Eventually, everybody needs to use a torque wrench. Here's a chance to get one (or more) reasonably cheap. I ran across an ad in today's paper from Sears - $48 for torque wrenchs that are usually over $70.

 

Lowest Price of the Season!

 

perfect timing for my tranny oil change. thnx

 

I like to check the Sears ads in the Sunday paper. They always have something on sale at a pretty good discount. Last deal I got was the $179 lightweight jack for $129.

 

Same thing at harbor freight for $9.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...Itemnumber=239

 

I have seen one of these trq wrenches before, and they are horrible for repeated usage. Awefull feel, and they tended to be inaccurate. Again, this style was used in a shop and used repeatedly...not sure if its suitable for occasional home garage use.

I have had good luck with the Craftsman trq wrenches. The big spenders can opt for the Snap-On digital.

 

I just paid 60.00 for mine (i believe mine is craftsman though)

 

Here is the craftsman link: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944595000

Jump on this.

 

The tools I have bought from Harbor Freight I do so with the intent of getting a single use out of them for a specific project. For example, I'd spend $75 there to buy a wet tile saw to do the bathroom floor. If it lasted past the weekend, then I got my money's worth plus more out of it. If I never use it again, no big deal because what it cost to buy it I would have spent the same to rent one for the weekend.

For tools that I plan on using for a long, long time, then I buy quality ones like Craftsman.

 

Great post! I needed to pick one up soon myself. I guess soon is now.

Gotta love the no questions asked lifetime swap-out on craftsmans.

 

Actually, I have some bad news - there is no life-time warranty on Craftsman torque wrenches. Only 1 year. Here's a tip though, make sure you unload the tension setting after you're finished using it. It will stay accurate a lot longer that way.

 

can you get a craftsman torque wrench re-calibrated if you think it may be off? if so, where and how much?

 

My buddy has that craftsman wrench, I am telling you, it is the exact same thing as my harbor freight special.

 

Yes, Sears will recalibrate it but it will cost you a few $$. I think that is the reason that they don't have lifetime warranty anymore on these - too many people sending them back for recalibration.

 

I have two of the Craftsman torque wrenches and I have seen the Harbor Freight wrenches and they look and feel nothing alike.

Sears:


Harbor Freight:

 

+1

I spoke to Sears about the warranty. All of the precision measurement tools only come with a 1 year warranty, since they do need periodic adjustment and calibration. Sounds fair to me.

 

I love my snap-on.

 

Funny that you would say that.. I went even cheaper and Bought a 10" Tile blade, Installed it on my Table Saw and mounted my garden hose over the whole assembly. Did the entire Den with it with no problems. Cost less than $10 and cut about 60 tiles.

 

Neat, is the fancy $500 digital one?