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Scott --
19-Aug-2007, 17:33
Hi, all -

I'm building a spring back for my 5x12 reducer project, and I need some info on the springs themselves. I'm guessing spring steel? Anyone know of a source for this stuff (i.e. - can it be picked up at dePot et al)? Is it tricky to cut/bend/finish?

Thanks for any tips.
Scott

Randy H
19-Aug-2007, 18:23
McMaster Carr. You can get width and length close to size needed (and thickness) Get the carbon spring steel. Once cut and shaped, you can "re-spring" by cooking in the kitchen oven at about 450 deg for about 6 hours. Then shut the oven off and let it cool. The higher grade spring-type metals require too high a degree and too long of a "cook" time for you to do at home.

Or you can "cheese-it-up" like others, and use hacksaw blades.

Nathan Potter
19-Aug-2007, 18:33
Scott, another source is www.smallparts.com. Download their catalog. I use their stainless steel shim stock cut to size with shears.

Nate Potter

Randy H
19-Aug-2007, 18:55
I use their stainless steel shim stock cut to size with shears.

Nathan, I had often looked at doing that and have a question for you. We use a lot of stainless where I work, but it is mostly 304 or 316L grade, and it tends to bend after a few times, rather than retain it "springiness". How well does the shim-stock from smallparts hold up? Springy-wise? I ask, because I am needing a set of springs for a 4X5 that are made a little "wierd".

Colin Graham
20-Aug-2007, 05:56
Stainless drywall compound knives (home depot) make great spring stock as well, I use them for gg clips, lensboard clips, etc. Although they might not be strong enough for a back unless arranged in some sort of leaf configuration.

Jim Jones
20-Aug-2007, 06:41
When designing and building from scratch, consider using round spring wire from a hardware or hobby shop. It can be bent cold, or the design could be for straight sections of it.

Greyhoundman
20-Aug-2007, 09:00
The tines from a good leaf/lawn rake work pretty good. :)
The wife is still looking for that rake. LOL

Nathan Potter
20-Aug-2007, 12:36
Scott, I have 10 yrs. + on some robust 0.020 thick stainless shim stock from Smallparts without apparent degradation in the modulus (as long as I don't exceed the elastic limit).
Do a bend test to make a quick determination on the displacement required to permanently deform the shim stock part you make, then keep well below that displacement with the working parts. I've used type 304 or 316 without a particular preference for either. The clip design does need to be such that you don't deform the spring too far during release in actual use.

Nate Potter

Bob Jones
21-Aug-2007, 16:23
If you need to make any sharp bends in spring steel, you ought to anneal it first in the area you will be bending. I haven't tried this, but one way going about it can be found here:

http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/forum/Blah.pl?m-1171229547/

If the stock you get already has a spring temper and you only anneal the areas you bend, you shouldn't have to do anything else to it. Just don't heat the parts that need to be springy.

Scott --
21-Aug-2007, 18:14
Well, Bob, that would've come in handy a few hours ago. ;) My bends sure didn't turn out that purty...

FWIW, here's the back, so far. Used a $4 taping knife from Home dePot for the steel. Seems to work. Have the first coat of lacquer on it - will find some glass to grind tomorrow.

Scott --
22-Aug-2007, 09:59
Got the glass ground today - need to make some retaining clips, and the back is done!

Scott --
22-Aug-2007, 12:33
Well, in case anyone's following along, I made some GG clips from the left over steel on the taping knife:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/th_IMG_2022.jpg (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/bliorg/IMG_2022.jpg)

I suck at metalwork.

Back's essentially done now, save some paint on the springs and clips. Next project: making some 5x12 holders... :D

Randy H
22-Aug-2007, 13:19
Interested in how material for springs works out. Do they do pretty good at returning to "normal" state? Any tendency towards bending as opposed to flex? As I have stated before, I have tried a few different materials, and seem to find all the ones that bend, instead of flexing.

Dean Jones
22-Aug-2007, 14:43
I have used stainless ribbon fabricated to the correct shape then heated until it a straw colour appears. It then takes on the attributes of spring steel but doesn't corrode. ;)

Cheers.

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~razzle/

Nicolai Morrisson
24-Aug-2007, 11:12
I have nothing to do with this discussion, but I found everyone's links really useful, so thanks!

Iga
24-Aug-2007, 14:04
Hi Scott !
What camera is it ? Looks as India made Whole Plate I bought here not long ago.
Best regards,
Igor.

Scott --
24-Aug-2007, 17:10
Yep, Igor - one of the Vageeswari plate cameras, though a bit larger than full plate.

Ash
1-Oct-2007, 11:34
Hey Scott, did you use the slot-in method for the back, like we spoke about on the old thread? Looking good :)

Scott --
1-Oct-2007, 11:39
Ya know, Ash, I don't remember that discussion. My memory lasts about as long, these days, as... I'm sorry, what were we talking about? ;)

Here's the final back, metalwork painted and sycamore varnished:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1126/1213323106_45c7b83747_o.jpg

Ash
1-Oct-2007, 11:43
Looks awesome, so how does the new back attach to the old? :)

Ash
1-Oct-2007, 11:47
Here's the link to the discussion on the back - http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=27574&page=2

Scott --
1-Oct-2007, 11:54
Ah ha! Now I remember! Yes, that is what I did - slides right into place.

Thanks for the memory jog.

Ash
1-Oct-2007, 12:40
No worries Scott, looks great and I'm glad it works :D