Flat spring stainless steel ?

I need a small amount of flat hard-rolled stainless to make a few spiral springs. Just like clock springs but not so many turns. Any ideas of a supplier, please?

I suppose I could roll some strip to harden it, but no-one handy has a set of capable rolls ...

Cheers, Tim

What about sizes ? Piece of string comes to mind

Roy

About the size of an alarm clock spring - say 4mm to 5mm wide, and 0.3mm to 0.4mm thick? And in pieces no shorter than about 150mm. Roughly.

Cheers, Tim

I've previously used a supplier of spring material to companies making false limbs. This was in Sheffield but they went out of business some years ago but there must be other suppliers.

Brian

An old clock spring or the retractor spring from an old tape measure.

Spring steel strapping? The problem is it's about 12.7mm wide, but it may be possible to cut it with a bench shear.

I could pop some in an envelope.

Neil

How about "Tensator springs" for use in wet environments. - Do you have any friends that work for a food factory ?

**LINK**
BobH

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 07/02/2018 15:47:24

Ah. Missed the 'stainless'.

I have a supply of the SS flat rolled spring wire but its twice the width and thickness you say you need.

Its 2.5mm x 0.7mm round edged wire (as used in some windscreen wiper blades), if its of any use I could post some.

Ian P

Neil the Ed says - Missed the 'stainless'.

Indeed, and you are not alone. If I could find a stainless clock sprint, or stainless strapping, I would not need to ask here. Or even the spring out of a seat belt, but they all rust.

Cheers, Tim

Hello Ian P - this sounds like a possible answer. I will send you a Personal Message with details, and let's see how we get on.

A bit thicker and a bit narrower than my original guess, but certainly helpful.

Cheers, Tim

If you have to go to a commercial supplier, then you could try these people for a small quantity. Look's like they may have what you need - Steelstrip

Tim, have look at this link it suggests that seat belt springs are made of stainless ?? **LINK**

A search around Redditch area may be good its the heart of spring and needle making -- or was !

Cheers John

Tim, I'm not sure about their available sizes but we used to use " Bandit" ss strapping on commercial pump hoses. as far as I know they are still in business. Nathan.

Tim, it's available from " Thorne and Derrick " in the uk. Sizes look useful ! Nathan.

Thanks to Ian P I now have enough stainless spring strip to keep me busy for hours. I now need to work out how best to wind a (shorter than usual) clock spring, so it works out neat and not wobbly.

Thanks to you all for comments and links - all helpful.

Tim

Hi Tim,

Grab an old window screen wiper from a car. The metal backing strip is stainless and is quite hard. I've used them to make replacement return springs for door handles. Works a treat