Mark Anderson

Sorry it's a no name Chinese but for big stuff I think its more that adequate.

WallyP

I wouldn't mind having a 450 lb/ft or better bending-beam torque wrench. They are easy to manufacture, and if properly designed are inherently accurate - unlike the clicker varieties.

In fact, based upon the recommendation of the Lockheed Instrumentation Lab engineers, I have for many years used my bending-beam wrench to check my micro-adjust clickers.

mj1pate

Would tend to agree. Anything involving instrumentation might should be bought as name brand. Anything pig-iron or by their "Pittsburgh Forge" label has turned out surprisingly good, including a super heavy-duty, super-heavy tool cabinet, floor jacks, and long, box-end wrenches. What "branding" (Pittsburgh Forge?) was their torque wrenches that fell apart, BTW: ?

dr bob

My experience with the H-F torque wrenches 'falling apart' has been an issue of the screws that hold the ratchet cover coming out. Tighten them, maybe with a drop of Loc-Tite on the threads, and they are OK. FWIW, I tested the 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive wrenches against my Snap-Ons and they are amazingly consistent. For sure they are suitable for guest-day use at clinics. If they get dropped, they get replaced. And no, they don't get used for that crank nose bolt and a starter bump to loosen... I don't have a Snap-On 3/4" wrench to verify the H-F tool accuracy. Using the 'nothing has fallen off or broken off so far' verification method, it's been OK so far for the crank and rear axle tasks.

I also buy up the H-F combi wrench sets in the 8-21mm sizes, and use them regularly with no complaints. I have all the same wrenches in Snap-On and Proto, but that cute little plastic holder for the H-F tools makes it a simple grab-and-go. And on sale for $8/set, vs close to $100 for a similar name-brand set, it's hard to justify the extra cost for casual jobs on non-car bolts.

There are a few tools that deserve the name brand though. The drivers that Greg shows are certainly one of them, especially considering the downsides of beating up the flywheel bolts with a poor-quality bit. Same with Allen-head drivers. Screwdrivers are another tool where the better blades make a huge difference, plus the Snap-On handles fit my hand better. Power tools too-- that H-F cordless electric impact seems like a great deal until you try a Makita or similar. Even simple corded tools like my Bosch drillmotor work a whole lot harder and better than the cheapy ones. Bought a new Milwaukee Sawzall a month ago after looking at the $20 H-F special. I had to replace a power cord on my 35yo circular saw yesterday. Took 10 mins, worth it. Quality of the B&D tools seems to have deteriorated some since they made the one I have. I do like that pretty Makita mag-case worm-drive saw though.

Wally, did you find your torque wrench yet?

WallyP

I have a bid on one that ends this afternoon...

cold_beer839

Bid on it, win it, then nuke his feedback, damn bastard.

Larry928GTS

I have one of the 1/4" and one of the 1/2" Harbor Freight torque wrenches. Both of them have always been well within the accuracy specification given for most torque wrenches when I've checked them. I've also had two different $100+ Craftsman 1/2" torque wrenches. Both of those Craftsman ones were absolutely worthless.

WallyP

J. H. Williams makes very high-quality tools, primarily for the industrial market.

I just won a 600 lb/ft Williams ratcheting micro-adjust 3/4" torque wrench (used, of course) for $107. The seller has a 100% rating over several years, so things look good.

Missed a 3/4" Proto ratchet from the same vendor by $5, but that was a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have.

I guess that things are working out after all.

blown 87

That still does not excuse that man for being a POS.

dr bob

No, but Wally netted out better in the end, except for the drive time and the aggravation factor. Anybody tracking how well that Proto is doing on ebay? Parked at $175 right now, with two bids. Gotta love the irony.

AaronSweat

I dunno why he didn't just cancel the bid and end the auction. Plenty of people do that or at least they used to. He could do that after he has your money in hand. As long as you don't do it that often it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully you pick it up for cheaper than negotiated!

ew928

There's a shiny silver torque wrench behind every rain cloud.