Sears item #03482141000 (See the product info HERE (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03482141000&tab=description&bidsite=CRAFT#tablink).)
(http://content.sears.com/data/product_images/034/82141/03482141000-dlv.jpg)
Normally $20, now $15. The online page (see above link) says that the sale ended on 3 July, but the flyer I just received sorta indicates that it's still on.... :dunno:
I plan to buy one. I can get it for $13.49 through July 21 because I signed up for a free Craftsman Club membership about a year ago. I get monthly sale flyers, and 10% off the items in the flyer. Anyway....
This meter has several features that none of my previous meters have had:
* Measures up to 600 volts in both DC and AC
* Audible continuity beeper (
Yes!)
* Tilt stand (
Yes!)
* Built-in battery tester (1.5 V and 9V)
* Rubber holster (??)[/list:u]It has manual ranging (not auto-ranging), but I'm used to that. Kinda prefer it, actually.
Don't think you'll ever need one? You may be right. But this would be a handy unit to have around when that weird electrical problem strikes, whether it's on your bike, in your car, in your house wiring, your automatic sprinkler system, or whatever.
OK, 'nuff said.... :oops:
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EDIT: Well, maybe not QUITE enough.
Using the manufacturer's part number from the Sears page, I found that this is a repackaged MN25 model from Extech Instruments (http://www.extech.com). To see where it falls in their full line of multimeters, see this page (http://www.extech.com/instrument/categories/multimeters/subcategory/multimeters.html). Or click HERE (http://www.extech.com/instrument/products/alpha/MN25.html) to go directly to the MN25 info.
I must say, I prefer the Craftsman color scheme.... :roll:
So, like a dummy I go down to Sears for lunch today, waving my "Craftsman Club" flyer. The nice saleslady pointed out that the Club pricing doesn't kick in until 11 July. (Just like it says on the flyer ...DUH!)
Oh well.
But while I was there, I spotted another article that I kinda wish I had gotten instead of the one I have:
(http://www.bbburma.net/Temp/100_1535_CraftsmanTorqueWrenches.jpg)
My torque wrench is like the larger 1/2" drive unit on the left. I have never needed to go above about 80 Newton-meters, so now I wish that I had something like the unit on the right. I don't think a 3/8" drive wrench like that was on display when I bought mine, though. :x
EDIT: You can't really tell from the picture, but on the smaller wrench each line on the Newton-meter scale is worth 5 units, whereas on the larger wrench each one is worth 10 units. In other words, the smaller wrench is more accurate within its smaller total range.
I think I have that meter's non-digital grandad, only problem I had was constantly blowing out the bleeper but it was a cheap enough part otherwise a sturdy piece of kit. I think I got it from a mail order firm "Maplins" with their name on it.
Looking at the wrenches reminded me of buying a torque driver, a very small bit of kit for radio cases, circuit boards and the like cost me a fortune, sixty-five notes about fifteen years ago.
I ended up buying BOTH items today, plus a 3/8"-drive 6mm allen socket.
I'm waiting on a new pair of brake rotors, and I REALLY want to get the "disc retaining bolts" torqued down right. Since they require a 6mm Allen wrench, I had all the justification I needed for both the 3/8"-drive torque wrench ("more accurate!") and the socket ("more torque than the standard Allen wrench"). So, while we were out shopping for "wife stuff" today ... I got 'em.
(No, I didn't have to justify them to the wife - they came out of my allowance! ;) )
Thanks for the tip on the meter. I've never had one. Only a test light.
Also, had a 3/8" socket crack when torquing the head on a GS recently; finished the job using a 1/2" drive.
It was a "cheap/old" socket. Still, I was a little surprised.
Good point! The 1/2"-drive equipment is certainly more sturdy. The dumb thing is that sometimes I have to use a 1/2"-to-3/8" coupler on my 1/2"-drive torque wrench. The 3/8" end of that poor coupler is bound to shear off one of these days ....
The small wrench will come in handy where the large one was just TOO long and got in the way. But I'll still be using the large wrench when appropriate.
Quote from: Kerry....The dumb thing is that sometimes I have to use a 1/2"-to-3/8" coupler on my 1/2"-drive torque wrench. The 3/8" end of that poor coupler is bound to shear off one of these days ....
If you got a Craftsman 1/2 to 3/8 adapter, so what if it breaks. Love the lifetime warranties.
Quote from: KerrySears item #03482141000 Multimeter
Normally $20, now $15. The online page (see above link) says that the sale ended on 3 July, but the flyer I just received sorta indicates that it's still on....
I got mine tonight (7/12/04) for $15. The store I went to had hundreds of them. Thanks again for the tip. I've always wanted my own but never got around to it. I'd always end up driving back to the office at night to borrow theirs. :)
Now I'm off to play with it!
OS
Wow these things have realy come down in price, www.maplin.co.uk are advertising at four pounds ninty-nine pence. Buy-one-get-one-free.
Good price on the tools. Lots of people don't realize that a moving beam torque wrench is more accurate and repeatable than other types. Don't ever leave 'em layin' around, they go out easier than other types. Hey Kerry, as an engineer you should know the smaller scale doesn't make the wrench more accurate, merely more readable. :) Lovin' the GS500, lovin' this forum and lovin' all you do for it.
C.......
Quote from: cernunosHey Kerry, as an engineer you should know the smaller scale doesn't make the wrench more accurate, merely more readable. :)
Huh? I must not be the engineer I thought I was. :) Care to explain? Perhaps I'm using the word "accurate" ... inaccurately? :roll:
You choakin' right? Accuracy is the ability of the measuring instrument to duplicate the measurement. Repeatability is the ability of the instrument to achieve that same measurement over time and/or with different application of measured quantity. Reproducibility is the ability of that instrument to duplicate that same measurement with a different individual using the tool. In other words the torque wrench used may be very readable as to how much torque is being applied, but if it is out of calibration it will have an error of accuracy. The nice thing about moving beam torque wrenches is they are basically a spring. Any spring that is never taken to the elastic limit or the material itself is not taken to the yield point will last almost indefinitely. 8) By the way Kerry, have I ever told you how much I adore the GS500, this forum and you?
C.......
Quote from: cernunosAccuracy is the ability of the measuring instrument to duplicate the measurement. Repeatability is [...]. Reproducibility is [...].
Input received!
By "duplicate the measurement" I assume you mean "correctly report the dimension being measured" rather than the alternate reading which sounds more like the definition of
repeatability...?
Let's assume that both wrenches are calibrated and "accurate", etc. What I'm after is a term that expresses the higher likelihood that a given torque value can be applied by a human using the 3/8-drive tool, because of the fact that the "finer" scale is more "readable".
Is there such a term? :dunno:
Precision. Love is applied to my GS500 and equates to how I feel toward this forum.
C.......
Ah! The scale on the 3/8"-drive wrench offers greater precision than the one on the 1/2"-drive wrench.
Thanks!
Now all I have to capture is the fact that said "greater precision" is mitigated somewhat by the shorter length of the 3/8"-drive wrench.... :x
Sigh.
One year later ...
... and the same meter will be on sale shortly for the same price!
(http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/SearsMultimeterOnSale.jpg)
Oops - I just noticed the phrase "Member price". Well, if you don't mind signing up for a free "Craftsman Club" membership, and getting monthly sale flyers, and special deals (and NO hassles :thumb: ) ... you can still get this price July 27-30.
Quote from: KerryOne year later ... and the same meter will be on sale shortly....
If you didn't figure it out over the past year... the rubber holster is the "body condom" that surrounds the meter instrument. It takes the hit everywhere except the face when the item is reasonably dropped.
OBTW, the Craftsman Club rules have now changed. They
used to give the discount for
any Craftsman item during the club sales days.
Now it only applies to items in the sale flyer. :x
It is a great price for a versatile meter. Sears has the most variety of meters of any of the big chains. Really!
I have that meter and love it....I think it's been in my tool collection for a year now....no problems at all with it...very durable. :thumb:
Quote from: starwaltIt takes the hit everywhere except the face when the item is reasonably dropped.
Unfortunately, all of my drops are highly unreasonable...
Torque wrench is on my B-day wish list. I like the kind that click when they hit the preset torque.
Quote from: RoadstergalTorque wrench is on my B-day wish list. I like the kind that click when they hit the preset torque.
This is the torque wrench that I have:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00944596000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&cs=e1Sucks that it does not come with a case but there is one available, which I am going to get:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944027000Free shipping rebate too!
message from your neighborhood tool snob
just a friendly reminder to everyone that going cheap on torque wrenches can be costly in the long run. There have been a couple posts here about the cheap ones with the pointer. If you are getting a torque wrench, spend the money and get some like dgyver has at the very least.
Your torque wrench should also come with a certificate of calibration verifying that it does, in fact, give you accurately torqued bolts
remember Inch Pounds are different and many of the 3/8" or 1/2" drive torque wrenches can only go so low. Make sure you buy the range you'll use the most if you are only buying one
QUESTION: How low DO the Craftsman "clickers" go? When I bought my torsion-beam version I went into the store intending to get a clicker, but a few (admittedly imprecise) tests in the tool aisle told me that they wouldn't click down at the low end of the torque range required by the fasteners on the GS. (I brought along a list of torque settings gleaned from my repair manuals.)
Can anyone that has real-world experience with a currently purchase-able model give some feedback on this aspect of it?
As far as the torsion-beam versions (pictured on the first page of this thread) go, the 3/8" model will handle the entire range of printed torque values that I have come across. For some of the higher ones you may wish you had the longer 1/2" jobbie....
PS - I don't mean to leave non-Craftsman torque wrenches out of the discussion. I just don't have any experience with them. But the NICE ones cost a pretty penny, don't they? And so far (on the GS anyway) I haven't felt the need for super precision yet.
Quote from: RoadstergalTorque wrench is on my B-day wish list.
Can I borrow it? :)
The butter bolts (aluminum fasteners) on the GS are probably mostly inch pounds. 6mm major diameter threads are NOT strong, especially if they are aluminum. If you don't have a good feel with your 1/4" drive ratchet or tiny wrenches, a small torque wrench will be extremely valuable.
Think about how many people break their oil studs or whatever ham-fisting it. I just had to extract the clamping bolt for my clutch lever because the thing just broke when I went to loosen it. Just twisted right off. I had probably made it too tight without breaking the thing
I worked my Camaro for a long time and worked in a couple shops around here so I have Mac torque wrenches. I have the 1/4" drive one with inch-pounds, and the 3/8" and 1/2" drive ones for ft-lb's. Converting to inch-pounds is a matter of converting feet to inches, easy stuff as long as you do it in the right direction ;)
If you want a torque wrench that will last a long time, check out the Mac stuff, Stahlwille (excellent brand), or any of the professional lines of tools. I actually like my buddy's Stahlwille's (think Shtall-villey) because you can change the torque settings with a slider instead of the standard ring and collar.
I used my torque wrenches a lot on the car, head bolts, intake manifold bolts, oil pan bolts, exhaust manifold/header bolts, wheels, et cetera. The bike has all kinds of stuff, triple clamps, all the tiny 6mm bolts, wheel nuts, oil filter, valve cover, handlebar clamps, sprockets, and so-on
I bet a lot of those low torques you brought along are converted from N-m and are actually supposed to be in inch-pounds. You'll be hard pressed to find a torque wrench that goes below 20-25 foot pounds. That's where the inch pounders come in. Hope this helps