Which torque wrench?

[winjim]

I've got some money to spend at Evans and I thought I might buy a torque wrench. Low torque range for stem bolts and the like. Evans have four that I can see that might be suitable:

FWE professional 3-15Nm torque wrench
Evans own brand, don't know who actually makes it. Clicker style, comes in a nice box, includes bits. Cheapest.

Park Tools TW5
I don't believe like some that Park Tools are the be all and end all of bike tools but at least I could trust it would be of reasonable quality. Clicker style, 3-15Nm. Comes in a case but no bits.

Birzman torque wrench 3-15Nm
Never heard of this brand. Clicker style. Comes with bits but no mention of a case so might just get thrown in a drawer.

Topeak D-Torq
More expensive but fancier and electronic. Wider torque range, 1-20Nm. Comes in a nice case with a good range of bits, most of which I'll never use.

So any thoughts? Are any better than the others? Are they much of a muchness? Is it worth the extra for the wider torque range and fancy electronics of the Topeak? Should I get the Park just because it's Park? Who makes Evans own brand tools? Who the hell are Birzman? Are they all rubbish and should I look elsewhere and spend my Evans voucher on some nice new hubs instead?

Answers on a postcard.

 

[slowmotion]

None of the above. Get a Sealey STW1012, 2-24 Nm for less than £30.

BTW, back off the torque when you store it.
Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-8-in...qid=1460937954&sr=8-1&keywords=sealey+stw1012


Edit: you can get all the hex bits that you will ever need on ebay for under a tenner in a nice plastic case.

 

[subaqua]

As slow mo says . And learn how tight tight is and don't always rely on the torque wrench

 

[mjr]

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/topeak-combo-torq-wrench-set is better for low torque ranges. If you store it unloaded, it shouldn't go out of whack easily.

 

[subaqua]

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/topeak-combo-torq-wrench-set is better for low torque ranges. If you store it unloaded, it shouldn't go out of whack easily.

and make sure it doesn't get walloped or have other stuff dropped on it. you would be surprised how quick they start to move from set point once that happens. but yes folks ALWAYS take the tension off and store it loose.

 

[winjim]

None of the above. Get a Sealey STW1012, 2-24 Nm for less than £30.

BTW, back off the torque when you store it.
Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-8-in...qid=1460937954&sr=8-1&keywords=sealey+stw1012


Edit: you can get all the hex bits that you will ever need on ebay for under a tenner in a nice plastic case.

That looks good but all gone now. I suppose it might be worth waiting for some to turn up again at that price. Is it a tool you have yourself? Again, I'm unfamiliar with the brand.

Not too fussed about the bits btw, I've got some with my ratchet driver and a big box of cheap ones knocking about. The benefit of having them in the box with the wrench is just that they're conveniently to hand when using that particular tool.

As slow mo says . And learn how tight tight is and don't always rely on the torque wrench

I'm pretty good at knowing generally how tight to tighten things. My job involves maintenance of some pretty delicate instruments but I've never used a torque wrench. The guidance is usually something like fingertight plus 1/4 turn or whatever.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/topeak-combo-torq-wrench-set is better for low torque ranges. If you store it unloaded, it shouldn't go out of whack easily.

That looks strangely unwieldy and a bit awkward to me. What's it like to use?

 

[2IT]

So any thoughts? Are any better than the others? Are they much of a muchness? Is it worth the extra for the wider torque range and fancy electronics of the Topeak? Should I get the Park just because it's Park? Who makes Evans own brand tools? Who the hell are Birzman? Are they all rubbish and should I look elsewhere and spend my Evans voucher on some nice new hubs instead?

Answers on a postcard.

Wow. So many choices. No wonder I take my bike to the LBS - The Wrenched Bicycle. http://wrenchedbicycles.com/

 

[NorthernDave]

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/topeak-combo-torq-wrench-set is better for low torque ranges. If you store it unloaded, it shouldn't go out of whack easily.

I've got one of those and can't fault it. Got it from Halfords for under 8 quid - they don't list it on their website but you can order it (or any Topeak item) in store.

 

[winjim]

Wow. So many choices. No wonder I take my bike to the LBS - The Wrenched Bicycle. http://wrenchedbicycles.com/

Bit far for me to travel. I'll stick to Tony Butterworth Cycles. Not sure what torque wrenches they use though.

 

[Milkfloat]

I am a big fan of this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-torque-wrench-set/. It is sold by many other brands at over £40

 

[slowmotion]

@winjim, I have a Sealey STW101 which is the 1/4" drive version with a very similar torque range. I'm very happy with it. It comes with a calibration certificate. If you search "Sealey torque wrench" on ebay, you'll find loads of them. Here's one...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-ST...df3916:g:2GAAAOSwZ8ZW9DUg#ht_348666wt_1353037

 

[mjr]

That looks strangely unwieldy and a bit awkward to me. What's it like to use?

It works fine and is much simpler than my old click wrench, but the length and handle width sometimes means moving other things out of the way, or taking more turns than you would with a plain key.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

This works well (I have one):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-torque-wrench-set/

(Looks the same as the Sealey tbh).

 

[youngoldbloke]

Has anyone had their Torque Wrench tested for accuracy/recalibrated? If so where, and at reasonable cost? The only places I have seen online would cost more than buying a new wrench.

 

[slowmotion]

Has anyone had their Torque Wrench tested for accuracy/recalibrated? If so where, and at reasonable cost? The only places I have seen online would cost more than buying a new wrench.

If you have a spring balance and a Mole wrench, you could try doing your own. Just set up a known force at a known lever arm.