If you are building a full tool arsenal, you need to know how best to protect them all. That causes you to wonder – how to store a torque wrench the right way. In this guide, we look at how to properly store a torque wrench for short-term and long-term usage.
You must think about proper torque wrench storage if you want to keep the tool in its best condition. Your torque components should always be put back in their original case when it’s not in use. If your torque wrench didn’t come with a durable case, you should invest in one.
Once the torque wrench is in the case, make sure you keep it out of extreme temperatures or around a lot of humidity. By keeping it in a cool, dry location, you ensure a longer life.
What’s the appropriate torque wrench setting when storing? Many people believe that you can leave the torque wrench loaded if you are using it often. After all, if you plan on using it daily, it would be a waste of time to unwind it, especially if you are using the same settings over and over again.
However, it won’t hurt anything to wind it back before storing it if you don’t plan to use it for a few days. In general, all click-style torque wrenches should be turned down before going into storage.
How To Store A Torque Wrench? (Long Term Storage)
You can use a torque wrench storage box if you aren’t going to be using it for multiple weeks. After you put your torque wrench back in its original storage box, you might prefer to put it into something larger for additional protection. If you want to keep the torque wrench with your other tools, go ahead and put the entire storage box in your larger tool chest.
You should never place this tool outside of its torque wrench storage case. As it gets moved around with the other tools in the chest, it could become easily damaged. By keeping it in a hard case, nothing in the tool chest can harm the wrench.
If you plan to store the torque wrench long-term, make sure you dial it back, but not all the way back to zero. If it goes into storage, wound to a high setting can lead to a weakened spring, while going to zero can create wear on other internal parts if there’s any shifting.
What Setting Should A Torque Wrench Be When Stored?
Before you store your torque wrench away, you must understand the reason for turning the setting back. When you store a torque wrench at its lowest setting, you protect it from harm.
Let’s look at both extremes. By storing a torque wrench at 0, the internal components of the wrench can move over time. As this occurs, the accuracy is profoundly affected.
On the other hand, allowing a fully loaded wrench to go into storage will weaken the spring. You don't want to use a torque wrench that's not calibrated correctly, and you don't want to deal with the torque recalibration process often.
Frequently Asked Torque Wrench Storage Questions
Can you store a torque wrench in cold conditions?
You shouldn’t store the torque wrench when temperatures go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. When it gets too cold, condensation can develop, leading to rust inside the tool.
What should you not do when storing a torque wrench?
You don’t want to place your tool unprotected in a larger chest. It also shouldn’t be stored fully loaded, or it could cause the spring to wear out prematurely. However, you don’t want to set it to 0 either.
How do you store click type torque wrenches?
The best way to store a click type torque wrench is to place it back into the case it came with. From here, you can put the smaller case into your tool chest, if you prefer.
How many times should you click a torque wrench?
You want to turn your torque wrench until two clicks occur. This signal tells you that you have reached the right amount of torque. If you go beyond this, you could overtighten the nut or bolt.
Conclusion
Storing a torque wrench doesn’t need to be a complicated procedure. Simply put it back in its original case after adjusting it to a lower setting. These steps ensure it remains in good condition for future use.