Had to choose between a cheap torque wrench and a Snap-on last minute

So I'm at the hangar at 6 AM last Saturday, my old wrench finally gave up the ghost after 8 years. I had a $89 option from the parts store or drop $450 on a Snap-on right then. I cheaped out and grabbed the budget one, thought I'd save cash. By noon I was chasing a loose bolt on a landing gear panel because the thing clicked way too early, had to redo the whole job and borrow a coworker's wrench. Anybody else ever regret saving a few bucks on tools in a pinch?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosepark2d ago

Yeah I did basically the same thing but with a timing light. Bought a cheap one for $40, got it home, and it was flashing like a strobe light at a rave party. Spent two hours setting timing by the process of elimination. I could have just bought the decent one and been done in 20 minutes. Guess my wallet needed that lesson more than my brain did.

mitchell.thomas2d ago

My buddy did this with a socket set and snapped three bolts in one afternoon.

the_ben2d ago

...and that's exactly why I say buying cheap tools is like borrowing trouble. You think you're being smart with your wallet but then you're standing there with a half-baked job and your knuckles bleeding from a loose bolt. I've been there way too many times. The $89 one might get you through a light day but the second you need it to really work you're basically gambling. Your mileage may vary but I've learned the hard way that a cheap torque wrench is just a fancy guessing stick.