10-01-2018, 11:07 PM
(10-01-2018, 09:54 PM)KiowaEagle_imp Wrote: In this case, with a $35 torque wrench I believe the error factor originally when it's new is similar if not the same. It is factory calibrated after all. The difference is that with usage it probably looses that calibration at a faster rate. But like I said I'm only going to use it once or twice a year. I'm 61, if I use it twice a year until I'm 75 that is only 28 uses. A mechanic could use one easily that much in a month. Plus I could buy another one in that time and still spend less and it's still better than using a standard wrench with your "that seems tight enough" idea.
I guess you are right. There must be a mid price range for the casual user, a high price range for the frequent user, and cheap as peanuts price range where is better to spend it on beer and hand tight everything (not necesarily at the same time).
Anyway: as someone else has mentioned, torque becomes more critical on aluminium or softer metals. With steel bolt&nut, usualy the max force you can apply with a wrench for that size -without extensions- will be about right, as the tools are dimensioned for their typical use (not too accurate, but "rule of thumb")