Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

Improvised Torque Wrench

Improvise a torque wrench with a luggage scale.

Improvised Scale Torque Wrench

If you don't have a torque wrench available - or if you want to check the readings of the one you have - it is easy to improvise by using a standard wrench and a scale as indicated in the figure above.

The moment - or torque - can be calculated

T = F a                                       (1)

where

T = moment or torque (Nm, lbf ft)

F = applied force (N, lbf )

a = length of the wrench (m, ft)

Note! - Most scales in the SI unit system measures weight - force due to the acceleration of gravity - in kg .

The reading from the scale can be converted to N by using

F = m g

where

m = reading of the scale (kg, lbf )

g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2, 32.17 ft/s2)

Example - Measuring Torque with a standard Wrench and a Luggage Scale - readings in kg

The reading of the scale at the end of the wrench is 10 kg . The length of the wrench is 0.3 m . The moment exerted can be calculated

T = (10 kg) (9.81 m/s2) (0.3 m)

= 29.4 Nm

Example - Measuring Torque with a standard Wrench and a Luggage Scale - readings in lbf

The reading of the scale at the end of the wrench is 20 lbf . The length of the wrench is 6 in . The moment exerted can be calculated

T = (20 lbf ) (6 in)

= 120 in lbf

= 10 lbf ft

" Luggage Weight - Wrench " Online Torque Calculator

Scale Wrench Torque Diagram - SI units

Scale torque wrench diagram - SI units

Download and print Scale Wrench Torque Diagram

Example - Torque Settings for a Cylinder Head

The torque settings for a cylinder head in a car engine are specified to 30 Nm.

According to the diagram above with a wrench with length 0.2 m - the scale readings should be approximately

14 kg

Scale torque wrench - example diagram

Scale Wrench Torque Diagram - Imperial units

Scale torque wrench diagram - Imperial units

Download and print Scale Wrench Torque Diagram

Related Topics

  • Fasteners

    Bolts, nuts and threaded rods - torque, tension and loads.
  • Mechanics

    The relationships between forces, acceleration, displacement, vectors, motion, momentum, energy of objects and more.

Related Documents

Search

Search is the most efficient way to navigate the Engineering ToolBox.

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

3D Engineering ToolBox Extension to SketchUp - add parametric components to your SketchUp model

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with older versions of the amazing SketchUp Make and the newer "up to date" SketchUp Pro . Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp Make/Pro from the Extension Warehouse !

Translate this Page

Translate this page to Your Own Language .

About the Engineering ToolBox!

Privacy Policy

We don't collect information from our users. More about

We use a third-party to provide monetization technologies for our site. You can review their privacy and cookie policy here.

You can change your privacy settings by clicking the following button: .

Citation

This page can be cited as

  • The Engineering ToolBox (2014). Improvised Torque Wrench. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/torque-wrench-luggage-scale-d_1909.html [Accessed Day Month Year].

Modify the access date according your visit.

3D Engineering ToolBox - draw and model technical applications! 2D Engineering ToolBox - create and share online diagram drawing templates! Engineering ToolBox Apps - mobile online and offline engineering applications!

Unit Converter

















































10.30.8

.