How to see if my Torque Wrench is still correct?

[Senor_Taylor]

Hey guys, I keep my Torque Wrench in my truck ( on the lowest setting ) which I'm sure isn't ideal. I haven't used it in a few months and I'm worried it's out of calibration now. What's a good way to test it?

[CaptainHenreh]

Do you just use it for wheels or for other stuff?

Also, don't keep your torque wrench "bottomed out". Most are designed to be stored at around 20% of min.

Anyway, the easiest would be to torque something with your wrench, then check someone else's torque wrench. If you get clicks at the same place, you're good to go. Alternately, you can ask a local shop where they get theirs calibrated (and if they look at you like you're crazy, don't go to that shop again) OR you can buy one of these: thingies right here and calibrate it that way. OTOH, if you just use it for wheels...meh, don't bother.


edit: not 20% of max, 20% of min. In reality, it probably doesn't matter as long as you don't go beyond 100% or beyond 0%.

[BLINGMW]

Would take a little doing to set it up, but I think you could just torque a wheel nut to 50 ftlbs, measure out from the socket 1 ft, hang 50 lbs on it and see if it's close to clicking it, turns the bolt more, whatever. :dunno: If your bar's not a ft long, do some math.

[Sully]

Also, don't keep your torque wrench "bottomed out". Most are designed to be stored at around 20% of max.

Dammit, I hate information. I was told no load. That's where I've kept all 3 of mine for about a year now.

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[BLINGMW]

me too. Where'd you hear that Rex?

[Senor_Taylor]

I just use it for wheels, so I guess I won't worry.

[CaptainHenreh]

me too. Where'd you hear that Rex?

My torque wrench manual? Apparently bottoming it out can damage the spring, so keeping it in the bottom 20% (where it's not as accurate anyway) is the best place to put it. Maybe this was specific to mine, as my torque wrench won't fit in the case at "0" anyway.

[Goodspeed]

Interesting - I think that might be yours. I keep mine bottomed out according to the manual, and FWIW it fits the case perfectly at that level.

[JustinG]

I keep my craftsman set at the lowest setting 20ft lbs, when being stored.

[Jeff]

I have one of those Snap-On wheel torque wrenches that can be stored at any setting, pretty nice thing. They charge $80 I think to send it off for calibration.

[JPolen01]

Next time the Matco or Snapon guy shows up at work I'll ask them if they have a calibration machine on board.

[Jeff]

Every Snap-On truck I have worked with had to send them back to Snap-On for recal.

[Sully]

At $80, I could buy 8 of my torque wrenches. I think I'll just replace mine every year or two.

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[Sully]

At $80, I could buy 8 of my torque wrenches. I think I'll just replace mine every year or two.

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[Senor_Taylor]

Exactly, got this one for $11...

[ViPER1313]

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[CaptainHenreh]

Exactly, got this one for $11...

Jesus you guys I thought you were talking about TOOLS not hammers-with-other-incidental-uses.

[CaptainHenreh]

Let me put it to you another way: If you paid 11 dollars for your torque wrench it wasn't accurate to begin with.

[Sully]

Let me put it to you another way: If you paid 11 dollars for your torque wrench it wasn't accurate to begin with.

But it was. I checked against a snap on digital wrench.

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[Jeff]

Forgot I snapped this on Friday.