The immediately discernable difference between a hefty, high quality, pleasure to use, "comfortable in the hand", highly accurate (it comes with a certificate of accuracy), beautifully made tool such as this torque wrench and one made by a little known, offshore manufacturer is truly the difference between night and day. This CDI 1/2" drive torque wrench is quite likely more tool than I need to work on my car (a Porsche), simply snugging down the engine oil drain plug and re-attaching my road wheels. But that said, I wanted to be absolutely sure that the wrench I would be using to perform these simple but important tasks would be of the highest quality and accuracy while still being relatively affordable. This wrench most certainly meets all of those requirements and more.
Yes, I could have purchased a less costly Asian made wrench, but truth-to-tell, I wanted the assurance inherent in using an American made tool from a well known and respected manufacturer. CDI, being a subsidiary of Snap-On (far too expensive for a shade tree mechanic such as myself) gives me that assurance. If I have a complaint, and I do, it is that the numbers embossed on the shank of the wrench are a little difficult to see and therefore to interpret unless the torque settings are adjusted directly under a strong light. Not a major hassle, but my (very) old Snap-On torque wrench was easier to set than this one.
That minor inconvenience aside, this is a wonderful wrench. It is undoubtedly the best tool in my tool box now that my old Snap-On wrench has been sold. I fully expect it will serve me as well as that one did for many years to come.
