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When Goldilocks plundered the bear's home in search of food, she was looking for a porridge that was "just right." The same principle applies to using a torque wrench. By allowing you to dial in a torque setting that's just right rather than too tight or too loose, you ensure that your parts are tightened to the exact specifications that are designated by the engineers who designed the part. From orbital rockets to the head bolts on your Ford, applying the proper torque to your parts ensures that they won't wobble apart, leak or explode, unless that's what your orbital rocket was designed to do. The tool does this by providing a gauge that lets you know how tightly a fitting is seated. All you have to do to use one is to attach the proper drive tool to the end of the wrench, slide it over the fitting, and then turn the handle. The torque wrench gauge will move, registering the amount of force you are applying to the handle to turn the fitting. Once you have reached the required amount of torque for your specific application, you simply discontinue applying pressure to the wrench, and just like that, the fitting is properly seated. There are a number of different types of wrenches for measuring and setting torque on the market, most of which differ only in how they register the amount of torque being applied to the fitting. For example, in the case of the orbital rocket, you may find that you require extremely tight tolerances so that the rocket doesn't come crashing back down onto you. For this, a digital-readout wrench is an absolute necessity. These can be set to read torque down to the hundredths of newton-metres. If, on the other hand, you find yourself replacing the blown head gasket on your offspring just can't seem to figure out how to get the clutch engaged, then one of two types of basic mechanical wrench are more than adequate. Standard mechanical torque wrenches use two steel rods to provide a reading. The first, thicker rod, does the actual turning of the fitting. A second rod is attached to the head where the fitting is being turned. At the opposite end of this rod, there is an arrow and a dial. The arrow points to the torque reading on the dial as you turn the wrench and tighten the fitting. Another of this type of tool uses a tube rather than the pair of steel rods. The torque reading is registered on either a digital readout or on a spinning dial encased in glass. These wrenches are enclosed, and their strength is that they are much more resilient to damage caused by regular usage. If you use your mechanical wrench on a daily basis, eventually, the steel will weaken, and you will no longer get an accurate reading. In any case, torque wrenches are useful for any of a number of jobs around the garage, including vehicle repair, and no self-respecting petrol head should be without one. Screwfix is the UK's largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we despatch tens of thousands of parcels every week for next day and weekend delivery to tradesmen, handymen and serious DIY enthusiasts all over the UK. To view the full range of torque wrenchesfrom Screwfix please visit the website here - www.screwfix.com/c/automotive/wrenches/cat810104
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