Small Springs needed?

Hi all,

One of the jobs that I never seem to get around to is finishing the refurbing of the 15 or 20 or so single and double pinion hand drills that I have almost ready for sale.

The stumbling block is ALWAYS the three small springs that go in the chucks for the 3 small jaws.

I am forever waiting to come across old useless chucks that might have salvageable springs but not often that I find them.

As soon as I get one drill done they fly away on EBay as most are by Millers Falls or Goodell Pratt which are very collectable.

Any thoughts on where one might source these springs in quantity?

Also how does one specify a spring size please?

Cheers, Martin

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Martin,

If you are thinking of getting a batch made then; for a simple appliccation like this, you should only need to specify the free-length, the outside diameter, and the rate.

[the spring-winder can do the rest]

In the dim and distant past, I used to have small springs made by Stevenage Spring Co. ... They were very helpful.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 01/04/2015 16:55:02

I had to replace some small springs in the table oiler boxes on my Studer grinder. As there was nothing available, I wound the springs on the lathe, made a mandrel slightly under the finished internal diameter as the spring will expand slightly once the winding pressure is released. A feeder with a pressure pad to guide the wire onto the mandrel was held in the toolpost and an appropriate screw cutting feed selected. Lathe in back gear.

Fine piano wire makes excellent small springs, guitar strings are good for the smaller sizes up to about 24 gauge, or wire from a piano repairer.

Martin - HPC of gears fame list a whole range of small compression springs with diameters, free lengths, loads at different lengths and rates. You might find what you want off the shelf or at least identify just what you need to specify.

www.leespring.co.uk are an invaluable source of all sizes of stock springs.

Like Kwil, I would not be surprised if Lee Springs did not have something in their standard 'in-stock' range.

Ian P

Entex Stock Springs http://www.entexstocksprings.co.uk, have a very extensive range and a full guide on the website on how to specify, Not sure what you mean by "small", but their stock range starts at 1.57mm dia with 7 coils of 6 thou wire. They also have a bespoke service if your requirement is not met by stock items.

Stuart