F. A. T. Wrench

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Borrowed a friend's Wheeler Engineering F. A. T. torque wrench, it worked as advertized, and I have come to the realization that I need one.

Positive and negative input appreciated.

Also, I'm open to buying a non-abused used one.

Michael
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I bought the whole kit and also use it to line up scope rings [especially the Leupold brand] and to do some light lapping when necessary.
I wish I would have bought it a lot sooner.
 
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Rootmanslim

Banned
It would be a FAR better tool if the bit holder were magnetic and a snugger fit. PIA when bit falls out or tool to bit sleeve falls off when you move among screws.
 

Gary

SE Kansas
I really like mine, but one little caveat, the bits provided are a tad brittle. I broke off the corner tips of a couple of them without much effort. Kinda strange for a Torque wrench. So, I have a good set of bits that are interchangeable and work very well. I have no idea if the Torque readings are accurate, but it's nice to know I'm in the ballpark on getting it right.
 
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462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Thanks everyone, I'll have to get one ordered fairly soon.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Yep, put it in the shopping cart after the last post.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Rootmanslim.....just stick a little 1/4 inch rare earth magnet on the bit holder tube and it will stay put. Or if you can find one small enough to fit inside the tube, a dab of devcon or weldbond will hold it in place.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I found one on sale for 40 bucks delivered and bought it.....have not used it yet. If it is even close to torque specs and consistent I will be pleased. I have always been suspicious of the torque setting of my fingers with an Allen or Torx wrench.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I think the biggest surprise is how much more we have been tightening those little screws by hand than is necessary.

mine come with a little paper showing at such and such a setting this is the weight we recorded.
airc mine is like 1 or 1.2 [inch] lbs off from the crude scale on the side.
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
I was going to purchase one, but they just seemed like there was too much plastic and not enough quality for the price.
I agree with Fiver regarding the use of too much torque.
I can't remember how many flat head scope base screws my Dad boogered up by over tighten them. I'd try to tell him he was over tighten them, but in his mind, they couldn't bee too tight.
I bought a 1/4 inch Tekton torque wrench and mounted a 1/4 inch socket on it with a magnet inset.
I don't install screws with it, just do the final torque with it.
I use a Brownells, Magna-tip Super Set screwdriver set for the bits.
Best thing that has happened is the conversion to torque/star heads from the flat headed screws.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Yes, fiver. I specialized in threaded fastener engineering at work, and was really surprised how
many engineers know very, very little about threaded fasteners, thread engagement requirements,
and torquing.

Amen on how little torque is necessary, comared to what "feels right".

And another one. Anyone guess the axial breaking strength of a #8 screw made of good alloy, nothing miraculous
but no cheese, like grade 8 level? I had to prove some of this stuff to engineers in our test lab, too.

I have a regular 1/4" drive torque wrench, have used it, but it is mighty inconvenient for scope screws!

Bill
 
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Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Lifetime warranty, claimed +/- 6% accuracy claim.


This looks a bit more attractive to me.

6-48 max torque is 28 inch-lbs. That is 7 lbs on a 4 inch allen wrench, or 4.66 lbs on a 6 inch allen wrench.
Think of a gun with a 4.6 lb trigger pull as all that is needed on a 6 inch allen wrench.
:oops:

Bill
 
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462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Bill,
That Husky wrench looks to be more ergonomic than the fat F. A.T. wrench, so I'll have to visit the local Home Depot. I have a feeling that, for the $15 difference, my inner (and mostly uncompromising) frugalness will have much to say.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
"Frugal"? :rofl:

I am hard wired to be CHEAP. OTOH, my retirement advisors have informed me that I
will not live forever....:eek::eek:, and at current rates of expenditures....basically they say,
stop being so damned cheap.

I am trying, but can't quite get the hang of it after 60 years.

Bill
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
My parents were adults during the Great Depression (they married late in life), and my father was the second of 10 kids, so I was taught to spend my money wisely.

For sure, figuring out how much retirement/Socialist Security income to spend versus the many decades you hope to live can cause one to lose sleep.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
meh.
your just gonna end up giving it all to the hospital or nursing home anyway, use it up.

my goal in life is to die with 1 cent left in my bank account, that's more than I come into the world with.