small helical spring for letter box

[Timothy Murphy]

I have inherited a rather nice letter box. However, the flap does not close properly because the spring which is meant to hold it closed is broken.

This is a small helical or cylindrical spring on a small rod. I've looked around at a few hardware stores, but not seen any such springs on offer. Is it possible to purchase them on-line somewhere?

Or is there some other way of stopping wind blowing through the letter box?

[Cash]

Possibly buy a cheap letter-plate with a similar design of spring - and transfer the spring over to the inherited one.

Cash

[brass monkey]

I've used piano-wire or phosphor bronze to make springs if you can find a cheap source.

[geoff]

In message , brass monkey writes

Spring from a retractable ball pen ?

[Graham.]

I once had the oposite problem. I had to reduce the spring tention of a brass letter-plate before it bit the postman's hand off.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Modify an ordinary coil spring by unwinding part of it? Places like Screwfix and even Maplin do selection boxes. Or you might be able to buy just one from an old fashioned hardware store.