Relaxing Springs

[5K Qs]

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For the last 12 days I've left all tools half open putting maximum stress on the springs. Hoping to relax the springs without breaking them. It worked. The tools can be opened without assistance using only the nail nicks.

Happy camper here.

leghog, I'm glad you were able to "fix" the nailbreaking pulls on your Kabar scout with this method.

I've seen the approach mentioned on BF before, with apparently mixed results according to those who've tried it. I wonder if stressing the spring to weaken the pull is more effective on springs which have a blade/tool on both ends? Some folks have warned that having blades half-open on both ends of a spring, say for taking photos, runs the risk of the spring breaking. I've certainly noticed that it's harder to open some blades if one on the other end of the spring is deployed, or at least partially open.

- GT

 

[Will Power]

Good point GT, I think especially with Penknives having 2 blades sharing the same spring. But, touch your favourite species of wood, I've never had a spring break on me yet Duncan in NZ did I recall, have a CASE/Bose knife bust a backspring and not from stressing it either.

Still, I've had poor results from stressing a GEC 73 that even for me, went to far in the nail extractor dept Left it for a couple of weeks, tried opening&shutting it repeatedly, complete wash&brush up followed by oil, filing a corner of the tang, uh uh won't have it. A beautiful trinket it has thus become On the other hand, the french seem to get it right - in that their Lags are often quite easy to open but murder to shut, one I have needs to be wrapped in a towel to close it Unless you want to dock a finger....

 

[22-rimfire]

Have a little GEC 54 (I believe the #) that between opening and closing a lot and leaving open with the spring stretched, I could open both blades without undo stress. But before I did this, it was small needle nose pliers time. Don't like to use a pliers on a knife, but I do what it takes.