In a message dated 11/29/05 11:49:59 PM, jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU writes: << so i was wondering what recommendations the list had for a Quality and economically priced torque wrench? >> For economy and accuracy there is only one choice: a flexible beam type. In fact, if you buy a sensory ("clicker") style You should also buy a beam type so that you can quickly check the sensory wrench before you use it. A proper beam type torque wrench is a thing of beauty. It is a direct application of Hooke's Law which will last tens of thousands of cycle while fully maintaining its original accuracy. In fact, it will retain its accuracy right up until the metal of its measuring element fatigues and it ruptures. No chance of using an inaccurate wrench there. It does come with two drawbacks: using one correctly requires a little practice and when using it around (and under) a car it is sometimes difficult to swing the wrench and eyeball the scale at the same time. On the other hand, the convenience of a sensory style wrench is traded for certainty. And, the cheaper the wrench, the greater the uncertainty. In my experience, the uncertainty of the cheaper-by-the-dozen Pacific rim sensory wrenches make them absolutely unusable. Even if a cheap "clicker" wrench works at first and even if it's setting is verified right before it is used, it will sooner or later wring the head off a fastener whenever it fails to correctly register its setting while putting the heat to the meat. If you still want a sensory style wrench, spend the buck and buy a Proto or Snap-On. Even then you should plan to check the calibration every so often. The calibration doesn't have to be certified, just check it against a flexible beam wrench or rig up a simple deadweight tester. George |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.