Anyone working in construction or manufacturing, or in sectors like marine industries, never wonders why a torque wrench is important. You may wonder, though, about buying vs. renting a torque wrench.
How do you know when owning your own tool makes the most sense, and how do you decide what’s the best torque wrench to buy? And if renting is the best option, how do you know where to rent a torque wrench?
Keep reading for a brief overview of the factors to consider between buying vs. renting a torque wrench.
Pros of Renting a Torque Wrench
If you’re here, you’re asking yourself, “Should I rent or buy a torque wrench for my project?” Ultimately, only you can answer the question, but here are some advantages renting offers:
Greater Short-term Flexibility
If you only need a torque wrench occasionally and briefly, renting may make sense. Why spend money buying a tool that’s usually gathering dust in a storage locker?
Lower Expenses
The overall cost of renting is less than purchasing outright. These savings can be an especially big advantage on a tight budget.
Increased Access to High-end Models
When you rent, you can choose from a wide range of high capacity torque wrenches and other specialized models using the latest technology, without worrying about purchase price.
No Maintenance or Calibration Worries
When you rent, ongoing maintenance costs aren’t your responsibility. Rental services for torque wrenches provide tools already calibrated and ready for use.
Cons of Renting a Torque Wrench
On the other hand, renting a torque wrench isn’t without potential drawbacks:
Ongoing Rental Fees
If you need torque wrenches on a regular basis or for extended lengths of time, repeated rental fees could add up. You might end up paying more in the long run than if you’d bought the tool instead.
Limited Availability
Rental services for torque wrenches may not always have the exact tool you need at the exact time you need it. How would you handle your need for a beam-type or hydraulic wrench if your rental service doesn’t have one in stock? What if they can’t ship it to you on your project’s timetable?
Additional Fees
Rental services may impose fees beyond the standard rental cost. These fees could include cleaning fees, calibration fees, accessory fees, and even a small administrative fee for processing the rental agreement. Then there are fees when things go wrong: damage fees, late fees, and fees for lost or stolen tools. While these fees are reasonable costs of doing business, think about whether your budget can absorb them.
Possible Inconvenience
Even if you only need a torque wrench once in a blue moon, having to rent one each time could prove inconvenient. When you buy your own tool, however, you know you’ll always have access to it at a moment’s notice. You also don’t have to worry about usage limits or additional fees.
Choosing Where to Rent a Torque Wrench
If you’ve decided to rent, start by finding a torque wrench rental service with a wide enough inventory to fit your needs and budget.
Tools from established manufacturers are often the best options for budget-conscious renters because they provide a balance of affordability and performance.
Evaluate a wrench’s torque range to ensure it meets the specifications of the fasteners you’ll be working with, particularly if you anticipate working with various sizes of bolts and nuts.
Look for options that provide calibration certificates, and ensure the wrench can maintain its accuracy. Some renters may offer torque wrench calibration services, which is a plus if you need to verify the tool’s precision during your rental period.
Finally, find out whether the renter provides maintenance or inspections before renting out the tool, as well as what to do in case of any issues during your rental period. Quality customer support can make your life much easier should problems arise.
Long-term Benefits of Buying a Torque Wrench
Initially, buying a high capacity torque wrench could seem costly. But over time, buying could cost less than renting.
With regular use, you quickly recoup your investment. Those who work frequently on vehicles or other machinery, for instance, are likely to find their torque wrench pays for itself quickly.
Unlike rental tools you must return by specific dates, a tool you own is always at your disposal, including in emergencies and unexpected repair jobs. Having a reliable tool ready at any moment streamlines your workflow and saves you time and effort.
In addition, owning your own wrench eliminates repeated rental fees. If you choose the best torque wrench to buy, you’ll find it offers precise and accurate readings for years.
Whether You’re Renting or Buying, Maxpro Has the Torque Tools You Need
Your particular needs and budget are the determining factors when you weigh buying vs. renting a torque wrench. But whichever option you choose, know that Maxpro Corporation has you covered.
We’re a leading distributor of pneumatic, electric, battery, and hydraulic bolting, torque, and tension tooling equipment and related products. We stock a wide selection of RAD® torque guns—the most precise, most advanced, and safest torque wrenches on the market—for both rental and purchase.
If you’re renting, we can offer you Project Rental Packages of any size. We calibrate all our bolting equipment to meet the stringent ISO/IEC 17025 standards, and inspect all tools before every rental so you can be confident they’ll reach you in excellent working condition.
Our rental terms are flexible, with affordable daily, weekly, or monthly options for industrial applications. Our packages include the option of craft training and onsite Subject Matter Expert technical support to help you make your project go as smoothly as possible.
And if you’ve decided to invest in buying your own tool, we’ll work with you to ensure you’re choosing the right torque wrench for your needs.
In addition, our mobile, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited torque wrench calibration service can calibrate a comprehensive range of manual, battery, pneumatic, electronic, and hydraulic torque wrenches, as well as torque transducers and multipliers, and pressure gauges. You’ll never have to wonder about the accuracy of your equipment from us.
To find out how we can meet your torque wrench rental or purchase needs, contact us online or call us at 888-315-0175.
