Sorry for posting this here, but there isn't really a good subforum for tools. Like the title says I'm looking for a torque wrench that doesn't have to be recalibrated often and is reasonably accurate from about 10-100 ft/lbs. Due to this requirement I'm assuming it's going to have to be a 3/8 inch drive. I'm not financially able to spend $200+ on a superior tw, but I am not opposed to spending a little over $100.

This is one that I've been looking at. I'm a little wary of the digital because I don't know a whole lot about them, but seems like a good brand and a reasonable price. Another promising one that I've seen is the Snap-on industrial 3/8" torque wrench. I've also looked at craftsman and a couple generic torque wrenches, but they don't seem as promising as the other two options above.
What are you guys using? I am not an expert by any means on tools, so if you have any helpful advice on the topic of torque wrenches feel free to share it.

 

Buy a few harbor freight ones, and just compare them to each other. If one goes out of whack, then compare them to an expensive one, and toss the bad one.

You'll get coupons for $10 per torque wrench regularly.

How many do you have to go through to pay for a Snap-On? I've yet to have a Harbor Freight one fail on me, but my (relatively) expensive Craftsman failed.

 

I've got a 1/2" Harbor freight torque wrench, but a bunch of local s2k guys tell me that Harbor Freight's torque wrenches are very inaccurate, especially at low torque values. I normally just use the 1/2" for lug nuts and high torque bolts and that's it.

 

I have a harbor freight wrench and it works just as good as my snap on one for my lugs.

I wouldn't use it on engine work but it works well for lugs which some do from 80-90 lbs

I wouldn't hesitate and buy it again.

 

I have no experience with it, but that brand CDI is apparently the same company as Snap On and available over Amazon for 113 bucks for the specs you want, 3/8 drive 10-100lbs

 

I have one of the CDI ones (purchased June 2012): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1WMAW . It's worked great for me. They come with a spec sheet giving you the calibration results.

I would need to actually take it somewhere to check how much the calibration has changed in the last year of heavy use, but it appears to be fine.

 

I wouldn't spend money on a digital one. I have one and never change the setting, lol. I have a smaller torque wrench for things like chassis bolts and the like.

But for wheels and lugs, I'd just get an inexpensive one. You'll get a feel for "around 80-90 ft*lbs" and that'll be good enough, IMHO.

 

The CDI 1002MFRMF you pointed out

or

Husky H3DTW, made in the USA and $75.

 

Another vote for the $10-with-coupon Harbor Freight wrench. Gets the job done, lasts well. Spend another few bucks and get a breaker bar to loosen the nuts instead of using the torque wrench for that.

 

Another vote for CDI from me. I just recently got their 1/2" drive off of Amazon. Comes with a nice case and calibration sheets. You might want to consider a 1/2" drive if using it for lugs because it seems most of the nicer extended lug sockets come in 1/2".

I got one of these (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ie=UTF8&psc=1_ with my CDI torque wrench and I couldn't be happier.