Answer

Here are the steps I usually take to make springs.

1. Anneal the stock. Heat it to cherry red and let it cool down slowly, in air or buried in dry sand. Sometimes I do it twice to be sure.
2. Shape the spring. Bending, fitting or whatever to have the desired dimensions.
3. Harden the spring. Heat to cherry red and quench, in water or oil. I usually use water. Oil could be messy for steps that follow.
4. Temper the spring. Polish the metal till it is in the white. Lightly heat it till it changes color, anywhere between straw to deep blue, depending on applications. Let it cool slowly. No need to quench.

Tempering is the step that would need experience. Do it a few times and you will soon get a hang of it.

-TL

Answer

If you’re using music wire, it’s already tempered. All you have to do is bend it. DC

Feedback

It would certainly work if no extensive forming is needed. Without annealing spring steel doesn’t want to be bent. It will spring back. Annealing makes forming easier. -TL

Reply

Thank you all for the replies. I guess my question is this. I made the spring from .020 round Brownells spring stock (which says it is oil-tempered) and it works as it use should. Can it be used as is or must it undergo some kind of treatment? Thanks again. Rick

Answer

If you didn’t anneal it, and you didn’t bend it sharp back-and-forth, you don’t need any reheat treat.

-TL

Answer

I replace the trigger return spring in Ruger 10-22s with a 0.039″ diameter “leaf spring” using Brownells spring stock. I use the material as bought and have had good performance from the springs I make.

I had one factory spring on my Ruger Security Six launch into the Twilight Zone. After searching for two hours it hit me that it would be faster to just wind a new one. 20 minutes later the gun was back together.

I started making springs for my Slot Cars when I was a kid. Learned how to do it from my orthodontist. Used a set of tapered needle nose pliers to wrap them up. I used SS leader wire used for fishing tackle. DC

Answer

Spring stock from Brownells is usually already tempered and you don’t have to reheat treat it. If you get soft un-tempered spring stock then obviously you would have to harden/temper it. Sounds like yours was/is already tempered. Ken

Reply

Just to finish this thread, I ended up making another hand/lifter spring which worked better than the first one I made. Also ended up carving out a new lifter. It came in totally apart in a plastic bag with parts missing and was a PITA to get back together. The owner is 84 years old and his father gave him the gun when he was 12. I wasn’t there but was told he had tears in his eyes when he saw his gun back in one piece and working. Guess it was worth it after all.

Answer

That does make it worth it. Ken