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What's a good torque wrench to get?

cross-posted from: https://jorts.horse/users/fathermcgruder/statuses/110789232582943740

What's a good torque wrench to get?

I want to replace the spark plugs in my car and I'm apparently going to have to torque them to 30Nm. #diy #tools

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  • Maybe an unpopular opinion; but if you want a budget torque wrench (less than $100usd), get a beam style. I've personally used this one to assemble dozens of engines. I've got a $400 Snap-On digital that is great for torque to yield fasteners where you have to tighten to a specific degree. But if it's just something like spark plugs, I'll grab the beam torque wrench every time. I wouldn't recommend the micrometer/click style for a novice. It's too easy to get the setting off by a turn and unless you know what that amount of torque is supposed to fell like, you put your trust into listening for the click and end up causing much bigger problems for yourself.

    Any questions, feel free to PM/DM. I'm having mechanic advice withdrawals after leaving reddit.

    • I'm a novice mechanic and I never had any issue with click torque wrenches.

      Admittedly, I have a science degree and I have a great deal of experience with measurement equipment, vernier scales, etc. But I don't think the setting on a click wrench is very challenging, even for a novice. Just watch a couple YT videos.

      • If you're familiar with mic adjustments, you're golden. The problem shows up when someone isn't familiar and is operating at the low end of the adjustment range. You can accidentally end up below the threshold where it makes an audible click. If you don't have a frame of reference what 30Nm should feel like, you don't realize somethings wrong until you've cranked down way too hard. Beam wrenches are simpler (and quicker).

    • Thank you, I hadn't considered that style. All the YouTube videos use the mechanical click type, but you've got me thinking that the simpler beam style might be better for my situation.

    • What is a good brand for beam style wrenches?

    • What would be a good beam style wrench on the inch pound scale?

      • It depends how precise you need to be. If a 10-15% margin of error is acceptable*, then most of the budget brands (Presa, Titan, Neiko, ect) will be fine. If you need <5% margin of error, start looking at the major brands (snap-on, blue point, matco, mac, cornwell) that come with calibration certificates.

        How many inch pounds you are working with will determine the size you need.

        • 1-100in/lb - 1/4" torque wrench

        • 100-1000in/lb - 3/8" torque wrench

        • 1000+in/lb - We really should be using a different unit at this point, but 1/2" torque wrench.

          *For most shadetree repairs 10-15% is more than sufficient.

        Edit: tried to fix formatting

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