Craftsman 3/8" SAE Torque Wrench (20-100 ft. lb. Capacity) Expired

1/2 also same price:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMA...1000772366

When you see "SAE" mentioned in relation to a torque wrench it is usually referencing the torque reading scale. A "foot pound" (ft lb) is an American (SAE) measurement. The metric system measures in Newton Meters (NM). Many good torque wreches will have scales that read in BOTH "NM" and "FT LB," but notice that the torque ranges are often defined in SAE terms... such as 20-150 ft lbs. Now, you can convert that same range to newton meters, but clearly the 20-150 range is a SAE range. Note that 150 ft lbs is 203.37 nm. If a scale was in NM, it wouldn't end in 203.37 nm, it would likely end in 200 nm, even. 200 nm is 147.51 ft lbs, so, again, in metric a wrench might be rated to 200 nm and not 203.37 nm... so, clearly you can see most wrenches are being made with the English system in mind.

As far as anvil size, once again, the SAE system is the standard. If you order a German-made Stahlwille wrench from Germany, it might say 6,3 mm on the packaging instead of 1/4 in --- or it may show 12,6 mm instead of 1/2 in, but clearly the Germans are using the standard American anvil sizes of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2... it may just be labeled in a mm conversion, but English anvil sizes are the international norm.

Finally, to reiterate... when SAE is mentioned in relation to a torque wrench it is usually a reference to the torque wrench reading in SAE foot pounds and the torque range being rated in foot lbs as well (eg, 20 - 150 ft lbs).

Hope that helps.

The HF 1/2" wrench does not go up as high of a torque setting, plus the handle is shorter than these two...less leverage.

I bought the Craftsman 1/2" wrench this morning, then saw the Husky one posted just recently. I was about to cancel the Craftsman one to get the Husky, but after reading some of the comments, I found the Husky to be made in China, whereas the Craftsman to be made in Taiwan (better quality).

The Husky has a limited lifetime warranty, but if you are getting junk, it's just wasting trips to the store to replace for another sketchy item. Personally, I'm keeping the Craftsman and will pick it up on the way home from work today.