Another perk this torque wrench offers is the outstanding torque range. At the low end of things, you can torque things down to as low as 25 ft/lbs, but for larger jobs, you can crank it up all the way to 250 ft/lbs. For instance, our top choice, the GearWrench Micrometer Torque Wrench, has a low-end torque setting of 30 ft/lbs. This is the setting you want to store the torque wrench at to keep the calibration correct for as long as possible. Storing Your Torque Wrench If you’re looking for a top-notch torque wrench you can rely on year after year, then you really should consider GearWrench’s Micrometer Torque Wrench. GearWrench is one of the top names in the industry, and with products like this torque wrench, it’s not hard to see why.

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It’s an important distinction, but it gives you far more precise results for jobs with lower torque values. This is common for jobs like head gaskets or even oil pans because they use smaller bolts with lower torque values. Even better, you know you’re not going to need to replace it any time soon, even if you use it quite a bit. It’s extremely accurate with measurements you can fine-tune to a single in/lb, but it does start at 50 in/lbs. While that’s not all that high, sometimes for very small bolts on sensitive equipment there will be a smaller torque spec. The last thing you want to happen when you’re driving is to get a flat tire and have no way to fix it. That’s why you need a lug wrench. But you also don’t want to assume you’re good to go only to find that your cheap lug wrench can’t do the job when you need it most.Finally, stand on the lug wrench if you need to! There’s nothing wrong with using your body weight to get the job done. Most manufacturers recommend torquing lug nuts to somewhere between 80 and 100 foot-pounds, so if you’re more than 100 pounds, this should be enough to loosen them up for you. Retightening Lug Nuts All four sides make it a universal fitment for vehicles originally sold in the US market. It’s also durable enough to last a lifetime, so you never need to worry about replacing it. Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive pieces of equipment, and as such you need to store them properly to keep the calibration intact. Most torque wrenches come with a case, and we highly recommend storing them in this case whenever you aren’t using them. Don’t take a risk the next time you’re working on a job with torque specs, do it right with one of the torque wrenches we highlighted here! Even better, it can handle non-stop use, which is great for mechanics technicians that use a torque wrench as a part of their job.

Cordless Impact Wrenches - Popular Mechanics The Best Cordless Impact Wrenches - Popular Mechanics

This isn’t something you need to worry about when you’re on the side of the road, but when you get a chance you should either torque them down yourself or take them to a shop that can do it for you. This Powerbuilt Universal Lug Wrench doesn’t do much wrong. It uses a standard 4-way lug wrench design, and at 20” you get more than enough leverage to get the job done. All things being equal, higher voltage will give you more power—but there are cases for lower voltage. With smaller batteries, 12-volt impact wrenches are more compact. This makes them good for smaller jobs, working overhead, or getting into tight spaces. Tools with 18 and 20 volts have less difference between them. Generally, 18-volt tools with advanced features and capabilities make them more versatile and easier to use.

This Ken-Tool Lug Wrench is both the largest and heaviest option on our list. While it doesn’t give you the most possible leverage compared to some of the premium options on our list, at 23” it’s more than most lug wrenches and should provide more than enough leverage for you. With the help of Draper Tool’s quality assurance department, we assessed accuracy based on the BS EN ISO 6789 standard which takes readings at 20, 60 and 100 per cent of the tool’s range.

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Take a look at all the jobs you need a torque wrench for and all the recommended torque specs, and then match those numbers up with the torque wrench you’re looking at. If you need a wide range of torque specs, there’s a good chance a single torque wrench won’t be able to handle it all.Among half-inch impact wrenches, there are also tool body sizes—generally, full, compact, and sub-compact. If the tool isn’t labeled specifically compact or sub-compact, you can assume, it is a full-sized model. Full-size impacts will have larger, longer tool heads, with beefier internals, and thus higher torque specs. They’re great for removing stubborn, rusted nuts and bolts. However, these bigger tools may not fit in the spaces where they are needed. Alright, the Lexivon Torque Wrench might not be the most affordable or the highest-quality torque wrench out there, but what it does offer is a great intermediate option. It’ll last longer than most of our budget choices, but it’s still not a lifetime quality tool like many of our premium options. A big factor in this cost is the size of the torque wrench. Torque wrenches with higher calibrations tend to cost a little bit more than smaller torque wrenches. And since it’s a smaller design, it’s also a bit more lightweight, weighing 2.7 pounds which is on the lighter side of things. And while it might use a different design, it’s still easy to use and is a pretty convenient choice. The tool has a 24-tooth ratchet, but its biggest problem is having no imperial scale, ruling it out for owners of many British classic cars. It was always within tolerance, but it was not enough to overcome the price – around twice that of very similar tools.

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For such a compact and lightweight design, Milwaukee’s M18FHIWF12-0 electric impact wrench truly lands a punch with its exceptional 1898 Nm of nut-busting torque. Even for fastening uses, the 1356 Nm of torque is impressive to say the least. This makes it lightweight and compact when you’re storing it, and when you’re trying to use it, you can expand it out to 21” for maximum leverage. This is also a more affordable choice, which is a big deal if you’re on a tighter budget.

Finally, if you’re torquing down a series of bolts to a higher torque spec, it’s almost always better to start a lower torque spec and work your way around. For instance, if you’re torquing down tire bolts to 100 ft/lbs, we recommend this.