Torque Wrenches and Other Tools

[BahnBorn330i]

Hey I am starting to acquire tools to work on my car and have some questions. I have started buying Craftsman stuff but am having trouble finding a 1/2" drive torque wrench which can measure a range that includes 18ft/lbs.

Apparently for the oil change one needs a 36mm socket (which I have only found for 1/2" drive) and this needs to be torqued to 18ft/lbs. I guess this is a rather odd combination brought about by the fact that this is a plastic "nut" and a really large size.

In the DIYs on this site I see a nice looking torque wrench being used with a micrometer type setting. Does anyone know where I could find something like this instead of the "beam" style torque wrench that I have now? Craftsman has one that goes as low as 20ft/lbs but I am guessing that that's not good enough.

Any other general thoughts on tools are also appreciated. I am also looking for info on lifts, jacks, and jack stands.

Take care

[BahnBorn330i]

I found a least one answer to my own question.

Apparently one can use a socket drive adapter to step up in size as well as down. So I returned my beam style torque wrench, got a micrometer style 3/8" drive torque wrench, and have ordered a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter to drive the 36mm socket for oil changes.

Hope this info helps others

[MarvelPhx]

My 1/2" torque wrench and most of my tools were obtained at Home Depot. Never had a problem with any Husky tool yet and they aren't very expensive. I think my torque wrench was about $60.

[fcotanis]

I can't say Craftsman stuff is the best.

I bought Husky like marvel as far as a socket set mm, SAE, screwdriver & adaptors for only 25$, That set has made a whole lot of jobs around the house. For 25$ I think it was more then worth it.

On the other hand a 15pc set of mm/SAE wrenches is 90 bucks when it comes from husky!!!! I went with a noname for 25$ mm and 9.99 SAE So far so good. Those do look cheaper but they do the job.

as far a torque wrench and 36mm socket - I definitely need to look into that - so thanks - that was good info!

What do you guys do with the oil after draining it?

Thanks,
Filip

[Darius]

I use a Snap-On tools that's all my uncle has in his shop. They seem to be pretty good and nice looking too. I am not sure how cheap they are I have never really bought one myself.

[BahnBorn330i]

SnapOn is not cheap; nor is MAC (from what I understand).

The Craftsman stuff seems to me to most appealing in terms of the price and lifetime warranty. They will replace anything you can break forever.

I guess you always get what you pay for. I can only get what I can justify/afford.

FYI the 3/8" drive micrometer Craftsman torque wrench that I found was $60 (on sale). Details here:

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0141584706.103 7140871@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccjeadcgkdhjfdjcehgcemgdffmdflf.0&vertical=SEARS&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00944594000


Thanks all

[PS 37 4]

QUOTE:
What do you guys do with the oil after draining it?

Thanks,
Filip
------------------------------------

I store my oil in a 5-gallon pail (with a tight fitting lid) then when my pail is full, I take it to a oil-change place like Valvoline Rapid Oil or Jiffy Lube and they recycle the oil for free.

They make you write your name down and how much oil they received from you, but that's about it. Quick and painless...best of all, it's free.

Jeff

[Dikirok]

Hey why is this topic all wide and shit?

Have to do all that scrolling stuff - pain in the ass... :(

[morcheeba]

Dikirok - it looks like phpbb doesn't break up long URL's, so they widen the page.

My ex-landlord designed tools for craftsman & designed that new slim-line ratchet wrenches. Pretty cool, but I don't have one (you need one wrench for every size socket, that makes it pricey). Just two craftsmen wrenches - one normal rachet (after my cheap ratchet broke trying to take off a tire bolt) and a long big non-ratcheting wrench that I keep in the car (just for the tire bolts, so I don't break/abuse another wrench!). I've also got a husky torque wrench that's served well.