Cheap click-stop torque wrench

Sep 18, 2009 0 Replies

I'm considering a 3/8" drive click-stop torque wrench. At one end there's a $15 HF:

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at the other, a $118 Snap On:
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There's no question the Snap On is better, the question is, is the HF "good enough"? The "metrics", if you will, that I see:


-precision: both can be set to .5 ft-lb



-accuracy: HF claims 4%, S-O 4% CW & 6% CCW



-ease of use: both set the torque by rotating a sleeve, with vernier. S-O is easier to lock down. About same length (14" & 16") & hence weight, I assume.



-durability: my WAG is that S-O wildly exceeds HF here. It would take day-in, day-out hard use. I suspect that even the HF would not actually break, but would wear out much more quickly.



-fit: I've had HF wrenches that weren't sized very accurately. I suspect that it wouldn't be a problem here.



Then there's the middle ground, say Lowe's Kobalt brand ($79) or Craftsman ($80 - 85), but I have no idea of their quality, as I wouldn't for any other mid-ground brand.



My use would be very infrequent & not very demanding.



You're probably thinking that I'm all-but-decided on the HF and you're right. At 8X the cost, I just can't see the S-O, or 5+X, the Kobalt. But if somebody's familiar with the HF & knows that it's a POS, I'd like to hear it.



Thanks, Bob


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