Watc Click Springs

[Tmuir]

Does anyone here make click springs for watches that you can no longer buy the parts for?

Just wondering what material you use for the springs?

I'm assuming stainless steel spring wire would do, but does anyone know of a supplier that sells the spring wire fine enough?

[Chopin]

Indeed, steel spring wire is the one that you need. I had a hard time finding it myself and I had to ask someone that knows someone to send me a little bit.

I can't remember the thickness though... Think it was 0,4mm...

I think it shouldn't be hard to find but usually you'll find it in coils of a kilogram or maybe even more which would cost quite a bit...

This link below might be useful. Plenty of stuff to find in China. Have to admit I needed this some time ago but didn't think of trying ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1m-Long-0-2mm-4mm-Diameter-Spring-Wire-304-Stainless-Steel-Hard-Steel-Wire-Top-/282322747163?var=581422849781&hash=item41bbbf3f1b:m:mq9AOrPEvNtZp0K6XzIrDbg

Edited September 2, 2017 by Chopin

[Tmuir]

I thought it would be finer than 0.4mm, will need to measure one in the next watch I strip down.

0.4mm is 27SWG, which you can pick up reasonably from model engineering supply shops such as Reeves 2000.

Anything finer than 0.4mm starts getting trickier though.

My other hobby is restoring toy and sometimes model live steam engines and I regularly need to make new springs for the safety valves, which I used phosphor bronze spring wire for.

 

Of course some click spring are made of flat wire, and I haven't found a source for that at all.

[rogart63]

Sure do. Cousinsuk have an assortment of 100 pieces of click spring. There is usually something to modify . Have some old AS and FHF click springs that i use also. Music wire is the best i think if you want to do it yourself. But need to be thinner then 0,4 mm . Hardest is those that have flat springs like in some ETA movements. 

BTW they are called shepards hook springs on cousisnuk . https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/shepherds-hook-springs-wristwatch

Edited September 2, 2017 by rogart63

[Chopin]

My mistake. I was talking about this click spring wire.

The wire that you need will indeed be thinner than that. I'm assuming it's usually 0.2, maybe 0.3 in some cases. I play guitar but never thought of using worn guitar strings... Might give it a try one day... Good to know.

[jdrichard]

Try using guitar strings


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