What is the difference between a torque adapter vs torque wrench?
Both of them are used to apply precise torque on bolts and nuts. However, they work in different ways. That is why you are reading this article so that you can know how to apply both of them.
If you are a tools aficionado, you most likely have a torque adapter in your tool collection. You also have a torque wrench in your toolbox, I mean, who doesn’t?
By design, the torque adapter is very different from the torque wrench. While it will eventually help you to achieve the precise torque when you are tightening your fasteners, it does this using a different means than the torque wrench. It is like having two people use different routes to get to the same destination.
You can also use the torque adapter and the torque wrench together. By design, most adapters come with female drives.
Torque wrenches come with male drives. If you have ½-inch torque wrench but you need to tighten a 3/8-inch fastener, you can use an adapter that has ½-inch and 3/8-inch drives.
Why a torque wrench alone is not enough
For your lug nuts, engine bay fasteners and spark plugs, you need a calibrated torque wrench. This tool is designed to make tightening fasteners easy and fast.
It also ensures that you do not exceed the recommended torque level, which can damage the fasteners and the parts you are tightening.
But, look here:
A torque wrench alone is not enough. It can only do so much!
Torque wrenches, especially the highest quality ones, are expensive. In addition, they come in different drive sizes.
Thus, if you are an all-time handyman, mechanic or HVAC technician, you might find it hard to buy different torque wrench sizes.
Right here is where the torque adapters come in. They can help you convert a ½-inch torque wrench into a 3/8-inch drive, without affecting the torque precision too much.
As you can see, you definitely need to buy a digital or other torque adapter.
What is a torque adapter?
As the name suggests, these are devices that “adapt” torque, thus allowing you to convert a regular ratchet wrench to a torque wrench.
There is no particular reason why you should use a torque adapter if you already have a torque wrench in your collection.
However, if you have a regular ratchet head wrench, you might be able to achieve two functions out of the same tool, by using a torque adapter.
A torque adapter can have two drives for versatility
The good thing about using an adapter is that it comes with two drives (please note, here, we are talking about digital torque adapters). The drives will be differently sized to suit more needs.
The truth is that in our day-to-day car and motorbike repair, the most used torque wrench sizes are ½-inch and 3/8-inch.
At times, you may not have the two of them. This is why you need an adapter with two drives, so that you can use it on different fastener sizes.
Since the drives are female, you can use the appropriate ratchet. This is easily the most versatile tool you can have in your collection. However, this comes at a cost, but it is well worth it.
Adapters will definitely affect the size of the torque wrench, mostly by increasing it. Don’t worry though because the torque adapter is calibrated.
Therefore, you can set the torque level of the fastener on the adapter. It will be precise and you will never over-tighten or under-tighten your fasteners.
There are some limitations though with torque adapters. First, they are bulky, so they cannot fit in small spaces, where a smaller wrench head would be more appropriate.
An adapter helps to convert a regular wrench to a measure torque
If you have a regular wrench, you can use a torque adapter to measure torque with it. The first benefit is seeing the torque reading displayed on the screen, so it will be hard to miss the mark.
It has also been designed with buttons that you can use to enter and adjust the torque settings that you want easily.
There are different types of torque adapters. For instance, Motion Pro offers one that can help you reach fasteners in tight spaces.
To use it, you will need a torque wrench, the adapter and the regular wrench – the crow wrench, which is thinner and can reach fasteners in the tight spaces.
To use this kind of adapter with a crow wrench, first, you will have to mount a torque wrench onto the adapter. The adapter comes with a female drive and the torque wrench comes with a male drive, so they should fit perfectly.
You also need to attach the crow wrench in the space provided for just that. Ensure you mount it at right angles to the torque wrench.
There… you will have an extended torque wrench.
But there’s a small problem!
Using a torque wrench and adapter in this way means you extend the length of the torque wrench. However, this affects the torque of the wrench. Therefore, you have to recalculate and set the torque level to match that of the fastener again.
How does a digital torque adapter measure torque?
The torque adapter measures torque in different ways, also referred to as torque modes. One of these is trace mode and the second one is peak mode.
Sometimes, you might not want to apply torque to a fastener in small portions, when you do not want to torque the fastener fully. As the name suggests, in this mode, you are tracing the torque that you are applying on the fastener.
When you need to apply maximum torque on a nut or bolt, you will use peak mode. This one displays the maximum torque that you have applied on the bolt. It will also stop tightening when you reach the peak.
Trace will show you the torque you have applied in real time, at that particular time.
4 most vital things to consider when buying torque adapter
To choose the right torque adapter for your needs, consider the following four things:
Torque Range
Just like torque wrenches, adapters have their torque range. If you have big bolts and nuts, you will need to get a torque adapter with a big torque range. Some of the digital adapters come with a torque range of between 10 and 250 foot-pounds.
An adapter with a bigger torque range is better than one with a small range because you can use it on high and low torque fasteners.
Know the type of fasteners that you will most likely be tightening. You can check their torque rating in the service manual of your car or bike.
Torque accuracy
The main reason for buying a torque adapter is to torque bolts and nuts to precise torque. Therefore, you must consider the accuracy rating of your adapter.
An accuracy rating of +/-1% to +/-3% is good, but if you cannot find such, look for one with accuracy rating of +/-4%.
Always remember that if you use the adapter with a torque wrench, change in length is going to affect the torque level.
One of the most accurate digital torque adapters in the market is NEIKO 20742A. It has a 3/8-inch drive and the accuracy rating is +/-2%.
The size of the drive
First, you can get an adapter that comes with two drives so that you can enjoy more versatility. However, even if you buy one with a single drive, ensure it can work with most of your fasteners.
Since many motorcycle and car fasteners are 3/8 inch or ½-inch in size, you can look for an adapter with a ½-inch and a 3/8-inch drive.
If you intend to be using the adapter with your crow wrench, check the size of the crow wrench first. The good thing is that there are adapters for every kind of job.
For more versatility, consider getting adapters that come in a set, with a few drives of different sizes. Such can help you to do various jobs using the one adapter.
Display and torque readout
It is best to get a torque adapter that has a large display, probably with LED back light. You can read the torque numbers clearly even when you are using it in low lighting.
Today, some adapters come with rotating displays. That way, when you move the wrench, the display is always in sight. This is good for those moments when you want to use trace torque mode, which we explained earlier.
When you have reached the maximum torque you had set, the adapter should give you a cue. Some vibrate, others give a flash of light and others can give an audio signal.
Some of these features might cause the cost of the adapter to go up, but they are very convenient and worth having.
Other features
Consider a digital torque adapter such as the NEIKO 20742A. Since it uses a battery, it has a “sleep” feature, so it goes into sleep mode after 80 seconds of staying idle. It does this to save power.
For recurring jobs, you might love an adapter that has memory, so that you can save some of the settings. That way, you do not have to reset the torque every time you have to do the same job.
Another convenient feature is the carry case for easier storage and transportation. Always store your adapter in the case when it is not in use to prevent contact with water.
Do torque adapters require calibration?
This is the burning question for many tool lovers. After all, the assumption is that if you are measuring precise torque, the tool you are using should be accurate.
However, you will find that many adapters, digital or otherwise do not need to be calibrated. There is no way to calibrate them, so they come pre-calibrated from the factory.
That’s why it’s vital to check their accuracy before buying. Take the one with the highest accuracy rating. Higher accuracy is better.
If you doubt its accuracy, you can always check the fastener with a calibrated torque wrench after using a torque adapter. It will check out okay, mostly.
You should also check with the manufacturer or supplier of the torque adapter, regarding its calibration. This can clear up many things.
Torque adapter vs torque wrench: Differences
Now, most companies that make torque wrenches also make torque adapters. Therefore, many people ask: What is the real difference between the two tools, apart from the way they look?
There are some differences, so we shall look at the most obvious of them here:
Torque wrench requires calibration
While no one is sure whether they need to calibrate their digital torque adapters, everyone is 100 percent sure that they need to calibrate their torque wrench after a certain number of cycles.
Some need calibration after every 1000 cycles or after a year of use, whichever comes earlier. Others say that you should calibrate their wrench after 5000 cycles or once every year, whichever comes earlier.
The design
The design of the adapters is very different from that of the torque wrench. Torque wrenches have a handle/shaft while adapters just have the head.
To tighten your fasteners to the right torque level, you just need the torque wrench. If you are using a torque adapter, you will need to use it in combination with a torque wrench or a regular wrench.
By design, the digital torque adapter has no handle. It just has one or two drives, which can be of different sizes. Therefore, you must use it with another tool.
Check the size of the drive. It can be ½-inch or 3/8-inch. It can also come with two drives so that you can use the same adapter with different sockets.
Uses
Apart from helping you torque fasteners, many people also use the torque adapter to calibrate their torque wrenches.
Taking a torque wrench to a calibration laboratory costs a good amount of money. If you can learn how to do that with your adapter, you will save money.
The reason why tool enthusiasts use the digital torque adapter to calibrate their torque wrenches is because it never loses its calibration. Hardly will the adapter ever need to be calibrated.
You can calibrate the torque wrench using other means, and some like the beam type torque wrench just require a twist to get the pointer beam to rest at zero.
Versatility
Honestly, torque wrenches are more versatile than torque adapters. First, if you get a ratchet torque wrench, you can use it to tighten fasteners in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise directions.
Secondly, a torque wrench with a ratcheting head works through the tightening cycles without you having to take it off the fasteners. This allows you to do a faster job than when you have to take it off all the time.
You can also find tens of different torque wrench types. Manual types are the most common and the most affordable. They are accurate and easy to use.
Electric torque wrenches come in the plug-in or wired design. These are useful for heavy-duty torque application jobs.
We also have pneumatic type torque wrenches, which you can use for heavy torque applications in the construction, petroleum, automotive and metalwork industries.
Its source of power is air, so you will need an air compressor to use it. These types are costly to buy and you will probably need it for DIY maintenance tasks.
There is a torque wrench for everything, including delicate jobs like tightening fasteners on a gun.
Wrapping Up
As we recommended in our article on torque wrench vs impact wrench, even here, we say you need to buy the two of them.
In your quest for the best torque adapter vs torque wrench, the two are different tools and if you work in a garage, you will definitely need both of them.
In addition to buying the two tools, learn how to use them, store and maintain them. That’s how you get the best value for your money.
An adapter will work with crow wrenches to reach fasteners in very tight spots, where the other wrenches cannot access.