Regular or digital torque wrench suggestions?

Looking for a either a reg or digital torque wrench. Any specific brand or model? Trying to stay under 100 or 50

 

Craftsman makes one that's right about $79. I don't have one, but I'm in for peoples responses on that.

I bought a Pittsburgh one from harbor freight years ago for like $15, it leaves a little to be desired. I would like to get a decent one as well.

 

I have had a manual Craftsman for 20 years, no complaints. My guess is Craftsman's current offerings are not as high of quality, but everything is Chinese now except for the high dollar stuff. My 2 cents, stay away from digital, one more thing to break. If I were looking:

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-mic...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

Since my bet is that Sears will soon be kaput (I know they sold Craftsman), Lowes' Kobalt brand would be considered also:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-1-2-in-Drive-50-ft-lb-to-250-ft-lb-Click-Torque-Wrench/1000259431

I have some Kobalt tools and they have performed fine for me as a weekend wrencher.

 

Check eBay. I got a click type 1/2” drive Snap-On for $100 shipped. Does 20-200 foot pounds.

 

Ok so go analog?

 

I have heard mostly good comments about Horrible Fright's (Harbor Freight) torque wrenches. Occasionally on sale for $10. Got two of them, one to keep in the OInC's car.

 

I have 2 craftsman and there great

 

I have two craftsman clicker type and one failed. They’re not that great anymore.

 

I have a couple of tekton's click style. No complaints to date.

 

I have two beam style craftsman torque wrenches that are still working the same as the day I got them (40+years ago). Not nearly as versatile as the clicker type but bulletproof to date.

 

There are lots of tools I don't mind going cheap on, like screwdrivers, hammers, etc. HF all the way. But on a torque wrench, to me it's worth saving up and getting a really nice one. I picked up a very nice used Snap On digital with angle measurement for $200. Sent it to Snap on for calibration and it tested fine. Just my two cents - don't skimp on such an important tool.

 

My Kobalt torque wrenches have been great. Clicker style and in 3/8 and 1/2. I also have a harbor freight torque wrench that I keep in the truck. All have served me well.

 

Harbor freight is upgrading many of their tool lines, and I have found the upgrades to be very good. They have a new torque wrench brand "ICON" that is worth a look. I'm probably going to buy one. It only goes to 100 ft/lbs though. I wish they had a bigger model too. I don't know how serious you are about your torque wrench accuracy, but the little digital adapter they have is pretty accurate, and it does not fatigue over time. I keep it as a calibration tool to check my other torque wrenches. It's also a nice compact option to carry in the truck for lug nut torque. I would verify it's calibration when you get it.

 

How much did it cost for snap-on to calibrate it? Might do that to mine although I think it’s accurate.

 

They show a model in the pics that’s 1/2” that goes from 50-250.

Never heard of ICON but that looks exactly like my snap on wrench.

 

This right here. get all 3 harbor freight clicker type torque wrenches and the digital torque adapter to calibrate them against. FYI any other clicker style torque wrench is only as good as its calibrated too, and their calibrations can vary drastically depending on temperature etc. Needless to say you can spend hundreds on a snapon clicker and have it be way way out of spec compared to a HF wrench that has been calibrated with the digital torque adapter.


Also fyi that torque adapter say it only goes down to 29.5 fltlbs but i have verified it goes down WELL below that (tested it at 50inlbs real accurate), needless to say its a quality component.

 

I got a great deal on mine and I’m pretty happy. Angle torque isn’t used often but the way Snap On works is easy peasy. Especially in tight quarters where you’d have to make a 45° turn in two or three attempts.

 

It's a Snap-On clone, and may very well be made in the same factory. The workmanship on it is exceptional

 

I got a Tekton torque wrench that goes up to 250 ft lbs from Amazon for under $50...used it several times and it's been great, also has great reviews.

For smaller jobs I use my $20 Harbor Freight one and it's never let me down

 

I have the digital Snap On one. It's very nice to use...when the batteries aren't dead...but they're always dead. I ended up getting the click type version as well, it's become my go-to torque tool since I know I won't be hunting for fresh batteries when I'm in the middle of reassembling something.