torque wrench

hi
do someone know if this draper torque wrench is something to be bought?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300276524769&ssPageName=ADME:X:eRTM:GB:1123

 

Depends on what sort of accuracy you want really...

It's cheap but draper don't generally make very good stuff and some of those type only have a gauge in ft/ibs and you have to convert to Nm.

Go and look at one in B&Q etc and then compare it with a Halfords one which are superb - spend the extra 20 if you can afford too!

 

well, an accuracy of 3-4% is reasonable. is it less than that?

 

i picked up a halfords one from ebay for about 25 bnib

 

Problem there is, they don`t have B&Q or Halfords in Israel...

 

how do you know?

 

i got a Teng one for about 50 from www.teng.co.uk, seems really nicely made and came with a calibration certificate.

 

finally i bought a britool for an outrageous price, been told it's a tool for a lifetime.
but it was made in france, and it's written there something about facom group- so what's brand is it really?
and it had a calibration certificate from 5 years ago .

 

I got a halfords proffesional one about 5 years ago and it works a treat + its been very accurate. teng are what we use at college and their good too and not that expensive either.

just remember you get what you pay for with tools so its worth spending out on the best you can afford.

tip: Take a look at the torque settings for the bolts you will mostly be doing up before you buy your wrench to make sure it covers what you need.

 

I have a fair bit of draper stuff and i can see what you're saying but for simple things like spanners, sockets, ratchets etc and stuff you only use once in a blue moon their easily as good as the rest.

wouldnt buy anything to expensive or complicated of them though.

 

In all your experience what range is best? I'm looking at a Norbar one that I can get cheap through work however it's 20-100Nm (15-80lbFt), that probably aint enough is it?

 

depends what jobs you intend to do, suspension components need some big torques (140NM etc), my teng torque wrench is 40-210NM which is fine for most stuff, then if you need to do delicate things like camshaft caps etc you get get one with a really low range, i just got a cheap halfords one for that as it dont get used much.

 

Facom bought Britool years ago - in the 1980s I think. Facom stuff used to be really good, but I think the quality has slipped since the whole lot was bought by Stanley.

 

I love working on cars, where the `big` torques or not much more than 150Nm.

At work I regularly use a 1500Nm torque wrench (can barely pick the f*cker up! ).

Even then, some of the bolts need more than that, so we have to use a torque multiplier as well...

 

Well thanks for the advice lads, I'm taking your advice Lufbra. I did think that 20-100 would not be the best. Norbar however is well respected in the oil industry and suitably expensive at 100. Is Teng a tool for life or am I better going with something else, I do look after my tools. I know that Draper is to be avoided.

StuMc - I work on oilrigs and they have some giant stuff on them. I find it all fascinating. Rigs are such monsters of engineering and they are constantly changing to deal with next obstacle etc. - Almost 6 years experienced now, constantly moving around different rigs doing well testing.

 

Have a look here:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/233472/torque_wrenches_tested.html

Seems like the Halfords one is accurate & good value

 

here's my halfords pro. cant fault it and agree fully with the review.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/233479/halfords_professional_torque_wrench.html