What tool is best for accurately tightening a bolt to twenty-eight foot-pounds?

A torque wrench is specifically designed to apply a precise amount of torque to a fastener, such as a bolt, ensuring it is tightened to the desired specification, in this case, twenty-eight foot-pounds. This tool features a mechanism that allows the user to set a specific torque value, providing an audible or tactile feedback when that value is reached. This level of precision is essential in mechanical and electrical applications where proper tension on bolts is crucial to the performance and safety of the assembly.

Other tools, like a socket wrench or adjustable wrench, lack this capability to measure and control torque accurately. An impact wrench, while powerful and great for quickly driving bolts, often exceeds recommended torque levels and could lead to over-tightening, potentially damaging the fastener or the materials being joined. Therefore, for tasks requiring specific torque specifications, the torque wrench stands out as the most appropriate and effective tool.