Craftsman Torque Wrench

[KBalzuweit]

2 out of 3 Craftsmen torque wrenches I have have failed! Just bought a 1/2 from Harbor Freight for $20. All metal and works great. Seems to be made better and far less expensive.

 

[sarj]

and I have the same snapon dial torque wrench for the last 23 years, and use it regularly in industry. Buy it right, buy it once, and take care of it. I use snapon (I have a few MAC items too) because I can't afford to use less. Every three years around the house, and maybe craftsman would be ok.

 

[MickeyMiller]

Had a Craftsman 1/2 inch click type torque wrench that I bought in 1972. All metal, used it a LOT. Ratchet failed this year... Sears exchanged it for the current model, unfortunatly that model has a lot of plastic. 43 years of service, I guess I got my monies worth.

 

[MickeyMiller]

Correction... 33 years, still pretty good.

 

[wlowe]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the new Craftsman torque wrenches don't compare to the old ones, more plastic. I found an SK 25-250 In. Lb. for $85. I think I might give that one a try.



Bill

 

[wlowe]

Update,



After reading the post by TDR member "Paychk" and doing some more research I've decided to cut loose with a little more money and get a CDI torque wrench. Apparently they are made by Snap-on but about half the price. They're all metal and look similar to the Snap-on but don't have the lifetime warranty. I also like the fact that you can download all the manuals off their website. I worked for Boeing for a few years as a mechanic so I know that Snap-on is the best, just pricey. Here's their website and another TDR post about them. I ordered it today, I'll let you know how it looks when I get it.



http://www.cditorque.com/main.html



http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131373&highlight=CDI



http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/07/12/143642.html

 

[Holysmokes]

I told them it is a lifetime guarantee. I was told that "we are owned by Kmart now and things have changed".

In this case "Lifetime Guarantee" means for the life of sears. Sears is no more. It is now "SEARS HOLDING CO. " They call it a "merger" (for 11. 7 Billion$$) or what ever the price. Right, just like I went to the dealership and "merged" with my CTD. Uhhhhh... . nope. I aquired it.

That said Im sorry but I blame myself,and everyone else that shops Walmart. Thats the entire reason for the merger,to compete with Walmart.

Yes, absolutely,quality is not as good as it once was. As a matter of fact,the 3/8" in lb / newton one I carry (on my sears truck) the handle / locking mechanism is plastic and we are required to have it calibrated EVERY YEAR.

 

[DieselTweaker]

I personaly use Precision Instruments torque wrench's the are the company that makes the thumb wheel style for snap-on and cornwell. I have never had a problem with them. but I have my torque wrench's calibrated every year just so I know they are dead on.

 

[Nate]

Are you sure about that? At the shop we have several Craftsman clicker torque wrenches which have plastic handles. The more specialized ones are metal though.

This company was one of the better torque wrench manufactures when I used to deal with such things when I was in the USAF. One thing the USAF did was to make torque wrenches with plastic parts illegal. There was to much money wasted because any cracks in a plastic handle by regs results in the wrench being condemned. It appears this company was bought by Snapon.



http://www.cditorque.com/main.html

 

[Paychk]

I was stationed at Elmendorf from 91-98 in the Armament Backshop, somewhere around 94 the PMEL (TMDE) guys told me that they wouldn't be cal'ing any torque wrench with plastic in the locking mechanism of the clicker style wrenches. At that time we were have serious problems keep the wrenches calibrated, so we replaced all of the wrenches with Snap-on or CDI wrenches that had no plastic on the exterior of the wrench. Times change maybe the TMDE regs have relaxed.

 

[Nyoest]

I've got the crapsman "accutork" or some crap like that. It's got a 1/4 inch window in the handle were you view the settings in the cheesy plastic handle. Now that a little flake of the plastic handle has taken up residence in said window I have a really good aggression therapy tool #@$%!



Save up, buy it right, but it once. (snap on or at least mac)





now if i can just do that.....

 

[MartyK]

Where do you guys take your torque wrenches to get calibrated? I have a craftsman 1/2 drive. Do I take it to Sears? How much does it cost?



Thanks

 

[wlowe]

MartyK



Calibration seems to run between 25 and 35 dollars plus shipping depending on who does it. Most places do pretty much all the different brands/models. You can do a web search and find quite a few places that do it. The CDI torque wrench that I just ordered can be re-calibrated by CDI for 35 dollars.



Partsman



From the research I did I like the Precision Instuments torque wrenches. They're rated for 60,000 torque cycles. The only problem is they cost almost as much as a Snap-on.



Bill

 

[Nate]

Could be they are just old and still meet the specs so they haven't needed to be calibrated. . I'm not sure.



Yeah I know the Armanent guys... we bring UALS over there pretty often (I work Ammo)

I was stationed at Elmendorf from 91-98 in the Armament Backshop, somewhere around 94 the PMEL (TMDE) guys told me that they wouldn't be cal'ing any torque wrench with plastic in the locking mechanism of the clicker style wrenches. At that time we were have serious problems keep the wrenches calibrated, so we replaced all of the wrenches with Snap-on or CDI wrenches that had no plastic on the exterior of the wrench. Times change maybe the TMDE regs have relaxed.

 

[DieselTweaker]

Partsman



From the research I did I like the Precision Instuments torque wrenches. They're rated for 60,000 torque cycles. The only problem is they cost almost as much as a Snap-on.



Bill

Bill



My 3/8 I only paid around 180 buck's for snap on go's for 225 + off the truck cant remember the price on my 1/2 but if you shop around you can pick them up at a decent price. The only reason I have them calibrated every year because of the of engine work I was doing. And plus ive found if you talk to the right people you can get your shop to pay to get them re-calibrated

 

[Mhannink]

well i buy my craftsman tools from osh and ive one never had a problem w/ the and as far as i know they all have lifetime warrenties

 

[wlowe]

Partsman,



Before I purchased my CDI the lowest price I could find on a new 3/8 Precision Instruments Torque Wrench was $195 for the 40-200 In. Lb. model. Since then I've found a place that has them for $150 so it would have been a viable alternative had I known. The 3/8 CDI 30-250 In. Lb. torque wrench I ordered retailed for $180 and I only paid $118 with free shipping from "toolsource.com". My plan is to buy two more larger torque wrenches in the near future, a 10-100 Ft. Lb. and a 50-250 Ft. Lb. . I'll watch Ebay for a good buy on some Snap-ons then have them re-calibrated before using. The only reason I bought the CDI is because I need it right now, otherwise I would wait for a good Ebay buy on a Snap-on, Proto or Precision then have it calibrated.



Bill

 

[bgilbert]

Wow I guess I'm not the only one with a worthless CM torque wrench with a cracked lock ring. Used once, sat in the box for two years, just noticed it was cracked. Can it still be 'reliable'? I have 3 CM's, 5-75ftlb, a cracked in-lb and a new 1/2 drive 20-150ftlb. Get what we pay for.

 

[CLiberty]

Next thing, we'll be seeing Sears ads on TV with a scantily-clad Martha Stewart holding a tool of some sort - much like the old Snap-On and Ridgid calendars.

:{ WHY!!???

 

[rbattelle]

Used once, sat in the box for two years, just noticed it was cracked. Can it still be 'reliable'?

I don't think a bad locking ring effects the calibration.



-Ryan