Good point - for those that dont know - always reset a torque wrench to zero after you use it.

 

S&K

End of story...

SK Hand Tool 74456 1/2" Dr. Micrometer Flexible Head Torque Wrench, 250 ft. lbs (1 ft. lb.)

I know its close to what you call too much but some things you cant skimp on. All teh cheap Harbor Freight, NAPA, Advance, ect ones are junk. they dont stay calibrated and the last thing you want to do is over or under torque something vital.

Or use teh german tq method.... gudentigt....

After teh S&K I would go K-D

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-25...ools-3461.aspx

And if your looking for farm use too a 3/4" wrench should be on your list, some times 250 ft/lbs just wont cut it on that big crap. And its a bitch to pull 200+ multiple times on a 1/2" wrench. Kinda short for that much pull.

 

5 ft/lbs at 100 is not good.. A good quality one is 2%... Which would be 2 ft/lbs at 100... How did you know it was out that much? You have a machine?

 

I had it tested cuz I thought it seemed way off, and it was old. Its just a ratchet now.

 

There's always e-bay.

 

I have one from NAPA that I have been using for years. I would consider the SK one, but I would stay away from the flex head one. I prefer to use the straight ones with a universal instead. My NAPA one came with a calibration sheet to show what the torque was actually compared to it setting.

You can pay $50 or $500. Unless you take care of it, it becomes a paperweight. My oldest brother had one from JC Penny (yeah they sold tools at one time) that was over 20 years old when the internal spring came loose. He actually accused me of breaking it until he took it apart.

 

I have a mac torque wrench that i have never set back to zero, i just set it where i need it, use it , and put it away. its off about 1lb at most.






























of course , it is digital too

 

Harbor Tool and Freight. Mine was cheap and works good.

 

Guess JKM brought up another question, digital. Any good and bad points on them.

Ya you guessed it, I don't know nothin about these things. Sent a thousand of em off for calibration through the military years but never used one.

 

CDI--Consolidated Devices, Inc.......


It's a Snap-on owned company and builds most all of Snappy's torque wrenches as well as their own CDI label.

If you watch the pawn shops you can sometimes find a CDI torque wrench for pennies.

Most tool trucks can get them calibrated, too. Our local Matco guy has a calibration checker on his truck. He'll charge $5 to test one and if it needs calibration, he'll send it in and have it calibrated for $45 included shipping and doesn't charge the $5 test fee.

Might find something like that locally to you, too.

Or, there are other calibration and testing people you can use as well....

Sorry....I can't recommend a cheap torque wrench, but you can find good ones for low prices if ya wanna shop a bit.