Any suggestions where I can obtain a tiny compression spring cheaply? It needs to be between 3-3.4mm diameter, the length is not hugely important as I could cut it down to size.
I see RS do such things but postage makes it impractical without ordering other items. Would a model shop sell such a thing?
Maybe someone could suggest an everyday item that could be disassembled and a spring robbed?
TIA
A pen spring?
A plastic clothes peg - I'm forever finding little springs around the place when they break.
That's a torsion spring not a compression spring.
The message from "HLAH" contains these words:
Cheap biro.
The message from "The3rd Earl Of Derby" contains these words:
Sodding spring-rays!
Depends on how the peg is made - the plastic ones tend to have compression springs. It's obvious you're not acquainted with pegging the washing out....
:-)
The message from "VisionSet" contains these words:
Many now have compression springs.
On some, but not others. Particularly plastic clothes pegs...they often have a compression spring just 'behind' the pivot.
Bayonet bulb holder?
Aka pen,biro's don't have a spring.
You'll definately find one you're after in a scrap video recorder. ;-)
In message , HLAH wrote
Battery compartment of anything that takes a AAA or AA size battery ?
I wind mine. Once you have the wire its pretty easy. Put a drill in a cordless screwdriver about 80% of the final spring size, bend the wire over and jam it between the chuck jaws, and wind away.
Ultra small wire is guitar strings, and for the rest the model shop generally has something from about 0.5mm (20 thou)upwards.
They are not common these days, but there *are* (or have been) retractable Biros.
At the moment I'm very aquainted with it, alas. But I've only got upmarket wooden ones.
Here?
HLAH was thinking very hard :
The spring from a ball point pen springs to mind - sorry.
The message from "The3rd Earl Of Derby" contains these words:
I wait, with bated breath, for a letter from Biro's legal department requiring me to cease and desist lest I devalue their trademark.
I shall put it in my outhouse, which being a generic portable building I shall not call a Portakabin.
Cheers everyone for the suggestions.
In the end I managed to use the cassette door return spring from an ancient Clarion car stereo. Funnily enough it's not really a compression spring but spiral wound torsion. Just under 3mm in diameter and perfect for the job once trimmed. The ancient Blaupunkt player I ahem "disassembled" appears to use extension and plastic leaf springs for everything.
HHave something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required