Any Interest in a video on making wire hand springs? (edited)

[J-Bar]

When I first started shooting copies of the old Colt open top revolvers in cowboy action matches, I quickly became frustrated by the flat hand springs breaking.

The technique of replacing the flat hand spring with a Ruger-type spring and plunger is widely known and used, and is a very elegant solution to the problem. Credit to Larsen E. Pettifogger for his ingenuity and beautiful essays which outline how to drill the revolver's frame to make this change.

But I am not a good machinist, and I don't trust myself to drill the hole in the frame as accurately as needed. My shop is quite primitive. So, I learned how to replace the flat factory spring with a wire spring, and they work fine; I have not had any wire hand springs break after more than 10 years of service.

I'm not trying to criticize the Pettifogger/Ruger solution at all, just saying I have found an alternative that also works and that is easier for me to install.

With all that being said, would you care to see a video about how to replace a flat hand spring with a wire spring? It takes a little time and trouble to put a video together, and I won't mess with it if there is no interest.

Clarification: This video would be posted to YouTube for free viewing; it would not be for sale.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Thanks J-Bar,

I wouldn't mind watching a video on the subject. I do the Ruger "fix" for those that want it. The rest of them get the flat springs "tuned" so that they don't have the stress of too much tension.

BTW, if you haven't had one of your springs break in over 10 years, you're obviously not doing it right !!!!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com
Follow me on Instagram @ goonsgunworks

 

[mr wack]

I would like a looksee also ,,,,,,.
Heard about the spring but haven't seen it done, should be interesting.
Thanks.

 

[Oohrah!]

I'Ve already had one spring break and I just bought some music wire, so yes, I'd like to see how you do it.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I purchased a role of music wire a while ago and still haven't gotten around to making any springs. Your video just might get me off my butt!
Let 'er roll

 

[Patocazador]

One never has enough knowledge. I could use more.

 

[J-Bar]

OK, Thanks for the encouragement.

I will fire up my camera and MacBook and try to get it done within a week.

I will post a link here in the forum when I get it posted to YouTube.

 

[99whip]

I'd enjoy seeing that too. Have made them from Bobbie pins but would enjoy seeing your technique. Thanks for offering.

 

[robhof]

robhof

Another vote for seeing the wire fix, I've got a collection of ASM's and springs aren't totally interchangeable!

 

[Blackpowdershooter44]

I wouldn't mind seeing how to do that myself, thanks!

 

[BCRider]

Oh YES PLEASE SIR ! ! ! !

I'll toss in a little value added contribution for the folks here.

For some time now I've been making my own springs from coils of music wire. What I found was that the wire gained some spring by being pulled around a couple of bends to stress it. You can get a rough idea from the wire holder sketch shown below.

But the really big game changer for the set and durability came from a post working heat soak to in a spare toaster oven at 400F and tapering off. This gets the steel hot enough that it seems to take to it's new shape more easily. I found that treated springs had very little collapse to the overall length if compressed to coil bind compared to the amount of collapse with untreated springs fresh off the winding arbor.

So I'm going to suggest that post heat soaking will toughen up your new hand springs and prevent them being easily bent out of shape.

The process is to drop the springs into the oven set to 400F and let them soak for 20 minutes. This won't temper them back because it's only a "dark straw" temperature where a spring temper is the hotter blue oxidation color. So no fear of them softening. After the first 20 minutes I turn the temperature down in 50 degree steps at 10 minute intervals until it's down to the lowest value then shut it off after that time and let it cool with the door closed.

Here is the wire tensioning and work stressing tool I use. EDIT- I just noticed that one of the countersunk screws is missing. There is supposed to be a third screw on the handle side so the wire goes around three screws. Sorry but you get the idea I hope.



For the more general information you'll note that the arbor runs through the hole. The idea here is to avoid tensioning the music wire with a glove and pulling hard. First off that doesn't work that well for giving really good tension. Secondly with longer and smaller diameter arbors the arbor simply bends unless the spring is very short. The method shown here puts no stress on the arbor.

Coil spacing is controlled by the angle of the wire tensioning tool and how I move my hand along. It's a "touch" that needs a little practice but not that hard if you can scratch your ear and chew gum at the same time without jamming a finger into your brain. With a bit of practice I've managed to form close wound coils for the first turn or two then transition to even spacing and finally end the spring with a closed turn or three.

 

[J-Bar]

BC Rider-

You are light years beyond me in spring technology! You forget I am a redneck down in the Ozarks. My spring wire replacement for flat hand springs is crude but effective, quick and easy to do. I hope you will not be disappointed with the video, or the primitive approach.

I started working on it today, should be done by the end of next week. A cowboy match this weekend will slow things down a bit.

 

[dagger dog]

I would be very interested !

 

[SASS#23149]

Looking forward to seeing it !

 

[BCRider]

Jbar, there's more than one road to Rome. I've found that even when I think I'm well along one path that looking at what others do more often than not turns up a trick that I find handy. So I'm looking forward to seeing your own offering and running off with some gem of a new trick.