Small springs, FYI

[walnutred]

On a M/L forum I mentioned that I needed a very small coil spring for a repair on a non M/L revolver. Someone suggested Schrader valve springs. I went to the local auto repair shop, told them what I wanted and why. After laughing they gave me a handful of used Schrader valves. Good thing because it took me half a dozen tries to figure out how to break them open and cut the spring to the desired length, without dropping and losing the spring.

Just passing the info on.

 

[wood714]

You can use the spring out of Bic lighter for the rear take down pin detent, and safety detent on a AR.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a 1/2-gallon plastic jar I put every spring I find in. Ball point pen springs come in handy for lots of projects.

Ivan

Another note on Schreider valve cores: They are the same in A/C units as on car tires. Originally The car ones were not chemical resistant, but they realized it was pointless to make two kinds, so now they are all interchangeable. Bicycle, car, A/C all sell for about 15 cents apiece in 10-packs!

 

[mick1213]

Walnutred, Thank you for the info. I had been trying to find one for several days amongst my saved supplies for a bullgear plunger pin detent on a small lathe and could not find one small enough. Managed to remove one without loosing it and it works fine.

 

[DWalt]

I have used disposable lighter and ballpoint pen springs on several occasions. Never used one from a Schrader valve, never thought of it.

 

[walnutred]

I was replacing a friction stud spring on an Iver Johnson revolver. Those springs are much smaller than a ball point pen or lighter spring.

 

[Nomadmax]

What's a M/L?

Medium/Large is all I could come up with.

 

[walnutred]

What's a M/L?

Medium/Large is all I could come up with.

Muzzle Loading or Muzzle Loader.

 

[Nomadmax]

Muzzle Loading or Muzzle Loader.

I'm getting too old for the internet, nobody uses whole words anymore

 

[ralph7]

I'm getting too old for the internet, nobody uses whole words anymore

It's ok if one spells out the word at the beginning of a statement, too many folks just throw an abbreviation out there with no prior reference.

 

[walnutred]

It's ok if one spells out the word at the beginning of a statement, too many folks just throw an abbreviation out there with no prior reference.

I honestly try not to use to many acronyms. I spent the last 25 of my full time working years in Environmental, Health and Safety. Prior to that I was in Field Artillery and commercial construction before that. After my discharge in 1993 I went back to commercial construction while I was getting my college plans sorted out.

The first Commercial job I worked on was a Bob Evans Restaurant near Sunbury, Ohio. After I'd been on the job site a few weeks the superintendent came and asked if I'd ever done any ADA instillation. I said that I'd set up several so he told me to get a copy of the plans and I would be responsible for the ADA instillations.

I looked at him shocked and asked: Why are were doing ADA instillation on a restaurant? He looked surprised at my question and said that since 1990 all commercial buildings had to to meet ADA requirements. I commented that things must have really fallen apart while I was in the military. What are we doing, putting a quad 50 mount on the roof?

The Supervisor said "ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act". I said "That's a relief. But until a couple months ago ADA to me meant Air Defense Artillery." It was a good lesson to avoid acronyms when conducting my training.

 

[chief38]

I usually save all the springs from objects I am about to toss in the trash. They have from time to time come in very handy for non firearms related spring replacements. I have also made a few springs along the way for guns.

 

[Imissedagain]

I never throw away springs, except if they're inside a mattress.
Only use lighters for heat shrink tubing, if no electricity is available, but will save the springs now.

Just bought some flat spring steel, from McMaster, for making flat springs for woodwind instrument repair and the keys for a Melodica project.
No coil springs necessary.
Flat and needle springs on woodwinds.
We learned to temper sewing needles, to replace broken needle springs, as part of the music program, at age 12, in '59.
Improvise when you run out of parts.
OJT with NYPH Symphony musicians.

Two ring simple Albert System from about 1860,
made by the LOT family near Paris.
Wonder if they carried flintlock pistols, to avoid theft,
after late night work.