tool envy...or, all I want for Christmas is a...

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:06 pm

Les Davis wrote:

Read much, mentioned this above. :wink:

Apparently not :oops:

MartynWheeler · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:30 pm **Posts:** 303

Aaron Buckley wrote:

but it also had 4 torque sticks: 80 ft lbs, 90 ft lbs, 100 ft lbs and 110 ft lbs. I tried both of them out on Bryan's C6 before the NCAC and the torque sticks were very accurate.

This is either one of those new-fangled things, or something that never made it across the Atlantic when I was learning to wrench.

Stupid question of the day: What's a torque stick?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:31 pm

Torque sticks look like 1/2" impact extensions that are about 5" long. Each "stick" is mad different diameter shafts that determine the amount of torque that will be applied to the nut, regardless of the torque of the impact gun (in theory).

Thus, I can take my IR 231C gun that is rated at 325# of torque in the forward setting (tightening) at the highest setting, put on a 100# torque stick and 3/4" impact socket and blast the lug nuts onto the Corvette until the cows come home, and it should limit the torque on the lugs to a maximum of 100 lb ft. They do work too.

Anytime you go to a crappy repair shop and they blast your lugs on with 200-300 lb ft of torque, you quickly realize the need for torque sticks. - AB

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:52 pm

Opinions and experiences vary. So, with that said...

I'll never, ever use torque sticks again.

When I was running enduros with my buddy Scott in an ITC Civic, we tried torque sticks during a routine tire change after practice. During qualifying for the ProIT, Scott brought the car back after one lap, having been on the radio to us panicking that a wheel was coming off. It certainly was.

Scott (and the rest of us) was lucky that wheel didn't pop off the car completely. Not only would that have been very dangerous, it was a very difficult to find, 8lb. 13x7" Revolution.

YMMV, just my 0.02, and all that business...

--Karl

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:01 pm

I agree with Karl on trusting them as the only method. I use them to blast on the lugs, then follow up with a torque wrench. If I'm using an impact to take them off, I hate to have to use another tool to put them back on with, like a drill, etc.

That said, I'm not sure torque sticks were all to blame in Karl's case. It could be a failure with the impact output or a wheel cocked on the hub when being put on. - AB

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:24 pm

I know with the Snap-On impact you have to be careful about the waning battery. There's a point where it runs down enough that it can still FEEL like it's hitting hard, but it's really not hitting hard. No idea if that's what happened in Karl's example or not, but it's something to be wary of. I've put a LOT of wheels on with the Snap-On, but we hit them with the torque wrench after. I always know when it's time to change the battery before I can FEEL it in the impact...by how much the torque wrench has to do.

That said, unless you beat the hell out of it (let it hit about three times after it stops spinning significantly), the Snap-On I have pretty much seems to go right to 80 ft-lbs. No torque stick required. So we just make sure and rotate to known charged batteries and use that at pit stops in the 13 Hour. If there's additional "free" time (ie. we're still well under the 2 minute minimum stop length window because of fueling) we'll hit them with a torque wrench, but otherwise we go NASCAR style.

--Donnie

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:56 am

I use a Dewalt 18V impact which is rated at 300 ft-lbs so you have to be careful with it. I do put the wheels back on using it (like Aaron I don't want to have to use two different tools) but I'm careful to only let it 'hit' about twice and then use a torque wrench to finish the job. Also like Donnie's, mine will 'seem' to hit just as hard when the battery is almost dead.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

C'mon guys, let's see your other must-have tools!

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:29 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

C'mon guys, let's see your other must-have tools!

Unisyn?

David Spratte · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:16 am

Karl Shultz wrote:

Chris and Eric have a rechargeable compressor that is the bee's knees. It's fast, reasonably quiet, has lasted for years, and doesn't have a power cord to drag around. I haven't been able to find one, though.

I think I have the next gen of this one. It's great as long as I keep it charged. Sometimes it struggles/slows with getting rear tire pressures to the completely reasonable 65 pound we run, but it's convenience is pretty stellar.

Not much wrenching these days, but once we redo the carport/garage I could see tasting the crack of a compressor and air tools.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I had wanted a set of these ever since I saw Dietrich at Shade Tree Garage using them probably 10 years ago. Found what looks like a decent set, should be here next week:

Swivel metric sockets
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... sa=title#p

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:29 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

C'mon guys, let's see your other must-have tools!

Are we looking at tools for autos only? I've bought a bunch of building/household tools recently:

- Dewalt Framing Nailer (Air)
- Dewalt Finishing Nailer (Air)
- Rotozip Spiral Saw
- Milwaukee 12 Amp Reciprocating Saw

and a few others I can't think of currently. - AB

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:54 pm

Powerbleeder since you can not count on your spouce/significant other to sit in the car at 2 am to press the brake pedal.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:05 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

I had wanted a set of these ever since I saw Dietrich at Shade Tree Garage using them probably 10 years ago. Found what looks like a decent set, should be here next week:

Swivel metric sockets
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... sa=title#p

Now that's cool! I could use something like that for taking out the 325's transmission for a clutch swap. I think my usual universal adapter should do OK, but the space is pretty tight, and have a single-use piece would be a big help--need to see if they have female Torx socket set like that as well...

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:16 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

Powerbleeder since you can not count on your spouce/significant other to sit in the car at 2 am to press the brake pedal.

Yeah, my Motive power bleeder is among the most useful tools I own.

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