No need to be new, and the top of the line manufacturers will recalibrate them for you if needed. JM
what he said. I would buy a used snap on and find a snap on guy to make sure its in spec for you. every one i've seen will do it for free.
Years ago, I bought a Craftsman 1/2 torque wrench with dials for NM and ft-lb readings. 25 to 250 lbs in 2lb increments. A month or so ago I checked it's accuracy on the the Snap On truck: spot on, all across the range.
Craftsman is better than it needs to be and MUCH cheaper than Snap On, Mac, Matco. Any of those three are probably a better tool : but how much quality do you need for the use you'll put it through?
I own plenty of snap-on, mac & matco tools - but I won't be buying a 1/2 torque wrench from them any time soon.
Instead I bought a CDI torque wrench. Same company that makes Snap-On, 1/2 - 1/3 of the price. Only a 12 month warranty but the build quality is just as good.
Years ago, I bought a Craftsman 1/2 torque wrench with dials for NM and ft-lb readings. 25 to 250 lbs in 2lb increments. A month or so ago I checked it's accuracy on the the Snap On truck: spot on, all across the range.
Craftsman is better than it needs to be and MUCH cheaper than Snap On, Mac, Matco. Any of those three are probably a better tool : but how much quality do you need for the use you'll put it through?
I own plenty of snap-on, mac & matco tools - but I won't be buying a 1/2 torque wrench from them any time soon.
Thinking about picking one of these up tomorrow. How's yours holding up? Opinion now that you've used it some?I picked up a Kobalt 1/2 drive torque wrench from Lowe's a few weeks back. Goes up to 200ft-lbs (which I've noticed a lot of budget 1/2 inchers don't anymore.... and we need to get to 175 for the unit bearings). Seems to be a good solid wrench, ran about 90 bucks.
Thinking about picking one of these up tomorrow. How's yours holding up? Opinion now that you've used it some?
Thinking about picking one of these up tomorrow. How's yours holding up? Opinion now that you've used it some?
PI made for SnapOn in the past, but haven't since 2003. PI is USA made. SnapOn's supplier is now CDI. A bit about PI: http://www.europeancarweb.com/auto_tools/0403ec_tool/#ixzz1lcXYiKRJPrecision Instruments builds them for Snap-On, if anyone hasn't said it yet. Same wrench, much cheaper.
My 3/8" inch lb wrench is a Craftsman. While it works well I have a little of a problem with the locking ring moving while adjusting. The grip and locking ring are also plastic. Now that I know about CDI and PI I wouldn't buy another one like that.Also, the Craftsman I bought in 2005 still works really well.