Bent Spring

[beresman]

I'm working on a knife for someone, and discovered that the spring for the main blade is bent. When I go to put it together, the end where the spring is pinned twists around and it won't go together straight. I'm thinking about pinning both ends and then trying to weasel the spring into place, but I don't know how well that will work.

The other option would be to try to straighten the spring, but I'm worried about either making it worse, or breaking it. I'm looking for input from the experts on what my best course of action should be. Any ideas, fellas?

[ScoutKnives]

[ea42]

Brent put it in a vise right up to the point that the bend starts (with the bent portion sticking out). I like to do this with the spring parallel to the ground in which case it's sticking out of the side of the vise. Get a decent size hammer, something with the weight of a regular construction hammer and give it a rap or two on the side, at the end of the spring. Not too hard but not soft either as you're trying to bend the spring and too light will just make it bounce. Don't smash it either, you just want to overcome the springiness to cause a bit of a bend. Once you do that take it out of the vise and check it on a flat surface. If not straightened go back and try it again until it's straightened out.

Another method is to lay it flat on a piece of steel or anvil with the bent portion flat on the steel with both ends raised a bit,like a vee. Tap on the bend with a ballpeen hammer hard enough to make a little dimple, many times. This will cause the steel to spread which in turn will straighten the spring. This takes a bit of practice but it does work, although if you hit near the edge you'll be able to see that dimple once the knife is together so there is some finesse involved.

Eric

[beresman]

Brent put it in a vise right up to the point that the bend starts (with the bent portion sticking out). I like to do this with the spring parallel to the ground in which case it's sticking out of the side of the vise. Get a decent size hammer, something with the weight of a regular construction hammer and give it a rap or two on the side, at the end of the spring. Not too hard but not soft either as you're trying to bend the spring and too light will just make it bounce. Don't smash it either, you just want to overcome the springiness to cause a bit of a bend. Once you do that take it out of the vise and check it on a flat surface. If not straightened go back and try it again until it's straightened out.

Another method is to lay it flat on a piece of steel or anvil with the bent portion flat on the steel with both ends raised a bit,like a vee. Tap on the bend with a ballpeen hammer hard enough to make a little dimple, many times. This will cause the steel to spread which in turn will straighten the spring. This takes a bit of practice but it does work, although if you hit near the edge you'll be able to see that dimple once the knife is together so there is some finesse involved.

Eric

Thanks, Eric--it was less than perfect, but it did work for me...now to get this thing back together right!