When it comes to assembling your arsenal of tools, one of the things that you should definitely invest in is a high quality torque wrench. There are hundreds of different models on the market at the moment, so it is important that you take the time to choose the right one. Here are a couple of the features to take into consideration.
Torque – If you want to make sure that your torque wrench is a powerful one, then it is a good idea to look for one with the highest amount of torque. This is going to make it much more versatile. You will be able to find this information in the specifications of any wrench that you are looking at.
Weight – This is something that a lot of people will actually forget about. If you want to make sure that you have a wrench that is comfortable to use then you need to make sure that it isn’t too heavy. There are plenty of lightweight models on the market so take a look at some of these.
Grip – The grip is just as important as the weight of the wrench. As we have already said, comfort is very important when it comes to tools like this. Look for a wrench that has an ergonomic design that is designed with comfort in mind.
In order to make your search for a torque wrench a little easier, we have tested and reviewed some of our favourite models. Take a look below so that you can see what we thought of the models that we tested out.
3. VonHaus Cordless Impact Wrench
Features: 20v – Lithium Ion Battery – Direction Control – Variable Speed Trigger – ½” Square Drive – 240Nm of Torque – Forward & Reverse – 2700bmp Impact Rate – 75 Minutes Rapid Charge
Pros:
- The rapid charge feature is very useful.
- Variable speed trigger really makes work easier.
- Impressive levels of torque and impact rate.
Cons:
- The battery life isn’t great.
- The forward and reverse function is a little too sensitive and easy to accidentally hit during use.
The Review
The first torque wrench that we would like to add to our list is this model from VonHaus. Upon first setting it up, one of the things that really stood out for us was how quickly the battery charges. It takes only 75 minutes with the rapid charge feature and then it is ready for use. This wrench has both directional control and a variable speed trigger which makes undoing the tightest of bolts no trouble at all.
We also found that the levels of torque were quite impressive for a fairly compact wrench. You get 240Nm of torque which is more than adequate. We actually expected this one to be far less powerful than what it is considering it is only powered by 20v. Whilst is does have its benefits, there are also a couple of drawbacks that we should mention.
First of all, we felt that the battery life wasn’t great. However, it is important to note that we are judging this based on using the rapid charge feature, so it might be different with a full charge. The main issue that we had was the forward and reverse trigger was a little too sensitive and was easy to accidentally hit during use. We found this quite frustrating. Despite this, this is a good wrench and one that we would still recommend.
2. WORX WX279 Impact Wrench
Features: 18v – 2 Lithium Ion Batteries – 300Nm of Torque – 3300bpm Impact Rate – ½” Square Drive – LED Light – Variable Speeds – Brushless Motor – 1 Hour Quick Charge
Pros:
- Ergonomic design for comfortable handling.
- Easy to handle thanks to adjustable torque and speed settings.
- Brushless motor technology for 50% longer run time.
Cons:
- LED Light could be a little more powerful.
The Review
The next impact wrench that we would like to add to our list is this model from WORX. We’ve had mixed results from their tools in the past so weren’t really sure what to expect but we were actually really pleased with this one. First of all, we really liked the ergonomic design. It made handling the wrench particularly comfortable.
Another thing that made the handling particularly easy was the adjustable torque and speed settings. We were really surprised with how quickly it undid even the tightest of bolts. We were able to remove a tight rusted bolt within just 20 seconds which is highly impressive.
Something else that stood out for us was the amount of runtime that you get for one full charge which takes just 1 hour. We were able to use it for quite a long time. This is thanks to the brushless motor technology which offers 50% longer runtime, making this wrench perfect for the bigger jobs.
The only downside that is worth noting is that the LED light could be a little more powerful. We found that whilst it did offer some light, it could have been brighter for particularly dark jobs. Overall, we were very pleased with this one.
1. DeWalt DCF899HN-X3 – The Best Choice
Features: 18v – Lithium Ion Battery – 950Nm of Torque – 2400bpm Impacts Per Minute – ½” Square Drive with Hog Ring Socket – White LED – Rubber XR Grip & Switch
Pros:
- Hog ring socket holds bits very well because it works with friction.
- White LED is incredibly bright.
- Very generous amount of torque.
- Rubber XR grip & switch makes handling very easy.
Cons:
- Handling can take a bit of getting used to because it is so powerful.
The Review
Number 1 on our list of the best torque wrench is this model from DeWalt. This cordless torque wrench has an incredibly high quality build and is very comfortable in the hand thanks to the rubber XR grip and switch. One thing that we will say about the handling is that it does take some getting used to because of the sheer amount of power that comes from the torque which is 940Nm.
One of our favourite features with this torque wrench is the fact that it has a hog ring socket. This means that it holds bits via friction which makes them less likely to come loose during loose. We felt that this also improved the handling too. Another thing that impressed us was the brightness of the LED which was very useful indeed.
Overall, we were more than satisfied with this DeWalt torque wrench and would recommend it to anyone.
We hope that this has taken some of the work out of finding the right torque wrench for your needs and you have now chosen the right model for you personally.
