MAKING SPRINGS

[fred v]

I just watched this video and this is a simple way to make our springs. He is making something else but the principle is the same.

(5) making springs YouTube

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Yes, there's other ways of making torsion springs; I made one by a block of word onto which I nailed a couple of tacks, and managed to wind a fine piano wire around, forming a coil ( and it worked!)🌝

[David Barnert]

2 hours ago, fred v said:

I just watched this video and this is a simple way to make our springs. He is making something else but the principle is the same.

(5) making springs YouTube

 

Yeah, but how do you make that T-shaped gadget he’s handling with his right hand?

[Alan Day]

For spring tension increase, just lightly hammer along the length of the brass wire.

 

Edited November 3 by Alan Day

[Chris Ghent]

Don’t use brass, it is the least durable option.  Phosphor bronze is at least 5 times more durable.  

[Alex West]

8 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

Don’t use brass, it is the least durable option

Even half-hard brass?  I've seen Wheatstones & Jeffries from over 100 years ago still with the original and perfectly functional brass springs...

 

Alex West

[fred v]

Another one showed up. Just for ideas guys.

 

[Bob Tedrow]

Here are links to two videos on the subject of spring making. 
 

I made them a few years ago, the video quality is poor. You’ll forgive me. 
 

I’ve used .016” music wire for the last 20+ years 

 

Spring making 

 

 

http://hmi.homewood.net/video/test2.MOV

 

http://hmi.homewood.net/video/springbender.MOV

[Chris Ghent]

On 11/6/2025 at 9:37 PM, Alex West said:

Even half-hard brass?  I've seen Wheatstones & Jeffries from over 100 years ago still with the original and perfectly functional brass springs...

 

Alex West

On the other hand whenever I get asked to replace a spring it is always a brass one.  

[Alex West]

6 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

On the other hand whenever I get asked to replace a spring it is always a brass one.  

Fair comment

 

Alex West

[Chris Ghent]

The “phosphor bronze lasts 5 times as long” I got, I think, from Machinery’s Handbook, a substantial source.  

[d.elliott]

On 11/6/2025 at 10:37 AM, Alex West said:

Even half-hard brass?  I've seen Wheatstones & Jeffries from over 100 years ago still with the original and perfectly functional brass springs...

 

Alex West

Alex,

 

Whilst the elasticity (Youngs Modulus) of phosphor bronze and half Hard brass are of a range, PBronze is considerably better in fatigue performance, I am not sure but this probably reflects brass's age and work hardening characteristics.