welding spring steel

[fast neutron]

Hi. let me start by saying that this board is an awsome repository of knowledge and I learn new things everytime I log on here!

Now for my quesion.

Has anyone tried\had succcess with MIG welding spring steel? Not huge springs, but small ones. For example, parking brake shoe retaining springs that you discover are broken and require 2 weeks to shipped to you.

Any suggestions would be apreciated.

Cheers,
Matt

[anders nørgaard]

Hi Matt,

Yes, I've tried it and it won't work!!
Better to take a piece of pianowire the correct gauge and make a new spring.

[fast neutron]

Thanks for the quick reply! I came to the same conclusion. I got what looked like a nice weld but it was much softer than the metal around it and broke as soon as I put some tension on the spring. I guess you could call this a learning experience. lol

Cheers,
Matt

[PaulG]

You could make a new spring or if you must fix the old one, I'd braze it. Less likley to take the temper out of the spring.

[fast neutron]

How would a person make a spring? I did a search and had no luck.

Cheers,
Matt

[Gene_Olson]

Try this.
Article on how to make springs (http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ebazillion/intro.html)

G.