Which torque screwdriver?

[mjoseph]

Hi guys,

This is something I've thought about getting before, but never followed up. Just wondering what make / model people are using.

After doing a very quick scan of what's for sale, two have caught my attention, the Wheeler FAT screwdriver and the Sealey.

Does anyone have either of these and would they recommend it or something else?

Cheers,



Mark.

[Slider]

I've got a couple for rifles.
A snap on screwdriver type and a torque leader dial gauge mini wrench.

The screwdrivers are very convenient - but the £200+ Snap-on driver has failed twice on me leaving fastenings being done up way too tight till I noticed the error.
I've since reverted back to my old dialed mini wrench (which I picked up from an autojumble for £40). The advantage of the dial is that the torque is always being read out meaning you've got a bit more control and feeedback than with the clutch slip type screwdrivers.

The wrench is like this one link and I'd thoroughly recommend.

[wippy]

I actually work for sealeys mate , I have to test all the sample tools before saying if we can sell them or not, if you want I'll get one from stock and give it a good testing and check it on our calibrator to see if they are accurate

[another_dom]

Gedore do a decent one, and Fultons of Bisley did have a second hand one in when I last visited.

Dom.

[thibben]

Mark,

If you're not set on a screw driver take a look at the Borka torque wrench, very simple and not expensive.

see: http://www.borkatools.com/pages/atd12/mtsd.html

Brgds Terry

[Slider]

and Fultons of Bisley did have a second hand one in when I last visited.
Dom.

Yup - I saw that too.
Same as the ones issued by DSG for maintenance. I think it was up for only £40 or so too.
Who knows whether the calibration is still good though. One of these I think......

[mjoseph]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I actually decided on a Wheeler FAT wrench. I chose it based on the good reviews from some American forums, price was also a factor.

Cheers,


Mark.

[SandyB]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I actually decided on a Wheeler FAT wrench. I chose it based on the good reviews from some American forums, price was also a factor.

Cheers,


Mark.

Mark, I see you posted this a year ago almost, that'll give you perfect opportunity to use the torque driver and give some honest advice / experience. Looking at getting one myself, always gone by hand pressures previously, but always handy to know all the scope bolts are to the same loads.

Would you recommend it?

[RobinC]

I use a Sealey STS100 2 - 10 Nm, easy to use, cheap, chunky with a good grip. I got it calibrated as soon as I got it just to be sure and it was spot on. I have used it on our smallbore and fullbore rifles with no problem.
The only part problem I have is the scale is a bit crude so 6 is easy to see, even going halfway to 7 for 6.5 but any thing finer is a guess, so if you want accuratly 6.1 or so its not ideal. Having been to two top world champion target rifle manufacturers and asked the sport technicians who look after the top teams what torque they set to and been told they do it by hand by feel I think the Sealey is accurate enough for me! I always intended to look out for another one with a better scale but there is not much about in the lower sizes thats a lot better.
Robin

[SandyB]

I use a Sealey STS100 2 - 10 Nm, easy to use, cheap, chunky with a good grip. I got it calibrated as soon as I got it just to be sure and it was spot on. I have used it on our smallbore and fullbore rifles with no problem.
The only part problem I have is the scale is a bit crude so 6 is easy to see, even going halfway to 7 for 6.5 but any thing finer is a guess, so if you want accuratly 6.1 or so its not ideal. Having been to two top world champion target rifle manufacturers and asked the sport technicians who look after the top teams what torque they set to and been told they do it by hand by feel I think the Sealey is accurate enough for me! I always intended to look out for another one with a better scale but there is not much about in the lower sizes thats a lot better.
Robin

Having a quick look on google, its not actually cheap but quite a bit more expensive than the FAT wrench

I guess I'll pocket my money for the time being