Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:31:45 -0500
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: torque wrench
In-Reply-To: <26f.f3b40f.30bf11c1@aol.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
George
during some thumbing around on the web i ran across a company called
precision instruments. they have a "new" kind of torque wrench called a
split beam what are you thoughts on it.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/torque-wrench/
http://www.torqwrench.com/
jonathan
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005, THX0001@aol.com wrote:
>
> 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
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