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Is There A Local SS Compression Spring Source (only need half dozen)

carrdo

Well-Known Member
Hi All,

Does anyone have a local source (Toronto area) where one can buy a small number of SS compression springs? All USA sources which I have reviewed on the web have ridiculous shipping and handling fees, minimum orders, etc. to get them here not to mention the exchange, taxes and now tarrifs (?).

What I need is 3/8" OD, 20 SWG (0.032" dia. wire), with a 9/16" free length (6 of them) and if I have to purchase the spring material in ft. lengths, I can cut them down and square off the ends. The drawing which I have says phosphor bronze as the spring material but try and find that today (unobtainium). The springs need to be made from a corrosion resistant material as they will be subject to a steam and hot water environment.
 
Easy enough to make them yourself.

Search for “spring” by member “eotrfish” for a simple method

It’s actually a thread about repurposing old guitar strings
 
I get spring from S B Simpson. They have lots in stock but can bring in other sizes in a couple days.
 
Hi All,

Does anyone have a local source (Toronto area) where one can buy a small number of SS compression springs? All USA sources which I have reviewed on the web have ridiculous shipping and handling fees, minimum orders, etc. to get them here not to mention the exchange, taxes and now tarrifs (?).

What I need is 3/8" OD, 20 SWG (0.032" dia. wire), with a 9/16" free length (6 of them) and if I have to purchase the spring material in ft. lengths, I can cut them down and square off the ends. The drawing which I have says phosphor bronze as the spring material but try and find that today (unobtainium). The springs need to be made from a corrosion resistant material as they will be subject to a steam and hot water environment.
This is why some of us vandalize every hand cream pump or dish soap pump we can find. An excellent source of small springs.
 
I get spring from S B Simpson. They have lots in stock but can bring in other sizes in a couple days.

Thanks for the reminder Craig. I still didn't get springs for my Gerardi vise. It just fell off of my ToDo list and my radar.

I don't suppose I could trouble you for the specs again? Hopefully you keep your records better than I keep mine........

PS - I just added it to my shop projects list.
 
I don't suppose I could trouble you for the specs again?
Oooops - I have many old invoices from Simpson, but not that one - so sorry no spec for that spring.
If you like i could take one of my vise spring to them and try to match it. As i recall the best option was to get one that was 12” long and then cut it to match the needed spring rate (do you remember the spring rate test gizzmo i made?
 
Well guess what @Susquatch - I found it in a PM i sent you a year ago :
SB Simpson part # 16-25124

Also we had several PMs about Gerardi springs - have a look at these PM threads:
“Gerardi” Feb 18, 24
“Modular vise” Jan 15, 24
“Broken spring” Dec 17, 24

Feel free to share any parts of those PMs here if you like.
 
I've been getting my springs off eBay. There a numerous vendors at very good prices as long as you can tolerate metric sizes.
Now I'm wishing I'd stocked up.
 
Hi All,

Thanks to all of you who have replied so far to my enquiry.

In the end I was able to source a Southern Ontario spring supplier out of Brantford, Ontario, Traker Products Inc. who had the size and type of stainless steel spring I was looking for. They also have a minimum order of $30. Cdn. but I ended up being slightly above that so everything was good.
 
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