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Posted: 2/20/2015 12:41:59 PM EDT
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When I 1st got into building AR's, I just grabbed the torque wrench out of the garage; one I bought from the auto parts store. It's rated for 10-150 ft lbs, but I'm questioning its accuracy. I set it at 30 ft/lbs like I'm supposed to and it seems like I gotta crank pretty hard to get it click. I'm wondering if I'm getting the barrel nut WAY too tight.
Do I need to buy a dedicated gunsmithing torque wrench? |
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Quoted:
Torque wrenches need to be calibrated every so often. If in question pick one up at harbor freight. They have a sale coming up for $9.99. Hot Rod or one of those mags did a review of torque wrenches a while back. The cheap HF wrench was surprisingly accurate. Here's the link The major draw of the much higher-priced wrenches is their lower likelihood to lose calibration *AS MUCH* over a given period of time if left cranked to a torque setting. I have the HF 1/2" and 1/4" versions, and keep them at the lowest setting. Haven't had any issues....and even if one stops working properly, it's ten frickin bucks to replace. 
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Are you backing them off when not in use? Leaving mechanical torque wrenches cranked for extended periods will wreck the calibration. Also, continuing to turn them after they have clicked can damage many styles of torque wrench.
If you don't mind spending a little to have an accurate wrench, these are pretty decent, an industrial branded version of Snap-On: 3/8" 10-100: http://www.amazon.com/CDI-1002MFRMH-8-Inch-Handle-Torque/dp/B002LA19P2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PSGXP6E1KM2979QQFY6 1/2" 20-150: http://www.amazon.com/CDI-1002MFRMH-8-Inch-Handle-Torque/dp/B002LA19P2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PSGXP6E1KM2979QQFY6 Run by the gym and pick up a 30lb set of dumbbells. It takes more effort than you think. We don't know the exact wrench the OP is using, but most 10-150 ft lb wrenches are 1/2" drive and 16-20" in length; it shouldn't take much effort to hit 30 ft lbs. |
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Quoted:
Are you backing them off when not in use? Leaving mechanical torque wrenches cranked for extended periods will wreck the calibration. Also, continuing to turn them after they have clicked can damage many styles of torque wrench. If you don't mind spending a little to have an accurate wrench, these are pretty decent, an industrial branded version of Snap-On: 3/8" 10-100: http://www.amazon.com/CDI-1002MFRMH-8-Inch-Handle-Torque/dp/B002LA19P2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PSGXP6E1KM2979QQFY6 1/2" 20-150: http://www.amazon.com/CDI-1002MFRMH-8-Inch-Handle-Torque/dp/B002LA19P2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PSGXP6E1KM2979QQFY6 We don't know the exact wrench the OP is using, but most 10-150 ft lb wrenches are 1/2" drive and 16-20" in length; it shouldn't take much effort to hit 30 ft lbs. These don't need to be dialed back: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YOX568/ref=s9_simh_gw_p469_d0_i14?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=10RHT9DRNWPXN1R4FBYF&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1970559082&pf_rd_i=desktop I know everybody buys 1/2" torque wrenches because that's what size fits the barrel nut wrench, but I would advise buying 3/8 drive . Normally you want the torque you plan on applying to be about in the middle of the tool's range. So for ARs, a tool with a maximum of 100 ft.lbs. is about right. It will still do 80 ft.lbs. if you ever need it. By the way, the tool I linked is exactly the same one Snap-On sells with their name one it, which they sell for more than twice that price (I found this out the hard way). It is by far the best torque wrench I've ever owned. The only disadvantage to it is IT DOESN'T WORK ON LEFT-HAND THREADS, it won't go backwards. But that's no big deal for working on ARs. Not having to dial the stupid things back every time is a HUGE advantage when you're using them all the time. |
| Snap On torque wrenches are made in the USA. I highly doubt the Precision Instruments one is. I cant seem to locate Precision Instruments web page. All I find is tool resale sites, which kind of leads me to believe that its an imported tool with a precision name. |
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Currently the Harbor Freight ones are on sale $11.99 with COUPON.
Currently I use the Harbor Freight one, and after reading some more, guess I will keep using the Harbor Freight ones :P |
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Harbor Freight torque wrenches work exceptionally well for how cheap they are. At $12 it's a steal.
Link |
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Quoted:
Snap On torque wrenches are made in the USA. I highly doubt the Precision Instruments one is. I cant seem to locate Precision Instruments web page. All I find is tool resale sites, which kind of leads me to believe that its an imported tool with a precision name. Nope. I believe they made the Snap-On split-beam type torque wrenches. Not counting the label, they're identical in every respect - EXCEPT PRICE. As I said, I own a Snap-On 1/2 inch 40-240 ft.lb. version which I purchased years ago, before Amazon existed. I was pretty shocked when I saw them there for $100 dollars less than I paid the Snap-On man! |
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