Halfords Advanced 3/8” Torque Wrench Review

[@rev-you1975]

Great review. I bought one a week ago. Prior to watching any videos (impulse buy). I’m really pleased with mine. Enjoyed your review. Thanks for sharing.

[@garage_tales]

Hey there. Thank you for your comment and apologies for not being able to reply sooner. Glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

As an aircraft mechanic we use stahlwille digital torque wrenches, we have a stahlwille calibration tool onsite where the tool gets calibrated before every job, we all have to go over to Germany for training on how to use and calibrate these tools. It is connected to a computer during use that logs each and every bolts torque for recorded maintenance purposes and let me assure you the price of these things are insane. £100 is not bad in my opinion, Some critical bolts on the larger aircraft can cost £20,000 a piece and are X-rayed before application, torqued and logged forever in the maintenance manual.

[@garage_tales]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, torque control can get vertical expensive, but for what I use it, I think it’s just right. Not too expensive, but decent quality. I also take it in to work and check it regularly. Thanks again! Vlad

[@MW_1981]

Just a note on this, for anyone that may have just purchased a Halfords Advanced torque wrench. The manual tells you to relax the spring to its lowest “usable” setting and NOT all the way out or even to zero. So this wrench should be stored at 12nm to keep it as accurate as possible.

[@garage_tales]

Sounds fair 🙂

[@akoslengyel4712]

Great review mate, I can't wait to see the test results! Also, the timing for releasing this video is unbelievable. I spent the most part of last night looking at torque wrenches including the ones from Halfords. I think you just convinced me to invest more money in a good quality tool.

[@garage_tales]

Glad it was helpful for you mate. And glad to see you’re gaining confidence to work on your bike! :) Regarding the test results, I’ve left a comment in the video. The tool was inspected and it’s spot on! :D

[@peterlloyd6337]

I just bought the Halfords tourque wrench 60 to 300 NM model and I have never used a torque wrench before. Read the instructions but still wanted reassurance before I first use it i.e. the instructions did not tell you which way to turn the knob on the end of the handle to raise the NM reading - I was worried to know as it says DO NOT go below zero value when unwinding and it comes packaged rightly at zero value so wouldn't want to turn the knob the wrong way to go below zero!. Your video gave me that reassurance - a big thank you as it was so clear having watched you use the wrench. Peter

[@garage_tales]

Hey Peter. Thank you for your comment. Glad to hear the video was helpful! Enjoy your new torque wrench! All the best! Vlad

[@garns8878]

Nice review. I'm going to buy the 1/2" model-200 after watching this as mine is a goner

[@garage_tales]

Glad ot was helpful! Get it on a trade card if you can :)

[@garns8878]

@@garage_tales luckily I have trade card and works out at about 72£

[@garage_tales]

@@garns8878 That’s a pretty good deal in my opinion :)

[@colonynaut1627]

omg I have your Helix cutting mat - it's great.

[@garage_tales]

Yes, they are good. I had that one for years. Thank you for your comment! :)

[@thesaltycabbage]

Great review... you've just sold it to me 👍🏼

[@garage_tales]

Hi Nick. Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you found it helpful :)

[@GCS88]

So a question about this when you are tightening something (clockwise) is it strictly a one way turn or can you turn in reverse? hopefully this makes sense thanks in advance

[@garage_tales]

If I understand correctly, you’re asking if you could torque down left hand thread bolts? Yes, you can. You just push the square drive through to the other side.

[@ImranKhan-ej3fy]

Do you still use this torque wrench? Any issues since buying? Also how much do they charge for checking calibration or do they charge at all? Thinking of buying this. Thank you

[@garage_tales]

Hey. Still use it fairly frequently. Still works like new. There are obviously better, more expensive ones out there, but for the money I’d say it’s pretty hard to beat. At specially if you get it on a trade card. I don’t think Halfords check them. There are labs where you can take them in, but no idea how much they charge. I just take it in to work and check it for free 🤷‍♂️

[@richardburnssmith1884]

Were do you take it to have it checked for accuracy

[@garage_tales]

I just take them to work. But there are companies out there that will do it, or there are ways to check it yourself.

[@one-off3264]

Hi Mate, How long is this torque wrench? I am torn between this and a Laser digital wrench however the laser one is quite short so I think you would have to pull quite hard on it to get the maximum value...

[@garage_tales]

Hi there. The total length without the metal clip on the back is about 328mm. Distance between the centre of the ratchet and roughly where you grip it (middle of your fist) is about 240mm (you could go further back). That means an estimated force of 250N (about 25.5 Kg) to reach 60Nm. Which doesn’t seem to much for me.

[@one-off3264]

@@garage_tales great thanks

[@jal1797]

Halfords makes torque wrenches for Norbar or the opposite?Or they belong to the same group?

[@garage_tales]

I don’t think Halfords makes anything. Norbar makes the torque wrenches that are rebranded as Halfords Advanced.

[@monacocross4241]

no saund no biping >?

[@garage_tales]

Hey there. From the torque wrench? Just the mechanical click.

[@cocoplops4982]

Is this one just for right threads? Wasn’t sure if it was no directional

[@garage_tales]

Hey there. Thanks for the question. You can use it both ways, you just have to push the square through to the other side as I show about 5 minutes into the video.

[@cocoplops4982]

@@garage_tales thanks for the reply mate 😁 silly me hahahah

[@cocoplops4982]

@@garage_tales I don’t suppose you can recommend a 2-20 nm torque wrench to go with this? Thanks again

[@garage_tales]

I have a draper one which was quite cheap. I would like a better one, but to be fair, it does the job, it’s checked yearly and it’s accuracy is within speck so I guess it’s pretty good. When the time comes to get a new one, I’ll probably go for the Norbar tt120. I also like the sykes motorq and I actually have one that needs some repairs (probably damaged by miss use) and it’s quite nice. But I can’t understand why they didn’t put a ratcheting head on it, so the Norbar probably wins over it because of that.

[@cocoplops4982]

@@garage_tales thanks again for the reply mate, is the Norbar one also for left and right threads?

[@Nyle95]

I'm looking to purchase a halfords torque wrench for working on my car. What size would people recommend that would cover the majority of jobs? Thanks.

[@garage_tales]

I work on bikes mostly, but quite a bit on cars too. I use my 3/8 one the most, followed by my 1/4 and last the 1/2. If I’d be working only on cars, maybe I’d get a 1/2 first and later a 3/8 when you can.

[@Nyle95]

@@garage_tales Thanks

[@garage_tales]

Like someone else said, try to get a trade card. You’ll get pretty good discounts on tools.

[@Nyle95]

@@garage_tales I've got one mate, thanks. Have mostly bought car cleaning products up to now but ordered to 200pc socket set yesterday. Can't wait to get it.

[@Nyle95]

@@garage_tales From what I can see they have 2 different 1/2" drive ones with different ranges so I'll have to do some research and see which one covers the most common settings.

[@Nyle95]

Do you know who makes the socket sets for Halfords?

[@garage_tales]

I’m not sure about the sockets, but I believe a lot of their advanced tools are made by Apex. They manufacture tools for a lot of well known brands, including Blue Point and they own brands like Gearwrench, Sata, cleco, weller etc.

[@Nyle95]

@@garage_tales Thanks

[@davekelly7184]

Just bought the very same wrench, just not sure what the rotary figures mean at the bottom though. Any ideas?

[@garage_tales]

Do you mean the numbers in the that turn with the knob from 0 to 5? They are Nm. Just to help you dial in the torque you want. Just add it you the last figure your cursor passed. I’m sure it will make sense once you start to use it :)

[@davekelly7184]

@@garage_tales Correct sir... But why does it 0-5Nm it when I have the Nm scale on the left? Is it a visual aid showing the incremental settings between the main numbers? For instance, from 20Nm to 25Nm in 0.5Nm increments? (ie 20.5,21,21.5 etc'?)

[@garage_tales]

@@davekelly7184 Yep, that’s correct. Just to help you with the smaller increments. I would imagine people with eyesight difficulties appreciate that feature a lot :)

[@jordanwilcox4723]

Get a trade card for what you paid for that i can get the 300Nm one for £84 also lock it back in cause it clicked on the same spot

[@garage_tales]

I’d love a trade card, but I don’t have an actual registered trade, so I doubt I’ll get one.

[@jordanwilcox4723]

@@garage_tales just put anything as i don't think they ask for proof

[@garage_tales]

@@jordanwilcox4723 According to their website, they will ask for proof when you collect your trade card from the store. I might register online and see if they’ll actually give it to me or not.

[@jordanwilcox4723]

@@garage_tales what is it you do

[@garage_tales]

@@jordanwilcox4723 I work as a design engineer.

[@tomthompson7400]

you could buy a Britool for that money , and an AVT Britool torque wrench will outlast you , and me .

[@garage_tales]

The britool is slightly more expensive and without the lifetime warranty. It doesn’t seem like britool are as good as they used to be so not sure if it’s better than a Norbar. 🤷‍♂️

[@tomthompson7400]

@@garage_tales some serious second hand bargains to be had on flea bay ,,, I bought five torque wrenches last month for a new project , I bought Gedore who now own torqueleader .