wrench - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GEuser
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 04:20:35 am
content: Q

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 05:17:37 pm
content: In have a few of these torque wrenches. Don't expect high quality or long lasting service. I wouldn't lubricate the mechanism. It will collect dirt inside the mechanism.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2014, 06:52:21 pm
content: Good for wanting to have a check for the setting, as there are going to either drift slightly with time or bind as they wear. I checked my simple beam type with a torque wrench calibrator a few years ago. It was within 1 division up and down the scale.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2014, 01:18:34 am
content: The inner mechanism contains some grease but I wouldn't put oil on the adjustment knob on the outside. Like I wrote earlier: it will collect dirt and give you dirty hands everytime you use it.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 07:22:24 pm
content: I've just picked one of these up in the UK. Have also ordered a set of scales to check it out and make sure it's reasonably accurate. There's no tolerances specified on it at all..

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 09:43:40 pm
content: I bought one two years ago for around €75 and lasted about 30 nuts before the end thread wear out.Now I bought a different design a brand for €225 , guess what is a better value?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 10:04:16 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on October 16, 2014, 09:43:40 pmThe one you can spare the money to buy!

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 10:17:31 pm
content: I have the Aldi Torque wrench from quite a few years ago - 1/2" drive. I keep it in it's plastic case fully unwound and only use it for doing wheel nuts and cylinder heads on the family and friends cars.I also have a smaller ebay torque wrench 1/4" drive, also kept in it's plastic box fully unwound and used for stuff like timing belt changes and the like.I'm not sure how accurate they are, but the main thing is they will give even torque all round on things like cylinder heads or timing covers, oil sumps, etc.For the price as a DIY device used a couple of times a year, nothing wrong with them.I normally use the old "hand-tight and half a turn" for fasteners anyway

author: ron
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 10:28:11 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on October 16, 2014, 10:17:31 pmHow about "strip two and back off one"?

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 10:31:49 pm
content: Quote from: ron on October 16, 2014, 10:28:11 pmI guess that's another methodAnyway, make the topic about electronics, I would love a fancy-shmancySnap On Electronic Vibrating Torque Wrench

author: ozwolf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2014, 10:32:45 pm
content: Macbeth is correct about the careful storage and unwind.I'm an ex-bus & truck mechanic, and have a Sears Craftsman torgue wrench (10 to 100 ftlb) that I paid $75 for about 30 years ago. A lot of money back then. I've always kept it in the original box, and in an unwound state at the 10 ftlb mark as stated in the attached manual. It's still as good as the day I bought it.If someone borrows it, they get a speech about the correct handling of the torgue wrench.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 12:05:35 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on October 16, 2014, 09:43:40 pmI paid less than 50 euro for mine (similar model) over 10 years ago and it has survived working on 2 cars so far. Like Macbeth I also unwind it after use and keep it in it's plastic case. But I'm also using it when I need to apply much force. I did mess up a 1/2" extenion piece and several cheap sockets with it.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 12:52:22 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 17, 2014, 12:05:35 amWhen you need a lot of force use a cheap 1/2" drive nice long breaker bar! Much better than the torque wrench for sure!I have some old effed up torque wrenches I don't care about and use them for that purpose, but they are nothing like as nice as using a proper breaker bar. Seriously, get one!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 01:20:59 am
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 17, 2014, 01:17:10 amHey, if it comes within 10% it's better than my arm..They're doing a crappy NiCd thing and a buzzbox next over here.. got plenty good drills, and my own buzzbox.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 05:38:42 am
content: I kept it unwinded. It is just that the shallow and to fine thread at the end wore out, it could be that i had a monday morning product.The brand was Laser probably RPC built and as the first picture shows the thread has wear on it. So you can put it back together, set the right amount of torq and then it will just come loose or when you use it on the first few bolts it comes loose and you can start all over again, unworkable for me.The new wrench is from Carolus and has a totally different way of operation inside, no weaknesses there, there is also an excellent window to set the torque but yeah it costs much more.I could have bought another one like the Laser type but knowing its achilles heal made me decline. Oh yeah and I would never lent it out if I were you because of this weakness but that is up to you.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 08:07:13 am
content: Well I got mine just to replace the summer/winter tires twice a year which saves €50 labour each time. I thought also that wrench would be able to last me my lifetime with that kind of use, unfortunately I was wrong.Now when I was young I have seen my father buying cheap tools that just failed on him the moment he needed them the most and ofcourse always at everning in the weekends so no way to get a replacement. That was probably the time I made the decision to buy quality, and if you are younger you can use it more years to come. Now I get older I also see if it still usefull to buy the best brand or that I can use something cheaper. Anyway with this tool I found out the hardway and had the experience my father hadI do hope yours is better and will last you a long time.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 12:19:30 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on October 17, 2014, 05:38:42 amThat threaded end should not become loose in the first place (did you open it?). You could have put a dab of loctite on it to keep it in place.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 12:42:14 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 17, 2014, 12:19:30 pmIt came loose on its own when turning for the torque setting and reversing it to unwind. Could try loctite but unsure if that is tough enough, anyway not gonna sell this thing anymore but if you are interested you can have it?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2014, 06:43:51 pm
content: My motor mechanic friend has vice grip hands. Also a calibrated torque setting in them as well. As i do a lot of machinery I also have a feel for torque, but also have amassed a selection of screw extractors, recoil sets, tap extractors, and a fair amount of skill in cooking broken bolts out of holes. Just need to find a decent set of left handed drill bits to add to the Ridgid extractor set, the lifetime warranty is not available in South Africa (favourite expression of Doubleboost here) so I have had to buy a few sets to get spares. Those are kind of expensive.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2014, 07:34:08 am
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 18, 2014, 07:04:16 amI think that the others went down in quality to match the price rather than the other way. I often get to be the first to undo bolts put in when it was made, and you can never know if they have corroded fast in the casting, or if they had half stripped them or the original thread was just poorly made.then again there is an importer of "made in a nameless country" vehicles near me, and there they had endless issues with inferior parts that were used. Regular mild steel bolts used to hold a rear axle on, and the same bolts used to hold universal joints for the rear wheel drive. This on a vehicle with a 5 ton cargo rating. Some broke just from being driven off the lot by the new owner, a lot failed within weeks. The importer had to change them all on new vehicles as a matter of course.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2014, 08:05:15 am
content: I know, but even the other brands have dropped in quality these days. The older stuff used to be built to loast, but the modern stuff is mostly plastic, inferior castings and designed to fail parts that will make it out of warranty and last mayhaps a season more then break, leaving you on a perpetual replace or repair if possible cycle.Not like the old stuff that you could buy second or tenth hand, clean the dirt off, do a little percussive maintenance and have back in service with little work. As I work near the sea, I replace airconditioning units on a regular basis, getting a little over 6 years on them. but there is a 30 year old Carrier there and a 40 year old Amana in regular use, which are still running, though I can no longer get any spares other than capacitors that fail after a decade in service.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2014, 10:02:57 am
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 18, 2014, 07:08:38 amJudging by the photos that is the same as the Ozito unit I bought from Bunnings 3 years ago. 3 years of hard use later and it is still as good as the day I got it. I ditched the 6V wall wart charger as I charge it off my bench PSU (same as all my other devices that don't need a specialised charger). For the $19 I paid on sale I've had many, many times the value in putting together server cases with 100's of screws and not stripping any. The torque limiter is awesome. 1 or 2 for plastic depending on if they are machine screws or self tappers into plastic. Buy some decent bits.<Edit> I also have a guitar tuning head adapter for it and it makes changing strings a breeze.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2014, 02:27:44 pm
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 18, 2014, 07:08:38 amAccording to the datecode that cell is either 11 or 8 years old... if it's still holding a decent charge, that's pretty good.Also it is a high-discharge type (>10C), not a regular 18650, and so by design it will have a smaller capacity. Something likethisoreven thiswould be a better replacement.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 01:09:33 am
content: I have been looking for a while for such a screwdriver but have not been able to find it in the 'building materials' shops over here.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 01:10:57 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 19, 2014, 01:09:33 amThere's always the Bosch Ixo, which is pretty widely available. Torque control is extra, though..

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 01:42:55 pm
content: They must have had different Zetors in Australia than those sold in the UK as the ones that were being sold by a dealer just up the road from me were just about unbreakable, and believe me I have found during my 30 plus years in the engineering business that if it can be broke a farmer will break it, and even if you think it cant be broken a farmer will bust it.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 11:39:50 pm
content: I just popped the cover off mine. 1300mAh with a date code of 11A31 and the screwdriver has 1105 stamped into the base.You can probably charge it faster than the plugpack does simply by using a charger with a better current capacity. I charge mine with the psu set to 6V and 300mA. The screwdriver pulls the full 300mA until it is charged. I've not been game to turn it up any higher than that as the semis on the PCB around the power socket look pretty small.I completely agree with amyk that this is a high current cell. Replacing it with a standard 18650 would be a big mistake.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 03:49:31 am
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 19, 2014, 11:55:21 pmI don't tend to charge proactively. It just lies around and gets used until it goes flat, then I charge it back up. Battery is big enough for me. If I ran out of juice even semi-regularly I'd buy a second and rotate them, but as yet I've not needed to.Driving screws into hardwood tends to knacker it pretty quickly as do self tappers into 3mm steel, but it's really not the right tool for that. I just abuse it sometimes when my drill is flat to get the job finished.For less than $20 it's one of the cheap Chinese tools I own that I'm actually quite impressed by. and didn't feel the need to improve.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 11:48:03 am
content: Quote from: BradC on October 19, 2014, 11:39:50 pm1.3Ah is a bit small these days even for high-current cells but maybe that was the best at the time - and 6.2A is not so high current for an 18650 anymore. Something like this might be a good replacement:http://lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Keeppower%20IMR18650%202500mAh%20%28Black%29%202014%20UK.html

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 12:13:49 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on October 20, 2014, 11:48:03 amI sincerely believe that this tool along with most of its cousins have never used the best of anything, ever. It was/is probably more a case of what is the cell they can get that is just big enough to do the job and reliable enough to last the warranty period. I also believe that my particular unit is probably a Wednesday build and I got lucky.If I could source the raw cells that go into that unit you linked I'd buy a handful to re-cell a few cordless tools that are reaching their use by date.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2014, 02:34:43 pm
content: No, no, no, no, no.. that won't do at all. No torque limiter.... bad. My Ozito unit is green & grey, but the one my old man bought last weeks is orange and grey (normal Ozito colours).

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2014, 02:50:12 pm
content: The one purchased last week is brand new stock, so they still exist. I've even seen some in tradies toolboxes in the last couple of days which is a tacit endorsement if I've ever seen one.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2014, 04:47:44 pm
content: For those interested, the guts of a Bosch one.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2014, 01:16:11 am
content: Quote from: GEuser on October 22, 2014, 12:17:37 amRyobi are doing the same thing as Dewalt (in the US, they can't get away with it in a rational country) and marking the open-circuit voltage of a freshly charged cell as the nominal voltage of a cell.The second switch triggers the front LED for positioning, or if the battery is very low, a charge warning light on top. The front light isn't very strong, though, I may fix that.