What in/lbs torque wrench are you using???

[Pnut]

A recent post on mounting an RDS got me thinking about this. I had the non-digital FatWrench for a while, but now I have the Vortex Optic torque driver. They both worked fine, but the Vortex feels more solid… more metal in the construction and the dial seems more precise. The knob is marked 1-10, so you know the exact setting.

I can’t say for sure, but the Vortex appears identical to the Capri Tool and the Gear Wrench torque drivers. I’m thinking that they are probably manufactured by the same parent company.

[rd62]

I have a Snap-on I bought second hand

[RJ]

I use the mechanical version of the Wheeler FAT wrench, purchased through Brownell’s.

[Borderland]

I use the mechanical version of the Wheeler FAT wrench, purchased through Brownell’s.

Just bought one of those myself. Works great but had to buy these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WKC8PHX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 to do a job on my Ruger Mini.

Seems like every new job these days requires a new tool. It's some kind of a conspiracy.

One of these days when somebody goes through my tools at an estate sale there will some blank stares.

[LittleLebowski]

Digital FAT wrench. (https://amzn.to/3NRUImD). I should’ve bought one years ago.

[OlongJohnson]

I really like my Wiha, but the best internet price has about doubled since I bought mine.

[Flamingo]

I use the fix-it-stick set. I like it and it is easy to carry around. It wasn't cheap though.

[Pnut]

I’m sure everyone already know this, but remember to always store your adjustable torque wrenches at the lowest setting!

[Grouse870]

https://store.fixitsticks.com/collections/featured-products/products/small-all-in-one-torque-driver
I have this one. I have their t handled driver too. It’s nice because it fits in my range bag nicely.

[HCM]

I really like my Wiha, but the best internet price has about doubled since I bought mine.

Same.

Fix it sticks are good too.

[TWR]

I have the fat wrench but my Fixit Sticks work much better.

[Sig_Fiend]

The Wiha TorqueVario (https://www.wihatools.com/torquevario-10-50-in-lbs) (#28412, 10-50lb/in) is excellent for most red dot needs. If you look around on eBay or elsewhere, you can usually find them ~$20-40 cheaper. Buy once cry once. This torque range will also cover you for things like most scope rings, bases, and most other rail mounted items on a long gun.

With a lot of sub $50 torque wrench/socket options the breakaway feel is terrible. For tightening in such minimal inch pounds, it is REALLY easy to overshoot the torque you're going for. Crank the driver a bit too fast, or don't let off pressure soon enough when it hits the break point and it's easy to bump it at least another few inch pounds. You'll see the same thing when tightening car lug nuts with a digital torque wrench. If you lean into that thing and give it a jolt, it's really easy to put another 10+lb/ft into it over your target.

[Pnut]

Question for all the FIX IT STICK owners…. I was always curious about how their torque limiters work? Do they have a click feature or do you just stop when everything lines up?

[HCM]

Question for all the FIX IT STICK owners…. I was always curious about how their torque limiters work? Do they have a click feature or do you just stop when everything lines up?

They just lineup.

The big advantage of Texas sticks is compact size and portability.

[RJ]

With a lot of sub $50 torque wrench/socket options the breakaway feel is terrible. For tightening in such minimal inch pounds, it is REALLY easy to overshoot the torque you're going for. Crank the driver a bit too fast, or don't let off pressure soon enough when it hits the break point and it's easy to bump it at least another few inch pounds. You'll see the same thing when tightening car lug nuts with a digital torque wrench. If you lean into that thing and give it a jolt, it's really easy to put another 10+lb/ft into it over your target.

I genuinely regret getting a digital torque wrench for the car. It’s a ‘Gear wrench’ brand. It’s fiddly to use (batteries) and very hard to get to say 110 ft lbs. I find myself grabbing my HF (cringe) mechanical one mostly.

I would totally get a better one than the Wheeler FAT mechanical for dots, but I’ve only needed one 5 or 6 times last two years.

[Pnut]

I’m with RJ on the digital wrench. I was woo’d into getting a Gear Wrench digital for my car because of all the wiz bang features. The problem is that I’m so used to feeling the reassuring CLICK from my old SK tools wrench. The digital does a series of beeps and the handle vibrates when you reach the desired setting. If your not concentrating, you’ll over torque. Also, the thing BEEPS with EVERY push of the button which is highly annoying. Imaging changing the setting from 50 ft/lbs to 150 ft/lbs…. That’s 100 BEEPS!!!

[ECK]

Analogue Wheeler Fat Wrench here. Would love to have a set of Fix-it sticks but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.

[okie john]

I use a Borka (http://www.borkatools.com/)

Looks like the business is down for a while.


Okie John

[Eric_L]

I use a Borka (http://www.borkatools.com/)

Looks like the business is down for a while.


Okie John

Accurate, easy to use. Website claims variation of 4% or less.

[pastaslinger]

I have the fat wrench but my Fixit Sticks work much better.

same exact answer I was about to post

I thought fixit sticks were overpriced until I was gifted a set and now I use them more than most other tools

[pastaslinger]

Question for all the FIX IT STICK owners…. I was always curious about how their torque limiters work? Do they have a click feature or do you just stop when everything lines up?

No torque limiter, it works like a regular deflecting gauge torque wrench

[TWR]

One thing to watch out for on the fat wrench is mine seems to lock up once in awhile. The other night I set it to 13 inch pounds and began tightening a small screw, it never clicked. I dug my Fix it Sticks set out of my range bag and finished the install vowing to never use the fat wrench again.

[Pnut]

Another observation with many of my torque wrenches… they seem to be more accurate in their middle and upper ranges and less so in their lower extremes. At least with my ft/lbs wrenches.

[RJ]

Another observation with many of my torque wrenches… they seem to be more accurate in their middle and upper ranges and less so in their lower extremes. At least with my ft/lbs wrenches.

This is a very good practice.

One time, I checked out a strain gauge from Metrology, to use to validate the specification for the anti-stall forward pressure on the control column of a C-130J-30 cockpit full full flight simulator for USAF /AMC. We had a couple options to choose from and working with the ME we opted for the one with the expected value right in the middle of the tool range.

(Testing it was actually a lot of fun; I had to take off from Albuquerque Sunport, climb up past Sandia Peak, then put the aircraft in a stall until the stick pusher took over, and measure the force. Simulated. :cool:)

[Archer1440]

The good thing about the digital Wheeler is that you can just set the thing in “live” display mode and torque to the desired reading on the display. No real need to have it “pop” at the torque values on these small fasteners.

I like Fix-it-sticks just fine- in fact I helped develop a specific application kit that one of my clients sources from them- but the granularity of the Wheeler digital is handy for those odd numbers (like, for example, 18 lb/in for my HK plates).

[Sero Sed Serio]

I use a Borka (http://www.borkatools.com/)

Looks like the business is down for a while.


Okie John


Accurate, easy to use. Website claims variation of 4% or less.

I’ve been very happy with my Borka BTD

[Pnut]

All this talk about Borka made me realize that I bought one 15-20 years ago. It’s a discontinued model called the ATD that has preset settings for 15, 18, 21… up to 72. Last time I remember using it, it worked well and I had no complaints, but ended up shelving it due to the simplicity of the Fat Wrench which was replaced with the Vortex wrench.

I decided to dig up the Borka and test it’s measurements against the Vortex

***DISCLAIMER***
I don’t have any scientific way to test the calibrations of each tool so I tested them against each other. I attached the Borka to the Vortex and adjusted their settings until they both broke together. The first numbers below are what the Borka was set at and the second numbers are where the Vortex showed the Borka to break at. I don’t know which is more accurate because I couldn’t calibrate each individually.

Borka/Vortex
15/20
18/23
21/26
24/31
27/34
30/38

[D-der]

I've been using a Vortex, supposed to be calibrated ?
Nothing's broken or come loose, so far...so good.

[Thy.Will.Be.Done]

I use a Borka (http://www.borkatools.com/)

Looks like the business is down for a while.


Okie John

That was true until recently but I placed an order in early May and received it within the last week. The owner's wife passed away according to the memo on the homepage, they should be up and running now with a bit of delay in shipping perhaps. Really excited about mine, seems like a very practical choice for both field and bench.

[J0hnny]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1008914672?pid=258924

I've used this for years, just convert Nm to in/lbs. Clicks are very positive. I don't remember it being this expensive but it's on sale, and, Zee Germans!

[Shawn Dodson]

I use a Sturtevant Richmont Cal 36 torque screwdriver.

[Pnut]

Just curious… anyone have an easy and cheap way to check a torque tool’s calibration? This would be for more out of curiosity than anything. I have an inexpensive digital torque adapter that I can check my automotive tools with but it doesn’t read below 15 ft/lbs = 180 in/lbs…. I checked Amazon and they have a digital torque adapter that can read as low as 2.2 ft/lbs = 26.4 in/lbs. I was looking at teasing my tools at the 10-25 in/lb range.

[RJ]

Just curious… anyone have an easy and cheap way to check a torque tool’s calibration? This would be for more out of curiosity than anything. I have an inexpensive digital torque adapter that I can check my automotive tools with but it doesn’t read below 15 ft/lbs = 180 in/lbs…. I checked Amazon and they have a digital torque adapter that can read as low as 2.2 ft/lbs = 26.4 in/lbs. I was looking at teasing my tools at the 10-25 in/lb range.

Not a ME, but was in Engineering till I retired, and a fairly frequent visitor to the Cal lab to check out tools. Did a quick search and found a few hits on calibration process. This one seems typical; it's not exactly easy or cheap:

https://www.callabmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/oct14_web.pdf#page=20

"The need for accurate torque measurement spans technologies and industries from missions to Mars, to installing lug nuts on your old pickup truck. When torque is correct, it makes us safer, and helps equipment operate properly. When it is not correct, however, bolts can snap, wheels can fall off, gaskets can burst and many dangerous things can happen. A recent survey of automotive service managers found that 23% of all auto service problems could be traced to incorrect torque."

[RJ]

I've been pondering a torque wench upgrade, and this thread has been very interesting; I appreciate Pnut starting it. As an aide to compare what's been mentioned, I tried to put a few of the responses into a table form, and compare/compute accuracy and features. Hope this is useful. Let me know if ya'll see any big errors.

Anything in yellow is a computation. Since some wrenches use %, and some use in lbs, I tried to include either/both from manufacturer sources. Prices are retail (e.g. Brownell's) or MSRP.

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[Erick Gelhaus]

I've got and use both the Wheeler FAT wrench and the Fix-It Sticks.

Thanks for the chart, not digging the results.

[Tensaw]

Am I reading the chart correctly that the Wheeler Digital rig provides the most accurate torque results - at about half the cost of some others?

[RJ]

Am I reading the chart correctly that the Wheeler Digital rig provides the most accurate torque results - at about half the cost of some others?

That seems to be the figure claimed by Wheeler. Speculating, but it’s the only Type I (indicating) torque wrench listed (others are Type II (break over)).

89982

[Pnut]

I was looking at something like this to test for accuracy. This is the only one I could find on Amazon that did low readings, but it only goes down to 26 in/lbs…

89984

[Shawn Dodson]

Just curious… anyone have an easy and cheap way to check a torque tool’s calibration? This would be for more out of curiosity than anything. I have an inexpensive digital torque adapter that I can check my automotive tools with but it doesn’t read below 15 ft/lbs = 180 in/lbs…. I checked Amazon and they have a digital torque adapter that can read as low as 2.2 ft/lbs = 26.4 in/lbs. I was looking at teasing my tools at the 10-25 in/lb range.

You'd need a calibrated torque analyzer or torque tester.

[Shawn Dodson]

Am I reading the chart correctly that the Wheeler Digital rig provides the most accurate torque results - at about half the cost of some others?

Maybe when it first comes out of the box. The more you use it the less accurate it becomes. This is true with all torque wrenches, which is why periodic calibration check is necessary.

[Shawn Dodson]

All my torque wrenches are Sturtevant-Richmont snap-action-torque wrenches. In addition to the Cal-36 Torque Screwdriver, I also use a CCM 50I (10-50 in/lbs), CCM150I (30-150 in/lbs), and CCM1200I (200-1200 in/lbs).


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