TargetTalk

Greetings,

In the USA, we have McMaster-Carr for supplying tools.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#

They have an excellent supply of Metric fasteners as well as Imperial ones.

So, you folks in OZ or UK, who do you buy your tools from?

Specifically, I am trying to source Metric Music wire to fabricate springs for the obsolete Euro-Guns I have.

Cheers,

Dave

Tools - best ones are American. Failing that pre-owned British made ones from ebay.
Our Marples, Record, Stanley, Moore & Wright, Rabone, Eclipse etc all died out to globalisation.

My local
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk

I buy piano wire from our local piano repair shop.

Local Hobby Shop
http://ksmetals.com/
https://www.dubro.com/
http://www.rtlfasteners.com/

Model or 'hobby' shops usually have three foot lengths of several kinds of wire - CM, stainless, etc. In various diameters. I bought a bunch of .053" wire that I use for brass catcher loops as they slide easily into 1/64 " holes. RC modellers use lots of different sizes.

Cheers!

Seriously? You can get Imperial sized music wire in something like 0.002 or 0.003 increments. What accuracy do you need that you cannot find an inch size that is as close as dammit to the metric size you need?

ShootingSight wrote:Seriously? You can get Imperial sized music wire in something like 0.002 or 0.003 increments. What accuracy do you need that you cannot find an inch size that is as close as dammit to the metric size you need?

Exactly what I thought!

I found if the metric spring is 3mm in diameter or less, the McMaster-Carr phosphor coated 1080 steel music wire can be found to match the metric size (considering tolerances). For larger diameter music wire, I use metric rod (usually O1 drill rod because it's readily available, relatively inexpensive, and has similar properties to 1095) and then heat treat: tempering is the key step when making springs.

Caution: making springs can be come a hobby within itself.

Edit: here is a pdf of DIN 17233: http://sanyosteel.com/files/DIN/DIN%201 ... rt%201.pdf

FWIW, all springs have a dimensional tolerance. The variation of a 0.026" +.001" wire and a 0.029" -.001" wire falls within the tolerance of a DIN17233 0.7 mm wire diameter.

Greetings,

A common example.

The recoil spring of a Unique DES/69 is 0,7mm diameter (0.0276")

Imperial wire is available in 0.026" and 0.029".

The difference does not seem like much until you start plugging the data into the Spring Calculators.

I have wound replacement springs using 0.029" wire; but, the spring rate is different than the original.

When I make replacement parts, I strive to make them as close to the originals as possible.

Cheers,

Dave

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

A common example.

The recoil spring of a Unique DES/69 is 0,7mm diameter (0.0276")

Imperial wire is available in 0.026" and 0.029".

The difference does not seem like much until you start plugging the data into the Spring Calculators.

I have wound replacement springs using 0.029" wire; but, the spring rate is different than the original.

When I make replacement parts, I strive to make them as close to the originals as possible.

Cheers,

Dave

this work?

http://www.nexusmodels.co.uk/j-perkins- ... 21319.html

Greetings Chris,

The closest I have seen.

Still, not the same as the factory.

Someone in Europe sells Piano/Music Wire. Just have to find them.

Cheers,

Dave

Dave have you tried Sportec.se? The Swedish shop used to be a central source for all things Unique - apparently well over half of the Unique factory output went to Sweden. I bought a bunch of spares from them six or seven years ago.

Cheers Jim

Greetings Jim,

Yes, I contacted Sportec. They have the original springs in stock.

15 Euros shipping

30 USD for Money Transfer

I forgot the cost of the spring itself.

Cheers,

Dave

Greetings,

Found a source in Hungary.

Thanks to eBay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PIANO-WIRE-Ori ... A#shpCntId

What a selection! Pricing is reasonable for making obsolete springs.

Cheers,

Dave

Greetings,

Got a package in the mail from Hungary.

It contains #11 1/2 Music Wire. (0,70 mm diameter.)

Now I can wind my Unique DES-69 recoil spring, properly.

For the curious, it is Röslau Blau from Germany. Reviewing the spec sheets, it is top quality.

Cheers,

Dave

Where do I get my tools?

When I was installing phone & data systems in commercial buildings, I would usually find them in the ceiling.

Drills, flashlights, screw drivers, punch tools, you name it.

Rover wrote:Where do I get my tools?

When I was installing phone & data systems in commercial buildings, I would usually find them in the ceiling.

Drills, flashlights, screw drivers, punch tools, you name it.

Hand-rolled "cigarettes", little plastic baggies full of "oregano"...

Shhh.....I'll never tell.