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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Laidley, SE Qld
    Posts
    1,038

    Default OT - Reshaping spring steel clips

    Zero machining content here but I guess someone on here has played with spring steel.
    I have some of these spring steel clips (hub cap clips) that I need to reshape, they are made from 12.7 x 1.2 flat.
    I'm thinking the procedure is to anneal the clips by heating to red heat and allowing to air cool, reshape the springs while they are soft, heat and quench, temper in the oven at 200°C.
    Does that sound about right?

    IMG_3317.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    134

    Default quenching

    [QUOTE=bob ward;1963566]Zero machining content here but I guess someone on here has played with spring steel.
    I have some of these spring steel clips (hub cap clips) that I need to reshape, they are made from 12.7 x 1.2 flat.
    I'm thinking the procedure is to anneal the clips by heating to red heat and allowing to air cool, reshape the springs while they are soft, heat and quench, temper in the oven at 200°C.
    Does that sound about right?

    IMG_3317.jpg
    bob
    do you use oil or water to quench it
    steve

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    How much do you have to reshape them? Springs can generally take a bit of permanent shape change without having to go through the whole heat treatment scenario.

    Those ones have a lot of surface area so I'd say they are going to cool down pretty quickly from red hot. Test annealing one just cooling in air and see how it goes but you might need to cool it slower.

    Steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    ACT
    Posts
    667

    Default

    as steve has said they will cool quickly from red hot.

    oil quench would be safest, temper for springs generally is a blue ~ 290C + a few degrees depending on the alloy. if you know the alloy steel charateristics which is unlikely you may get it more spot on but you should be close enough at those general temps.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern Flinders Ranges
    Posts
    1,536

    Default

    Is it actually a spring, or just a piece of bent steel that relies on not reaching plastic deformation to keep tension

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