Got myself a cool new tool

[belfert]

I've been looking for a torque wrench for my wheels.  I stumbled upon a pawn shop that sells online that was having a 70% off sale on all of their tools.  They happened to have a Tireman TM 600 torque wrench which is specifically designed for torquing lug nuts up to 600 foot lbs.  I paid $70 including shipping for a tool that cost $550 or more normally.  It is missing the adapter to actually attach to the 3/4" or 1" socket.  The manufacturer said it costs $16 for the adapter.

I'm going to take the torque wrench to get checked before I spend any more money on it.  I included a photo.

[Busted Knuckle]

Cool find.

Any chance of a link to the online pawn shop? They might have something of interest to someone else.
  BK 

[belfert]

www.pawnmart.com

It looks like they have sales quite regularly.  Some of the hand tools are marked down, but it doesn't look like all hand tools are on sale.  The torque wrench I bought said the regular price was $200.  $200 would still be a decent price, but not a steal like I think I got.  They only charged $10.05 for shipping, but the box was way oversized and I'm sure cost more than $10 to ship.

[topfrog007]

Belfert,

I saw this thread on slickdeals, I think you even posted on there too!

The internet is a smaller place than I thought =)

[Iceni John]

How long is it?   How easy would it be to actually get about 500 lb/ft onto the nuts with it?

The reason I'm asking is that I'm thinking of getting one of the 40"-long 1"-drive Titan 12049 breaker bars:  http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=TTN12049   (This is by far the lowest price I've found anywhere for it, and it seems pretty decent quality.)   If I put my full weight onto the end of it I should get about 525 lb/ft, without also needing a cheater bar.

John

[belfert]

I saw this thread on slickdeals, I think you even posted on there too!

Yes, I first found out about the Pawnmart sale over at Slickdeals.  I decided to visit Pawnmart's site to see if they had a torque wrench that was cheap and I happened to find exactly what I was looking for at a great price.

[belfert]

I took my Tireman torque wrench over to a local tool repair place to get it tested and repaired if necessary.  They did find it was off and fixed it.  The cost seemed a little steep at $85.  They told me when I had called originally that the price was based on the amount of work required.  When they called and said it is done they told me 3/4" torque wrenches are a flat $85.

The $155 I have invested in this tool is still cheap compared to $550 new.

[luvrbus]

A new Tireman 600 lb torque wrench I have never saw one priced over 300 bucks wow for 555.00 I can buy a real torque 3/4 inch wrench a American made Proto  1/2 price of 300 bucks is not bad though

[Gary '79 5C]

I mentioned this CL listing earlier, but I have question to those who know more than I.

Are Blue Point tools quality made ??

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/tls/2865494572.html

I currently utilize a torque mulitplier with a smaller torque wrench doing the math.

Thanks,

[luvrbus]

Blue Point is Snap/On good stuff all their air tools and special tools are BluePoint for a 100 bucks jump on it anything wrong with the tool Snap/On will repair it

good luck

[Gary '79 5C]

Thanks , I looked at the Snap On / Blue Point site, but I was still undecided.

I will be there tommorrow, with C note in hand.

[belfert]

A new Tireman 600 lb torque wrench I have never saw one priced over 300 bucks wow for 555.00 I can buy a real torque 3/4 inch wrench a American made Proto  1/2 price of 300 bucks is not bad though

Where can a Tireman torque wrench be purchased new for $300?  I might have bought a new one at that price.  The one I have is the TM600.  I looked at similar torque wrenches designed for lug nuts from other manufacturers and they cost over $600.

[luvrbus]

Jerry's Tool in Mohave Valley a tool guy that calls on me every 2nd Thursday of the month he sells the good ,bad and ugly and the TireMan is damn sure ugly and cheap looking too me YMMD just because it not on the net some better buys are not on the internet and that seems to be the only place some look and I buy very little off the internet I like to see what I am paying for

Gary found a buy for 100 bucks fwiw

[gus]

Gary,

There were quite a few posts here a while back saying that torque multipliers are grossly inaccurate for tightening. Sounded reasonable to me so I don't use mine for that any more.

They were designed for loosening stuff, not tightening.

My best torque wrench is myself on a pipe just long enough to be 450-500 lb-ft.

[Gary '79 5C]

Thanks Gus & Clifford,

I purchased the Blue Point/Snap-On 600 lb torque wrench. Tried it on the bus and they were close to 475lbs, so me thinks it is close on calibration.

Best is it took only $ 80.