Torque wrenches

[Crumster]

I have always used my trusty (and pricey) automotive inch pounds torque wrench on my rifles, but it is huge. Who makes a real high quality handheld unit these days? Be nice to have one available at the range.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

For something compact - Fix-it-sticks or the Fat Wrench. I'm more old school and purchased a 1/4 in drive bicycle torque wrench. Plenty of leverage for the torque we use. I also have a smallish 1/4 drive socket/screw/torx/hex (albeit metric) set from a local discount store. Both live in my range tool set in the car.

 

[LHSmith]

I have been happy with a Tekton TRQ-21101. Made in Taiwan. Bought on Amazon.

 

[TF160 Guy]

Precision Instruments. https://torqwrench.com. Accuracy +/- 2%. A little pricey, but accuracy is worth it.

A lot of the cheaper ones with big names have have a +/- 10% accuracy. For me in inch pounds that is a lot. Think about torquing a receiver that off by 10%

Safety has to become an issue at some point.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Precision Instruments. https://torqwrench.com. Accuracy +/- 2%. A little pricey, but accuracy is worth it.

A lot of the cheaper ones with big names have have a +/- 10% accuracy. For me in inch pounds that is a lot. Think about torquing a receiver that off by 10%

Safety has to become an issue at some point.

LMAO, this isn't about assembling an aircraft engine. Tell me when someone screwed an action in a stock and because it wasn't torqued with a torque ranch there was a safety incident.

 

[David Christian]

I own both of these. Fix it sticks stay in my range bag.

D-TORQ WRENCH

<p>Features a standard hex drive reversible ratcheting head, tool bits and can measure torque in 4 units including N•m, in•lb, ft•lb, or kg•cm. The digital readout provides a visible display while there are also separate programmable audible warnings for your target torque value and another for...

www.topeak.com

Rifle & Optics Toolkit With All-in-One Torque Driver | Fix It Sticks

Carry Fix It Sticks' Rifle and Optics Toolkit with All-in-One Torque Driver and you can tighten scope rings, mounts and more.

store.fixitsticks.com

You can buy an adjustable torque socket or individually set torque limiters.

 

[Chappy]

Mine are carry overs from turning Wrenches as well made by Snap-On but I believe made by CDI for Snap-On.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[SSchnd]

Fixit Sticks for me

 

[F Class John]

I love my Borka. FixiT are my second go to but I love the versatility of the Borka and I can carry way more tool per weight with them plus the way they're designed you can go from 10 to 70 in/lb with a very high degree of accuracy and you can loosen screws with them as well without any damage.

Edit: I pushed back very hard at anyone who suggested Borka originally because they looked funky but a friend put one in my hand a couple years back and I've never looked back.

 

[rwj]

If an action is properly bedded, is torque variation of +/- 25% a concern?

 

[pertnear]

I have no complaints on the Fat Wrench. Been using it for years now.

 

[Eagle Six]

I've got a 1/4" drive pretty expensive inch pounds torque wrench around here somewhere although I haven't seen it for a few years, so I just use a fat wrench and if I hold my tongue right it is plenty accurate, and I have yet been able to shoot the difference!

 

[B23]

I have no complaints on the Fat Wrench. Been using it for years now.

I don't know that I'd necessarily consider them a precision tool but for what I use them for, mostly mounting scopes and action screws, the Wheeler Fat Wrench hasn't failed me yet and seems to get the job done well enough. I have a inexpensive conventional clicker style in. lb torque wrench and it too isn't what I'd consider a precision tool but they both read nearly identical to one another so I assume they're relatively close to being correct or at least correct enough for what I use them for.

 

[Thud]

Check harbor frieght

 

[M-61]

If an action is properly bedded, is torque variation of +/- 25% a concern?

I’ll answer YES.
Then comes the qualifier.
Savage actions
All but one of my BR actions is Savage
The torque and in what order can really move stuff around.
There is a lot of posts on this here on the site also.
I’ve never even shot never mind played with torque amounts on any ‘custom’ action. Never had the need to.
The other I have was built for me by a fabulous gunsmith in 1975, Ed Ferguson (deceased). He told me what to torque to and I followed his instructions. Still have it and still shoots great (222)

 

[bob936]

I like the Epauto torque screwdriver wrench that I purchased from Amazon. It is metal construction, has a nice case with 10 bits and is made in Taiwan. Currently it sells for about $40.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I have a brand new in the box Snap on electronic that has never even had a battery in it.
I looked this morning to see how much they cost now, over $700, I paid $295 for it in 2007.
Any interest at $275. 3/8ths drive. Snap on calls it Techwrench

 

[dgeesaman]

I've studied this segment pretty closely and the challenge is I really want a screwdriver type drive that goes up to, say, 100 in-lb (at least 60) for action screws and such. The professional quality adjustable torque drivers (Utica, Proto, etc) seem to top out at 640 oz-in which is like 40 in-lb.

I suspect the reason is ergonomics / operator safety. I would use mine a few times a month at most and these tools are designed for assemblers who might use it 100x per day. So if you want something really durable and able to be re-calibrated, you're going to be buying a wrench that takes two hands and some kind of gun cradle to do it safely. ('Calibration?!' you might think - but the springs on torque tools are easily thrown off by being stored tight and other real-world reasons. So it's useful to be able to correct it if there's any doubt.)

I don't usually get snobby over consumer grade tools but these pro grade torque tools are available used for pennies on the dollar and so far what I've bought has worked flawlessly after I recalibrate them. I have access to a torque calibration tool at work but it's easy to do with a weight and wrench and rope too.

I'm using Fix-It sticks now and I'm pretty satisfied with it. It's not pro grade but it's definitely not plastic junk. I just needed to replace the bits since it seems like the basic Fix-It kit is bit sizes I can't use.

 

[Crumster]

LMAO, this isn't about assembling an aircraft engine. Tell me when someone screwed an action in a stock and because it wasn't torqued with a torque ranch there was a safety incident.

You think this about safety? Really?

 

[JMayo]

Fat wrench does all i need.