Anyone else here get fed up looking for obsolete springs or have light strikes with modern guns and just build your own? It's not as hard as I once thought. Here's how I do it.
I torched out the top leaf (thickest one) from the back axle of a 94 chev 3/4 ton truck. Likely any leaf would work but this has worked very well for me and it's what I had. Take a grinder with a zip cut disk(1/16) and cut a sliver off the leaf slightly larger than the spring u are making. Grind to near desired size and file the rest ensuring that the lines do not go against the flex of the spring. Ensure all file marks go with the flex of the spring on all 4 surfaces. Now begin bending. Use vice grips to hold and heat with propane till soft. Take your time and don't get frustrated, it's only iron. Once the shape is close enough trim to length. On the lock springs I've made, there was a pin type tit attached to the spring. Mig weld to build up from the spring and shape with a dremel to make these type of spring. Now to heat treat. I use canola oil that was used for making some fries lol. Take some tie wire and wrap your spring to hold it. Using a propane torch ( or several depending on size of spring) bring spring to as red hot as propane will take it and quench into your oil. I do this on my stove under the kitchen fan as outside is always too cold or windy. After a min in the cool oil draw some temper by turning the torch down low and ignite the oil that is on the spring. Allow it to burn off entirely, dip in oil and burn off oil again. Now u can buff off the oil residue with wire wheel. For v springs, compress in a vice and when they come back they are set. And that's it, no special equipment or time consuming procedures. I can make a spring from start to fitting in the gun in about an hour and I've done it this way enough times to be confident enough to share this method with my fellow nutz. Message any questions or post here.
I torched out the top leaf (thickest one) from the back axle of a 94 chev 3/4 ton truck. Likely any leaf would work but this has worked very well for me and it's what I had. Take a grinder with a zip cut disk(1/16) and cut a sliver off the leaf slightly larger than the spring u are making. Grind to near desired size and file the rest ensuring that the lines do not go against the flex of the spring. Ensure all file marks go with the flex of the spring on all 4 surfaces. Now begin bending. Use vice grips to hold and heat with propane till soft. Take your time and don't get frustrated, it's only iron. Once the shape is close enough trim to length. On the lock springs I've made, there was a pin type tit attached to the spring. Mig weld to build up from the spring and shape with a dremel to make these type of spring. Now to heat treat. I use canola oil that was used for making some fries lol. Take some tie wire and wrap your spring to hold it. Using a propane torch ( or several depending on size of spring) bring spring to as red hot as propane will take it and quench into your oil. I do this on my stove under the kitchen fan as outside is always too cold or windy. After a min in the cool oil draw some temper by turning the torch down low and ignite the oil that is on the spring. Allow it to burn off entirely, dip in oil and burn off oil again. Now u can buff off the oil residue with wire wheel. For v springs, compress in a vice and when they come back they are set. And that's it, no special equipment or time consuming procedures. I can make a spring from start to fitting in the gun in about an hour and I've done it this way enough times to be confident enough to share this method with my fellow nutz. Message any questions or post here.
