In a message dated 98-07-02 23:55:01 EDT, you write: " I picked up a used torque wrench a couple years ago that I'd like one of you smart engineers to learn me about, if you can. It's rather small as these things go, maybe 16", reads in Nm's(up to 70) and inch-pounds(up to 600) only. Has a circular scale that swivels to read either of the above. It was manufactured by Consolidated Devices, Inc. (City of Industry, Ca). The model # is 6002 DI. There is what appears to be a military stock # (if you know what that is) of 5120-00-288-8865, and it and the date of manufacture are stamped one above the other on it towards the end where the socket fits on. Now, my ????'s are these:" Hi Jason, As a military electronics technician, believe it or not, I deal with these things on a daily basis. Lemme take a wag at answering your questions. " Is there a way to find out if it's accurate, without paying through the nose?" There sure is. Just look in the yellow pages under "Laboratories- Testing". If there isn't a measurement and test lab listed call one of the listings and ask them where they get their devices tested. "Can foot-lbs be converted to inch lbs, and vice-versa, by simply multiplying/dividing by 12? I don't think they can, but I'm not sure. Can you splain this in moron terms so I can understand it?" Believe it or not, you are exactly correct. 600 inch pounds would equate to 50 foot pounds. Not a great deal of torque but adequate for small fasteners. Ideally, a torque wrench should have a max range of twice the torque required for the task. This places the setting used at the midrange...the most accurate range on the wrench. " If I can have it calibrated, will it stay that way for a considerable amount of time, or will I have to have it done on a regular basis?" That all depends on how much use it gets and how careful you are with it. According to Air Force maintenance practices, torque wrenches are calibrated every 90 to 180 days. But this is because of their high frequency of use. Personal use would probably only require yearly cal at the most. Additionally, anytime a torque wrench is dropped or severly jarred it should be recalibrated. " I know a torque wrench is important, as are properly torqued nuts and bolts, but I'm too cheap to sink big bucks into a good, full-sized one if I don't have to." Gee, if a Bently manual costs 60+ bucks, what's another 50 or 60 to get a decent torque wrench to really do the job right? Just my .02. Hope this helps some. Happy Fourth of July. Scott De Santi |
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.