Removing mainspring from the barrel

[GuyMontag]

I acquired a set of mainspring winders and wanted to practice removing and then replacing the mainspring in a scrap movement. Popping the lid on the barrel did not go well as the mainspring... sprung. See a video of how I opened it here.

So, a couple of questions.

1. I had the barrel on a solid piece of plastic while pressing down on the teeth. Should the arbor be on something flat and hard like an anvil, or should the arbor be in a hole on the anvil?

2. Should I have pressed down with only one finger while using another finger to stabilize the lid of the barrel so it doesn't pop off?

[watchweasol]

If you are going to use that method do it in a plastic bag. Usually it is sufficient to keep a finger on the barrel lid to prevent the flyers.

[GuyMontag]

Thanks, I'll keep a finger on that next time

 

 

[ifibrin]

The arbor has to be on a flat hard surface, so that when you press on the teeth on the rim of the barrel, the arbor will be pushing up against the barrel cover. I recommend you use this method with the barrel complete inside a tiny ziplock bag.

[Endeavor]

Welcome to the "it happened to us all"; but only once