The best spring steel?

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
9,910
What is the best spring steel? Im have trouble with my latest creation. It is another damm gun with the hammer under the barrel this time. The hammer spring plays double duty as a trigger guard. I tried my usual 1084 but it loses enough memory to make the hammer loose. What steel has the best memory and at what temper temp?
 
Bruce,

I have an old book on pistolsmithing and if I can dig that up I will see what it says.

I know I have seen spring stock listed as 1075 before....but Brownell's seems to sell only 1095 and W2 for that stuff.

I would try 1095 and temper at 500-600F.
 
Bruce
I'm thinking 1095 was designed to be a spring steel, have you tried it? I use it for machetes, they don't brake and they hold up well.
or maybe o1? I've use this for springs in some folders too.
how far do you need to bend it versus length, Width & Thickness? and what type of spring you making?
 
just to enforce a point.....

but i remember hearing that the tiny little springs within a watch are made from 1095..
and i would presume that they would need to be pretty fine choice in order to be of use in an expensive time-piece.

just a thought.

D.
 
I would think that 1084 would work good. If you are losing memory it sounds like it is tempered too hot. Try lowering your temper by 25-50 degrees. You might also be trying to get too much movement out of too short a piece.
 
Don't know if this helps, but I made a trapper from O-1 one time, the back spring needed to be ajusted just a little. The O-1 just kept flexing without bending. I finaly flexed it enough to break it, but no bend. It seems that once hardened the O-1 kept it's memory well, it was at a blue temper color.
 
Thanks guys. I should have known better. I have had good luck with 1084 before but I may be asking too much of it with my geometry. I could either make a new trigger guard with 1095 or redesign and make another hammer. This is too much fun.
 
Bruce,
I have a few friends who only make automatics and they use W-2 for their leaf springs. You might have to experiment and see what works best for you. When are you going to make an automatic pistol knife?
 
Bruce, sorry I'm late. 1095 at 550 should do the trick. Alot of old smaller springs came from that stock. It should be resilliant? enough to hold the pressure you want, in material as thin as you need. Hope to get back down your way soon. T
 
Striper, An automatic pistol knife is a cool idea! I think it would be illegal in Washington though.

Terry, Thanks, Maybe you can stop in at Eds place this weekend.
 
Bruce, I don't know if this will be helpful to you, but last
winter I had a conversation with Bill Moran about making springs.
I thought he used either 5160 or 1095, anyway the heat treat was
the main point. A blacksmith told him, long ago, that the best way to make a spring was; heat to austinizing, quench in oil in a container that you can put a lid on, stick in on the forge and heat till it
flames ( this is the proper tempering temperature) then let it cool.
He said that this is one of the most helpful hints anyone ever gave
him.
 
Don, That sounds like it may be about 5oo degrees? I will give it a try, it sounds interesting. Bill Moran wouldnt steer anybody wrong. Thanks Much
 
Remember:( different oils have different flash
points some can be around 400, did
Mr. Moran say what oil he was using? this will help
find the temp he uses,
the oil can should say on it what the flash point is
..very interesting way to temper
 
Yes George, since it is a single shot pistol, an auto blade would be cool, just in case you missed. I have seen Pistols that have been made by Ron Newton, and he puts the pistol on the side. You could make the knife a latch auto and have the pistol on the side. Or Make it a scale release auto and keep the pistol on top.
 
Hey Bruce just thinking?
if you need some 1095 let me know, I buy it
5/32" x 2" x 8' at a time so I have a lot of small pieces
I'd hate to see you have to buy a big piece for just a spring.
let me know and I can get some out to you today.. free is good... :D e-mail your address to me if you want it and what size.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top