Need lens spring, where buy?

peter k. · Jun 19, 2016

Well did some research and these Kodak Extar 101mm f4.5 Synchro rapid 800 Shutters are ... ah.. PIA.. as they are not dependable, most will not CLA.. so got nothing to lose... making it a learning curve..
Took it apart.. and found why it won't cock.. broken spring.. so from whom, or where does one look to find a spring.. thinking of Ace Hardware.. which I will try today as I go about some errands.. but what are some better sources?
Thanks.. p.

paul ron · Jun 19, 2016

pictures? which spring?

if you google that shutter, the can be bought for $20 or less to be used for parts or even in working condition.

Jerevan · Jun 19, 2016

Possibly too expensive to ship across the pond and maybe they don't have what you are looking for Peter, but I am posting this here anyways: Dead Link Removed

peter k. · Jun 19, 2016

Someone today suggested Piano Wire, and make my own.. anyone have any experience with this?
I'll see if I can't take a shot of the spring tomorrow..

shutterfinger · Jun 19, 2016

peter k. said:
so from whom, or where does one look to find a spring

The Kodak parts store. (couldn't resist).

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I tried it once, don't have a lathe so I used two drills and turned the chucks by hand. The spring turned out 25% larger than the dowel it was wound on.

If an end is broken off yours then you can reform a turn or two from the broken off end into the needed hook to reattach it. More than 4 turns broken off and I would make a new one.

paul ron · Jun 19, 2016

Without knowing what kind of spring it is but by your suggestion to use piano wire....

For some DIY springs Ive made using electric guitar strings. they come in a wide variety of gauges. But that's for single loop type springs.. not coiled springs.

But as the post above.. if the end is broken then reforming it to keep its post is very plausible and will have very little effect on the action.

peter k. · Jun 20, 2016

Oh that was an interesting effort at making a coiled spring.. thankfully its a simple spring.. and since the local hardware was closed yesterday we will try today, it shows they have 'Music Wire' .. four pieces.. so will give it a try..Have no hope in getting this lens working properly but its good for learning sequences.

paul ron · Jun 20, 2016

thats an easy one to make. yes the music wire will work just fine.

match the gage as closely as you can. i like electric guitar steel strings since you have more variety in sizes per set and its very cheap.

StephenT · Jun 20, 2016

I also was going to recommend winding or making your own. Lot's of posts available on how. Hobby stores have a little thingy to wind jewelry "springs," I think it is made by Artistic for about $10. I use guitar strings. Remember you have to heat them - I use a toaster oven outside.

peter k. · Jun 20, 2016

Ah.. you mean you have to heat them to bend them?
If so, for my need.. all I would have to do is just apply a little heat to where it has to turn around the post, and not the whole length, as if you where making a coil spring. Correct?

shutterfinger · Jun 20, 2016

http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/springs/springs.html applies to making torsion springs (what you have) as well as the expansion springs shown.
"This next bit, including the following few pictures show the method I use to heat the springs.
They have to be stress relieved after the winding process, or they won't hold their shape well.
If you don't do this step, the springs won't be as springy as they should be, and can easily
be stretched out of shape.
I make a nest for them using steel wool and foil. Put the springs on one half of the steel wool.
Fold the steel wool over to make a sandwich.
Fold the foil lightly around the wool to make a loose packet.
Pop it in the oven. This little toaster oven does a good job on music wire. I put it on its highest
setting, which is 450f, and leave them for an hour, then turn off the oven and let it cool naturally.
It takes about an hour and a half, and that's why I make extra springs. The five springs took me
about 10 minutes to make, but 1 1/2 hours to cook and cool. If I only made one spring, and messed
it up after cooking, I'd have to start all over again.
There is another way to do the heating thing. You can use a small can, like a tuna can, fill it half full
of brass shavings, put the springs in, and fill it the rest of the way with shavings. It does the same
thing. I find the steel wool way more convenient.

AgX · Jun 20, 2016

StephenT said:
Hobby stores have a little thingy to wind jewelry "springs," I think it is made by Artistic for about $10.

That thingy:

AgX · Jun 20, 2016

StephenT said:
I use guitar strings. Remember you have to heat them - I use a toaster oven outside.

Heating a guitar wire is detrimental to the spring characteristic, its elasticity.
It then needs a hardening process again.

StephenT · Jun 20, 2016

AgX: Yep, that is the thingy. Should I NOT temper a guitar string?? I remember, I think, from my metallurgy studies decades ago, that tempering will indeed reduce a iron based alloy's hardness, and will make it more ductile, thus less brittle. I haven't had a problem yet, but am relatively new to making my own springs. If I need to do something differently, or to use different wire, now would be a good time to learn. I use guitar strings since I have a plethora from which to choose - I buy them in bulk and can thus alter my stringing by a gauge or two if I choose, depending upon the guitar being restrung (not enough change to warrant a tweak of the truss rod or the bridge).

AgX · Jun 21, 2016

StephenT said:
I remember, I think, from my metallurgy studies decades ago, that tempering will indeed reduce a iron based alloy's hardness, and will make it more ductile, thus less brittle.

Just heating will make metal softer. But it also reduces its elasticity. So you would be able to coil it more easily when hot, and cold again it still will give less resistance. But it also looses its ability to form back when strain is released.

Denverdad · Jun 25, 2016

A very thorough reference I found many years ago for DIY spring-making is a website by one Dave Silberstein. Apparently Mr. Silberstein is no longer with us, but you can find an archived version of his website here, or you can download this PDF version of that information.

peter k. said:
Ah.. you mean you have to heat them to bend them?
If so, for my need.. all I would have to do is just apply a little heat to where it has to turn around the post, and not the whole length, as if you where making a coil spring. Correct?

You don't need to heat the wire to bend it (and probably shouldn't). The treatment they are referring to above is done after the spring has been formed, with the goal of providing a level of stress relief to the finished item.

paul ron · Jul 7, 2016

well peter?

Need lens spring, where buy?

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