Torque Wrench
#31
Torque Wrenches
I always believed that the dial type were accurate, but while traveling in southern Alabama my pulley bolts sheared off leaving me stranded. After getting it to the dealer the mechanic told me it looked like the bolts were over-torqued and snapped. I made sure I torqued them correctly when I put it back together. When I returned home I checked it against a friend of mine's and it was 20 lbs. off! I took it to Sears and was told that the warranty was only good for a year!! How many times do you use it in a years time??? I'm going back to the old style.
#32
Here are the results of the tests (indicated/actual). All are clickers except the Thorsen.
Thorsen: 50/58, 100/104
Snap-On 1/2": 50/43, 75/70, 100/95, 150/140
Harbor Freight 1/2": 50/50, 100/101, 150/149
Harbor Freight 1/4" (inch/lbs): 200/200 (test device didn't go lower)
What do you mean Snap-on doesnt have a lifetime warranty?? Not only is it a NO QUESTIONS ASKED lifetime warranty but they come to you!!!
Something i learned along time ago: what good is a lifetime warranty on a cheap tool if you gotta have it replaced everytime you use it... Just cause HF has lifetime warranty doesnt mean its worth a s**t... Statistically most ppl dont enforce a warranty.
As for HF's warranty policy, I've had a few tools replaced and have never been asked for a receipt, although I did have them and do recommend keeping all paperwork. One was a set of 134A AC gauges when a plastic valve wheel broke. It was three years old and they didn't have that model in stock, so they gave me a newer model better than the old one, and they didn't ask for a receipt. I own mostly Craftsman and HF tools here, with some Snap-On and others thrown in, and I've had more Craftsman hand tools break than HF. Both have lifetime warranties on hand tools.
Tools are not a religion for me, and I have had good luck with HF. They also happen to be less expensive than most, which is a selling-point for me. I just need to get the job done, as I can't get real emotional about tools. OTOH, I confess that I do get a bit excited when I walk into the tool section of a store.
I am expressing my experiences with the HF torque wrenches and limited experience with one Snap-On wrench. That wrench may not be representative of Snap-On accuracy, but it was as I described. YMMV.
Last edited by iclick; 02-03-2010 at 04:24 PM.
#33
Congrats on your good numbers there, but nothing said about harbor freight is going to put them in the quality or professional tool category for me. No need to fire back at me. That's just my opinion.
#34
"iclick" As far as any company goes, Recalibration does not fall under the catagory of warranty and tool replacement. Also how hard you are on a torque wrench will determine whether or not it stays calibrated. If someone drops one a few times i would expect it to not be within specs on calibration.
As far as coming to you i wouldnt expect that they would come to your personal residence. I was referring to them coming to a shop or business where they sell the tools at and since im usually a busy person saves me time as the closest sears is 15 min drive and the closest harbor freight is a 25 min drive from me. Not to mention time spent inside the store. I can call my Snap-on dealer on his cell and he will bring me what i need, new or replacement, right away.
I do respect your opinion and everyone is entitled to one but in my personal experience everything ive bought from HF has either broken right away or in the case of any electrical stuff (chicago electric, etc..)hasnt been powerful enough and usually burnt up within a few weeks, and happened over and over under warranty so thats what i was referring to when i said "if you have to keep replacing it".
As far as coming to you i wouldnt expect that they would come to your personal residence. I was referring to them coming to a shop or business where they sell the tools at and since im usually a busy person saves me time as the closest sears is 15 min drive and the closest harbor freight is a 25 min drive from me. Not to mention time spent inside the store. I can call my Snap-on dealer on his cell and he will bring me what i need, new or replacement, right away.
I do respect your opinion and everyone is entitled to one but in my personal experience everything ive bought from HF has either broken right away or in the case of any electrical stuff (chicago electric, etc..)hasnt been powerful enough and usually burnt up within a few weeks, and happened over and over under warranty so thats what i was referring to when i said "if you have to keep replacing it".
#35
Though I would not put HF in a quality as Snap on, I do think that some HF tools have their place. If I need a tool that I only plan to use once or twice then I will buy from HF. They make throw away tools and are priced well for that market. If I get more uses out of them even better.
#36
FWIW Snap on torque wrenches only come with a 90 day warranty. Ive been in the business 30 years and have over $5k in snap on torques wrenches at the shops, every year we get them re-calibrated. Never got anything covered under warranty thru our industrial rep. The truck guy might slip one in, but only if hes going to make a buck on something else.
#38
Though I would not put HF in a quality as Snap on, I do think that some HF tools have their place. If I need a tool that I only plan to use once or twice then I will buy from HF. They make throw away tools and are priced well for that market. If I get more uses out of them even better.
My HF TQ wrenches are about 10 years old and I've been happy with them, especially considering their cost and accuracy. If they break, I'll take them back and replace them. In fact, if they broke frequently they're so inexpensive you could buy two and keep one as a spare. I just got a sale catalog yesterday that has their 1/2"-drive TQ wrench on sale for $10. Oddly, the ad says it is accurate ±6% while on the website it is ±4%, and the latter is listed at $16. I wonder if this is a misprint in the sale catalog.
BTW, I earlier listed one of my HF wrenches as a 3/8"-drive, but it is in fact a 1/2"-drive.
Last edited by iclick; 02-03-2010 at 04:41 PM.
#39
"iclick" As far as any company goes, Recalibration does not fall under the catagory of warranty and tool replacement. Also how hard you are on a torque wrench will determine whether or not it stays calibrated. If someone drops one a few times i would expect it to not be within specs on calibration.
I can't say if I've dropped any of my HF wrenches, but probably have at one time or another. I can definitely say the Snap-On was never dropped, as since it cost $350 I would've winced and remembered it. It also didn't have a scratch on it when I sold it.
As far as coming to you i wouldnt expect that they would come to your personal residence.
I will say that the torque-value etchings on the Snap-On wrench were easier to read that those on either HF wrench, and it had a very solid, high-quality look to it.
I do respect your opinion and everyone is entitled to one but in my personal experience everything ive bought from HF has either broken right away or in the case of any electrical stuff (chicago electric, etc..)hasnt been powerful enough and usually burnt up within a few weeks, and happened over and over under warranty so thats what i was referring to when i said "if you have to keep replacing it".
Last edited by iclick; 02-03-2010 at 04:43 PM.
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