TIL torque wrenches need calibration more often than I thought

Three years ago I bought a name brand torque wrench and never checked it, figured it was good forever. Last month a buddy who works at a shop in Tulsa showed me his calibration log, and said they send theirs out every 6 months. I tested mine against his calibrated unit and it was off by 12 foot pounds on a 60 foot pound setting. That could have been a wheel coming off or a brake part failing, so now I keep a log and get mine checked twice a year. Has anyone else switched to a regular calibration routine after a close call?

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1 Comment

riley_west10d ago

Honestly sounds like you got a dud or dropped it somewhere along the way. I've had the same cheap one for like 8 years and it's still fine, never even thought about calibrating it. Twelve pounds off is a lot, but I bet most people are nowhere near that.