I just wound a new longer-lasting(?) spring for a garden spray nozzle from 1/16" type 312 TIG rod, which works but is considerably stiffer than the 0.050" rusted steel spring it replaces. The Airco catalog gives the next size down as 0.045", on spools and in tubes. AFAIK the spooled wire isn't as stiff as the straight rod.
Does anyone know if that stainless straight rod or another size or type that's available in small quantities is hard enough to coil into a spring? The alloy shouldn't matter as long as it doesn't rust out as easily as the factory springs.
--jsw