Sturtevant torque wrench cleanup and resto

[WastedAgain440]

Hey guys I scored this older torque wrench at a estate sale. It’s in pretty rough shape cosmetically, but still accurate. I want to try and clean up the rust and put it back into service. Not sure if it’s chrome or cad plated and was wondering if evaporust would be best way to go at removing the rust without harming the finish? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I'd keep the gauge face out of it unless you figure on repainting.
I had a nice old butter jar with a rusty lid, set it in evaporust, and all the rust went away. It was one of the better results I've had with the stuff... Till i wiped it and the perfect stamp from under the rust on the lid just wiped off.

 

[WastedAgain440]

Thanks, yeah I was worried about the gauge face. I guess anything would be an improvement over how it looks now. I'll try the evaporust out, will follow up with pictures of the results.

 

[ttpete]

You might want to hit that with some solvent first. Those were plated and part of that could be hardened grease and dirt. Have a look and see if the scale is held on with drive screws. If it is, tap them out from the back side with a small punch and remove the scale before you begin cleaning up.

 

[WastedAgain440]

Thanks I degreased it all well first. The plates look riveted, so I left them on.
I couldn't drive the pin out of the handle either. Soaked some paper towels in evaporust and wrapped in plastic wrap, didn't have a container big enough..

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a smaller Sturdevant beam. 0-50 in-lb. The handle was a molded on 1"clear yellow plastic ball. It disintegrated a long time ago. I have had it many years.There is some peeling plating but it is not rusted. I contacted Sturdevant and they were very nice to send me a handle from the current version of that wrench. They have gotten a lot more elaborate. The ball now has an oval opening and is held on with a pressed in split pin. This allows it to set the exact point where pressure is applied and pivot freely. My old wrench has a 1/4"handle shank and the new one appears to be 5/16" with the drilled hole for the pin. I don't think I want to drill any holes. I checked the wrench back to back with a clicker and it is so small that regardless of where I held that 1/4" stubb handle, the results were the same. I think the pivoting ball is overkill. I will restore it like it was. I debated threading the handle 1/4-20 for the common screw on ball handles but I would rather not. There are press on plastic balls but I could not get one in small quantity. I don't think McMaster Carr even has it. That leaves cementing. I prefer something that will allow the handle to be removed if necessary. Maybe Goop or 5 min. epoxy or even Loctite 401.
P A Surtevant merged with Richmont to become Sturtevant Richmont which became a Snap On company in 2016.
Does anybody remember the Mad Torquer cartoon character used by Sturtevant in the 60's. There were T shirts for $1.50 and decals at 3 for a buck. The coupon is in mid 60's of American Motorcyclist.


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ttpete]

I have a smaller Sturdevant beam. 0-50 in-lb. The handle was a molded on 1"clear yellow plastic ball. It disintegrated a long time ago. I have had it many years.There is some peeling plating but it is not rusted. I contacted Sturdevant and they were very nice to send me a handle from the current version of that wrench. They have gotten a lot more elaborate. The ball now has an oval opening and is held on with a pressed in split pin. This allows it to set the exact point where pressure is applied and pivot freely. My old wrench has a 1/4"handle shank and the new one appears to be 5/16" with the drilled hole for the pin. I don't think I want to drill any holes. I checked the wrench back to back with a clicker and it is so small that regardless of where I held that 1/4" stubb handle, the results were the same. I think the pivoting ball is overkill. I will restore it like it was. I debated threading the handle 1/4-20 for the common screw on ball handles but I would rather not. There are press on plastic balls but I could not get one in small quantity. I don't think McMaster Carr even has it. That leaves cementing. I prefer something that will allow the handle to be removed if necessary. Maybe Goop or 5 min. epoxy or even Loctite 401.
P A Surtevant merged with Richmont to become Sturtevant Richmont which became a Snap On company in 2016.
Does anybody remember the Mad Torquer cartoon character used by Sturtevant in the 60's. There were T shirts for $1.50 and decals at 3 for a buck. The coupon is in mid 60's of American Motorcyclist.


Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Sturtevant was a co-sponsor of the Jackpine Enduro in MI for many years.

 

[WastedAgain440]

Well it cleaned up pretty well, there's still a bit of pitting in the chrome but I'm not too worried. I'm bummed the finish came off the handle, guess it was oxide? May gun blue the handle or just use it as is. This torque wrench was almost a goner destined for the scrapyard, I came across it the last day of an estate sale and picked it outta a bucket of metal the guy in charge of the estate was bringing to the scrapper..

 

[SKI1019]

I like the way it turned out. I'd be proud to have it in my collection. I have a Sturtevant torque wrench I picked up a couple of weeks ago but mine has a 5402 Plvmb label on it. Steve