOn TQFR-250's

That little lever that looks like it would be right under your thumb
when the wrench is held in your right hand?
that little lever is the tension release, flip it back and the tension
is OFF the mechanism. that little knob UNDER the lever? that is
the adjustment. you can set it anywhere within it's range faster
than I typed this sentance. And I type pretty damned fast.....

It'll be a bit pricey, but buying cheap tools is never a bargain.

AD

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I have the snapOn 1/2 drive.I believe the same as described above.Its over 20 years old.....love it!
Cost me over $300 when I bought it then.

 

[Blackdog455]

got the husky 1/2. Works great. Dont use it that much and when im not its in its case.