Bronze Spring Strip

[durhambuilder]

The regulator in my 5" Ajax calls for a bronze spring made out of flat strip. I only need a little piece about 1/4" wide by 1" long so can any body suggest a source or perhaps an everyday item that may have once been thrown out and is hoarded in the back of my garage which could contain something suitable?

Thanks

[gee]

What thickness?

i have some.

Gee.

[durhambuilder]

Thanks for the offer, to be honest I'm not sure how thick it should be, the drawing just says bronze spring strip, I would guess 10 thou or so but willing to be corrected if anybody knows better.

[SteveW]

Have you considered the springy contacts on those little 4-1/2 volt flat batteries?

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31494

[DaveD.]

Hi Folks

May I just stick a cautionary note in here. If you wish to re-cycle electrical bits, be aware that they may be beryllium-copper.
This is a very toxic material if ingested or the filings get into cuts.
Carcinogenic if inhaled. I nearly lost two fingers on my right hand due to filing the stuff. The cuts took weeks to heal.
Severely degraded my ability to give the Agincourt Salute and other antics enacted by young lads.
Look it up. Please !
Dave

[houstonceng]

A good source of bronze spring strip used to be the metal draft excluder strip that could be nailed on the door-jam on the gap betwixt door and frame. That is, before "plastic" took over.

I had the last reel of the stuff from a local hardware shop and, sadly, have none left (used some, gave some away - - - mislaid the rest ?)

Maybe there's some old stock lurking in the back-room of a pre-B&Q shop near you.

[SteveW]

Dave,

I know all about beryllium-copper and it's very good at being very springing. I've encountered it providing ECM seals on electronic kit.

A simple cut warrants all the paperwork necessary to declare and industrial injury. Years ago I was chatting to a mate at is bench. He had loads of odd bit of b-copper. I outlined the danger of getting cut by the stuff. His reply was that he was always getting cut by it. He died in his mid forties with and industrial type cancer. He didn't smoke and his dad is a sprightly eight five something.

I would guess that the battery contacts I outlined are more likely to be a springy brass.

[DaveD.]

Hi Steve

Yes, probably safe with battery contacts. Unfortunately no Accident Book or Factories Act stuff in my shed in 1969 !

I got the stuff from K R Whiston to replace the operating bars on a big contactor, 12VDC coil & 40A 30VDC contacts. Not rivetted properly, bars had arced around the contacts. I replaced them and soldered in the contacts into the bars. Device worked fine, digits not so good.

Did not cut deeply, just cut skin as it was sheared strip. The bars were polished up with 1200 wet & dry and oil.
Material looked nice, but never again

dave

[paul]

Would stainless be any use instead?

[gee]

Just E Mail me your Addy & i will send you some.
[e-mail]
Cheers,
Gee

[arch1947]

G'Day, I guess this is probably resolved now but, the contact arms of relays are often springs, probably beryllium/copper, but they may do the job.

Arch