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Old 01-22-2008, 11:40 PM   #1 (permalink)
eckoman_pdx
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Review: Torque Wrenchs, Floor Jack, Rotary Buffer

Here is my review on a few products. First we'll cover torque wrenches.

Both brands are "micrometer" click type torque wrenches (they click when they reach the set torque).

Torque Wrench: Powerbuilt 3/8" Drive 5-80 lb-ft:
$42.99 full MSRP



This is a schucks/checkers/kragen brand. I only got it because I needed one, and it was the only place still open.

I got it on sale. It's ok, this one works still, but it's gotten finicky over the years. I've had it for a few years, it still works, but it has a few quirks now. First, once you set the desired torque, you twist this red colored thing on the bottom to tighten/lock it up. This thing doesn't like ti lock anymore. It worked fine when I got it, but now I have to use pillars to lock it down and un-lock it. If I just twist it by hand, it won't lock down right. That's my main gripe. Once or twice in the last few months, it hasn't clicked when you hit the right torque. I move the direction switch on top back to what would be loosen, and then return it, it seems to work fine. I just do that every time before I use it, and it's fine. Not the greatest torque wrench, I don't like it because these quirks annoy me, but despite all that it still does the job. It also came with a nifty little snap in plastic carrying case. Other than the need to use vise-grips or pillars to lock it, it's not that bad actually. I've got my moneys worth out of it.

It has a limited lifetime warranty, so I could probably get this thing replaced if I really wanted to. It is what it is...an inexpensive torque wrench.

Torque Wrench: Craftsman 1/2 Drive 25-150 lb-ft:
MSRP now raised to $79.99



This is my 2nd one. It has a really short warranty (90 days). My first one died in the first few months of owning it. It was a long time ago (several years or more). The lock collar broke and wouldn't lock, making it a big breaker bar. They exchanged it no questions asked. Just had me bring the new one to the counter, noted what was wrong with the old one, and they exchanged it for the old broken one. The replacement has never given me issues.

This one has a different designed lock mech. It's a collar you twist to lock it at the desired torque, after you set it. It still works fine when you un-lock and lock it, and I've had it several years. I've never had a problem with the lock collar on this one. I prefer this one over the above one, as long as the lock ring still works... If the lock ring breaks, it's an big breaker bar. I've never had a problem with this one(my second one, the warranty replacement), and I've had it for years.

Floor Jack: Craftsman Aluminum Floor Jack ("Racing Jack"); Jackstands
Floor Jack: $199 (it's gone up $60 since I bought mine, I paid $139), Jackstands: $19.99



This thing is great. I've had this since the first month they were available. I got it right when it first came out. It's lightweight, which allowed you to carry it if need be, whether it be to a friends, to the track, whatever. Also, it is a low profile jack. It was a 3 3/4"-18 1/2" lift range. It can clear most lowered vehicles I've tried it on, which is a major plus. Also, it's one of those jacks that raises to reach the underside jack point in 1 pump. It raises pretty quick too once you get a load on it. It doesn't take more than few pumps to reach full height. It's full sized, low-profile, the lightweight (maybe 44 lbs), reaches the jacking point in 1 pump, and raises fully in 5-6 pumps. I love this jack, gets placed some won't it portable due to the weight, and has worked for years. I recommend it.

I've read negative things about this jack, but it's been good to me. It even tipped over once and one of the 3 grab handles broke, when trying to jack a car to change flat on a slight slope, and it still works fine, so IDK about the other reviews I read. The most common complaint is oil leaking, or that is got stuck up, and I never had these issues. From reading them, it sounds like people are jacking the car with it, leaving it on the jack and working on it for extended periods. If that's the case, that's the problem. $20 jack-stands and they'd be fine. We all know we're not suppose to use the jack to hold the car up, just to raise it. I always lift the car, put jack-stands under the car, lower it onto the jack-stands, and then remove the jack so the jack-stands are supporting it. The owners manual warns not to use the jack to support a vehicle, only to lift it. I suspect that the failure I read about is due to people using it incorrectly as load barring jack-stands, and not just a floor jack to lift.

I still recommend it, regardless of the reviews on the sears site. Just use jack-stands to support the car once it's in the air, and not the jack-itself...all these people who use it as a load-barring device also and then complain when it leaks or won't lift...they'd of been fine if they used it to jack and not as a load barring device. There's a reason they make jack-stands AND floor jacks. Floor jacks aren't made to support a load for extended periods...


Electric Variable Speed Rotary Buffer: Makita 9217SPC, 7" Diameter, 1500-2800rpm (adjustable)
It is discontinued now. I've seen it sell today for about $199-$210, if you can find it.




This thing is great. It's an expensive pro buffer. I used to use it all the time when I did high end primo mobile detailing. It never smoked, slowed down, got over-worked, or anything. Cutting, buffing, polishing...no matter how much you used it or abused it, it just keeps working. I've never used a cheap buffer, and after owning this one, I never will. I still have this thing. I've had it for over 5 years at least. It still works like it's new. If you know how to use a rotary, combining this buffer with good pads and compound will yield amazing results.

This thing is a beast. Highly recommended, if you know how to use a rotary...if you don't...learn before you try to use one, or you could damage your paint. Only use a rotary if you know what your doing.

Last edited by eckoman_pdx; 01-23-2008 at 12:02 AM..
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