Wiha 28506 TorqueVario-S Torque Screwdriver, 10-50 Inch Pound

We’re required to use torque drivers for electrical installations.These driver handles have the perfect torque range for outlets, switches, contacts, and breakers.They come with a certificate of calibration, which will absolutely save your bacon if an inspector asks to see it. Do not throw that document out if you use these professionally.They’re a great value for professionals. I highly recommend them.

I purchased this torque driver mainly to mount a scope onto my rifle, I know alot of people do not go to such lengths but having crushed a cheap scope tube in the past I was not going to risk doing the same to a scope worth well over a thousand dollars. This tool was just the trick, there are cheaper alternatives on the market but I already own some other Wiha brand tools and they have always been superbly crafted and durable as you can get. This torque driver seems to be no different. Setting the desired torque is very easy, the readout goes from 10-50 in.lb. in 2lb increments, so lets say you want 17 lbs you just set it between the 16 and the 18. which is very easy to do. Setting the torque with the supplied "torque setter" that goes into the shaft of this driver and you turn it just like a screwdriver is much easier and quicker than you might expect. Also the break on this is very tactile and you do not really risk over torquing. The handle is substantial enough to get all the way through the torque range, however 50 in.lbs. is a bit difficult to do with a handle such as this, a T handle would be much easier for anything beyond that. As other reviewers have mentioned if you are going to use the standard 1/4" bits found in the U.S. you will need to buy the matching adapter "Wiha 28581"Comes in a little plastic case that you typically find large drillbits or taps inside of with two little halves that mate together with ribs to lock it in place. Nothing fancy but really what more do you need? The whole kit is not cheap but it certainly feels like a quality tool and a pleasure to use as most people will agree goes for any tool that is well made.

Yes you need the quarter inch adapter, available on Amazon for $20. Works great. Wiha is a good brand and used in many industrial settings. The cheapos on Amazon don't work and will hold up. I ordered one and it was way off. Returned it and spent the money on a wiha.

FYI, only takes metric bits. After several hours of searching for metric bits sets I gave up and sent it back.

IN THE BOX: The torque driver, manufactured in Germany came with a torque adjusting tool, a 4mm (1/8") bit holder (manufacturing locations of both tool are unknown), thefactory cal cert, instructions, a registration reminder, and a Prop. 65 warning label. Items were packaged in an adjustable, clear plastic container.INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: The torque driver is weighty and ergonomic. Use is intuitive, torque value adjustment is smooth, and the driver gives a hearty click when the torque is reached. The tool is serialized as is the certificate, for traceability purposes.CERTIFICATION: The calibration was performed at the Shonach, Germany Wiha Tools LLC factory to the ISO 6789-1 standard. It is calibrated to an accuracy of ± 6% with an Uncertainty of Accuracy of ± .5%, both values are not atypical for torque devices at this price point. ISO 6789-1 recommends calibration be performed every 5000 clicks or one year from first use date. Of course, if it encounters a fairly significant impact, calibration/ and serviceability is warranted.DRAWBACKS: 1) An additional tool to set the torque value is one more tool to track. Integrated setting is my personal preference. 2) Some may find, and others have stated, that not including a 1/4" bit holder not only an irritant but irrational as well. If needed, the Wiha 2851 1/4" bit holder is available at https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-28581-Holder-Adapter-4-Inch/dp/B002R0EI2M/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B002R0EI2M&psc=1. 3) Personally, the biggest problem is the way Wiha designed the increment settings which are only displayed every 2 in. lbs. Additionally, there is no way to ensure the precise setting of the desired torque. While I wouldn’t expect detents on something less than $200, some alignment arrows would have been nice.

At the top of things to like about this tool is that when the desired torque is reached the click is very discernible. The various adapters do add to the usefulness of this tool, especially when compared to the torque tools that I already had that only do sockets. It did take me back a bit to have to use another tool (included) to set the torque on this driver, but it is not hard to do. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are wanting to do odd numbered inch-pounds you do have to estimate as only the even measurements are shown. So far I have used it to mount scopes and mounts, and plan on using it for reassembly of firearms and possible other mechanical uses. To me, it was kind of pricey, but I also wanted to only have to buy one of these.Update (2021): Since purchasing this in 2013, I obtained a different brand torque driver with a very similar torque range - that was part of a scope mounting kit. When comparing the two torque screwdrivers, I really feel the Wiha is the better one. The torques settings of the TorqueVario-S Torque Screwdriver are more precise even with just the even numbers marked on the Wiha, and the break over point feels better to me than the other brand driver. Of course, the other brand driver if purchased by itself is significantly less expensive than the Wiha. I have never been sorry for purchasing the Wiha TorqueVario-S Torque Screwdriver.