Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    
    You can't go wrong with a norbar, damed fine torque wrenches. Not cheap 
    but then good tools are never. I personally use a Snap-on torque wrench 
    but if I did not have assess to snap-on I would choose Norbar. Cheap
    ones will come with no guarentee that the clibration is anywhere near
    correct. Snap-on only guarentee the calibration for 90 days. A Norbar
    is fairly reliable, certainly as good as my snap-on one.
    
    GArry

    
    Vested interest - the wife works for 'em
    
    And yes, you can go into a snap-on depot and buy direct, you don't
    have to buy from a rep.
    
    Rich
    

    Must admit I didn't know that. 
    
    	Anyway the nearest depot to me is further than the man with the
    van. But they are expensive with an f. My torque wrench is a 3/8
    ratchet drive with a flex head and does upto 75 ft/lb , it cost 
    nearly #100 and that was on special offer. To be honest, snap-on tools
    are very good, quality second to none , but for most people I don't
    think the expence is worth it. A Norbar is just as good and probably a
    hell of a lot cheaper. If its going to get a hell of a hammering ,and
    used a hell of a lot , then if you can get a snap-on on I would. If
    however it's for the odd job here and there get the Norbar. I doult 
    the amount it would get used could justify paying snap-on prices.
    
    Garry
     

    Ross .4
    
    Try Index the catalogue in a shop people, for the Norbar.
    
    Argos also do the Richmond verson. How does this compare to the 
    Norbar?
    
    Dave

    
    If it looks like the Norbar there is the off change that it is. Norbar
    do a whole range of wrenches but don't always have norbar on then. I 
    don't know much about Richmond, but 1 thing I do know for sure is that
    some of the tools look like ..... There are so many tool manufacturers
    that make tools that look like other makes, presumably so they can sell
    more on it looks like principle. Even if you only need it now and then 
    I would still go for a good quality tool. Every one has heard of
    snap-on and everyone knows the price, but other tool makers that are 
    good quality and worth looking at are people like, TaskMaster, Teng,
    and even some of the tools sold in Halfords. I think the lifetime 
    guarenteed spanners sold in Halfords are really quite good, not as good
    as my set of snap-on one's but then they were about 4 times the price!!
    
    I would think that for a good click stop bar with a range of 5ish to 
    100 ft/lbs would be around the #50 mark, 20-25 pounds is probably 
    just scrap metal, and expensive scrap at that.
    
    On the where to buy front, Teng , I pass never seen a dealer,
    Taskmaster are much more common, most good car parts places do them
    ,things like ratchet wrenches do look like snap-on, nevertheless are
    quite good.
    
    Hope that helps.
    
    
    Garry

    
    "Index" is a catalogue shop (like Argos). They have a branch in Friars
    Walk (where C&A is) in Reading.

    Oh... were that I were in Reading I suppose, it being the centre of the
    known universe.

    Ho hum... thanks anyway.

    
    They probably have other branches, it just so happens that the Reading
    one is the only one I've encountered.

    There's one in Hereford........thats if any of you lot know where
    Hereford is !!
    
    Barry

    
    There's one in Camberley too.
    
    Mark

    Do they have one in thier catalogue then ?

    Ross, 
    	If you're prepared to wait a while, they're building an Index shop
    down in town!  :-)

    
    Oh you've spoilt it now John.
    
    This was the notes equivalent of the old joke "How do you keep an idiot
    in suspense?..." :^)
    
    Mark

    
    Thanks Ross! :^)
    
    Are these torque wrenches really any good? The prices seem excellent!
    
    Maybe there are good and not-so-good Norbar wrenches? Sort of a Pro and 
    handyman version?
    
    Mark

    
    My that is cheap,
    
    
    		I have my doults about it's worth. I read the reply's before 
    	lunch , I have just been out to get some connect . While I was in 
    the emporium I looked at torque wrenches, a Sykes and Pikavant (sp)
    click stop wrench was 40 plus a few pence quid. Sykes are  by no
    means the best or for that matter expensive. Also they had a Draper
    thing, the sort that have a gauge on the handle ( real junk ) , that 
    was about 11 quid. So norbar at 20 quid , Hum make's yer wonder!!!
    
    
    Garry

    Ok... I'm game. How much is a Snap-Off one ?

    In my experience Sykes Pickavant tools are very good. Britool is also
    well worth a look.
    
    Laurie.

    These cheap Draper torque wrenches...
    
    I guess what is meant is the model that relies on beding the bar &
    reading off from a static pointer, (looks like a sword). Are they
    inaccurate or just difficult to use ?

    
    Everything I've ever heard about what I call Wavy Arm torque wrenches
    is bad! They're difficult to read and therefore inaccurate. How
    accurate they can be anyway with that pointer waving about is doubtful
    in my mind. 
    
    I've got a click stop torque wrench (don't know the make), but it's
    served well for over 10 years (used it to rebuild the engine on my
    Triumph over 10 years ago) and I've never had something fall off or
    fail which I've tightened with it, so I _guess_ it must be reasonably
    accurate! :^)
    
    Mark