Inch/lb torque wrench...recommend one, please

[SPDMETL]

Wifey will buy me whatever I wamt for XMAS. I've never needed one before, but the small bit of research I did

shows me I need to ask questions.



What range do the torque values need to be?

Click or digital?

What else do I need to know?

TIA, Rolf

[jprewitt]

If need an inch pound and not a foot pound torque wrench make sure you don't get a clicker. The click version doesn't work for things like testing pinion bearing load. Mine is an older snap-on with a mechanical gauge and I love it. My foot pound torque wrench is a craftsman clicker version and it works well for torquing lug nuts.

[SPDMETL]

By mechanical guage, do You mean a round dial or a pointer?

[absintheisfun]

I have a clicker inch and a clicker foot. I love 'em both. If I were to go back and do it all over again, I would get the same clicker foot and get a beam style inch pound. Most of the stuff that needs steady pressure requires a beam style, and usually will give the torque spec in inch pounds.

I have heard (don't know how true it is) that the bigger the range on the wrench, the less accurate it is. a 25-150 won't be as accurate as a 25-75 or 75-150.
Keep in mind that in most applications, converting from inch pounds to foot pounds is acceptable enough in terms of accuracy.