Spring material.....

sean69

sean69

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Had a guy call about a small flat spring for a revolver, not normally something I would do but it was just a small rectangular flat spring for an antique and the guy was in a bind soooo...

He brought the parts by, took a look at the spring - it was only 0.008" thick (technically 0.008x0.125x1.000") I did not have a spring that thin on hand - nor would try making one ,so we started chatting about ~where~ to find one ... watchmakers, robbing it from something else etc.

At one point I had measured the slot the spring goes in with a feeler gauge. He finally points to the gauge and says "what about that?" (Genius!!)

I wasn't about to cut up one of my expensive gauges for a tiny spring, but seeing as you can KBC a cheap gauge for $30/$40 ... they are pretty "springy" and don't take a set very easily..


Has anyone here ever broken up a feeler gauge for flat springs? How did the springs hold up? (being fully aware that it's probably the quality f the gauge)
 
check with Acklands or other tool supply stores, they sell single feeler gauge that are larger than the ones in sets for cheap, also look at the stainless shim stock, for simple flat springs they work well, if you need to bend it 180 for the trigger spring I have used a putty knife blade, heat to soften form them harden it up,

another supply for spring stock is the bullbog paper clips, if you are lucky the bend can be used, thats what I have in my bulldog and been good for years
 
Tempered spring steel shim stock. Comes in a variety of thickness, pre-blued, I used precision brand stuff at my old job. Never used anything under 0.010 for springs, but the thicker stuff worked great any industrial supply house usually carries it, Travers, McMaster. Fastenal etc
 
A cheap paint scraper, seems it would work, been told by someone who cut "a new spring" from one, to replace a worn grip spring on a very old revolver.

*Edit- I just see now Laurencen' mentioned: putty knife' ..think same idea as I also said. for a couple bucks, it's worth a try. Cheerz!
 
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Arctic said:
I've also used the steel strapping used on pallets for shipping.
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It works but softens with continuous use.

Some of the really small DC powered air compressors have very small valve springs. Those springs/valves used to be available in kits.

I used to have access to those kits, but not since I retired.

The company I worked for picked them up from Ingersol Rand and Atlas Copco.

As mentioned, single blade feeler gauges are available from a couple of different sources, including online. KBC would likely be the best source for most.

I've resorted to shopping at the second hand stores, such as Value Village and the Thrift shop for old wind up alarm clocks. Their small springs are almost perfect and require only minor fitting for the purposes the OP requires.
 
Kinda depends on what you want it for. They can always be thinned and/or tapered. I doubt I have thrown a spring out in the last 30 years. They all get tossed into a box.
 
B_noser said:
Kinda depends on what you want it for. They can always be thinned and/or tapered. I doubt I have thrown a spring out in the last 30 years. They all get tossed into a box.
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Most springs will have a bit of a soft core. Thinning them on the flats reduces their ability to retract to their original position.

I hear you though and I've done similar things in a pinch, especially the revolver hand rotating spring on antique revolvers, which often breaks
 
still think the easiest to find are the bulldog binder clips, they come in different sizes the larger he thicker the material

add the bends they have its easy to get a formed spring from them, dollar store have them, most small flat springs in antique can be fabricated from them, the hammer spring I use a putty knife blade
 
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