Draper 34964 Ratchet Torque Wrench, 3/4" Square Drive, 65Nm-450Nm, 840mm Length , Blue

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Another perk this torque wrench offers is the outstanding torque range. At the low end of things, you can torque things down to as low as 25 ft/lbs, but for larger jobs, you can crank it up all the way to 250 ft/lbs. While some mechanics and technicians swear they can “feel” when it’s at the right torque spec, there’s only one way to know for sure. And all it takes is one mistake for something to fail. And it’s also why it takes quite a bit to earn our nod as the best ½” drive torque wrench. This ACDelco ARM601 torque wrench is an outstanding mix of price and quality. While it’s far from the most affordable option on our list, it’s a great value considering it should last a lifetime.

It also has a wider range of torque specs, starting as low as 14.8 ft/lbs. And with a maximum torque of 147.5 ft/lbs, it’s more than capable of handling most larger jobs you’ll come across in a DIY setting. It uses a digital display and a buzzer-activated system that’s easy to use. Now that you know a little more about some of the best torque wrenches out there, it’s time to figure out which torque wrench is right for you. Not only that, but too many people get an excellent torque wrench only to ruin it because they don’t know how to care for it properly. Why? Because if you fail to adequately torque a bolt, it could work its way loose. Or, if you tighten it too much, you could cause costly damage. About torque wrenches from Halfords The most controversial topic surrounding torque wrenches is whether or not extensions affect the torque specs of a bolt. While we tend to agree that if you use an extension correctly, it shouldn’t affect the torque spec of a bolt, we still try to play it safe whenever possible and avoid extensions unless we absolutely need them.Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive pieces of equipment, and as such you need to store them properly to keep the calibration intact. Most torque wrenches come with a case, and we highly recommend storing them in this case whenever you aren’t using them.

In that case, you’ll need to invest in multiple torque wrenches to properly torque everything down. While that can be a little frustrating, if you’re trying to save a little money the Pittsburgh Pro torque wrench set we highlighted above comes with three different torque wrenches that should be able to handle just about any job you have. Drive Size This will help protect your torque wrench, keep the calibration intact, and help it last year after year. Calibrating Your Torque Wrench When it comes to torque wrenches, few options make more sense than a sturdy ½” drive option. That’s because ½” drive torque wrenches come with tons of adjustability, making them outstanding choices for both low and high torque specs.

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Alright, the Lexivon Torque Wrench might not be the most affordable or the highest-quality torque wrench out there, but what it does offer is a great intermediate option. It’ll last longer than most of our budget choices, but it’s still not a lifetime quality tool like many of our premium options. This Capri Tools torque wrench is another ¼” drive torque wrench that you should consider for smaller jobs. It’s an outstanding mix of price and quality for a ¼” torque wrench. It’s not the most affordable option out there for a ¼” option, but since it’s a smaller torque wrench it’s still not all that expensive. No single torque wrench has that kind of range, so if you have a wide range of jobs you need to complete and a limited budget, you’re not going to find a better choice than this. And as an intermediate option, it has a price to match. You don’t have to break the bank to get this Lexivon Torque Wrench, but you’re also not spending pennies for something you know you’ll have to replace at some point down the road. First is the maximum torque value. At 80 ft/lbs it’s high enough for most DIY jobs, but there’s certainly a chance you’ll come across a job calling for higher torque specs. Second, it’s not the most durable option.

If you need a torque wrench for smaller bolts and jobs, then the BullTools Torque Wrench Set is an outstanding choice for you to consider. It’s a ¼” drive torque wrench set, which means it works in inch-pounds instead of foot-pounds. Take a look at all the jobs you need a torque wrench for and all the recommended torque specs, and then match those numbers up with the torque wrench you’re looking at. If you need a wide range of torque specs, there’s a good chance a single torque wrench won’t be able to handle it all.

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It’s not that we think the extension will affect the final torque spec, it’s just that all it takes is for you to get a little off-center to get an errant reading. If you use it properly there shouldn’t be a problem though. If you want an outstanding torque wrench for professional use and don’t mind spending a little more, then the CDI Dual Scale Micrometer Torque Wrench is the way to go. While it’s a little more expensive for a single torque wrench, it’s durable and reliable enough to last you a lifetime no matter how much you use it. This is the most important thing you need to do after you finish using your torque wrench. Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive and leaving a load on the torque wrench for an extended amount of time will throw off the calibration. Sometimes you need a torque wrench for a really big job. If that sounds like you, then you should consider this ¾” drive Neiko Pro torque wrench. With a ¾” drive and a minimum 100 ft/lb setting it’s not for smaller jobs, but you’re also not going to find another torque wrench on our list that can come anywhere near 700 ft/lbs. Still, even after considering all this you really shouldn’t get this ¾” torque wrench unless you need the higher torque values. It’s not because it’s not a high-quality torque wrench though, it’s because the larger size significantly drives up the price.

A big factor in this cost is the size of the torque wrench. Torque wrenches with higher calibrations tend to cost a little bit more than smaller torque wrenches.For instance, our top choice, the GearWrench Micrometer Torque Wrench, has a low-end torque setting of 30 ft/lbs. This is the setting you want to store the torque wrench at to keep the calibration correct for as long as possible. Storing Your Torque Wrench Still, because torque wrenches lose their calibration over time, it’s extremely important that you take the time to calibrate them each year. That way when you go to use them, you know you’re getting the exact right torque spec on the bolt, which is the whole point of having a torque wrench in the first place. Using Your Torque Wrench Even better, it can handle non-stop use, which is great for mechanics technicians that use a torque wrench as a part of their job. Now that you know a little more about what to look for in a torque wrench and how to care for one, now it’s time to learn a little bit about using them.