paige166•11d agoOG Member

Warning: I dropped $400 on a 'smart' torque wrench and it's been nothing but trouble

Bought one of those digital torque wrenches with the fancy screen and Bluetooth about six months ago for a big job on a King Air's landing gear. Everyone online made it sound like the future. It was a nightmare. The battery died mid-calibration twice, and the app kept losing connection, so I had to double-check every single bolt with my old click-type wrench anyway. I lost a full day of billable time messing with it. Now it just sits in my box. Has anyone found a digital model that actually works reliably, or should I just stick with the basics?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_rodriguez3011d ago

What did you expect from a tool that needs an app? My shop tried a couple digital ones a few years back. They were all fussy about temperature or needed constant recharging. The old click wrench never needs an update and the battery never dies. It just works. I don't see the point in fixing what isn't broken.

ross.christopher11d ago

Those old wrenches are reliable for sure, but they can also be off by a decent amount after some use. A digital one that logs the torque for each lug could save a shop from a comeback if something comes loose. Maybe the tech has gotten better since you tried them.

craig.viola10d ago

Sounds like you got a lemon. The tech is still too finicky for real shop work. I'd stick with the click wrench until they figure it out.