Have you ever struggled to open the lid of a jar? If you did, then you definitely appreciate what a torque wrench does. Tightening and loosening bolts or nuts have become too easy since torque wrenches made their entry into the market.
In case you don’t know what a torque wrench is, let me give you a simple answer. It is a simple tool that is used to tighten or loosen nuts or bolts.
It doesn’t matter how tight the bolt or nut is; a torque wrench will do the work with no doubt. Because after the calibration, the torque wrench will let you know the force of rotation or the torque.
That means you will know how much power is needed to tighten or loosen the bolt or nut, and you can set the force on the torque wrench.
However, let’s not waste any more time. If you are curious to know how a torque wrench works, then this very guide is for you. Not only the working process but also show how you can use a torque wrench as well.
How Does a Torque Wrench Work?
Every torque wrench works depending on the reading of the indicator. As I mentioned above, you can set the required torque into the dial, but that doesn’t mean the torque will stop when it exceeds the dialled limit.
When the limit exceeds, there will be some indication. In different torque wrenches, the indication is different. You might hear a beep sound or a click sound, or there could be a kind of light that gives the signal.
However, there are different types of torque wrenches that work slightly differently from each other. Below we have listed some common ones which are widely used. Have a look!
Beam Style Torque Wrenches
In beam-type torque wrenches, the wrench head comes with a pointer beam, and since the wrench is twisted, the beam stays in its place. You will see a scale that indicates the amount of torque that will be applied. There will be a dial as well where you can set the needed torque.
Now to give the needed torque amount, you will need to know first how much torque is needed to loosen or tighten the bolt. To get the right torque analysis, you have to keep the handle unlocked; the handle should remain afloat.
Dial Indicator
This is almost similar to the beam-type torque wrench. It comes with a dial that shows how much torque is being applied. So if you see the torque is low, you can add higher torque according to your need.
Clicker Style Torque
This is a bit versatile. Clicker-style torque wrenches are seen with a spring-loaded lever, and you can adjust the spring lever to achieve the needed torque reading.
There is no complexity in adjusting; all you need to do is twist the handle. If once you get the needed twist, the spring-loaded lever will cut loose automatically. How would you know that the lever has cut loose properly? You will hear a clicking sound.
How to Use a Torque Wrench?
If you are new, using a torque wrench might be difficult for you at the beginning. But with a couple of tries, you get a good grip on it. However, we have shown the basic using process of a torque wrench step by step.
Step 1
The first thing you would want to do after picking a torque wrench is, slide a socket into the wrench that suits the bolt or nut you are going to work on.
With the help of an adaptor, you can easily slide the socket at the opening of the head. There are different sizes of torque wrench, but socket size is the same; it is interchangeable.
Step 2
Once you have slid the socket in, pick the nut or bolt you want to tighten. Put that on the threading for the screw, and then turn the bolt or nut clockwise by your finger so that the threading holds the screw threading.
Keep turning the bolt until it gets hard to turn my finger. Never use the torque wrench to put the bolt on initially.
These tools come with power, and if the bolt or nut is not aligned with the threading, the powerful rotation will destroy the threading.
Step 3
Once the bolt got hard enough to rotate by finger, pick the torque wrench and guide the socket on the nut or bolt. Make sure the socket has taken the nut or bolt head properly.
Step 4
Now rotate the handle of the wrench clockwise, which will tighten the bolt or not. All the torque wrenches come with automatic return functioning, which means you won’t have to reposition them.
You need to move the handle counterclockwise after turning it clockwise. Keep turning the handle clockwise until the bolt gets tight enough.
Conclusion
Torque wrenches come with a high price, and you do not want to waste a good amount of money on the wrong tool, right? Before you purchase a torque wrench, make sure that it is durable and look for the torque limits.
The tool needs to last at least a decent amount of time. Not only the quality but how long the wrench will last depends on the use as well. If you use a wrench in the wrong way, that will harm the lifespan of the wrench.
Do not use the torque wrench on the bolts or nuts until you put them on the threading, and make sure that they are attached to the threading.
Do not use the wrench in the initial rotation of the bolt or nut. Try to rotate the bolt with the finger. When it gets tough to do so with the finger, then use the wrench.
And when purchasing, go for the reputed brands. There will be less chance for you to end up with the wrong tool. However, hope this article helped you to learn how torque wrench works.