Has anyone ever made a spring bar or know anything about how they are made?

[Titanium]

Spring bars must be one of the most overlook parts of a watch. Nearly every watch has them but they go unnoticed but stop £10 watches and Rolex's from plummeting to earth. I'm curios about how they are made and if anyone and shed any light on their manufacture? Literally anything is of interest to me.

[jdm]

Good question. The "Tube and pipe Journal" has some answers

https://www.thefabricator.com/tubepipejournal/article/shopmanagement/taking-big-strides-with-small-diameter-tubing

While I think the final size is made with pilgering as mentioned in the above, some details

https://www.thefabricator.com/tubepipejournal/article/tubepipeproduction/introducing-cold-pilger-mill-technology

I'm not sure if they start with a welded, or seamless tube. The ends, or beads are certainly cold pressed to shape. Assembly could be more or less automated.

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by jdm

[Titanium]

57 minutes ago, jdm said:

Good question. The "Tube and pipe Journal" has some answers

https://www.thefabricator.com/tubepipejournal/article/shopmanagement/taking-big-strides-with-small-diameter-tubing

While I think the final size is made with pilgering as mentioned in the above, some details

https://www.thefabricator.com/tubepipejournal/article/tubepipeproduction/introducing-cold-pilger-mill-technology

I'm not sure if they start with a welded, or seamless tube. The ends, or beads are certainly cold pressed to shape. Assembly could be more or less automated.

 

Thanks for the info. Given the cheap price they must be stamped out in seconds by machines. Do you have any idea how the tube would be clamped/sealed around the "pins"?

[jdm]

2 minutes ago, Titanium said:

Thanks for the info. Given the cheap price they must be stamped out in seconds by machines. Do you have any idea how the tube would be clamped/sealed around the "pins"?

With a small die press. That part can easily be done at home too.

[Titanium]

6 minutes ago, jdm said:

With a small die press. That part can easily be done at home too.

So with a lathe, a die press and a spring, spring bars could be made in the watch work shop?

[jdm]

Just now, Titanium said:

So with a lathe, a die press and a spring, spring bars could be made in the watch work shop?

If in dire needs a repairer would probably adapt an existing one. No need to make it from scratch.