Electronic torque wrenches ... are they worth the cost?

[Mark_BX25D]

Isn't Lowe's a Craftsman seller ? If so ... it should be lifetime warranty ??

Read the fine print. The short answer is, not really.

Does Lowe's Honor The Craftsman Lifetime Warranty?

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upgradedhome.com

Other sources are saying the same thing. The fine print is doing its thing as usual.



I don't really see a reason to buy Craftsman any more. That famous guarantee is now worth a lot less than it used to be. I expect the brand to die in the next few years, and that guarantee will be of ZERO value at that point.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Don't go BBBBBRRRRRT Brrrt Brrrt on one bolt and then just do 3 short bursts on the next one.

This was/has been my preferred method for years.

I got “torque sticks” a few years ago though……..My lips were getting sore from the constant BBBBBBBRRRRRT’ing.

Never had an “electronic" torque wrench though…..Mine are all “click type” (except my inch pound one, thats a dial type)

 

[Kennyd4110]

Have tried these on Lug Nuts? They work great.
View attachment 168867

They do not work well with the electric/battery impacts everyone is using today, FYI.

 

[Kennyd4110]

I went with one of these, I find it works great and I can use it for a lot of things-plus I already have lots of breaker bars. 12-250ft/lbs covers most everything for me here.

It may not be 1000% accurate, but it will at least get all the fasteners tightened equally, and to me thats more important than if its 95ft/lbs or 98ft/lbs.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0852JLJ2P?ref=fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[torch]

mechanical torque wrenches aren't maintenance free. All good ones need care and calibration from time to time to keep them in top shape.

The single most important thing required to keep them accurate is to back them off to 0 after use.

Mechanical "clicky" torque wrenches rely on accurate and repeatable spring tension. Springs will take a set over time if left compressed. Backing them off for storage prevents (or at least dramatically reduces) this.

Electronic torque wrenches utilize a pressure transducer of some sort -- and there are at least 5 different sorts, each with it's own advantages and disadvantages. But ultimately they all rely on changes to an electronic circuit to measure a variation in voltage, resistance or capacitance and all electronic circuits are susceptible to degradation over time.

Cheap mechanical torque wrenches will use cheap spring steel. Cheap electronic torque wrenches will use cheap circuits. Of the two, I believe the cheap mechanical one stands a better chance of being accurate 5 or 10 years down the road in the hands of an occasional user because they can limit the degradation by backing it off to 0 but there's nothing they can do to prevent aging of an electronic circuit*.

But that's just my 2¢, unsupported by any empirical study.



*Technically the battery and contacts form part of the circuit, so removing the battery for long-term storage might help prevent damage to contacts if the battery leaks.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

....The only ones that were accurate after one year (within spec.) were the Rahsol (now Gedore) Drehmometer type.

That's like $7,000 USD in dremometers you've pictured, not including wooden caskets.

 

[jyoutz]

Isn't Lowe's a Craftsman seller ? If so ... it should be lifetime warranty ??

Lowe’s and Ace Hardware

 

[Hugo Habicht]

That's like $7,000 USD in dremometers you've pictured, not including wooden caskets.

Seriously? Never knew that inflation is that high .

But for personal use they are accurate for life. And you can calibrate them yourself. The mechanism does not rely on friction, as a lot of other designs do. Also torque does not depend on where on the lever you pull with your hand.

The shocking part is really that, despite the price, they come in a cardboard box so flimsy that it falls apart after opening it about three times. Hence I built the wooden boxes myself at some stage.

 

[Seane1987]

I am a diesel tech by trade, I have the latest Snap On Techangle 3/8 and 1/2" torque wrenches. I honestly don't really care for them, they are not the most user friendly tool out there. I bought the very first snap on electronic torque wrenches when I was in college in 2005. I still have the 1/4", and it still works just has good as the day I got it. The 3/8 and 1/2" versions I traded in on the newest techangle version a few years ago. I used to do quite a bit of engine work, so I used the torque angle feature alot. I have since groomed some new guys to do my dirty work so I do mostly diag and electronics now.

I would take a hard look at split beam torque wrenches, I have a 3/4 split beam torque wrench at work for the big stuff and it is probably my favorite style for ease of use. You also do not need to wind them down to 0 when not in use to preserve the accuracy.

I am looking at these for home, tekton stuff is hard to beat for the money. Also THE FLEX HEAD ON THE TEKTON IS A MUST! Don't buy a torque wrench without a flex head!

3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench Set (ft-lb) | TEKTON

Includes: 3/8, 1/2 inch drive split beam torque wrenches. Ranges from 20-100 ft-lb and 40-250 ft-lb Each comes in an individual storage case. TRQ99902.

www.tekton.com

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Seriously? Never knew that inflation is that high .

But for personal use they are accurate for life. And you can calibrate them yourself. The mechanism does not rely on friction, as a lot of other designs do. Also torque does not depend on where on the lever you pull with your hand.

The shocking part is really that, despite the price, they come in a cardboard box so flimsy that it falls apart after opening it about three times. Hence I built the wooden boxes myself at some stage.

Yup, they're around $2,100 USD depending on the model, plus shipping and tax, and the rachet mechanism is extra. The blow-moulded plastic box is $300, it must be a status symbol for that price. Used they're $1,200 if used hard and pitted, $1,900 if in close to new condition, $125-$300 if broken, at least for what I saw available in the USA. I know of a guy who got a non-working one for $50+S/H though that is an exception and it was in a bit of rough shape.

Maybe they're less in other countries, but they do appear to be everything you describe (and sexy looking).

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

....I would take a hard look at split beam torque wrenches, I have a 3/4 split beam torque wrench at work for the big stuff and it is probably my favorite style for ease of use....Also THE FLEX HEAD ON THE TEKTON IS A MUST! Don't buy a torque wrench without a flex head!

3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench Set (ft-lb) | TEKTON

Includes: 3/8, 1/2 inch drive split beam torque wrenches. Ranges from 20-100 ft-lb and 40-250 ft-lb Each comes in an individual storage case. TRQ99902.

www.tekton.com

$$$
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I don't like my nuts that much.

 

[dlsmith]

I have Snap-On 3/8" and 1/2" twist handle torque wrenches from the 80s, and a friend who repairs tools checked them a couple of years ago for me, since I do some engine work. Both were still with 2% over most of their ranges. They don't see a lot of use, but I am religious about backing them all the way off after use.

 

[Kennyd4110]

$$$
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I don't like my nuts that much.

Two for that price seems fair to me.

I have a few Tekton tools myself, I've been very happy with them.

 

[Seane1987]

$$$
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I don't like my nuts that much.

$100 is the new $20 as I like to say

Although 2 for that price I think is fair for the quality that you are getting, Just 1 of those in snap on is probably $400-500

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Two for that price seems fair to me.

I have a few Tekton tools myself, I've been very happy with them.

Oh, it does include both!
Great suggestion, if I didn't have enough torquies I'd get that set. Thanks!