Auto Torque Wrench

Hi. Can anyone recommend a decent torque wrench, 3/8" 10-80 or more ft lbs. I can only find the cheap $30/40 China crap and the $300+ Snap on stuff. Thanks

 

Check Sears for Craftsman?

 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...d=8EWWCEEFPPEX

 

I calibrate dozens of torque wrenches every year and can tell you that even the cheapest "China crap" will be as accurate as advertised when new. Including the harbor freight ones. They do FEEL like crap, though--like they're lubricated with sand.
The Tekton wrenches are basically the same but feel much better and have WAY better/clearer markings.

Amazon

The Husky brand wrenches at Home Depot are also nice at a slightly higher cost.

 

My last one, purchased within the past two years or so is a Craftsman electronic, and after a fair amount of checking them out am convinced that I got the best one there is in what I guess I'd call the mid-range. I don't know how it would stack up against some of the major professional lines, although I seem to recall an independent review that rated Craftsman pretty high, but it's definitely not close to the cheap stuff either.

 

My youngest son bought me Duralast torque wrench for Christmas. I've not used it enough to form much of an opinion but it seems to be ok.

 

Here is a mid priced one, I think made in the USA by the same company that Snap On uses to manufacture theirs. The price is Canadian $, I think it is available on the Amazon US site. 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch ones are both available.

https://www.amazon.ca/Precision-Inst...+torque+wrench

 

Not always, but you usually get what you pay for. Buy a quality torque wrench, store it properly and it'll last you a lifetime.

I have three Snap-On clicker-type torque wrenches (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2"); the first I bought back in 1975. I calibrated it 17 years after I bought it and it is still accurate and more importantly, repeatable (5 readings every 5 lbf.ft.) which is the most important factor. In fact, its even accurate in the lower 20% of the range.

At the time, I didn't know about Precision Instruments which one member mentioned. They make them for Snap-On. I think Snap-On even bought the company.

Precision Instruments: The Finest Torque Wrenches

This one takes care of most fasteners these days. I would not go without one that does not have a ratchet and the flex aspect is nice to have. You can get them much cheaper on ebay or from other suppliers.
Precision Instruments: M2FR100F