Went back to a manual torque wrench after using digital for a year

I picked up a cheap digital torque wrench for engine work last year, but it kept giving different readings when the battery got low. Swapped back to my old beam-style Snap-on and the readings are more consistent, even if it takes a bit longer to use. Has anyone else had trouble with digital wrenches drifting over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer_owens584d ago

Has your digital wrench ever just given up and shown you a torque value that would snap a bolt off clean? Mine did that on a cylinder head bolt once, and I thank my lucky stars I double checked with the old beam style before I cranked it down. I'm not the best with batteries anyway, I always forget to check the charge level until it's too late. For me the extra time with a manual tool is worth the peace of mind, even if I look like a dinosaur in the shop.

betty_kelly94d ago

Batteries die mid-job and then you're guessing.

rowan_thomas842d ago

Leave it to a dead battery to turn your torque wrench into a random number generator.