Professionals do, "cowboys", don't.
You found one in that Halfords.
You found one in that Halfords.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Lidl and aldi used to have them in regularly, no idea if they still do but but they were ok.
Main thing to remember is make sure you wind the tension off each use.
Main thing to remember is make sure you wind the tension off each use.
- Nov 16, 2015
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Lidll, had one about 6 weeks ago, It could be worth asking the manager of the store if they have any left.
Then there is that well known online auction site, has many on offer,
eg LINK. Even comes with a 19mm socket, the preferred 6 cornered type.
How accurate, is anybody's guess but actually checking, using water and tape measure is easy if you have a strong enough bench mounted vice.
[An apprentice tool maker exercise back in the fifties, make and calibrate a bendy bar torque wrench]
However, I would wager that out of the box it will still be nearer "right" and consistent than your adviser in Halfords would be likely to be.
eg LINK. Even comes with a 19mm socket, the preferred 6 cornered type.
How accurate, is anybody's guess but actually checking, using water and tape measure is easy if you have a strong enough bench mounted vice.
[An apprentice tool maker exercise back in the fifties, make and calibrate a bendy bar torque wrench]
However, I would wager that out of the box it will still be nearer "right" and consistent than your adviser in Halfords would be likely to be.
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Not good practice if accurate precision is required, slow steady continuous torque build up and to the single click on that occasion.
Personally I am a way bigger fan of the bending bar type for accurate work and there the progress approaching the desired torque is evident and there is no element of percussion involved. Academic here though with the quality and varying condition of the bolt threads involved, new plated, used so burnished, and later rusty!
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Don’t do as a lot of people/garages do………bang them up over tight to start with, the put torque wrench on and push to the click, then give another 1/4 turn to make sure 🙄. Seen it loads of of times, saw a caravan engineer do it once, they used impact driver to do the wheel bolts up, then proceeded as above, funny thing is they were told to undo them, then do them up by hand and use the torque wrench correctly 😜
- Mar 14, 2005
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If all you want a torque wrench to do is to check your wheel fixings and other light domestic jobs then I suggest the likes of an Aldi or Lidl tool will be well up to the job. I wouldn't recommend them for commercial activities as a suspect they would not be durable enough to cope.
I would avoid buying a cheap torque wrench from ebay or other dubious sources as not only will they be poorly made, there is a considerable chance the accuracy of the wrenches setting gauge may be well off , defeating one of the purposes of having a gauge.
Use reputable suppliers rather than unknown ones, which will also make returning faulty products somewhat easier also.
I would avoid buying a cheap torque wrench from ebay or other dubious sources as not only will they be poorly made, there is a considerable chance the accuracy of the wrenches setting gauge may be well off , defeating one of the purposes of having a gauge.
Use reputable suppliers rather than unknown ones, which will also make returning faulty products somewhat easier also.
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- Nov 11, 2009
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Problem with Lidl and Aldi is you never know when any items are to be in stock. I’ve several DIY tools from them but just happened to buy them when they popped up on adverts or I spotted them when in store. Quality always good. Whereas Toolstation have Draper at around £44 and Amazon have the same with zero postage for Prime members.
- Mar 14, 2005
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I agree about the general quality of Lidl and Aldi tools, there rarely nasty and cheap, but they are usually middle isle fodder when its gone its gone!
I would also trust items from Toolstation, screwfix and most of the DIY stores as long as their well known name, of long standing own brand products, but anything that pops up at super low price I would be suspicious about.
The next step up would be Snap on and the long established tool makers, but their products whilst usually made very well are outside the caravan hobbyists budgets, and would probably never be used enough to justify the expenditure.
Europarts are a motor factors that supply the motor trade,they also have a selection of items with regard to leisure activities,such batteries,milenco products etc.it can sometimes be advantageous to see what you wish to purchase at the point of sale
Europarts are suppliers to the motor trade and stock a wide range of vehicle components and specific tools.Also they have a selection of leisure parts/spares available, batteries, towing accessories to caravan covers.This image shows a torque wrench of over £200 which I would expect to find in an engineering environment rather than a caravan locker, it's made by Norbar,I maker I hold in high regard, incidentally the less expensive torque wrenches have a + or - of 4% accuracy 
also from Toolstation
also from ToolstationOn a side note....
Yesterday I went to rotate my car tyres and forgot that this car has different size nuts than my previous one and I don't have a proper alloy socket head - 17mm.
So I used a cheap one I had and used before but forgot it wasn't that great. Because it had a 1/4" head I also had to use the cheap extension bar. In loosening the first nut the extension bar snapped and also stuck in the socket head. Snookered.
I've now ordered a proper 1/2" alloy socket head. Too late as usual 🙄
Yesterday I went to rotate my car tyres and forgot that this car has different size nuts than my previous one and I don't have a proper alloy socket head - 17mm.
So I used a cheap one I had and used before but forgot it wasn't that great. Because it had a 1/4" head I also had to use the cheap extension bar. In loosening the first nut the extension bar snapped and also stuck in the socket head. Snookered.
I've now ordered a proper 1/2" alloy socket head. Too late as usual 🙄
- Nov 11, 2009
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When I bought a space saver wheel kit the wrench was non telescopic and the socket was a multipoint that was so sloppy I binned it. Bought a decent telescopic wrench and a quality Draper socket too. It’s very easy to look at what’s provided but onky to find out it’s not suitable on a dark rainy night.
The one that broke was from Draper. I find their products cheap but don't last long. Which is ok for infrequent use.
- Nov 11, 2009
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I use the Draper Expert range when purchasing and have never had a problem. The caravan socket got the most use as I don’t torque up or remove car wheels very much at all. Generally a retorque after fitting new tyres on the car and that’s it, apart from a possible puncture requiring the spare to be fitted.
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