You will know that no matter what trade you are, man can only be as good as the tools he uses. Precision is crucial when assembling long-lasting, safe products. A misaligned torque can severely impact the quality of your work.
In A Hurry? We Have The Top Pick:
This torque wrench is strong and precise. It also has all the essential functions of a great product. However, its adapter, reducer, and extension bar make it a great all-around torque wrench.
It is likely for this reason that you are looking to purchase a torque wrench, but not sure where to start with the many different options, sizes, and settings available on the market. To help you make sense of which product is right for you, weve put together a simple guide to explain the numbers and simplify the facts.
Our Top 5 Torque Wrenches
A torque wrench is a simple tool that allows you to set the torque (rotational force), you want to apply to a bolt or nut. The wrench will notify you when the desired setting has been reached, usually by making a click sound or vibrating.
There are many options for torque wrenches, even though they all do the same thing. There are many factors that will determine which torque wrench is best for you. These include the size of your drive socket and how much torque you need.
The length of the torque wrenchs handle may be of consideration and whether or not you require the wrench to be used in both directions, for which your torque wrench will need a reversible ratchet.
To avoid mistakes, a good quality torque wrench should have guaranteed calibration parameters. The dial should also be easy to read and clear. Some products on the market even offer an LCD screen to show the settings, which allows you to work in low light levels.
So if youre searching for the best torque wrench, then look no further than our handy guide below, with our five best product picks for you.
1. Tacklife 3/20cm Torque Wrench (10-24.4 M.lb./13.6-108.5Nm). Drive Click With Socket Extension Bar And Adapter, Reducer HTW1A
- INCLUDES REDUCER AND ADAPTER Fits 3/20 cm, 1/10 cm and
- ALL STEEL CONSTRUCTION Corrosion and Rust Resistant
- 10-80 FT.-LB. TORQUE RANGE
The Tacklife 3/20 cm Torque Wrench comes top of our list thanks to its versatility and ability to work in a variety of situations. Coming with a standard 3/20 cm drive, this product also includes a 1/4 reducer and a
This wrench has a torque range of 10-24.4 mlb. It is calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy in accordance with ISO 16789 standards. The product is scaled with a dual range of ft.-lb. You can use both Nm and ft.-lb. The scale’s high-contrast design makes it easy to read at a distance and in dim lighting.
The reversible ratchet allows the drive to function in both directions, and the wrench emits a click which can be both heard and felt when the preset value is reached, prompting you to stop applying force. It should be noted that the torque measurement only functions in the clockwise direction.
This torque wrench is made from all-steel and is highly functional. It will also last many years.
Features and Facts:
- Drive 3/20 cm
- 10-24.4 m-lb. torque range
- Drive click socket extension bar
- Reducer for 1/10 cm of drive
- Meets ISO 6789 standards
- Calibrated to +/– 4%
- Reversible ratchet
- When preset value has been reached, click the signal
- High contrast dual-range scale
- All-steel construction
- Knurled handle for firm grip
- Weight: 121kg
- Length: 37 cm
2. EPAuto 1/10 Cm Drive Click Torque Wrench
- HIGH CONTRAST DUAL SCALE Simple to understand settings
- Comfortable grip with a non-slip grip handle
- 20-200 IN.-LB. TORQUE RANGE
The EPAuto 1/10cm Drive Click Torque Wrench offers great value and is highly recommended by some of the strongest competitors. It is made of hardened chrome vanadium steel alloy with satin finish. This makes it corrosion resistant and durable.
The easy to read high contrast scale is measured in both in.-lb. and N/m and the click sound will alert you when the preset torque requirement is met in the clockwise direction. For precision guarantee, this product comes pre-calibrated to +/- 4%.
At 25 cm long and weighing just 80 kg, this product is compact and smaller than some of our other options, but the knurled handle provides a non-slip grip that makes it easy to use and comfortable on the wrist.
Features and Facts:
- Durable ratchet head
- Storage case included
- Knurled handle
- Dual range scale with high contrast.
- Pre-calibrated to +/- 4%
- Satin satin with corrosion resistance
- Click alert when preset torque is met
- Reversible ratchet head
- Weight: 80 kg
- Length: 25 cm
3. Tekton 24335
- REVERSIBLE RATCHET HEAD Drives in both directions
- All steel construction No plastic parts that could break
- 10-150 FT.-LB. TORQUE RANGE
The Tekton 24335 is a popular product on the market for torque wrenches.
The product is made entirely of steel, so it does not contain any plastic parts that could break or be damaged. This product is durable and can be used for many years.
The dual-range scale is marked in high contrast colors for easy to read settings and the reversible ratchet head allows the wrench to drive in both directions and measure torque clockwise. Pre-calibrated accuracy of +/- 4 % is guaranteed.
This option measures 47 cm in length and weighs 10 kg. It is also the longest on our list.
Features and Facts:
- When a preset value has been reached, it emits a click
- High-contrast dual-range scale
- Reversible ratchet head
- Durable all-steel construction
- Pre-calibrated to +/- 4% accuracy
- Weight: 10 kg
- Length: 47 cm
4. ACDelco ARM601-4 1/2Digital Torque Wrench
- LCD SCREEN Measurements in any lighting
- MULTIPLE SETTING FUNCTIONS include Peak and Trace measurements
- 4-99 FT.-LB. 4-99 FT.-LB.
The ACDelco ARM601-4, unlike the other products in this top five, has a digital screen. It is also battery-powered to offer a variety of additional settings. The LCD screen displays measurements of preset torque range, as well as a Peak setting to show the maximum torque applied, and a Trace setting which displays the current torque applied, resetting to 0 when not in use.
Instead of the standard click notification that we see on the other manual products, this wrench has a buzzer and an LED flash notification to alert you when the torque preset level has been reached.
Perhaps the most accurate of all our product picks, the ACDelco ARM601-4 guarantees accuracy to +/- 2% and meets the ISO 6789 requirements, providing a certificate of calibration. With a torque range of 4-30.2 m-lb. this is not, however, the best option on our list for heavy duty fastenings.
Features and Facts:
- Buzzer and LED flash alert
- ISO 6789 standards
- 4-30.2 m-lb. torque range
- Easy to read LCD display
- Multiple settings functions, including Trace and Peak
- Guaranteed accuracy to +/- 2%
- Reversible quick release ratchet
- Soft grip anti-slip
- Uses 3 AAA batteries
- Weight: 2 kg
- Length: 43 cm
5. Pittsburgh Pro 239 Professional Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench
- HEAVY DUTY CAM AND PAWL MECHANISM For precision tightening
- REVERSIBLE RATCHET Drives in both directions
- 20-150 FT.-LB. TORQUE RANGE
Our final selection of five products is the Pittsburgh Pro 239 Professional Drive click stop Torque Wrench. This product has a reversible lever ratchet that allows you to drive in either direction and measure torque clockwise. However, unlike other products, which offer Nm scales, the settings of this device are only measured in lb.ft.
Utilizing a heavy duty cam and pawl mechanism, this torque wrench has a good range of 20-45.7 m-lb. and is calibrated to within +/- 4% accuracy. The click-stop system alerts you that the preset torque level has been reached and that you can remove force to the fastening.
This product is affordable, but it lacks the advanced features of our top products. For this reason, it is a suitable solution if you are looking for a basic and affordable torque wrench.
Features and Facts:
How to choose the right torque wrench for your needs
Are you a fan of reversible wrenches? Heres our simple breakdown guide of the key features of any torque wrench product.
Fastening Size
When buying a torque wrench, one of the most important considerations is the size of fastening it must work with. Drive sizes usually come in 1/10 cm, 3/20 cm or
Torque Measurement
To use a torque wrench accurately, you will need to know the required torque that you wish to apply to the fastening. The manufacturer of the fastenings will usually provide this information. The measurement of torque is likely to be supplied in either foot-pound (ft.-lb.) or in Newton meters (Nm). Most torque wrenches have a scale to measure both metrics.
Torque Range
Once you have determined the torque required, you need to confirm that it is within the torque wrench’s range. Each wrench has its own range, meaning that you may need multiple wrenches for particularly high or low torque levels.
Follow Direction
The ratchet is the head of the wrench and drives the torque force in one way. If your torque wrench has a reversible ratchet, then this means that the wrench can drive in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. However, most torque wrenches can only measure preset torque levels in the clockwise direction.
Calibration
Your wrench should be pre-calibrated with a certificate that guarantees accuracy. The industry standard is +/- 4% accuracy, however, some products may improve upon this further.
Alert System
When the preset torque requirement has been met, a torque wrench will alert you to stop applying force. Manual wrenches usually do this by a loud click, which can be heard and felt in the handle of the wrench. More advanced torque wrenches may emit a noise or flash a light instead.
Weight
There are many different torque wrench weights. However, the heavier the wrench, the more strain your wrist will experience. If you have weak wrists, you may prefer a lighter option.
Length
The length of your wrench will impact the ease with which you are able to work.
A longer handle is better if you need to tighten nuts and bolts that are difficult to reach. However, if youre working at close range, then a smaller handle will be easier to manage and reduce effort to turn the wrench.
Final Thoughts
Once you have a clear understanding of the above features and considerations, then choosing the right torque wrench for you should be a piece of cake. All of the above products come highly reviewed and recommended and for this reason, they have made it to our top five torque wrench list.
