Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Best inch pound torque wrench?

I do not trust the accuracy of the wheeler fat wrench. So who makes a good one? Ideally one that is adjustable 0 to 100 inch pounds is excepts different style bits?

Might be hard to find one with a range like that, but I use the Husky from Home Depot.
About $70
Seems to be well built, definitely above Wheeler quality.
It's a screwdriver, not a wrench.

Can I get 0-65” lbs?

Borka tools

I use a Capri screw driver tool , does not go to 65 inches. I use a Capri torque wrench for that .

My favorite is Wiha. This is the one I have, but only goes to 50. I have a 1/4 drive ratchet style for over that weight in in/lbs. They are really high quality.


https://www.wihatools.com/products/torquevario-10-50-in-lbs

Chris in AL

I seen a test done by a person with various in/lb torque wrenches and the most consistent/accurate one was from Harbor Freight.

Internet test ? How about you buy a torque wrench with a stamped certification sheet .

I have a Proto 6060A, 10 to 50in lbs. I had it tested at work and it's dead accurate. I paid roughly $100 new

I haven't seen one to 100in lbs

I have a military surplus that seems good. Holds 1/4" bits.

I use a Borka but I wouldn’t mind trying one of these…

https://store.fixitsticks.com/colle...-optics-toolkit-all-in-one-torque-driver

I‘ve been wondering about that 0-65 fixitsticks also.

Just curious, which Wheeler do you not trust? The original or the digital?

I've used EVERY torque wrench under the sun and currently use the torquevario mentioned above and a T-handle Torquevario which will give you the inch pounds you seek.

If I wasn't using the Wiha wrenches, it would be Borka.

I have a wheeler, I guess the older model, cause it’s not digital. I’ve used it for years. I’ve never tested it for accuracy.

The original one.

doesn’t feel right. Feels like it’s imparting way more torque than where it’s set. It’s probably pushing 10 years old or more. Time to retire. Thanks for the suggestions.

They only claim +\- 10% accuracy.

Short of a laboratory certified unit, the best claimed accuracy you're likely to find will be +/- 3%. Which means it could be 6% 'off'. And that's if they actually meet their marketed accuracy claim.

Now add in the other variables that have to be accounted for when properly torquing any fastener of any size to any specific specification.

When working with lbs/in stuff on guns, the dots can be connected pretty easily. But people like to think they're really measuring something....rather than thinking things through.

We have a calibration lab on site at work, everything from simple pressure gauges up to and including CMMs have to go through rigorous calibrations.

I ordered the brand our tool and equipment guy recommended, although I didn't order the top tier model he actually recommended. I couldn't see the benefit for my application to justify the extra $400ish. I also purchased the 3/8" inlbs and ftlbs models and the 1/2" ft lbs models at the same time because the distributor gave me bundle pricing. I saved about 25% on the lot and received calibration certificates for all 4 of them. I like the Proto because there are 1/10 intervals for each inlb.

I have FixIt sticks, Borka, Wheeler and a couple of cheap beam wrenches, the Borka and FixIt sticks are the most accurate out of the remaining gauges I have, but like Al said, they have variances, unfortunately that variance increases as torque increases with both. The Proto have the best repeatable accuracy of anything I have purchased, tried/tested and then ultimately sold.

This is a rabbit hole you can find yourself in, but it's also a once and done if you do your due diligence and buy the best you can afford/justify and with proper care and a little maintenance, they will last you for the remainder of your life.

I have noticed the same thing on mine and it's older. I've noticed that if the twist cap on the bottom isn't seated in the bottom position (in other words, cap is still sticking up), it doesn't slip at the desired torque.