Craftsman 1/2" Drive Torque Wrench (50-ft/lb to 250-ft/lb)

HeyGuysChrisFixHere

Jul 12, 2026 11:08 PM

730 Comments

Joined Oct 2017

HeyGuysChrisFixHereJul 12, 2026 11:08 PM

730 Comments

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Of all the namebrand tools I've owned, and I've owned hundreds, I've only had 2 fail, both were Craftsman, and 1 was this exact 1/2" torque wrench after only about 5-6 uses and storing it carefully at the zero ft lb setting (no long term preload on the spring).

2

8

CyanWater8220

Jul 13, 2026 1:23 AM

34 Comments

Joined Sep 2023

CyanWater8220Jul 13, 2026 1:23 AM

34 Comments

Thank you!

1

Somnus1

Jul 14, 2026 5:23 PM

129 Comments

Joined Nov 2009

Somnus1Jul 14, 2026 5:23 PM

129 Comments

Quote from HeyGuysChrisFixHere

:

Of all the namebrand tools I've owned, and I've owned hundreds, I've only had 2 fail, both were Craftsman, and 1 was this exact 1/2" torque wrench after only about 5-6 uses and storing it carefully at the zero ft lb setting (no long term preload on the spring).

Same here. I only used it once. 2nd time no good. Tried to get it replaced and that was when I learned their torque wrenches didn't have the lifetime warranty like their other tools.

1

RugerRedhawk

Jul 14, 2026 6:18 PM

12K Comments

Joined Sep 2007

RugerRedhawkJul 14, 2026 6:18 PM

12K Comments

I got rid of my clicker style torque wrenches and go two HF split beams, came in at about $100 each on sale. Super easy to adjust, no issues with spring storage issues, and lifetime warranty.

1

CSensei

Jul 14, 2026 6:38 PM

36 Comments

Joined Sep 2015

CSenseiJul 14, 2026 6:38 PM

36 Comments

Quote from HeyGuysChrisFixHere

:

Of all the namebrand tools I've owned, and I've owned hundreds, I've only had 2 fail, both were Craftsman, and 1 was this exact 1/2" torque wrench after only about 5-6 uses and storing it carefully at the zero ft lb setting (no long term preload on the spring).

Same experience. The pawl felt like it wasn't gripping so I opened it up and nothing seemed out of place. Looking at getting a split beam type at some point

1

JR007

Jul 15, 2026 1:30 AM

352 Comments

Joined Aug 2011

JR007Jul 15, 2026 1:30 AM

352 Comments

Quote from RugerRedhawk

:

I got rid of my clicker style torque wrenches and go two HF split beams, came in at about $100 each on sale. Super easy to adjust, no issues with spring storage issues, and lifetime warranty.

Can you recommend a decent beam torque wrench? I need one starting at/around 20ft lbs. Thank you!

HeyGuysChrisFixHere

Jul 15, 2026 1:58 AM

730 Comments

Joined Oct 2017

HeyGuysChrisFixHereJul 15, 2026 1:58 AM

730 Comments

Quote from CSensei

:

Same experience. The pawl felt like it wasn't gripping so I opened it up and nothing seemed out of place. Looking at getting a split beam type at some point

Yes, the pawl wasn't engaging and it would just spin. It sounded like the pawl was close to engaging with a clicking sound as it turned going by each tooth but it never actually grabbed any of them. Craftsman said it wasn't a lifetime warranty and I didn't have the receipt so I was SOL. I opened mine up too and everything looked fine and brand new, no wear on anything, grease was clean and clear, so since Craftsman told me they wouldn't replace it I played around with the little wire tension spring that pushes the pawl into the gear teeth, bending it about 10 degrees one way and testing it, then bending it slightly more or in a different direction and testing again until I got it to work about 2/3 of the time but that's still not acceptable so I threw it away and stopped buying anything Craftsman. I got 2 Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrenches on Black Friday special for $10/ea and they have worked great for nearly a year and about 12 uses so far torquing lug nuts, frame bolts, brake caliper bolts, using between 40 ft lb setting and 102 ft lbs. From watching multiple YouTubers who have tested the same Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrench, they all seem to come to the same conclusion that it works fine and is within "good" tollerances for the average DIYer so I'd definitely suggest the Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrench for any DIYer vs any Craftsman tools, but maybe get a $100-$150 tighter tollerance one if you're doing head botls which usually have to be torqued very accurately to within 1 ft lb compared to lug nuts or frame bolts which aren't an issue if you miss the mark by a few ft lbs either way.

Last edited by HeyGuysChrisFixHere July 14, 2026 at 07:04 PM.

2

CSensei

Jul 15, 2026 10:14 PM

36 Comments

Joined Sep 2015

CSenseiJul 15, 2026 10:14 PM

36 Comments

Quote from HeyGuysChrisFixHere

:

Yes, the pawl wasn't engaging and it would just spin. It sounded like the pawl was close to engaging with a clicking sound as it turned going by each tooth but it never actually grabbed any of them. Craftsman said it wasn't a lifetime warranty and I didn't have the receipt so I was SOL. I opened mine up too and everything looked fine and brand new, no wear on anything, grease was clean and clear, so since Craftsman told me they wouldn't replace it I played around with the little wire tension spring that pushes the pawl into the gear teeth, bending it about 10 degrees one way and testing it, then bending it slightly more or in a different direction and testing again until I got it to work about 2/3 of the time but that's still not acceptable so I threw it away and stopped buying anything Craftsman. I got 2 Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrenches on Black Friday special for $10/ea and they have worked great for nearly a year and about 12 uses so far torquing lug nuts, frame bolts, brake caliper bolts, using between 40 ft lb setting and 102 ft lbs. From watching multiple YouTubers who have tested the same Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrench, they all seem to come to the same conclusion that it works fine and is within "good" tollerances for the average DIYer so I'd definitely suggest the Pittsburg 1/2" torque wrench for any DIYer vs any Craftsman tools, but maybe get a $100-$150 tighter tollerance one if you're doing head botls which usually have to be torqued very accurately to within 1 ft lb compared to lug nuts or frame bolts which aren't an issue if you miss the mark by a few ft lbs either way.

I also attempted adjusting the spring a couple times and eventually tossed it too haha. I don't disagree with your sensible recommendation. Nothing will stop me from buying a shiny split beam I'll use a handful of times a year, however.

pioneer732

Jul 18, 2026 12:26 AM

95 Comments

Joined Nov 2010

pioneer732Jul 18, 2026 12:26 AM

95 Comments

I bought this at Lowe's for $69 and it's a good deal, it does take a while to turn it to where you want to be. Like it a 50-250 wrench, so why does it wind all the way to zero? And you have to wind it all the way to store it or the calibration will go out of whack.... it should be half a turn for 0-50 then 1/10th turn per ft lb but is more like 1 turn per ft lb... a lot of spinning. Would like a flex head too.

jeff34270

Expert

This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement

Jul 18, 2026 2:09 PM

18.5K Comments

Joined Jun 2012

jeff34270

Expert

This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement

Jul 18, 2026 2:09 PM

18.5K Comments

Quote from pioneer732

:

I bought this at Lowe's for $69 and it's a good deal, it does take a while to turn it to where you want to be. Like it a 50-250 wrench, so why does it wind all the way to zero? And you have to wind it all the way to store it or the calibration will go out of whack.... it should be half a turn for 0-50 then 1/10th turn per ft lb but is more like 1 turn per ft lb... a lot of spinning. Would like a flex head too.

If you go all the way to zero on a clicker, you risk having the click mechanism go out of whack. Best practice is to wind it down to its lowest setting for storage.

Craftsman 1/2" Drive Torque Wrench (50-ft/lb to 250-ft/lb)

$70

$98

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