Torque wrench recommendation

Seems like for the average DIY guy a Sears beam type is the best and most economical way to go.

Purchase a 1/4(if available) 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive you will be set for most anything.

Store them in a reasonably safe, spot ...will last for years.

Calibration will be accurate as mentioned in before post....

cheers !!!!

 

I tried a HF click wrench. The calibration was so far off I took it back. I think the best source for a good click type is Sears on sale, Home Depot, or eBay.

 

CDI makes the Snap-On Torque Wrenches. You can purchase CDI torque wrenches for about $125 online.

Precision Instruments also makes good torque wrenches.

 

I also have a Harbor Freight click torque wrench. The surface almost looks like it was carved from wood or something (not that smooth) but I've checked it against my son-in-law's which is calibrated periodically and it's spot-on. Can't beat it for under $20.

 

Thanks to everyone for helping. I ended up buying a beam type (0 ~ 75 ft-lb) from Sears and a click type (20 ~ 150 ft-lb) from [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Harbor Freight. I checked the two against each other and they matched OK (within 2.5 ft-lb of the scale of the beam type) in the range of 20 ~ 40 ft-lb. I will need a better coupling method to check again at higher torque values. I will buy another click type (lower torque range) from HF and check against the Sears again. I think the springs should be pretty linear so as long as the click wrench checked OK at certain range then it should be OK at other ranges. This is probably the most economical DIY choice that also somewhat makes sure the calibration is not too far off.
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Make sure to ALWAYS set the click type back to zero on the settings when done.

 

The HF torque wrenches are garbage. The handle gets stuck when you try to set the torque value. Since it has a lifetime warranty, I exchanged it but the new one is already showing the same symptoms.

I recently purchased a Precision Instruments Split Beam torque wrench and I have been VERY happy with it. It's a clicker type but it does not require resetting back to zero after each use:

Precision Instruments (PREC2FR100F) 3/8" Dr. "Split Beam" Torque Wrench w/Flex head (20-100 Ft./Lbs)<br><img src="/free-shipping.gif" width="79" height="26" border="0"> - PREC2FR100F

 

What i meant by setting back to zero was after DONE using it and putting it back into storage.

 

I thought we are supposed to set back to the minimal specified torque, say 20 ft-lb for a 20 ~ 150 ft-lb wrench, not to zero?

 

I have an electronic torque meter used to calibrate torque wrenches.
Every year I take it in and test the students torque wrenches. (At Vincennes University)
What I have found.
Cheap beam are fairly accurate above 10 or so LBs. And stay pretty consistent over their life.
Cheap click and some not so cheap click are not worth having they are very inaccurate. (Even when stored correct with pressure released.) A good drop can greatly change the readings on some.
The electronic on are Very good but I have not tested any cheap ones yet.

If you want to measure small torques, get a small inch Lb wrench, the larger ones are just inaccurate at lowered torques.