Springy steel

This topic has 14 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 March 2017 at 13:34 by ronan walsh.

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6 March 2017 at 23:04 #8601
Robin Graham
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@robingraham42208
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6 March 2017 at 23:04 #287526
Robin Graham
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@robingraham42208
Hi. I want to make a springy bit of steel to use in a trigger mechanism I've thought up for an auto-stop on a lathe. Think something like the strips of steel on the back of penknives, but it would be be straight when strained, then snap to a bent form when relaxed. Any advice on what type of steel and heat treatment I need? Never tried anything like this before!

REgards, Rob
6 March 2017 at 23:09 #287527
JohnF
Participant
@johnf59703
Hi Rob, EN45 spring steel make to the shape and size you want then harden and temper, I use this a lot for gun springs. PM me if you want a small piece

Regards John
6 March 2017 at 23:10 #287528
JA
Participant
@ja
Rob

A sketch would be useful.

My initial thought is a strip made from gauge plate. This would have to be hardened and then tempered (perhaps to about 300C).

JA
7 March 2017 at 09:19 #287542
Eugene
Participant
@eugene
A bit of the backing piece off an old wiper blade might suit you ….. I've used several bits of it for lightweight flat springs.

Eug
7 March 2017 at 11:17 #287553
Jon Gibbs
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@jongibbs59756
Hi Rob,

I recently got a link to these people from a post on here…

**LINK**

Small bits of spring steel. I bought gun blue and was pleased with their service – no affiliation.

HTH

Jon
7 March 2017 at 11:23 #287554
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Reeves do a good range of different cross section spring steel in annealed form so easy to drill & cut.

If round section would work then piano/music wire is easy enough to come by.

Edited By JasonB on 07/03/2017 11:25:39
7 March 2017 at 12:54 #287560
ronan walsh
Participant
@ronanwalsh98054
01 can be spring tempered, it is first hardened and then tempered by putting it into a bath of molten lead, and then quenched.
7 March 2017 at 13:50 #287565
Jon Gibbs
Participant
@jongibbs59756
Ronan,

I was a bit surprised by your suggestion of using molten lead as a tempering method but this makes the process pretty clear… **LINK**

– thanks

Jon
11 March 2017 at 22:55 #288375
Robin Graham
Participant
@robingraham42208
Thanks for the replies guys, and apologies for not getting back sooner – stuff happens! I hadn't realised that O1 (which I think is the US name for what is sold as gauge plate over here – but maybe I'm wrong?) can be spring tempered. That would be the obvious way forward for me as I have some – what I need is a piece about 1/2" wide x 1/8" thick x maybe 3" long for the profile I have in mind. I get confused about the many terms used to describe steel properties – is 'tough' the same as 'springy' I wonder?

Thanks Ronan for suggesting the lead bath method of tempering, and Jon for the link. Looks good, takes some guesswork out of it.

The various suggestions for other grades/suppliers of suitable steel are much appreciated, especially JohnF's kind offer of a piece of EN45. I've had a look round on t'internet and it looks like interesting stuff – the only supplier I found so far says they will supply any quantity – from as little as a single bar. Which means 3 metres to me, that might be a bit excessive, but maybe 'bars' are different for spring steel? Might get back to you on that John!

Jon's link to Blackely and Son and Jason's to Reeves look promising for small quantities, but neither specifies the alloy – they just say 'heat treatment will be required', no further details, so perhaps not the best place to start for me. Shall bookmark anyway – thanks.

Cheers, Rob.
11 March 2017 at 23:55 #288383
Willliam Powell
Participant
@willliampowell36769
Usually spring steel is plain carbon steel with between 0.5% and 0.95% carbon. It's readily available here, but you might pay more to ship it across the pond than it's worth.
12 March 2017 at 17:33 #288483
ronan walsh
Participant
@ronanwalsh98054
I was looking at the label on the wrapping on some gauge plate/ground flat stock which i have in the shed. It says o1 clearly on it. This is material i have bought from cromwell.
12 March 2017 at 17:46 #288489
Tim Stevens
Participant
@timstevens64731
Tough means how resistant to failure on impact.

Springy means how far it will bend (or sometimes how much effort to make it bend) and then immediately spring back to the original position.

I would use spring stainless wire, as it arrives in the springy condition, needs no protective finish or other messing, can be bent to shape with ordinary tools, and I have some coiled up ready.

Cheers, Tim
13 March 2017 at 13:09 #288625
Jon
Participant
@jon
Tough and springy an entirely different matter you don't want to use 01 for springs unless a botch job, you will find out why.

Quality guns are from EN9 or equivalent in annealed state H&H, Boss, Dickson etc. The modern equivalent of EN45 works totally different and may need tweaking after hardening, tempering and pulling up.
Dependant what it has to do may be looking at 10thou thick and not exert spring in one area but spread over the length which can only be done after hardening.
13 March 2017 at 13:34 #288627
ronan walsh
Participant
@ronanwalsh98054
Posted by Jon on 13/03/2017 13:09:05:

Tough and springy an entirely different matter you don't want to use 01 for springs unless a botch job, you will find out why.

Quality guns are from EN9 or equivalent in annealed state H&H, Boss, Dickson etc. The modern equivalent of EN45 works totally different and may need tweaking after hardening, tempering and pulling up.
Dependant what it has to do may be looking at 10thou thick and not exert spring in one area but spread over the length which can only be done after hardening.

I have made leaf/vee springs, including a full set for a falling block .303 restoration from o1 and i can assure you it was not a botch job. The springs are working fine many years later. Also Dewey Vicknair, who is Watson brothers repair agent in the USA uses o1 for any springs that need replacing, not just on their guns but any classic british gun that comes his way for repair.
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