main spring and v springs

[jsemko]

i have tried and tried to make some main springs for an old musket that i have and have very discouraging results the first few looked nice and fit right but i could not get  them to temper not sure if it was the steel or the procces seing that bi have really no idea what i am doing any one have info on what type of steel will work well and a process that can be dont at home 

[FrankG]

1/8" 1095 spring steel stock , motor oil and a tuna can . Files , sand paper and a good propane torch.

[jsemko]

what is the process for tempering

[FrankG]

After polishing nice and shiny heat until just orange and quench in coffee can full of motor oil swirling until cool , watch out for oil flashing off. Polish all the gunk off of spring with sandpaper. Be sure there arent any file marks or such across the leaves or on bends , they will crack . Put the spring in tuna can setting it on a brick and prop up one sidewith a piece of steel son the spring lays down in the corner of can and add enough oil to cover the spring by about an 1/8" . Using your propane torch slowly heat the oil up so you dont blow oil out of can or heat spring with flame . What you are wanting is the oil to catch fire and burn without help of torch once lit off so you need the oil preheated to keep burning. Once it lites and stays lit you just babysit it till its all burnt up and let spring cool on its own . Now just clean the black goo off with WD40 and steel wool and yer done .

Sounds hokey huh !!! It do work , believe me 

[jsemko]

sounds good ....
as far as honky i have been harassed by th locals for riding my mower next door to get more beer

[pathfinder]

Took the words right out of my mouth Frank. Started using that method a couple of years ago and works perfectly every time,but it MUST not have any scratches like you said. Alot of hard work down the tubes if ya don't polish