7 tips on how to use a torque wrench

Tire changing Torque Wrenches Workshop Equipment

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In this article, our torque wrench expert gives you his advice on how to use a torque wrench

What is a torque wrench ?

A torque wrench is a tool used to control and apply a specific torque to a fastener such as a bolt or a nut. It is a fundamental element in general mechanics, tire changing operations and industrial maintenance & repair industries, to ensure customers' safety.

Each vehicle type has different torque specifications, set by the manufacturer, which must be respected when servicing the vehicle. Not only for the wheels, but also for any other bolted parts such as the cylinder head, a torque controlled solution must be used to tighten at the required torque.

When in the past this was not really the case, today most of the industry is well aware and is most commonly using the combination of an impact wrench and a torque wrench. However, it is still necessary to remind some key recommendations about these high precision tools.

How to use a torque wrench ?

1. A torque wrench is a tightening tool. It is a very sensitive and precise tightening tool, and should never been used to loosen bolts.
2. Handle your torque wrench as carefully as you treat a measurement instrument! The tool should always be stowed in its storage box and protected from any shock.
3. At the end of each day, or when it is not used, the torque wrench should be reset to the lowest value, to release the string pressure.
4. Only use one hand with a fluent and continuous move. Most of the torque wrenches have a mark on the handle, this is to indicate where to apply pressure.
5. Do not use an extension on the handle. This would impair the set value in being correctly signaled.
6. A torque wrench prevents but do not avoid over tightening! When the required torque is reached, the torque control system of the wrench will be "activated", and the operator will hear a clear click sound. If you hear this "click" without moving the wrench at first, it means that the application has already been over tightened. The good practice here is to start over : Loosen the bolt first, tighten with an adapted tool and finish with the torque wrench to reach the correct and safe torque.
7. Tool Maintenance : As a high precision tool, a torque wrench needs to be re-calibrated on a regular frequency, and it's the tool's user responsibility. At Chicago Pneumatic, we recommend a yearly tool re-calibration or every cycles, at an official service center. Not to mention that if the tool has being dropped or damaged, it must be sent to service immediately. Did you know that you can change the square drive of the torque wrench without changing the tool?

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I've worked with plenty of alu and plastic but different steels baffle this noob.

In your opinion, what would be the best type of steel to use to make a wrench? I don't want to get into heat treating here. I would just like to use the strongest machinable steel I can.

My thanks in advance for your ideas. I sometimes make wrenches out of wrenches. It takes carbide (or grinding) to machine them. It is the simplest way to make a thin head open end, or certain types of face or hook spanner wrenches. I have collected a couple of hundred good quality American wrenches that are about worthless as second hand tools, so they cost me next to nothing.

Larry Thanks all!

L Vanice , Thanks for the suggestion - I've done so myself many times but the form factor of what I need to make is out of the realm of that.

dsergison, Thanks! I'll look into .

Allan, The wrench will have a few parts. The portion of the unit in question will be worked on the mill. All my tooling is HSS but I will buy some carbide if need be. Other portions will be on the lathe as well as mill.

Thanks, Marc mpmarino,
You say the wrench will have a few parts. Will you
need to weld this together? If you do you may
have problems using any pre-hard material.
I still don't have a good understanding of what
type of wrench you are making but if you use
you will want to use carbide tooling and run
coolant.
Al Marc,

Is this wrench going to see much use?

If you are not going to be heat treating your wrench or using pre-hardened steel, there is little point in using anything special. There will not be much improvement in yield strength using non-heat treated or as opposed to a low carbon steel like . The low carbon steel will also be easier to weld as allanjs pointed out. Thanks,

I thought this thread was dead!

Peter and Richard, That video is a treat!

Allan, there will be no welding. The wrench will have three parts and will be a folding type. It will need to have a good strength to weight ratio.

J, It will just be a few prototypes. BUT in order to test the viability and usefulness of the wrench I want it to be close to my vision of a possible production part. I will unleash a few to 'the field' for testing - it's rough out there! I want positive feedback from the testers!

I'm an electronics guy - and a wood guy. Metal is somewhat new to me. I have been playing with scrap. Tell me, where the heck do buy this stuff if you want to know exactly what your working with?

Thanks Guys!