I recently took advantage of the Zoro 20% off sale which also coincided with some Norbar torque wrenches already being disounted. It was still a big chunk of money though.
I had narrowed my choice down to two ranges which I think were described as New Professional. Both had the same handle but one had a push through head and the other was branded automotive and had a reversible ratchet. The one thing I could not find a definitive answer to in the documentation was whether the automotive one measured torque in the reverse direction. From other research if they don't specifically say it then they don't. Most units will click in the reverse direction but they are not calibrated to work that way. I appreciate for 99% of use that makes no difference unless you are using them in a specific application
As I didn't want to miss the discount I ordered the push through units as I've alwasy prefered them but I had a chat with Norbar support the following day just as a sanity check knowing I could always send them back if I'd made the wrong choice, fortunately I had made the right choice for me.
So here is some info that a learned from the chat with Norbar support, this will be related to test of their own wrenches but I don't see why it wouldn't apply to all.
Calibration
The new Norbars come with a timer sticker which you activate and it will let you know when 12 months is up. Norbar support said calibration requirements are governed by ISO standards and use where tracability/accuracy is mission critical for example aviation. I explained my use as mostly automotive and he said that they had performed repeat cycles on torque wrenches of 50000 cycles and seen no variation that would require a re-calibration so he didn't see any need for me to use the sticker or get my wrenches calibrated even in years to come unless damaged.
Storing whilst set
He said whilst it is good practise to release the tension if you are putting a torque wrench away for a period of time he said in their tests it didn't actually make any difference and if you are using a torque wrench on regular basis there is absolutely no issue leaving it set then changing to a different setting a couple days later.
Reversible ratchet or push through
Unless specifically stated reversible ratchet wrenches will not measure/limit torque accurately in the reverse direction and he said some of theirs will not even click in the reverse direction. The main benefit of the reversible is the ability to reposition the starting point without removing the tool from the fixing especially in limited access areas.
Push through type will measure/limit torque to the same accuracy in both directions because the mech is working exactly the same motion only upside down.
Checking before use
I tend to do this on a bolt in a vice if I haven't used them for a while and the Norbar guy said this was also a good idea to confirm the mech is working before you start tightening something important.
I had narrowed my choice down to two ranges which I think were described as New Professional. Both had the same handle but one had a push through head and the other was branded automotive and had a reversible ratchet. The one thing I could not find a definitive answer to in the documentation was whether the automotive one measured torque in the reverse direction. From other research if they don't specifically say it then they don't. Most units will click in the reverse direction but they are not calibrated to work that way. I appreciate for 99% of use that makes no difference unless you are using them in a specific application
As I didn't want to miss the discount I ordered the push through units as I've alwasy prefered them but I had a chat with Norbar support the following day just as a sanity check knowing I could always send them back if I'd made the wrong choice, fortunately I had made the right choice for me.
So here is some info that a learned from the chat with Norbar support, this will be related to test of their own wrenches but I don't see why it wouldn't apply to all.
Calibration
The new Norbars come with a timer sticker which you activate and it will let you know when 12 months is up. Norbar support said calibration requirements are governed by ISO standards and use where tracability/accuracy is mission critical for example aviation. I explained my use as mostly automotive and he said that they had performed repeat cycles on torque wrenches of 50000 cycles and seen no variation that would require a re-calibration so he didn't see any need for me to use the sticker or get my wrenches calibrated even in years to come unless damaged.
Storing whilst set
He said whilst it is good practise to release the tension if you are putting a torque wrench away for a period of time he said in their tests it didn't actually make any difference and if you are using a torque wrench on regular basis there is absolutely no issue leaving it set then changing to a different setting a couple days later.
Reversible ratchet or push through
Unless specifically stated reversible ratchet wrenches will not measure/limit torque accurately in the reverse direction and he said some of theirs will not even click in the reverse direction. The main benefit of the reversible is the ability to reposition the starting point without removing the tool from the fixing especially in limited access areas.
Push through type will measure/limit torque to the same accuracy in both directions because the mech is working exactly the same motion only upside down.
Checking before use
I tend to do this on a bolt in a vice if I haven't used them for a while and the Norbar guy said this was also a good idea to confirm the mech is working before you start tightening something important.
not the end of the world doing a ford head gasket without one
