Need to make a spring

Yes, I could possibly read a book, or do a search on Google, but where's the fun in that?

So I managed to acquire this lovely little press that I am going to make some pretty specific tooling for as it will be perfect for the job I have in mind.

It has one issue however and that is the return spring is broken, the clock spring I believe they are called. Now, never having had cause to make one of these, what would be the best way to go about this? As a starting point, what should I use for material?

Couple of pics of the item in question:

Hi there,

Is there any chance that a 2 stroke engine recoil spring could be adapted to provide return action? They are easy to obtain from garden machine service agents and not too expensive at just a few quid! Look at one from a small strimmer or chainsaw engine.

Neil

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There's probably a good clue in the descriptive name that you used.

MichaelG.

Yes, i know, bit ironic. I actually have quite a bit of material that could be clock springs but I make hair springs for it. Never made anything like this though. And the biggest my supplier has is about 3/32th

Good call about the return spring but it actually needs to go around a full turn.

graham.

Graham,

Have you got the remains of the broken spring ?

What width and thickness, and how many turns ?

... I'm guessing that something from a mantel clock, or maybe one of those kitchen timers might do the trick.

MichaelG.

Graham,

Look on Associated Spring web site for constant force springs. There is a large range of sizes in stainless if you have to resort to making from new.

Bob D

Of course ...

The return spring for a small drilling machine is likely to be remarkably similar.

MichaelG.

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Edit:  Something like X0-15 here

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/02/2014 22:29:43

For the thickness you can start with the rule of thumb that it is 1% of the barrel diameter, but do not know if that also go's for your press. Niko

Graham, If you want to try making one I would suggest EN45 or EN42 if you want more power but I would recommend EN45 its more forgiving. Don't know where you are in the UK but if I can help with HT please PM me, Below are some useful links --- John F

**LINK**

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Hi Ompa

Easy.... Just buy one

**LINK**

Regards
john

I made up one for a drill press a few years back, Had some clock spring (1/2"-3/8" can't remember), it was not strong enough, so I used two springs wound together, worked quite well. The spring in the starter in some chain saws could be worth looking at, you pull the cord, then to start the saw, you pull the trigger, and the spring turns the motor over, and usually starts it (much safer that the old way). Ian S C

I always keep the 1/2" steel banding that is sometimes used to 'wrap' the crates/boxes of heavier goods. I rescued 3-4 good lengths last year (I cannot remember for the life of me what it came wrapped around now - maybe a washing machine?) and it goes a long way & lasts me quite a while

Not sure if they are "clock" quality steel (or could be usefully coiled) but they do work well for hold-down fingers on my router table (much better than the useless plastic fingers supplied) or any other application where a flat spring is required. I cut them to length with a Dremel but don't try to drill them, simply making a slit metal clamp to fix them in place.

IanT

Springs often fail at the anchorage (at one end or the other). A temporary (?) repair can sometimes be made by heating just the damaged end enough to soften it and allow forming of a new hook or loop.

Stop heat from spreading along the spring by gripping with a large clamp or similar.

This banding also makes excellent shim material and you can also craft superb lock picks from it. Not that I would know.

Snag is,the press came without this spring and from my measurements cannot be bigger than 30mm diameter and 5mm wide so even the smallest advertised offering is too large. Though for three pounds I might well take a punt on one offered by an Amazon seller and take a grinder to it.

graham.

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Graham,

Sorry if this seems pedantic ... it is not gratuitously so.

You said,originally, that the spring was broken ...

It is worth mentioning that both presses that I have, of this type, came from an Assembly Line [small, precision items] and all their presses had the springs removed ... for the comfort and convenience of the operators.

It will depend on the type of work you do with your press; but you my actually find it "handles" better without the return-spring .... Bargain Solution ??

MichaelG.

How about using piano wire for a spring?

Last year I got through Amazon a bench press quill return spring for about £3, it came from China in about 8 days and fitted with no problems at all. They do a variety of sizes to suit. Well worth a look. Best regards Pat

"It is worth mentioning that both presses that I have, of this type, came from an Assembly Line [small, precision items] and all their presses had the springs removed ... for the comfort and convenience of the operators.

It will depend on the type of work you do with your press; but you my actually find it "handles" better without the return-spring .... Bargain Solution ??"

You know what Michael, as I have not yet actually tried the task with the spring, I am going to just get on with it and see how it goes.

I will carefully polish the ends of the tooling to reduce the risk of scratching the workpiece and take it from there.

The links produced by JohnF were interesting though (although one supplier had a minimum order for half a kilo!) and specifically EMO Springs were a company that I had never heard of but look like they could supply some very interesting solutions to some problems I encounter occasionally.

I saw a spring on Amazon for the same £3 Patrick and I will order one to see if I can make it fit, if not, it isn't the end of the world and I am in no rush. THIS is the one I was looking at.

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 04/02/2014 16:09:53 - added link

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 04/02/2014 16:10:09

The spring used in the self winding mechanism of an Electrolux cylinder type vacuum cleaner would be about the right size. Ian S C