I've got (Craftsman) mechanical 1/2" and 1/4" drive torque wrenches. My impression is that the ones I have are pretty good. bottom of high end? Just saw some really cool looking digital torque wrench. lol, one of those "heh, I think I've got to have one of those" moments. But then I actually started thinking about it...(getting old) Tactile feel: I'm used to the feel of the torque wrench releasing. Nice smooth pull until it releases and it releases enough that you can let off before you go any further. The digital one has a display, leds, and audible beep. How easy is that to use? Do you over shoot? Is it just something different you get used to? Accuracy: I'm assuming the digital ones, generally speaking, are way more accurate and maintain that accuraccy way better? Yes, I always return my torque wrenchs to zero before I put them away but I assume the digital ones are still measuring something mechanical. rod twist, bend, maybe a compression sensor? Do they stay accurate pretty much forever? Durability: If you drop your digital on the concrete are you likely to break it? knock it out of whack? So what's the deal? I'm pretty sure I NEED one of these...don't I?
lmao Dave... I keep going back to the age old saying, "If it aint broke, don't fix it!" Just saying...
Reminds me of a story... I had one of the first ones out by Craftsman (early 70's)....with the typically famous Craftsman lifetime warranty. It wasn't really a digital, you turned the handle to dial in the torque on a "scale" engraved in the shaft just above the handle. Sort of how a micrometer works. It was beautiful piece of work, after all it was a Craftsman. I really liked it...the click and slight release of the wrench at the setting makes it a breeze to use and way more accurate than a Mechanical. Mine worked great for about 2 years, till one day I was torquing down some mains on a 396 rat motor I was building. I thought the bolts felt wierd when I put them down to the first torque point. When I went back over them, to finish torquing them down, I knew I felt one "stretch".....then on the next bolt..POP! I literally pulled a mains bolt apart. I verified the torque wrench again on a new bolt with my mechanical torque wrench...It was way off above 100 foot pounds. This is the only time I have seen Craftsman choke on a warranty claim. I had to ship it to the Sears plant to verify it was off and and if i "caused" it. I also informed them that I expected them to replace the new 4 bolt main caps, main bolts, and crank bearings and seals also. I sent them the bills showing my cost when I sent the wrench in. I got a check for all the parts (I could not believe that part, I only really expected bolts to be replaced). and I got a new wrench (with an 18 month warranty). I think ever since then not all Craftsman tools have had a lifetime warranty. ..
Its not "digital" but it is really easy to read / adjust. I couldnt bring myself to pay another almost $100 for the digital version lol http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944597000P?prdNo=7 I say not worth the cost for digital
I own and use digital, with LED display, and tone. Have used everything else before it, and wouldn't go back. While torquing, I get "beep-beep-beep", then once you hit the input setting, i get steady tone "beeeeeeeeeeeep" and verify on the digital display, but typically I don't even watch or look unless it's a critical scenario like a rod or main. You can also get them with vibrating alert.... embrace good technology Dave, you'll love the new toy, i mean wrench.
I love the inner turmoil going on inside your brain about this "must have toy". I think the same scenario plays out in EVERY car guy's (and girl's) head about everything. I have a MAC mech 3/8, Snap-On mech 1/4, and Craftsman 1/2 mech (never really use this one, too big). And I have used the Snap-On digital at the shop I owned for a short time. It was cool and all w/ the beeps and tactile vibrations, but it's just ONE MORE thing to remember to have a spare battery for in your tool box. Bad enough my digital calipers always give me a black LCD when I need them at 2 am LOL. And until someone can prove to me that the mechanical wrenches are not accurate enough (in proper working forum) for what I do (I'm not building rockets, here), then I will stick w/ my tried n trusted mechanical tq wrenches... UNLESS you're a baller and buy that $5K+ snap-on DocuTorq station thing. On the screen, you just press DODGE->2008->CHARGER->6.1L->WATER PUMP BOLTS. And that tq value is automatically sent to the wrench. Straight gangsta!
I have all Snap-On digitals and I will never go back to anything else. They self calibrate every time they turn on, there are three different scales to use (ft. lbs., Nm, or inch lbs.) all with the press of a button, they beep and also vibrate when reaching the torque, and also display rolling torque. i was also just shown one by my Snap-On rep that displays a angle torque in degrees, time to buy some more now I guess. You cant compare anything to these new style torque wrenches, especially those from Snap-On. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=17510&store=snapon-store
Cheapest on there is $729 lol. If you use them all the time on many different projects and need them to be ultra accurate they are the way to go but for the standard "i take my wheels off to clean them once every month or two" type of person those are waaayyyyy overkill lol I maintain that for the price the craftsmen works just fine for 99% of people even though I would not disagree that those snap on tools are superior tools.
