Sources for springs?

Purchse a selection of music wire, and wind your own.

Jim

"Proctologically Violated©®" wrote: (clip) Man, now I save every spring from every pen I come across....(clip) Any idears? Sources?? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you keep that up long enough, you'll eventually have too many. Since you can NEVER have too many springs (or parts of any kind) that is where you want to be. In the meantime, check places like Harbor Freight, where they sell boxes of assorted springs.

In time of need, a spring can be worth MORE than it's weight in gold (literally.)

Go to your local thrift store and get an old typewriter. Take it apart.

Ackshooly, how could I forget??

MSC/McMaster have a very good, nicely organized spring selection, for example .120 diam .012 wire x 1": 10 pack for $3.61--what you'd pay for one spring from Century. I've bought many a pack from MSC, but thru my local supplier awhile ago, so it just slipped my mind. Not encyclopedic like Century, who offers specialized stuff, diff. alloys, SS, etc., but more than complete for most apps.

Winding my own springs vaguely crossed my mind, and I spose it isn't that hard, once you learn the ins/outs, but ahm just not up to it right now!

I try the hardware store first. Auto stores generally stock springs for carburetor return applications, and of course brake springs which are very heavy and strong.

for very small compression and extension springs, the VCR parts repair places have kits available. I think Electronix online is one source.

Yes, I agree with the other posts. When running across springs from broken or spare equipment , I usually salvage them out and put them in my collection. never throw away a spring which you happen to come across. I have used my collection and it saved me on more than one occasion.

Once I had to get a brake return spring for a mobile home brake assembly. It was weird. most brake return springs are asymmetric; i.e. the body of the spring is not centered with respect to the ends. This one was symmetrical. Couldn't find it. I did finally break down and purchase the McMaster Carr Spring bender. I think it was about $150, but it is my insurance when I cant find the spring I need. It makes left and right springs, compression and extension of variable pitches. They also have a neat tool which makes the loops on the ends of the springs. Make sure you get a good pair of music wire cutters and different size spring wire. If the mandrel you need isn't in the assortment which comes with the bender, one can be gotten from drill rod, or ultimately turned on a lathe. I believe springs can be wound on a lathe also but I don't have experience with that as of yet.

Or sewing machine. Especially good if you want to build a rod winder.

Pete Keillor

For itty-bitty ones, I have an assortment from Brownells. They also have an assortment of detent balls that's been handy.

They also have longer lengths of coiled spring, whack what you need off the stock and form loops or grind ends. Dremel cutting disks shine for that. Multiple sizes of music wire, too, if you're into winding your own.

Used to be Eagle Hardware had a whole wall of springs, since Lowe's took them over, you're lucky to find anything. I use one of the few real hardware stores that's left in the area for a start on spring shopping, either Ace or True Value, they're usually Century branded. I was able to find the exact springs that I needed for my Lion miter trimmer fences there, also the return spring for my MEC Super Sizer.

Stan

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Check out the following URL:

It will tell you everything you might ever need to know about making springs.

If you aren't up to it now, bookmark it for later.

Enjoy, DoN.