Sourcing spring in Calgary

[Jwest7788]

Hey guys, I am trying to track down a spring that works for expanding ( to push things away from each other) -- compression spring?

It needs to fit a rod down the middle, 1/2"-3/4" or so. Somewhere in there.

Should be about 2" long (or longer so I can cut it) and should be kinda beefy, enough to lift 5 or 10 lbs.

And I need two!

Where does everyone source their springs?

JW


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[Dabbler]

For very light springs I purchased some assortments from Princess Auto, but they aren't in all the time. Regular (read $$) compression springs can be had through ACT and other toolmaker resources. These are high-quality die springs.

But I've had both both good and bad experiences at Loyalty Spring, near the Deerfoot mall... The bad experience was seriously overcharging for a set of springs that are off-the-shelf stock. In times past, Loyalty has custom made and sold me standard springs for good prices. I did business with them for 10 years as a satisfied customer. I have no idea what happened that day, but I haven't been there since. That said, they might be worth a try. Be prepared for a minimum order.

I also dismantle equipment before discarding it, and sometimes get great springs there.

 

[PeterT]

I went through a selection process for valve springs on my radial engine build, but it had very fussy constraints. Spring selection boils down to a selection of parameters. So like in your example you have a dimensional constraint (min ID) and desired amount of compression force (5-10 pounds). You haven't mentioned free length length which is also important, but anyway I suspect a combination will pop out with a specific wire diameter & number of coils. Depending on the size you might buy in fixed length or a larger one & cut to size. Just be aware of the spring force & length inter-relationship. That's basically what you then go shopping for.

There are several online calculators associated with spring suppliers like below. The trick is finding one in Canada and/or willing to sell you smallish quantities. It all depends on how common it is. But at least this will get you in the ball park & you may find something close in the typical hardware places. Personally I found Ebay & Ali to be the best for low qty if you can land on the size.
https://www.thespringstore.com/spring-calculator.html

 

[PeterT]

Re die springs, this link might not work but KBC sells them. However they are kind of hefty duty vs. your requirements. Just looking at the 1/2" ID range, looks like ~60 pounds at 50% deflection. Maybe there are lighter duty versions available but I don't seem them listed. A friend of mine worked in a plastic injection shop & even the smaller injection dies were heavy muther blocks of steel. Had all these ports & passages for the plastic & water cooling passages. I remember seeing springs like that in the molds. Its amazing that engineering that goes into a 'simple' POS plastic part you see at Walmart. Cool, stuff but I digress...

http://www.kbctools.ca/products/TOOLROOM ACCESSORIES/DIE SPRINGS/2887.aspx

 

[DPittman]

Ya know...(and you probably do) you can make your own springs on a lathe....but the best part is that you can make the tool that makes the springs! Its another one of my someday projects.

Don

 

[Tom O]

Ya know...(and you probably do) you can make your own springs on a lathe....but the best part is that you can make the tool that makes the springs! Its another one of my someday projects.

Don

piano wire is at pms hobby.

 

[PeterT]

Re the 'hobby shop' wire, this always confused me. And probably explains my variable success. The stuff that worked reasonable was black (K&S maybe?). But you will also find similar wire, typically shiny but not always so & its a bugger. You can feel it has higher tensile, maybe even slightly hardened. This makes great pushrod material but doesn't like to wind as well or respond to post heat the same. So its a bit of crap shoot without knowing what you are getting. Here are 2 links but there is a lots of spring winding advice out in Internetland.

http://firearmsdesigner.com/?p=247
Wire springs may be made from several materials, but in the shop they are most often made from “music wire”. This is a spring steel… Music wire, which has nothing to do with music, as far as I know, should not be confused with “piano wire”. It is available in short, straight lengths as well as larger coils.

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=2734.0

 

[Dabbler]

In the old days I was able to buy cold forming spring wire from Liberty.

 

[Colten Edwards]

Re the 'hobby shop' wire, this always confused me. And probably explains my variable success. The stuff that worked reasonable was black (K&S maybe?). But you will also find similar wire, typically shiny but not always so & its a bugger. You can feel it has higher tensile, maybe even slightly hardened. This makes great pushrod material but doesn't like to wind as well or respond to post heat the same. So its a bit of crap shoot without knowing what you are getting. Here are 2 links but there is a lots of spring winding advice out in Internetland.

http://firearmsdesigner.com/?p=247
Wire springs may be made from several materials, but in the shop they are most often made from “music wire”. This is a spring steel… Music wire, which has nothing to do with music, as far as I know, should not be confused with “piano wire”. It is available in short, straight lengths as well as larger coils.


/QUOTE]
Great article on creating small springs. something I had never heard of doing

 

[David Henry]

If anyone has an old wrecked air rifle aka pellet gun the main spring would work nicely for your needs. David.

 

[Janger]

Toms machining has a good video on making springs and Dan Gelbert said to try McMaster Carr for wire. Not exactly local and cheap but might be ok. What are you making:fixing? Now that’s a good question...!

 

[kevin.decelles]

I find motorcycle clutch springs useful for purposes like these. I use them for door latches etc. Very tough


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