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Re-Temper Gun Spring?

rljonesrljones Member Posts: 34 ✭✭
edited February 2010 in Ask the Experts
Can older gun springs be re-tempered to regain there original strength? This would be very useful if it were possible. If so, can someone explain the process? Thanks
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  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes. sometimes. If is was in a fire and lost its temper it may or not be possible. Heat can raise its temperature enough to soften it - lose its temper. Heat, if so hot as to burn out its carbon content. makes it impossible to retemper.

    It won't hurt to try. Heat it red hot and plunge it into oil, to make it glass hard. It's now too brittle to bend and would break easily. Make a little tray from the bottom of a food can, about half inch deep, and beat it to make the bottom flat - at least flat enough so oil won't all run away into the edges. Put in about half teaspoon of oil (I use SAE 30 cheapest motor oil) and put your spring in the oily tray. Heat it from below till the oil catches fire and let it burn off. When it cools clean it up a little and try it. It will either be a spring again or it won't.

    This applies mainly to fairly thick springs, like mainsprings. Fine thin springs are another thing. Be prepared for a lot of smoke.
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