In this guide we’ll look at the best torque wrenches for the UK market.
We’ve compared build quality, performance, design and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Are The Best Torque Wrenches?
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More Detailed Torque Wrench Reviews
Sealey AK6682 1/2″ Sqare Drive Extendable Flexi-Head Ratchet Wrench
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Sealey AK6682 1/2″ Sqare Drive Extendable Flexi-Head Ratchet Wrench Review
The Sealey AK6682 1/2″ Square Drive Extendable Flexi-Head Ratchet Wrench is our selection for best torque wrench in the UK market.
The shaft can easily be adjusted to six different lengths to fit any space available using a quick release locking ring. The system to adjust the torque is also very intuitive and simple. The head is flexible allowing you to move it up and down 180 degrees, and that can be locked into a position to tighten or loosen a bolt that would be challenging with a standard wrench.
The soft grip handle on this 1/2 inch torque wrench also makes it easy to grip and comfortable to use for extended periods.
This is a best torque wrench for bikes, cars and anything automotive and a great option at a reasonable price.
Monzana Torque Wrench 1/2″ Ratchet Micrometer Square Drive
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Monzana Torque Wrench 1/2″ Ratchet Micrometer Square Drive Review
The Monzana Torque Wrench Ratchet Micrometer with 1/2 Inch Square Drive is made from corrosion-resistant chrome vanadium steel to withstand high fatigue and wear. It is tough and durable.
This 1/2 inch torque wrench has a torque range of 28-210 Nm, suitable for most automotive-based work. There is also a reversible ratchet head and safety locking mechanism.
Accessories include a 125 mm extension bar, 3 sockets (17, 19 and 21 mm) and a steel storage box. This is a comparatively cheap torque wrench yet the manufacturing is of high standard.
Norbar 1/2″ Torque Wrench Ratchet with Adjustable 60 – 300 Nm Dual Scale
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Norbar 1/2″ Torque Wrench Ratchet with Adjustable 60 – 300 Nm Dual Scale Review
The Norbar 1/2-inch Torque Wrench Ratchet with Adjustable 60-300 Nm Dual Scale is a more specialist option. Norbar are well-known for manufacturing some of the best torque wrenches. This higher specification torque wrench is manufactured to an accuracy level of +/- 3% which is higher than the international standard set for this kind of tool. It also includes an extremely accurate dual scale with micrometer increments that is backed up with an included calibration certificate.
The ratchet is reversible with a flexible head that allows you to precisely angle the head to reach difficult spots where nuts and bolts are often tricky to fasten. There is also a lock to prevent accidental adjustment of the set torque and a soft grip comfortable handle for grip resistance.
If your work demands higher levels of accuracy then this is a serious option to consider.
Silverline 633567 Torque Wrench 1/2″ Drive 28-210 Nm
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Silverline 633567 Torque Wrench 1/2″ Drive 28-210 Nm Review
The Silverline 633567 Torque Wrench with 1/2-inch Drive is made from chrome vanadium steel, comes with an extension bar, 1/2″ and 3/8″ converters and a storage case.
Chrome vanadium steel is very hard wearing and strong so can hold up under heavy jobs.
This 1/2 inch torque wrench has a range of 28-210 Nm and the 125 mm extension bar and range of converters make it suitable and convenient for most common jobs.
The set also comes with a storage case to protect your wrench and keep all your accessories together, so if you are searching for a cheap torque wrench then you cannot go far wrong with this versatile tool.
Tacklife Torque Wrench 1/2″ Inch Drive 13.6 – 203.5 Nm (10 – 150 lb-ft)
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Tacklife Torque Wrench 1/2″ Inch Drive 13.6 – 203.5 Nm (10 – 150 lb-ft) Review
The Tacklife Torque Wrench with 1/2″ Inch Drive is another great option if you are looking for the best budget torque wrench in the UK market.
This is an all steel rust-resistant wrench with a chrome coating, a spring-loaded adjustment collar, a knurled handle and a dual-range scale (Nm and lb-ft).
The wrench uses a 1/2″ square drive but also comes with a 3/8″ converter and an extension bar so you have the ability to work on a wide range of tasks.
This reversible torque wrench also has a range of 13.6 to 203.5 Nm. The low 13.6 setting is particularly useful for more intricate tasks, and because the wrench is tested and rated to an accuracy level of +/- 4% you can be confident that fixings will not be over-tightened.
This is another versatile yet cheap torque wrench perfectly suitable for a wide range of automotive and other uses.
Torque Wrench Buyer’s Guide
Before purchasing a torque wrench do take a minute to familiarise yourself with the more common torque wrench concepts.
Wrench material
Torque wrenches are normally made of chrome vanadium steel. This type of steel is very strong and can withstand much wear and tear. This enables the head to maintain its shape and make it easier to use.
Reversible ratchet head
The reversible feature of the ratchet head allows you to both tighten and loosen nuts and bolts. Cheap torque wrenches work to loosen bolts at maximum torque, since you can’t over loosen a fixture. However more expensive torque wrenches also loosen at a specific torque, and this is handy when working on more delicate fixings as there is less chance of them being damaged.
Square drive
A square drive is the standard fitting for a torque wrench and the size of your drive will determine the size of fixings you can work it with. However you can purchase adaptors that attach to the square drive so they can work with different size nuts and bolts. The most common sizes for a square drive are 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ and 3/4″.
Torque range (Nm)
Torque is measured in metric and imperial units, or Newton-metres (Nm) and lb-ft / lb-in respectively. Medium size wrenches typically produce 28 – 210 Nm.
Adjustable shaft length
The best torque wrenches have adjustable shaft lengths. This is a very useful feature since the wrench can be adjusted to size for more awkward to reach areas or to reach things high up. By lengthening the bar you also create more leverage making it easier to tighten bolts or nuts.
Extension bar
Extension bars allow you to increase the length of the handle to access more difficult spots. They also create more leverage to allow you to create more force and tighten fixings more efficiently.
Converter
Converters attach to the square drive to change its size. If you have a ½” square drive and a fixing with a 3/8″ head a converter can adapt the square drive to fit. Converters are always a useful accessory to have handy.
Sockets
Different sockets can be attached to the square drive and again these are useful accessories, and the wider the range the better.
Box
Torque wrenches often include a box. This is there to protect the wrench and keep it in good condition. It is also convenient to store extension bars and different heads and sockets there.
Micrometer-scale
This is a measurement of torque setting accuracy. Different manufacturers produce torque wrenches with different tolerances and this leads to different scales of accuracy. Accuracy is measured as +/- x %. Anything less than +/- 5 % is acceptable, +/- 4 % is good and +/- 3 % is excellent.
Soft grip handle
The best wrenches come with a soft grip handle for extra comfort, support and improved control.
FAQs
What is a torque wrench?
A torque wrench is designed for securing nuts and bolts to a specific tightness. Torque is a measurement of how much force is required to make an object rotate. Torque wrenches allow you to set a certain amount of torque before you start tightening, so you can confidently tighten a fixing knowing that you will never over tighten or under tighten it.
How do I use a torque wrench?
The most common type of torque wrench is called a click adjustable torque wrench.
Torque wrenches normally have locks that need to be unlocked before you can start using the wrench. This lock is normally located at the bottom of the handle and can simply be twisted to loosen it. Once loosened the handle should spin freely.
Once the handle is unlocked you can start to dial in the torque setting on your wrench. Most torque wrenches have a simple system to determine the amount of torque you are using. You should be able to align the line on the handle with the line of the desired torque setting on the graph. You may need to twist the handle to move it up or down the said graph until the line on the handle lines up with the line on the graph for the torque setting you require.
Once these handle lines are aligned with your desired torque setting you can re-tighten the lock and are ready to go.
You can then use your torque wrench just as you would a normal wrench, turning it to tighten a bolt or nut. Once you reach the desired tightness for your chosen setting the wrench will click and there will be no further tightening.
