The art of making springs

[tachyon]

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.

[Daveh]

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

[Rich4]

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

[dazza284]

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