OzFclass

Making springs is easy(ish)

Step 1: Go to a music shop and buy guitar or piano string wire of the correct diameter

Step 2: Understand spring-back means your bending mandrel will be smaller than your final diameter ie, if you want a 0.25" ID spring you will wind it on a 0.20" mandrel

Step 3: Bend the wire into the required shape (note, a cordless drill works ok for round springs).

Step 4: There is no step 4 ie no heat treat. Clip the ends, grind if required, done.

Step 5: If at first you do not succeed, try again or bend version 1.0 into shape.

I love DIY and innovation, even as simple as remaking a spring.
I would have struggled probably trying to modify a coil spring. Never would have thought to use a guitar or piano string. Thanks for sharing! Have locked that into the memory bank.
Aussies are an innovative bunch but I see less young people trying to build or repair items. If they can't buy it online it doesn't exist and if something breaks, throw it out a get a new one.

At OPMs I always enjoy checking out what everyone is using and anything different always catches my eye.
Dave

For "Music wire" you actually go to hobby shops, they keep it in straight length's, various diameter's.

tachyon wrote:Making springs is easy(ish)

Step 1: Go to a music shop and buy guitar or piano string wire of the correct diameter

Step 2: Understand spring-back means your bending mandrel will be smaller than your final diameter ie, if you want a 0.25" ID spring you will wind it on a 0.20" mandrel

Step 3: Bend the wire into the required shape (note, a cordless drill works ok for round springs).

Step 4: There is no step 4 ie no heat treat. Clip the ends, grind if required, done.

Step 5: If at first you do not succeed, try again or bend version 1.0 into shape.

Yes and for small springs i used to use drill bits as mandrels