Craftsman 3/8" Drive Digi-Click Torque Wrench $55 + Free In-Store Pick Up (expired)

Can't believe I just bought this. Is it something I've wanted for a while? Sure. Do I REALLY need it? Nah.
Took the last one at Columbia Mall if anyone else is in my area!

Yeah, their warranty on torque wrenches suck.

Quote from michi098 : Wow, they went from lifetime warranties to ninety days?

Quote from Fuzzy_Wuzzy : Its because it is electronic. the lifetime only applies to basic hand tools (all it ever has)

No, that's just for the calibration. I have one of their non-electronic torque wrenches and it came with the same policy. The normal warranty (for mine at least) was still lifetime.

Edit: apparently you only get 1 year on these digital ones. sad

$5 off is a Frontpage deal? I am suspicious.

I'm an electrical engineer by occupation and frankly I don't see a good reason to add electronics to this sort of tool/torque wrench. Do you really want the possibility of your project being halted because the batteries died in this wrench? Batteries do not tolerate hot/cold and temperature cycling (like in a tool box in your garage) well and more often than not, this torque wrench will end up being a dead-battery holder, and useless when you need it.

Get a decent mechanical clicker sized for the job or a beam type if you just torque lug nuts.

I honestly can't think of an application that warrants the extra complexity of the electronics in this thing.

Granted, this wrench is nifty, but hardly worth the hassle replacing batteries and getting calibrated periodically.

I used the earn $10 code (CSOSHI01) along with sears2013 and stacked shop discover 5% on top. I earned $20 bonus SYWR from buying tires on the last slick deal which was buy 3 get 1 free plus additional $35 off on top. I have the wrench setup for store pickup and got the last on in my area on hand. I think this is the lowest it has ever been for this wrench and I was able to use up my points, earn more points and get some additional discounts. THANKS OP

Quote from antennahead : I'm an electrical engineer by occupation and frankly I don't see a good reason to add electronics to this sort of tool/torque wrench. Do you really want the possibility of your project being halted because the batteries died in this wrench? Batteries do not tolerate hot/cold and temperature cycling (like in a tool box in your garage) well and more often than not, this torque wrench will end up being a dead-battery holder, and useless when you need it. Get a decent mechanical clicker sized for the job or a beam type if you just torque lug nuts. I honestly can't think of an application that warrants the extra complexity of the electronics in this thing. Granted, this wrench is nifty, but hardly worth the hassle replacing batteries and getting calibrated periodically.

This. After watching my father use a mechanical (click style) torque wrench for years and years to secure wheels on my vehicles, not sure I could ever trust an electronic gizmo.

Quote from michi098 : Wow, they went from lifetime warranties to ninety days?

Only their Craftman brand "hard line" (sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc) have lifetime warranties. Power tools, electronics (IE, multi meters, digital torque wrenches, etc), never did.

There are a few exceptions to that, like their awesome rubber hoses, those have lifetime warranties.

The HF 3/8 drive torque wrench sucks. I had one and sometimes it wouldn't click at all, partly due to failing to reset after being used. Great if you don't mind worrying that you're overtightening every time, I guess. Personally, I find the micrometer design to be finicky and more of a pain than it's worth. I haven't tried digital torque wrenches, but the lack of tactile feedback and reliance on batteries would be deal breakers for me. It costs a bit more, but this is the best torque wrench I've ever used:
https://www.google.com/shopping/p...6605553912

It doesn't need to be reset to 0 after use, adjusts quickly, doesn't need batteries, and is very reliable. Well worth the added cost to me. That said, I do have the 1/4 inch drive HF one for values below 20 ft-lbs...

I have two harborfreight torque wrenches (1/2" and 3/8") I don't have a different brand to compare to, but I love them. Several tire changes, exhaust, suspension components and even an aluminum driveshaft install. Been good to me thus far.

This Craftsman unit is still over priced in my opinion, especially due to the 90 day warranty. WTF is up with that.

The snap-on digital wrenches we use have three AA batteries and they eat those up like crazy. If this torque wrench vibrates like the snap-on when it reaches torque you'll need lots of watch batteries

Quote from bcdals : Only goes to 80 foot pounds of torque. Not enough for a lot of auto specifications. Axle nuts take 130-160 ft lbs for example. This is good for most lug nuts for wheel changes. Not worth it to me.

For larger torque applications, you'd want a 1/2" drive torque wrench anyway. 80 ft-lbs is fine for a 3/8" drive torque wrench.

For the 1/2" drive, I went with a Harbor Freight torque wrench. Higher torque applications don't need to be quite as accurate as the lower torque applications. That said, both my Harbor Freight and my Craftsman torque wrenches are working great.

Quote from michi098 : I have been thinking about the Harbor Freight ones, but the reviews are iffy. On the other hand, I won't use mine much, and I have a HF near me, so I could just exchange it for the rest of my life. Seems better than to be stranded with an electronic torque wrench that is more expensive to fix than to repurchase and the Sears guys telling you "sorry" after ninety days.

My rule of thumb regarding HF tools, is to avoid them for anything you apply torque to. Wrenches, pry bars, etc.
They're cheap and have their place, but they're too cheap for those purposes.
Of course YMMV, this is just my personal rule.

Quote from Bmr4life : I have two harborfreight torque wrenches (1/2" and 3/8") I don't have a different brand to compare to, but I love them. Several tire changes, exhaust, suspension components and even an aluminum driveshaft install. Been good to me thus far. This Craftsman unit is still over priced in my opinion, especially due to the 90 day warranty. WTF is up with that.

hey can you send me a link to the HF one?

nice deal.