Torque box thingys

[stirlinggaz]

Hi all,
I've lost the only decent torque wrench i had, 3/8" & handy for smaller numbers so all I have left is those massive 1/2 " types with the adjustment at the bottom & imho only good for f*ck off tight wheel nuts & the like.

Seen these box things which go between ratchet & socket with a lcd display.
Cheaper than splashing out on another decent torque wrench.
Anyone tried them? Any good?


Cheers,
GAZ

[jeffyjeff]

Unless it comes with a certificate of calibration from a trustworthy test lab, I'd pass. You can get a decent 3/8 drive torque wrench for 21 - 30 quid on Amazon UK. How much is the LCD torque adapter? Probably not much less.
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[stirlinggaz]

[The Artist]

If you are fussed about accuracy, it isn't difficult to do a test to see how accurate yours is.

Just make a small rig to hang a known weight at a known radius.

[Nobby the Bastard]

I got a calibrated torque wrench from Halfords, which happens 5o have a very definate and obvious click, for 60 quid. Good for 10 to 60 nm.
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[jeffyjeff]

[NJD]

I had one of those square types from machine mart, but remember trying it once and not being able to figure out how to set a pre defined amount of torque to get it to beep (I think) so gave up as I didn't want to snap anything (not having thread repair kits at the time etc). I've just read the manual and its a five step process that involves pressing multiple buttons etc: sod that.

Suppose the good thing is that it displays the torque number as its applied, so could be used that way, but doesn't have a limit without being fiddled with.

Get the halfords one out, unclick and set torque.. click and tighten bolt: simple (you pull the bottom downwards then twist to set and push in again to lock).

To maintain the halfords lifetime warrenty you have to get it calibrated annually, or keep it calibrated (they tell you, or you can ask, when you buy.. depending on what till monkey sells it to you). I've never done mine because I'm not rich as fek and use it only every so often. I doubt I'll ever use to it to the extent a calibration warrents.

Sealey do a few torque wrenches that are a brand at low cost that I'd trust.. you can buy from here, or search around.

But yeah the halfords 12-60 Nm combined with the 60-300 Nm should be good enough for irregular home use. Just make a note of the position of the - mark on the dial when you take it out the box, and what number is set on the wrench, and thereafter you know how to reset it to 0 (a good habit to get into, so I'm told.. and do) after you've finished using it. IIRC the 12-60 Nm is number "2" on mine and "8" on the larger one (may differ).

Could get a used one on eBay suppose, but at least from new you know how much use it hasn't had and hasn't been dropped etc.
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[c_dug]

[stirlinggaz]

[oilyrag]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

[MCN]

[chris-red]

I have 3 Torque Wrenches
1/4 5-25nm
3/8 20-110nm
1/2 LCD 'box' 30-360nm


TBH the LCD box thing is annoying and cumbersome. But I only really use it for doing up wheels. I wouldn't want to use it all the time. It is also unintuitive this means I have to faff about with instructions everytime because it isn't obvious how to set it up.

It's good has a cheap way to set high torque settings but I'd rather a proper wrench. Still the box was £50 a wrench in that range would be several times that.
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