cross-posted from: https://jorts.horse/users/fathermcgruder/statuses/110789232582943740
What’s a good torque wrench to get?
I want to replace the spark plugs in my car and I’m apparently going to have to torque them to 30Nm. #diy #tools
You can use a Pittsburgh torque wrench as long as you calibrate it and check it often. I have tried a few different torque wrenches, and so long as you don’t drop them and keep them calibrated they’ll pretty much all accomplish the same task. The Pittsburgh performed the same as my Matco, only difference was the click wasn’t so harsh on the Matco and the handle knurling was higher quality on the Matco.
Personally I am partial to the bar style torque wrenches, but they’re really specific about how you need to use them, which the click-ratchet style are more forgiving about.
Yeah, that’s a hard NO from me captain. The brand I got was a Pittsburgh, and when I say it felt like it was packed with sand, I wasn’t exaggerating.
Think like what a torque wrench would feel like after you let a toddler play with it on a sandy beach for a week. Yeah, it was that bad, just to try turning the adjustment on the handle was super crunchy, to say the least.
At least I made damn sure to keep the receipt and got a refund the next day. Never again, not from Harbor Freight anyways.
Yours must have been damaged from the factory, or a mislabelled return I guess. It can happen. Mine work fine, still do 4 years after I got them. They’re mostly accurate, within a pretty good tolerance like +/- 5% or so like most other torque wrenches. Nothing compared to Precision Instruments, but Pittsburgh won’t kill the bank like PI will. PI is the best for torque and other precision related tools, but they’re rather expensive.
Again, the most important thing is to calibrate it and check its calibration before use. This goes for all torque wrenches. Also, always store the torque wrench set to zero, never at any number other than zero. As soon as you are finished torquing the fasteners you need to, set it back to zero. Basically try to keep your torque wrench set to the torque you need for the least amount of time possible. Doing so keeps it calibrated longer and in the best shape it can be. Do not use the torque wrench to break fasteners loose or to tighten fasteners snug. If you have to ratchet the torque wrench more than about 2 turns (unless you like the bar-type like I do), just switch to a regular ratchet, unless the required torque is approached. Also keep in mind wet and dry torque values are different.
I have never over or under torqued a fastener with a Pittsburgh torque wrench, or any torque wrench for that matter.
