Cheap but good torque wrench recommendation(s)?

[soundwave]

you can get different size socket adaptors but most bikes use Allan key and torx bolts.

Draper Expert 3/8 Drive 1/4 Hex Screwdriver Bit Socket | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Draper Expert 3/8 Drive 1/4 Hex Screwdriver Bit Socket at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[guerney]

One of their other Torqs is hex:

M Part Torque wrench

High quality precision torque wrench, a must for all enthusiasts Adjustable from 3 to 15 Nm for most stems, handlebars, seatposts etc Including M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10 and T25 sockets Small and easy to use including storage box

www.bikeparts.co.uk

 

[soundwave]

Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set | Ratchet Screwdrivers

Buy Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set and other Makita Ratchet Screwdrivers at Tooled-Up.com. Fast Delivery.

www.tooled-up.com

i use that for the handle bar stuff and comes with a adaptor

 

[guerney]

£122 squids!

Park Tool SBS-3 - Socket and bit set

The 37 piece SBS-3 is a comprehensive, shop quality set of sockets, hex bits and star-shaped (Torx® compatible) drivers selected specifically to tackle a wide variety of common bike repair needs The SBS-3 also includes flat-faced sockets in common sizes for work on suspension forks Ideal for use...

www.bikeparts.co.uk

Nope. I'll spend less than that!

 

[soundwave]

park tools is just a brand name like snap on so you pay more.

 

[guerney]

Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set | Ratchet Screwdrivers

Buy Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set and other Makita Ratchet Screwdrivers at Tooled-Up.com. Fast Delivery.

www.tooled-up.com

i use that for the handle bar stuff and comes with a adaptor

Thanks SW, that's a very good price indeed, considering it's Makita branded.

 

[soundwave]

 

[richtea99]

The Draper ones with certification are OK - I have one. Just make sure you don't get the one that starts at 30Nm (the one in the blue case you linked to), which is for cars not bikes. You need something that will measure down to 5Nm or thereabouts.

 

[guerney]

The Draper ones with certification are OK - I have one. Just make sure you don't get the one that starts at 30Nm (the one in the blue case you linked to), which is for cars not bikes. You need something that will measure down to 5Nm or thereabouts.

The Park Tool is the front runner at the mo, can't beat that torque range:

Park Tool TW-2.2 - Beam Type Torque Wrench 0-60Nm 3/8 Drive

An economical option for safely and accurately tightening fasteners to proper torque specifications With a simple gauge readout, the TW-2.2 is intuitive and easy to use, and applies up to 60Nm of torque to any fastener or component with left or right-handed threads Perfect for mid-to-high-torque...

www.bikeparts.co.uk

...and this Makita set:

Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set | Ratchet Screwdrivers

Buy Makita 39 Piece 1/4" Ratchet Driver and Screwdriver Bit Set and other Makita Ratchet Screwdrivers at Tooled-Up.com. Fast Delivery.

www.tooled-up.com

 

[richtea99]

The Park Tool doesn't mention % accuracy which I'd expect at that price, but then again Park Tool is unlikely to sell bad tools, so its probably within 10% or so.

The one you linked to was 'Perfect for mid-to-high-torque applications such as bottom brackets, cassette lockrings, and crank bolts '. They do a smaller one too if you want something more accurate for lower torques:

TW-1.2 Beam-Type Torque Wrench — 0–14 Nm

A straightforward tool for properly tightening components and fasteners with torque values under 14 Newton meters.

www.parktool.com

The Makita - I couldn't see any torque component in there but the price is fab, agreed.

 

[soundwave]

the kit comes with a adaptor for the torque wrench and has all the torx and hex bits you need had mine for years now.

 

[guerney]

The Park Tool doesn't mention % accuracy which I'd expect at that price, but then again Park Tool is unlikely to sell bad tools, so its probably within 10% or so.

The one you linked to was 'Perfect for mid-to-high-torque applications such as bottom brackets, cassette lockrings, and crank bolts '. They do a smaller one too if you want something more accurate for lower torques:

TW-1.2 Beam-Type Torque Wrench — 0–14 Nm

A straightforward tool for properly tightening components and fasteners with torque values under 14 Newton meters.

www.parktool.com

The Makita - I couldn't see any torque component in there but the price is fab, agreed.

I don't do small torque Good point. Let's face it, any measuring device relying predominantly on a big spring, is highly likely to be affected by the weather a little, and by moon phases much less. But it is a Park Tool... tool... therefore has to be better than most other similar tools relying on big ol' springs, else the furore on Youtube and the interwebs in general would be bitter and tumultuous indeed. I need accuracy most around 10 to 50nm (to tighten the torqueier bits on the bbs01b), so am now veering once again towards the Sealey 7Nm-112Nm "Calibration tolerance in accordance with BS EN ISO 6789-1:2017" , at 38.89 squids. The Makita set is for the sockets.

Sealey AK623B BLACK 3/8" Sq Drive Calibrated Torque Wrench 7Nm-112Nm With Case 5054511267549 | eBay

• Every wrench is tested and supplied with an individually numbered test certificate. • One of a comprehensive range of Premier Hand Tools, suitable for daily professional use. • Heat treated steel ratchet head.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[soundwave]

this is 10 to 80 cheaper and comes with socket adaptors.

Pardon our interruption...

tho out of all my tools i mostly use that kit and small ratchet

 

[guerney]

the kit comes with a adaptor for the torque wrench and has all the torx and hex bits you need had mine for years now.

BTW SW, I might give Bitwig a go on Linux. Looks more fun (and cheaper) than Ableton. Bitwig is supposed to be much more stable these days. I don't need more than 8 tracks most of the time (their cheapo 99 EURO version), and can always mix/bounce a few tracks down.

 

[soundwave]

not looked at music software for years now just a money pit i bought nuendo 4 back in the day think it was £1400 and sold it for £300 as could upgrade it from 4 to the latest version but these days it would be worthless.

i still have a crack copy tho but you need a decent sound card a motu 2408mk3 goes for peanuts if it has the pci card tho i doubt the drivers will work on linux.

 

[guerney]

this is 10 to 80 cheaper and comes with socket adaptors.

Pardon our interruption...

tho out of all my tools i mostly use that kit and small ratchet

That's a good price, especially as it includes those adapters.

 

[soundwave]

you can get this in halfords, dont pay for it just walk out with it as cant do jack bar ban you from the shop as theft needs to be above 250 quid to get plod involved these days.

Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 60 | Halfords UK

Shop the latest The Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 60 is for use with 3 8 square drive at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

 

[guerney]

you can get this in halfords, dont pay for it just walk out with it as cant do jack bar ban you from the shop as theft needs to be above 250 quid to get plod involved these days.

Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 60 | Halfords UK

Shop the latest The Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench Model 60 is for use with 3 8 square drive at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

My security guard mate told me the same - says he'll let me know which Tesco he'll be guarding, so I can walk out with a new telly lol. I'd insist he disables all the security cameras first.

 

[guerney]

not looked at music software for years now just a money pit i bought nuendo 4 back in the day think it was £1400 and sold it for £300 as could upgrade it from 4 to the latest version but these days it would be worthless.

i still have a crack copy tho but you need a decent sound card a motu 2408mk3 goes for peanuts if it has the pci card tho i doubt the drivers will work on linux.

Motu still make great kit - yours looks a very good card:

MOTU 2408 Mk3, 24I/O & HD192

MOTU's range of PCI audio interfaces is based around a single PCI card, with three different rackmounting units offering combinations of analogue and digital I/O.

www.soundonsound.com

Fairly decent music production gear is cheaper than it used to be. Of course, USB/Firewire/Thunderbolt etc. cards have lower noise, situated away from the computer's RF. Even so, I use standalone field recorders operating on battery sometimes. Dynamic range is low on a lot of new cheapo audio interfaces, the SSL2 is very good for the price. Decent vocal mics are much cheaper than they used to be.

SSL 2+

If you've ever dreamed of having an SSL in your studio, that dream just became surprisingly achievable...

www.soundonsound.com

...but in the end the quality doesn't matter at all, if there is no pleasing melody, harmony and overall composition... which is why I tend to just make those, but mostly as a hobby to wind down, occasionally to order. All of my gear costs mostly pocket change, and will remain largely low cost until I actually make some sizeable dosh with music. But I don't gig, and streaming produces slivers of peanuts, but that's the way of the music biz: A great way to make a large fortune making music, is to start with a larger fortune.

 

[guerney]

this is 10 to 80 cheaper and comes with socket adaptors.

Pardon our interruption...

tho out of all my tools i mostly use that kit and small ratchet

I'll try tightening various bolts to remove that slight creaking noise by hand first, but I think I may have let it go on too long... I've applied threadlocker to all threads, but some thread(s) or other might be on it's/their way to knackerland... and I'll order that Draper torque wrench and the Makita socket set, unless someone suggests better product(s) at a reasonable price. Cheers!