The Wrencher

You often find yourself in a situation where you need to fit a screw. You know you can fix whatever needs fixing yourself and don't need to go to a professional for such a minor issue. Or maybe you are just a DIYer who prefers to have his toolbox full of necessary tools. If you find a screw out of place, what you need is a torque wrench to help you tinker with your equipment without fault.

When it comes to repairing things, sometimes you use the wrong tools to get the job done only to notice that all your hard work has gone to waste because using the wrong tool has made the mess bigger than it initially was. Either you end up impairing the function of the equipment that you just tried to repair, or you break it altogether. This is why you need the appropriate tool for the task.

Tightening nuts might seem like an easy task, but you need to be careful with it. Over-tightening or under-tightening can cause damage. Over-tightening can break the bolt or it can be a problem if you need to unscrew it in the future. On the other hand, under-tightening means loose parts hanging around that need to be tightened all over again. Torque wrenches make sure that your task is done properly without any breakage so that you don't have to do the repairs all over again.

Save yourself the effort and time and do it once properly. For fastening nuts on cars or trucks, a torque wrench is the required tool. Go through our list of top 5 best torque wrenches below, which are priced below $60.

#1. TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

Price: $41.10

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The TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench is a top-notch tool that does its job with precision. With a calibration of +/- 4%, it ensures that your screw is fit properly without causing any over-tightening or under-tightening. Not only is the tool easy to use and durable, but it is also very precise and doesn't cause any wreckage.

This torque wrench doesn't require batteries to work and has an all-steel body. It is not built of plastic or any such material that can wear down. It has a mechanical operation in its handle that alerts you with a click, which can be felt and heard, when the right amount of force has been applied and any more is not needed. The high-contrast, dual-range reading scale is easy to read, even when the lights are dim.

This torque wrench is the perfect size for vehicles and gardening equipment repairs. The tool also has a comfortable grip. Its torque is 10-150 ft-lb or 13.6-203.5 Nm and has a ½-inch drive. It has a reversible ratcheting head that fastens in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. It measures torque in the clockwise direction and is a hassle-free tool that is reliable. The TEKTON 24335 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench comes with a user manual to guide you through your task and a storage case to keep it when not in use. 

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#2. TEKTON 24330 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

Price: $33.61

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This TEKTON tool has a 3/8-inch drive and has a torque of 10-80 ft-lb or 13.6-108.5 Nm. This one also works with precision. It makes sure the screw is not too tight or too loose and is accurately fixed. It ensures no damage is caused and the right amount of force is applied. For this purpose, it has a mechanical operation that informs you with an audible click when the preset torque value is reached so that more or less force is not applied.

The body of this tool is not constructed of plastic, which means no wear and tear. It has a full steel build and is durable. The tool doesn't require any batteries to work, saving you from the extra effort of buying and fitting them in every time. The scale is simple and clear to read, even in the dim light as it is a high-contrast and dual-ranging scale.

This one is sized for larger equipment and vehicles and not for small screw-fixing purposes. It is pre-calibrated at +/- 4%, making sure nuts are fastened correctly. It already comes with a storage case so that you don't have to go to the store to get yourself one. With high accuracy and a storage case, this tool is both precise and secure.

It has a smooth grip that fits in hand. Its reverse ratcheting head moves in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions and measures in the clockwise direction. With a user manual that includes instructions on how to use the instrument, the TEKTON 24330 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench is another excellent tool. 

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#3. TEKTON 24320 1/4-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

Price: $43.19

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This one is dual-ranged with a torque of 20-200 in-lb or 2.26-22.6 Nm and is for fastening screws securely in motorbikes, cycles, and other small equipment. It ensures that the parts are secured in the particular amount of tightness required. It also makes sure you don't apply any extra force and for this purpose, it has a mechanism that notifies with a click that can be heard and felt when the preset value has been reached.

Calibrated at +/- 4%, the TEKTON 24320 1/4-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench ensures refinement without having any detrimental effects. The all-steel, no-plastic construction of the tool makes it certain that the tool is durable along with being affordable. No plastic parts mean no wear and tear. Along with being resistant, another plus point found in this tool is that this TEKTON torque wrench doesn't require any batteries to function.

The storage case and operator manual included with the TEKTON 24320 1/4-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench make it an excellent tool. The reverse ratcheting head drives in both directions but measures in only the clockwise direction. It has a ¼-inch drive, and the reading scale is easy to read even in less light as it is high-contrast and dual-ranged. The tool makes sure your screw is fit completely without being too stiff or too wobbly. 

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#4. TEKTON 24325 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

Price: $29.99

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Another great tool with the same amazing features, this one has a 3/8-inch drive with the same precision and accuracy. Very particular in its measurements, it has a mechanism in its handle that sounds a click which can be heard and felt. This click alerts you when the preset force is reached, and no more force is to be applied. This dual-range 120-960 in-lb or 13.6-108.5 Nm instrument is of great use for fastening screws when it comes to cars, trucks, and lawn equipment.

The TEKTON 24325 3/8-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench is also calibrated at +/- 4% for a high degree of correctness in measurements. It causes no harm, breakage, bending or denting of your equipment with how it applies the right amount of force. The reverse ratcheting head drives both clockwise and anti-clockwise and measures torque in a clockwise direction.

High-quality when it comes to performance, this tool is constructed completely of steel with no plastic parts. This ensures it's hard wearing and not prone to damage with time and use. The reading scale can be read off even when the lights are dim due to its dual-ranging, high-contrast scale. This one also comes with a user manual and storage case for your ease and doesn't require batteries for working.

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#5. TEKTON 24340 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

Price: $57.80

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The TEKTON 24340 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench has a ½-inch drive as the name suggests. Dual-ranged with 25-250 ft-lb or 33.9-338.9 Nm torque, it is a very productive tool that fixes nuts of larger equipment and vehicles like tractors. The tool ensures that the screw is fastened at the exact angle with the exact amount of force required. The steel build without any plastic parts ensures that there is no wear and tear and the tool is durable.

Budget-friendly with excellent features, this tool is brilliant. It has a dual-ranging high-contrast scale that enables the reading to be visible even in low light. The package includes a manual and storage case along with the wrench. The head drives in both directions but measures only in the clockwise direction.

This one is also calibrated at -/+ 4% so that the degree of precision is maintained. A click is heard and felt in this one as well so that further force isn't applied when preset torque value is attained. No batteries are required and it is ready to use, making it yet another handy tool.

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That was our list of best torque wrenches below $60. Read on to find more about them. 

Features you need to consider while buying a Torque Wrench

1. Square Drive

You have to be sure that the torque wrench you are buying has the square drive of the size that is needed for the job. Different torque wrenches come in different square sizes. They basically come in 4 sizes, and each size is appropriate for a particular task. The ¼-inch drive is for fixing small nuts and bolts, and the ½-inch drive is for larger equipment repair. The 3/8-inch drive is for moderate fastening purposes, and the 1-inch drive is for heavy equipment.

2. Torque

You need to see what range of torque it can measure and the maximum torque it can measure. Another factor that you need to take into account is how accurately the tool can do its job and whether or not it comes with a storage case. A storage case is necessary to maintain the accuracy and longevity of the device.

3. Direction

Then you also need to check whether the torque wrench can be used in both directions. A good one can be driven and measured clockwise as well as anti-clockwise. You need a torque wrench that has a smooth grip and is of the size that you can handle. Other features that you need to keep an eye on include the weight, length, durability and warranty of the product. Also, it needs to be up to par with the ASME B107.14M-1094 and ISO 6789 standards.

A good torque wrench will have all these features. It would come with a helpful user manual and a storage case. It would be the exact drive required with a weight that isn't too heavy.  It will have a comfy grip and would turn in both directions. It wouldn't be too pricey and would be tough and resistant. It would have a long warranty to make sure you are covered.

Modern torque wrenches have a ratchet mechanism as well, which allows the head of the torque wrench to be driven one way while still on the fastener. Then it is pushed in the opposite direction, allowing the fastening to take place in a small place. These new torque wrenches are steady and sturdy with delicate designs, so they not only work like pros, but they also look sophisticated.