I always use extreme caution not to drop my torque wrench. I too have a craftsman ft lb torque wrench. After every time I use it I make sure to take the load off of it and bring it back down to to where it says "stop". I only use it once or twice a month and usually get it calibrated every few years through Sears. I'm so used to working on cars that most times I don't need a torque wrench