torque wrench advice

[_-john-_]

Gonna be buying a torque wrench at some point soon so I can make sure things are correctly tightened after I've had them off.

I've seen this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Torque-Wrench-3-8-Socket-Ratchet-Drive-/160500906616?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item255e997a78

Looks good enough to me? Although I've looked on tool sites and there seems to be a MASSIVE price difference of almost £120 in some cases?!

Just wondering what's best to go for, cheap and cheerful or something like a snap on?

[Tontsy]

when it comes to things like torque wrenches, i wouldnt buy one because its cheap.

[rorz_vts]

ive got a ebay torque wrench and havent been able to use it or get it to work even after reading the instructions

[langy88]

Spend an average amont of money on tools that are know brands or else you can do damage to the tool, cars or yourself. Tools are one of the thing that you don't want to go cheap

[_-john-_]

Everything else I've bought is top notch, just don't fancy spending £100+ on a single wrench...kinda breaks my little heart to do it haha. Anyone got one here they really recommend?

[steve_335]

i work as a mechanic and ive got a halfords one. Comes with a lifetime warranty and was about 50 quid. Easy to use and ive not had any problems with it in about 2 years

[swampy]

i have two of the ones from machine mart

a small one for low torques and larger one.

both work well and should last a life time so long as they only get used for the correct thing i.e not a breaker bar.

they dont get dropped, thrown etc and as soon as you have finished with it remove the tension.

[_-john-_]

Bare in mind I've never used one before....so a couple of questions. They decent for removing wheel nuts (or at least tightening them up if I use a lug wrench to get the nuts off) and how exactly do you use one to get the correct Nm? I'm a bit baffled by 'remove the tension' (I'm guessing this is how it tells you what torque you've gotten to in the tightening process?)

[steve_335]

With the halfords one you can use it to undo aswell by swapping the top side to side. Basically, you get a dial and you turn the bottom to the required setting e.g 100Nm and lock it in and just do it up. Will be simple once you see it mate

[Bedford126]

i got 3. i got a big one from ebay when i first started that's now welded up and used as a breaker bar as it was shit.

then i have a big halford's pro line one which is great for the big stuff. and i also got a digital snap on one that vibrates at the correct torque.

out of the 2 i like the halford's one best there pretty cheap but you deffo need 2 one for lower than 100nm and the large one for above as the big ones are not as accurate

(never use a torque wrench for undoing anything that's what a breaker bar is for)