Spring vices: do I need more than one?

[GAHUNTER60]

Do I need a second vice for the frizzen spring when I disassemble a lock to brown all the parts?

 

[EC121]

I use the regular T shaped vise. It doesn't take much to release a frizzen spring. Usually just a little pressure will put enough slack in it to turn the screw.

 

[M. De Land]

I have never used one for any of the work I've done on various lock types and have yet to damage or break a spring removed with narrow nosed ,leather padded vice grips. I prefer slim nose adjustable vice grips with leather padding in the jaws. They are universal and you don't need several different size vices to fit the various spring sizes incountered.

 

[kje54]

Do I need a second vice for the frizzen spring when I disassemble a lock to brown all the parts?

I have a spring clamp but typically only use it for the main spring, mostly though I use $2, one inch C clamps I bought from Harbor Freight.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I’ve got lots of vices, at least my wife says so, but I don’t have a frizzen spring vice. I’m told that they are very handy but have got by with a ground and polished pair of vice grips that I adjust to just squeeze the spring the least amount nessasary.

 

[Art Caputo]

The swivel type lock vise(TOTW) that I own works with either the main spring, or frizzen spring. Note the location of the jaws on the spring for easy replacement.

 

[oldwood]

I use two of the kind Art describes only because I'm lazy. When doing lock work , just keep both springs clamped so it's easy and quick to reassemble.......oldwood

 

[BJHabermehl]

Do I need a second vice for the frizzen spring when I disassemble a lock to brown all the parts?

I have two, but it’s not recommended to leave a spring compressed in a vise any longer than necessary. They are handy for lock disassembly. When cleaning and tuning etc. I would relax the spring for any thing that took overnight or longer. Most of the locks I’ve worked on required the vise applied at half cock. And with a bit of manipulation you can remove the spring. You can still break a spring useing a spring vise, so I try not to load the main spring past half cock with the vise. BJH

 

[bud in pa]

I have t tool for removing frizzen springs. It has sort of a hook on one end that fits over the curve of the spring, and the other end is about 3-4 inches long. Can't remember who made it, i bought it from the make some years back at Dixon's.

 

[GAHUNTER60]

So, when I disassemble my lock to brown the metal, which can take a couple of days, what do I do with my mainspring and frizzen spring? I've read that I don't want to want to leave them compressed for that long in a vice. But I've also read that I don't want to remove the mainspring from the vice.

What do I do?

 

[pooch156]

Did the "vise grip" thing once and I broke the main spring. Drat! Ordered a new main spring . . . and a spring vise. Have yet to break another one.

 

[pooch156]

So, when I disassemble my lock to brown the metal, which can take a couple of days, what do I do with my mainspring and frizzen spring? I've read that I don't want to want to leave them compressed for that long in a vice. But I've also read that I don't want to remove the mainspring from the vice.

What do I do?

Take it out of the vise. You'll be fine. When re-installing compress the spring only enough to install it in the lock assy.. No brainer.

 

[sdilts]

Get one of theses from Tom Curran, they're much better than the T-shaped. It works with all spring sizes.
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[toot]

vice grips will break your springs. get the right tool, a SPRING VISE. they are sold every where.

 

[rickystl]

In the distant past, for frizzen springs, I would use needle nose vise grips. It works, but not the best/recommended tool. Hard to beat a frizzen spring vise like this one. Use to be the only place that sold these was Dixie Gun Works. They are a bit pricey. Made in England and all case hardened. They were always on back order. But more recently, someone else sells a similar one at a more reasonable price. But can't recall who.

Rick

 

[GAHUNTER60]

You weren't kidding about Dixie being a little pricey! They want 55 bucks for that little feller.

Fortunately, I found the domestic one you mentioned from Muzzleloader Builders Supply for $16. It looks almost identical to yours for 39 bucks less.

 

[Pete G]

Leaving a spring in a proper vise for a couple of days won't hurt. Incidentally, locks were not bowned on original guns, they were left grey. I like phosphoric acid to mimic the antique look. Sold as rust remover at the hardware or marine supply store.

 

[M. De Land]

vice grips will break your springs. get the right tool, a SPRING VISE. they are sold every where.

That's pure propaganda ? Used correctly with minimal compression (which is infinately adjustable on vice grips tools) , leather pad both jaws and you have a very good tool that is practically universal for most any spring removal. Course some folks can break an anvil with a feather so it depends on the finesse of the one using the tool.

 

[M. De Land]

In the distant past, for frizzen springs, I would use needle nose vise grips. It works, but not the best/recommended tool. Hard to beat a frizzen spring vise like this one. Use to be the only place that sold these was Dixie Gun Works. They are a bit pricey. Made in England and all case hardened. They were always on back order. But more recently, someone else sells a similar one at a more reasonable price. But can't recall who.

RickView attachment 52590

The vice pictured works mechanically the same as a vice grip.

 

[Flinty Scot]

Thank you, Sdlits, for posting that spring vice. It works well on all size springs I've tried it on. More importantly, the maker also offers a couole of tools I want but didn't know where to find.

I had one of the traditional ones, but couldn't find it when I needed to strip a lock (used a Vicegrip but scared myself. (It was a historic lock so a replacement would take time and cash to replace).

I took a gunsmith's advice at a Trade Show and bought one of these vices.
Never regretted it