Old timer told me I was killing my torque wrench 5 years ago

I used to just bang my torque wrench into the toolbox drawer after every use, never backed it off to zero. A grizzled old mechanic named Jerry at the shop I was at back in 2017 watched me do it and said 'you're wrecking the spring in there, kid, set it to its lowest number before you put it away.' I changed that habit that same day and my current Snap-On has been dead accurate ever since. Has anyone else had a simple piece of advice that kept a tool working for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

terryr461mo ago

My first torque wrench I treated like a disposable Bic lighter just tossed it in the drawer loose. Old Jerry would have smacked me upside the head if he saw that. I still cringe thinking about all those springs I probably wrecked before I learned any better.

miles541mo ago

Backing it off to the lowest setting" also keeps the clicker from wearing out, Jerry knew his stuff.