It’s not that we think the extension will affect the final torque spec, it’s just that all it takes is for you to get a little off-center to get an errant reading. If you use it properly there shouldn’t be a problem though. The good news is that keeping this from happening is easy. After you use the torque wrench simply lower the torque wrench to the lowest setting. You shouldn’t “bottom out” the torque wrench, put it on the lowest setting it has. It also has a storage case that makes it easy to take from place to place. Pair that with how easy this torque wrench is to use and it’s not hard to see why it’s such a great torque wrench. However, while we really like this Tekton torque wrench, it did miss one of our accolades for a reason.

And as an intermediate option, it has a price to match. You don’t have to break the bank to get this Lexivon Torque Wrench, but you’re also not spending pennies for something you know you’ll have to replace at some point down the road.

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First is the maximum torque value. At 80 ft/lbs it’s high enough for most DIY jobs, but there’s certainly a chance you’ll come across a job calling for higher torque specs. Second, it’s not the most durable option. Finally, if you’re torquing down a series of bolts to a higher torque spec, it’s almost always better to start a lower torque spec and work your way around. For instance, if you’re torquing down tire bolts to 100 ft/lbs, we recommend this. Why? Because if you fail to adequately torque a bolt, it could work its way loose. Or, if you tighten it too much, you could cause costly damage. About torque wrenches from Halfords Take a look at all the jobs you need a torque wrench for and all the recommended torque specs, and then match those numbers up with the torque wrench you’re looking at. If you need a wide range of torque specs, there’s a good chance a single torque wrench won’t be able to handle it all. Even better, you know you’re not going to need to replace it any time soon, even if you use it quite a bit. It’s extremely accurate with measurements you can fine-tune to a single in/lb, but it does start at 50 in/lbs. While that’s not all that high, sometimes for very small bolts on sensitive equipment there will be a smaller torque spec.

Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive pieces of equipment, and as such you need to store them properly to keep the calibration intact. Most torque wrenches come with a case, and we highly recommend storing them in this case whenever you aren’t using them. Now that you know a little more about what to look for in a torque wrench and how to care for one, now it’s time to learn a little bit about using them. Another perk this torque wrench offers is the outstanding torque range. At the low end of things, you can torque things down to as low as 25 ft/lbs, but for larger jobs, you can crank it up all the way to 250 ft/lbs. For instance, our top choice, the GearWrench Micrometer Torque Wrench, has a low-end torque setting of 30 ft/lbs. This is the setting you want to store the torque wrench at to keep the calibration correct for as long as possible. Storing Your Torque WrenchIt’s an important distinction, but it gives you far more precise results for jobs with lower torque values. This is common for jobs like head gaskets or even oil pans because they use smaller bolts with lower torque values. Alright, the Lexivon Torque Wrench might not be the most affordable or the highest-quality torque wrench out there, but what it does offer is a great intermediate option. It’ll last longer than most of our budget choices, but it’s still not a lifetime quality tool like many of our premium options. This is the most important thing you need to do after you finish using your torque wrench. Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive and leaving a load on the torque wrench for an extended amount of time will throw off the calibration. This Capri Tools torque wrench is another ¼” drive torque wrench that you should consider for smaller jobs. It’s an outstanding mix of price and quality for a ¼” torque wrench. It’s not the most affordable option out there for a ¼” option, but since it’s a smaller torque wrench it’s still not all that expensive. But if you store them properly the amount of time they’ll last really comes down to how much you use them. If you’re only occasionally using the torque wrench for a DIY project, you don’t have to worry as much.

While it’s not the lowest-priced torque wrench out there, it’s also extremely durable and high-quality. This means you won’t have to worry about replacing the torque wrench in a year or two and you know you’re getting reliable results every time you use it. No single torque wrench has that kind of range, so if you have a wide range of jobs you need to complete and a limited budget, you’re not going to find a better choice than this.Even better, since it’s a 3/8” torque wrench you don’t have to spend nearly as much compared to some of the other options on our list. But even for a typical 3/8” drive torque wrench this one by EPAuto is available for a great price, and that’s a big part of the reason it’s our top 3/8” drive option.