Easy, DIY tutorial how to accurately calibrate your torque wrench at home without any special tools. It takes just a few minutes and It’s quick, easy and rewarding knowing that it’s accurate every time!
That's brilliant. Thank you for posting that Ken. I will be out in the garage tonight and will be torqueing the head nuts down on my 1971 motor rebuild accurately!
At work we used Seekonk torque testers which were calibrated annually rather than calibrating the various drivers. My dad used a Craftsman beam-type torque wrench when he rebuilt a Mercedes OHC six-cylinder engine back in the early '70s. Not sure where it is now.
At home, I crank 'em by feel- unless they are critical fasteners.
I'm a calibration technician; that's what I've done for a living the last 20 years. This will work. It's not too far different from the way we calibrate torque testers (for torque wrenches, we have torque transducers). His formula is a bit inelegant: I would say [length in inches divided by 12] x pounds. Be sure to put your rope or cable in the center of the grip. If you're in a business setting, it's be better to have it professionally done. You probably have to do so for the certificate. --Tennessee Budd
Right on! For cylinder heads and the like for your own use, this will work. But for any job for the government, they want to see a certificate that the wrench calibration is tracable to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology--formerly the National Bureau of Standards).
Grand dad had one for probably 50 years and I don’t recall him ever doing that. Torques every motor we built with that wrench and I never had a head gasket blow. But that is nteresting.
I use my torque wrenches regularly, and I faithfully send them all to the recalibration people every year. Here in Western Canada, the company I use does all the calibrating for Snap-On, Mac, and everyone else. It also comes back with a proper certification paper for my peace of mind.
That's brilliant. Thank you for posting that Ken. I will be out in the garage tonight and will be torqueing the head nuts down on my 1971 motor rebuild accurately!
ReplyDeleteAt work we used Seekonk torque testers which were calibrated annually rather than calibrating the various drivers.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used a Craftsman beam-type torque wrench when he rebuilt a Mercedes OHC six-cylinder engine back in the early '70s. Not sure where it is now.
At home, I crank 'em by feel- unless they are critical fasteners.
I'm a calibration technician; that's what I've done for a living the last 20 years. This will work. It's not too far different from the way we calibrate torque testers (for torque wrenches, we have torque transducers).
ReplyDeleteHis formula is a bit inelegant: I would say [length in inches divided by 12] x pounds. Be sure to put your rope or cable in the center of the grip.
If you're in a business setting, it's be better to have it professionally done. You probably have to do so for the certificate.
--Tennessee Budd
Right on! For cylinder heads and the like for your own use, this will work. But for any job for the government, they want to see a certificate that the wrench calibration is tracable to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology--formerly the National Bureau of Standards).
DeleteThis puts a whole new twist on things!
ReplyDeleteNice little shortcut, especially if you don't have access to a cal lab, or don't want to send your wrench off.
ReplyDeleteI have a beam type. So, I torque the bolt a little past what's indicated and then add some more because it really didn't feel quite tight enough.
ReplyDeleteGrand dad had one for probably 50 years and I don’t recall him ever doing that. Torques every motor we built with that wrench and I never had a head gasket blow. But that is nteresting.
ReplyDeleteAnother great one, Kenny! Much grass, man......
ReplyDeleteI use my torque wrenches regularly, and I faithfully send them all to the recalibration people every year. Here in Western Canada, the company I use does all the calibrating for Snap-On, Mac, and everyone else. It also comes back with a proper certification paper for my peace of mind.
ReplyDelete