Originally Posted by
DaveSSS
If you can't manage to do a decent job of tightening these bolts without a torque wrench how are you ever going to make an adjustment out on the road? It pays to know what a moderate torque feel like, using a short handled hex wrench or a 4-5-6 Y-style wrench.
I'll try to be a little more tactful but I also disagree with this. For a new mechanic the only reasonable way to learn how the proper torque settings is to use a quantifying (i.e. torque) wrench and see how tight various torque settings feel. After some experience, you can dispense with the wrench and go on feel and past learning. Sheldon Brown used to poo-poo torque wrenches too but he had decades of experience.
There is a "rule" mechanics use; "new mechanics overtighten small fasteners and under tighten big ones." The number of postings we see about loose crank arms and bottom brackets supports this.