Really dozy tool question....

[Steviesam]

I want to buy a torque wrench (Teng?), but loads are 3/8 and loads are 1/2 inch.

Which one do I buy?

[mike9009]

Whatever size socket set you have..... Go and measure with a rule if not sure.....

[Puddenchucker]

First thing to check is what range min-max Nm (or lbs/ft) bolts/nuts do you need to torque up?

[ohtari]

What are the majority of your sockets? And what range of torque do you need?

[Steviesam]

Just rushed out to the garage and most are 1/2 inch, so that will be what I go for.

Also my impact gun is 1/2 inch as well.

I only want it for torquing my car wheel nuts, so nothing too strenuous.

The brands in my range are Draper, Teng and Sealey, which would you go for?

Thanks all

[LC2]

Steviesam said:

I only want it for torquing my car wheel nuts, so nothing too strenuous.

Really. Wheel nuts?
If you were doing something where you actually needed to get the torque right (say head bolts), then get a torque wrench, but wheel nuts?
Don't waste your money..

[odyssey2200]

Buy the 1/2 inch.
You can always use a reducer from 1/2 to 3/8 if you need to but but you can't go up.

As said above, make sure that what you buy covers the range of torques you need.

[smartphone hater]

odyssey2200 said:

Buy the 1/2 inch.
You can always use a reducer from 1/2 to 3/8 if you need to but but you can't go up.

As said above, make sure that what you buy covers the range of torques you need.

Yes you can. But regardless you're right & I'd personally always use a 1/2 for wheel nuts/bolts.

[Lowtimer]

smartphone hater said:

Yes you can. But regardless you're right & I'd personally always use a 1/2 for wheel nuts/bolts.

Yep, me too.

[s p a c e m a n]

LC2 said:

Steviesam said:

I only want it for torquing my car wheel nuts, so nothing too strenuous.

Really. Wheel nuts?
If you were doing something where you actually needed to get the torque right (say head bolts), then get a torque wrench, but wheel nuts?
Don't waste your money..

Give back your man badge, man has an excuse to buy a shiny thing.

[davepoth]

Always torque them before a track day. Also shiny.

[Rich_W]

Consider the Halfords Professional 1/2" one IIRC 60NM - 200NM Fine for the majority of stuff. Circa £70

Maybe later get a 3/8" 10-60 as well

Edited by Rich_W on Sunday 10th March 21:32

[Willy Nilly]

Steviesam said:

The brands in my range are Draper, Teng and Sealey, which would you go for?

Thanks all

Draper and Teng are fine. After buying a Sealey grease gun I'd not buy anything else off them.

[Krikkit]

I'd grab one of these Draper wrenches - it's the cheapest type, because it has a dial gauge rather than a click mechanism, but at £10 you know you've got wheel bolts about as tight as they should be.

If you decide you want to move up, I got their 3/8" Micrometer 10-80Nm one for general use at £30 and it's excellent. Even comes with the certificate from when it was calibrated on the machine.