How to shorten a slide spring?
What is the best way to shorten a slide spring? I tried clipping off a little of one end but when I recompressed the end and hit it with the torch it became most brittle, even when it was immediately quenched with water. HELP.
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Hello,......experts. Calling all experts. Is this thing on? 0 -
WHAT KIND OF 'SLIDE SPRING'? IF IT IS A COIL SPRING ALL YOU CAN DO IS CLIP A FEW COILS OFF WITH A WIRE CUTTER. IF YOU HEAT ANY OF IT YOU WILL CHANGE THE TEMPER, QUENCING IT IMMEDIATLY WILL HARDEN THE HOT END TO THE POINT OF BEING BRITTEL. 0 -
Mike, the end of the spring needs to have a uniformed 90 degree angle. So after snipping off a little how does one obtain this uniformed 90 degree angle without heating the spring? 0 -
ISP, you really can't do what you have been trying. The entire spring must be shaped before it is tempered.
There are a few gunsmiths and scope repair technicians who can make springs, but it is time consuming and difficult to get the exact strength and shape. Wolff Spring Co. has replacement springs in different strengths for many firearms applications; you may want to check with them and see if they have what you need.
Neal0 -
I would say that if you can't heat it you will have to bend it using 2 needle nose pliers. Use 1 as a vice then work around in increments while bending inwards with the other. I say this not knowing what type of spring or why it needs to be at a 90. If it's a large 1911 type spring it will probably work as is. I assume you've tested it without the 90. I would imagine it has to be at a 90 to fit into a slot, maybe? All I can see is that it will have to be hand fitted. I would say with the needle nose first bend outward the first coil to about 140, then work back to a 90 as above. If it's a real small spring this will be difficult. 0 -
I have cut coils from the trigger rebound springs on Smith & Wesson revolvers. They are very small, but I just cut carefully with a wire cutter and did not deform the coils that were left behind.
I don't understand why one would need a torch.
SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net0 -
Don't put a torch to a coil spring. A slide spring will work if the ends are unfinished. If you need finished ends, do as was suggested: use two needlenose pliers and put a bend in the last coil.
Springs are wound in the fully hardened and tempered state from spring wire. If you play around with heat, the spring is history.0 -
Thanks to all who submitted. 0 -
Its been almost fourty years since I worked in a spring factory but to the best of my recollection all coil springs are heat-treated AFTER they are wound. The same would apply to flat springs. The stock needs to be flexable enough to work.
I would think in most applications that it will not matter if the end is not flat.
I was lucky enough to learn enough that I am able to make just about any spring I need from what I can find in a hardware store or often just used springs I keep in a box.0 -
Light, unplated coil springs like slide springs, that have a bright finish, were wound from hard spring wire and not heat treated.
Heavy wire coil springs and those with small inside diameters have to be formed in a dead soft condition then hardened and tempered.
Flat steel springs are machined from soft spring stock then hardened & tempered after machining and forming.0
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