Dr. Mac
Use the appropriate diameter of "music wire" and form it to the
desired shape, including winding on a mandrel. The mandrel can be
as simple as a small drill. After final and complete forming stress
relieve it in the oven at about 550 F for 20-30 minutes. The
stress relieving process stabilizes the form and durability of the
spring. Music wire comes from hardware stores and guitar shops.
When you put it in the oven, have you removed it from the mandrel?
Or do you leave it on the mandrel while it “bakes”?
Thanks,
Kay, who has only used Stainless Steel wire for making very tiny
springs, but never had to “bake” them. But may well try this as it
sounds reasonable to do.
Kay, for the larger springs I laid them across the wires of the oven
rack (the mandrel stays in the shop), but for tiny springs you’ll
need to put them on a bit of foil or a cookie sheet. They need to be
in long enough to reach full temperature and I don’t think you can
"over bake" them. This system is for ordinary high carbon spring
steel, a stainless wire may require very different treatment
depending on the alloy.
Neil, the molten lead bath is really the same thing, although with a
melting point of 621F it is a bit hotter. Of course any discussion
of this method must be held in the softest possible voices, we are
surrounded by folks who have been convinced that lead is one of the
most poisonous elements on earth.
Helen, you’re correct. In American English the pen type are
considered compression springs while the case/hinge variety are
torsion springs.
Dr. Mac
In American English the pen type are considered compression springs
while the case/hinge variety are torsion springs.
Thanks for clearing that up David - I didn’t know what they were
called but ball point pen type springs just jumped out at me as
being the wrong type for the application in question. I now know what
they are called. You learn something new every day - especially on
Orchid.
Helen
UK