Torque is the rotational equivalent of force. Torque is measured in units of force multiplied by distance, like pound-feet or newton-meters (abbreviated ft-lb or Nm). Once you’ve got the hang of torque, you’ll be able to tell if your wrench is applying enough force to rotate the object that you’re attempting to turn. If it’s not enough force, then whatever you’re trying to turn will not budge; if there is too much force, this can cause damage to your hand or something else.
So how do we know how much torque we should be applying?
There are several different formulas for calculating the amount of torque that needs to be applied on a given nut/bolt, but all of them rely on knowing how far apart the two ends of the bolt or nut are.
You want to apply as much torque as possible for the nut to rotate without moving, so applying more torque with your wrench will cause less movement (force pulls things in). Less force with less torque would be like pushing a rock up a hill against gravity; it’s hard but not impossible (force pushes down).
That’s where torque wrenches come in handy.
They help you know when to stop tightening a bolt by giving off a click sound when the desired amount of torque has been reached.
Torque wrenches can also be used for undoing bolts by applying just enough force to loosen them without taking them out of whack. They are available in different sizes, from 1/4-inch drive to 3/4-inch drive, so that you can use your torque wrench with a socket, an extension bar, or even an adapter for some extra reach and speed, and accuracy.
A torque wrench isn’t very complicated.
Torque wrenches apply torque (the rotational equivalent of force). They can be used when
changing your car’s oil or fixing your bike in everyday life. A click-type torque wrench is one of the most popular torque wrench types. Here’s how you’d use it:
To set the torque, turn the wrench handle until you’ve reached the correct setting (in newton meters, which is a standard metric unit that measures force times distance).
When you’re ready to use it on a nut or bolt, face towards whichever direction will tighten it and make sure that your body isn’t blocking the click indicator.
Position yourself to have good leverage when applying force against the torque wrench, and start turning! You’ll hear a clicking sound once you’ve reached the desired amount of force.
Remove and reposition yourself so you are facing away from whatever direction will tighten a nut or bolt, then repeat steps 2 and 3 in this direction.
The basic idea behind a torque wrench is that it shows you when you’ve reached the right amount of tension on whatever you’re working with.
How it Works
When you turn the handle of a torque wrench, the tool’s overall length increases due to a spring or pneumatic air pressure meter inside. Your hands are connected to an internal mechanism that translates your energy into power. The torque wrench has a preset torque value that you can adjust by turning the dial.
The main advantage of using this tool is its ability to give accurate measurements without having any other equipment on hand. With just one device, anyone with limited knowledge about mechanics and engineering principles can work confidently and accurately when tightening bolts or screws down onto surfaces such as metal plates or wood blocks.
How a torque wrench works is very simple: You crank on the right handle until it feels like you’re applying more pressure than your hand can withstand. At this point, stop cranking and read the markings on the face of your torque wrench (which are usually just numbers or letters). These will tell you what amount of force is needed to apply for that particular application—and then you can go back and keep cranking until you’ve reached that number.
Visit MaxPro for all of your torque wrench needs.
