Torque Wrenches

How Do Torque Wrenches Work?

Torque wrenches are a tool used to measure and set the correct amount of "tightness" or torque on a bolt, nut or similar piece of work. Torque Wrenches look & operate a bit like a ratchet, they normally have a square drive to mount a socket on. You set your torque wrench to the desired measurement of torque (usually in nm or lb/ft) then, when you use the wrench to tighten or "torque up" the bolt, when it hits the set value, it will click or slip, so you cannot tighten any more & you know to stop. Some large models also break in the middle & digital torque wrenches may beep or flash, digital torque wrenches will usually give a readout also.

So, choosing a torque wrench is easy. Just pick one that has the correct drive for the tool or socket you want to fit & covers the torque range you need to measure for your application.