Mechanics: what are your most common tools?

OK, I am jumping in this discussion on calibrating a torque wrench. I too have cheap HF torque wrenchs, but I suspect at least one of them, the 1/4" wrench is either waaay off or not working as it suppose to. Last time I used it, I had it set at 30 foot-pounds, but I never felt the "click". Needless to say, I ended up over tightening the bolt. So what is the easiest way to tell if the calibration is correct without using dumbbells and scale and table vise like Mendel has shown?

 

What are the low and high scale endpoints on your 1/4" wrench? It's not what I'd reach for first given a 30 foot-pound spec.

 

I just checked it again. My bad, it was not 1/4" wrench which is still in an sealed bag and have never been opened yet. It was 3/8" wrench. It has a torque range of 5 to 80 ft. lb.

 

I’ve had torque wrenches over tighten bolts too.
Not sure if it was my fault, but a torque wrench has to be held properly in order to work. Your hand needs to be at the end of the bar and the wrench needs to be tried up. Adding extensions, tilt, or putting your hand on the wrong part of the wrench will apply the wrong torque value.

 

Same wrench I have. No problems with it, yet.

Yeah, I wonder how many bolts get broken or stripped because people rely only on the click of the torque wrench and don't pay any attention to the feel of how hard they are pulling it.

 

Manual for an early clicker torque wrench I had recommended, if it had not been used for a while, setting on the lowest setting and clicking several times on a random bolt somewhere, then setting for the right torque and doing the right bolt.

Probably less important in a shop setting where it's getting used all day every day.

 

1/2" wrench from HF same Pittsburgh Pro brand works fine. I've used it many times on wheel lug nuts, and hear the click every time.

 

From your later posts it seems you have the full set (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"). An unscientific way to check would be to set two wrenches to the same torque setting and tighten until it clicks with the "known good" wrench. Then check using the "suspect" wrench and see if it clicks without turning the fastener. It's certainly not calibration, but will at least let you know if the mechanism is working properly and if the calibration is in the ballpark (or not).

 

Thanks. Yap, after posting my question, I thought about the same thing. I now just have to find a same size socket for two different wrenches. Not that I do this sort of things often, my sockets are all in disarray.

 

Or get a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" adapter set from HF:

They're really handy to have for any number of reasons -- this being just one.

 

Yeah, I have those adapters too, somewhere. The question is where are they now??? They are in the same disarrayed state as the rest of sockets are.

 

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The one time I got into trouble was with the HF 1/4 inch torque wrench. Without any inherent sense of how low in-lbs were (and being used to using the 1/2 inch on my lug bolts), I hand-tightened too much before starting the 1/4 inch; the next click was the bolt sheering off. But that one was on me, not the wrench - which are an incredible values, even more so when on sale!

It's also worth investing in a set of adapters so you can use different socket sets interchangeably between the different sized drives, as others mentioned. Very useful if one socket gets misplaced.

 

Here's an example right here!

Been there, done that. Well, I didn't break it, but it was seriously over tightened.

 

Ummmm, a hex set. Torque converters 1/2(lexicon) and 3/8(harbor freight). 14mm magnetic socket(o reillys) for spark plugs. Still need to get the perfect set for hex sockets tho.

 

Everything. Inch and metric. Multiple wrench sets of different styles and different offsets, multiple socket sets 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and some 3/4, 12 point and 6 point. Multiple styles of Allen wrenches, and Allen sockets. Several torx sets, both internal and external. Complete set of triple square sockets and assorted specials. Many many special tools for different applications, would take months to list them all. Several torque wrenches (I prefer Snap-On dial type) 1/4 drive, 3/8 drive, and 1/2 drive. A complete machine shop with 2 milling machines and 4 lathes to make whatever fitting, tool, or fixture I need, Tig and Mig welding equipment, Valve seat grinder, hydraulic press, obviously a good air compressor. Gema powder coating equipment, who has time to wait for some schmuck to coat a part when I need it now, Numerous gauges, indicators, measuring and diagnostic tools...Vacuum pumps, fluid dispensers, etc. You can't work on things with a little miss handywoman set of tools from china in a little plastic box......

 

There probably needs to be an award for "answer most distant from the question being asked".

 

Haha. He asked for "most common tools" They are almost all common, and any given job involves the use of a great many of them.

 

There was that little word 'most' in the question. For example, I've completed many a happy Prius project without breaking out the external Torx or the double-hex or the MIG welder.

 

Most frequently used: my Saskatchewan seal skin gloves.