Best Torque Wrench? $450 Snap On vs Craftsman, ICON, Kobalt, DeWalt, SK Tools, Proto, Wera

10 Wrenches Tested: Snap On, Wera, Craftsman, Kobalt, ICON, DeWalt SK Hand Tool, Proto Tools, Performance Tool, Lexivon, and a vintage Craftsman. Torque wrenches tested for initial accuracy when new at 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 foot pounds. Wrenches then tested at 50, 150, and 250 foot pounds in the counterclockwise direction. Subsequently, the wrenches were cycled 1,000 times at 100 foot pounds and then tested again for accuracy. My goal is to ALWAYS provide accurate and honest test results by avoiding outside pressure from manufacturers. To do this, I ALWAYS buy all of the products that I test along with the test equipment and supplies used for the testing. So, thank you very much for helping me achieve this goal by your support of the channel.

Motor oil videos on this channel bring out the funniest jokes about “Project Farm’s coffee”. So, I decided to surprise everyone by creating a new coffee brand, Ozzie’s Coffee. As you can probably tell by how fast I talk, I like coffee. Thanks again for supporting the channel.
➡ Thank you for supporting the channel through memberships:
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
Snap On: Purchased from Snap On
ICON: Purchased at Harbor Freight

Videography Equipment:

This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC

[tylerroe]

For those who don’t know. ALWAYS store your torque wrench on the lowest torque setting. It decompresses the spring so that it remains in spec for much longer.

[bobbyjohnston]

As a auto technician that was required to torque every wheel that came in the shop, my Snap On torque wrench after over 42 years of service, was only .01 lbs off when I retired. (They checked calibration every month for the last 15 years)

[syco]

You really tested multiple torque wrench's thousands of times just for us. Thank you for what you do. I come here every time I'm thinking about buying a new tool. I will definitely recommend your channel to friends.

[DeadNoob]

I like how the 1000 round test really shows that the expensive wrenches actually do deliver extra value. Snap-On and Wera may be way pricier than the rest, but they also last far longer.

[SeaHag]

I was a calibration technician [Instrumentman] for the US Navy and calibrated thousands of torque wrenches. When checking for accuracy, we never used the bottom or top 10% of the tools range. Calibration certification was for the median 80% and tools should be chosen appropriately for the torque you are seeking. Another observation I made in that job was that snap-action torque wrenches often needed an adjustment to bring within +/-4% tolerance of that 80% median. While deflecting beam torque wrenches, that many people consider the 'cheap junk' wrenches were nearly always accurately calibrated. While there is no adjustment if they are out, I think I may have failed and scrapped one in my time in service. Seeing how you are checking these torque wrenches at 50 ft/lbs, which is at the bottom of it's stated 50-250 ft/lbs, I suggest checking them in that median 80% range and comparing scores again. PS: later in the video you covered the other ranges you tested...What are the accuracy comparisons if you throw out the 50 & 250 ft/lb measurement results?

[WarpedPerception]

WHOO HOO! I was waiting for this one ! Thanks for all your effort... That many clicks in one day would make me crazy !!

[DannyB-csvx]

I retired as a mechanic. The difference between 50 and 52 ft lb is really insignificant in my opinion. Things like how clean the threads are, if anti-seize or Loctite is used, will have a greater impact. So one really is shopping for convenience of use, (arc swing, handle length, head size). Working with high torque items like crankshaft bolts would have me pick the longer handle over all other features.. For smaller bolts an inch lb wrench is typically used, (water pumps, valve covers etc). A test of these would be helpful. Accuracy here would be much more important. It is so much easier to strip out a 1/4" hole than a 1/2 "

Great review.

[kaine]

"Inspected by: DUNG" was a pleasant surprise lol!

Good job! The thoroughness of your testing never ceases to amaze. Although not a sufficient sample size to be representative of each product I have purchased many of the products you have tested with similar results.

[jamest]

FYI - There are requirements in some industries (including aerospace) that the torque wrench must be cycled at least 6 times at maximum torque before use. Essentially, some of the variance you were seeing in your initial 6 tests could be due to internal resistance within the tool after sitting static in shipping. The following is an excerpt from TO 32B14-3-1-101, para 6.3 that we use:

" Prior to the use of any torque device that has a breakaway feature (includes torque screwdrivers which may
have multiple break points as the handle is rotated 360 degrees), the torque device to be used must be cycled
through the breakaway torque as recommended in the manufacturer’s brochure. If the manufacturer’s brochure
is not available, set the torque device at the maximum setting and cycle through the breakaway torque at least
six times. This can be accomplished by (typical example) securing the square tang of the wrench in a smooth
jawed vise. This breakaway exercise can be performed at the beginning of a work shift or any time subsequent,
however, it is not required more than once each shift (normally eight hours) on the specific torque wrench or
wrenches to be used. The purpose of the breakaway procedure permits special internal lubricant to recoat
internal working parts, eliminating internal resistance to give the most accurate reading possible."

We actually have different drive size sockets welded to a metal bench in order to complete this calibration every time we check one out from our tool crib.

EDIT for comments - Please keep in mind that these results should still be representative of the tool's quality (in some ratio of the results published here). This information does not negate the results found (like some silver bullet as if this were an argument), it merely makes it more impressive that these manufacturer's torque wrenches can still be fairly precise, even when not internally lubricated. I would bet that the data curve would still reflect the results found in this video, even after performing this "warm-up procedure" (as Jake called it), just perhaps to a lesser degree of deviation.

[dipironaeferrugem]

I'm always amazed, not only by the time and effort dispensed on these videos, but also the amount of money spent on these tests. Thank you so much for all the trouble you have to provide acurate and unbiased test to us for free. This is really one of the absolute best channels on youtube

[Youknewthatalready]

Thanks Todd, Project Farm dude! You help so many of us discern between quality and junk on tools, which seems harder to navigate on reviews these days. Always consistent and scientifically sensible. I personally appreciate it.

[rogerburner]

My son is looking for a torque wrench so immediately I think of my favorite U Tuber and all around honest guy! I’m sharing this video with him so he can make a wise decision. THANK YOU again for all your hard

[genericperson]

That was a good selection of wrenches that most of us never see. Good info. I calibrate and repair A LOT of wrenches every year (Air Force cal lab) and my best advice is to treat the wrench properly, whatever brand you have. They should only be used for final tightening, not as a breaker bar. Set to lowest setting after use, and I keep mine in the house so they don't get too cold or rusty. Rust is death to the internal pawl surfaces. We have to let them soak at 72 degrees for 8 hours, at the lowest setting before they are tested. If the handle is set below the lowest setting or the wrench is dropped, our customers are instructed to return them to the lab and we recalibrate them. My personal wrenches are Craftsman, mostly selected because of cost and availability versus the amount of use. Thanks for the test, good info.

[paulcharlton]

Before buying any tools these days I always look to see if Project Farm has done a comparison. Thank you for the time and effort you put in. By the way, my next purchases will be a die grinde and a cordless Jigsaw ;)

[freddyj]

In the market for torque wrenches so I decided to look up reviews. No surprise, your channel has reviews!! Thank you for all your hard work!!

[Michigan_Fan]

Wish you would consider doing a similar test with 1/4” drive torque drivers and wrenches for us DIY bike mechanics. Most of the fasteners are 6-14NM and easily stripped. Thanks for all your valuable time!

[electronicsNmore]

Funny how brand names using words like "Superior, Performance, or Excell", tend to underperform, but in this case it improved a little with use. LOL Fantastic testing as always! Thank you

[jonkiller]

The amount of dedication and time spent to measuring every detail of these tools is underappreciated. Every video this man makes impresses me.

[superbird]

Calibrated by DUNG is all you need to know about the $45 wrench…

[gregfeeler]

This kind of testing and information is avaiable only here and is of immense value to me as a home mechanic working on expensive motorcycles. Thank you so much!