spring steel

[DTCoffin]

What be a good source of spring steel for patchbox springs etc?

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Lawnmower pull cord return spring.

Old broken bandsaw blades.

 

[Herb]

I use hacksaw blades. Or you can use steel banding for lumber or steel fence posts. I heat and bend the hacksaw blades to shape. They are soft enough that you can bend them slightly to make a tighter fit. They cut easily with Dremel cutting discs. They also make good inletting chisels.

 

[mikemeteor]

I use hacksaw blades.

+1.
For a little heavier spring, i cut strips from an old crosscut handsaw.
cost a buck at auction and has a lifetime of springs in it.
/mike

 

[crockett]

Dixie Gun Works sells a variety of spring steel in an assortment of thicknesses for a nominal price.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Tines from an old lawn rake. They are thick and springy.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[rich pierce]

+1, they are perfect for the job, plenty strong.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hi,
Old band saw blades make fine spring stock.
A good source are blades from sawmills, also a business that sharpens knives and sawblades will have all kinds of short pieces.
One old blade will make a thousand springs.
Good luck.
Old Ford

 

[Vaino]

I use .015 thick spring steel that I buy from MBS...it forms easily and it's hardened by heating to a bright red and dunked in motor oil. Polish all surfaces and heat a 3/16 thick plate from below w/ a torch and hold the spring on the plate until a gray blue color and then dunk in motor oil again. Each of the areas of the spring undergo the color change...especially the bends......Fred

 

[DTCoffin]

Great, thanks guys,thats the kind of answer i needed. i have access to all that junk ! :grin: . I do already use the hacksaw blades for small chisels and scrapers.

 

[Sperit de bois]

I have use old wind up clocks,the BIG BEN's are good .Springs of different sizes inside..Just right for many uses.
Yard sales!!!!!!!

 

[John Taylor]

I have used springs from almost any source. Old car springs get used a lot especially the torsion springs from the trunk lid for firing pins and screws. A few weeks ago I needed a spring that was .022" thick and had to buy it from MSC at $34 for about 10'X1". For light spring, old tape measure springs. Recoil starter springs from lawn mowers are handy also. Hard part is annealing and heat treat. Most of the time I will cut what I need from a larger spring using a carbide end mill.

 

[flashpanner]

discarded measuring tape return springs. I keep the 3'-6' tapes because for the narrow blade, it has a narrow return spring. Just the right size for door springs.

 

[MJMarkey]

never throw an old hacksaw blade away. A lifetime supply of patchbox springs and small chisels. :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

Short lengths of a hacksaw blade also can be made to form excellent punches for cutting the groove for wire inlay.