Workshop Hints
Sources of steel for suspensions, clicks and soft iron wire etc.
The British Horological Institute has provided a digest based on e-mails sent to the Clock/ClockerSmiths mailing lists on the Internet. The information here does not necessarily indicate a method approved by the BHI, we are only publishing this digest so that others can decide for themselves whether the methods listed below will suit them.
Based on E-mails from: Dave Dibley, Alan Heldman, Eliot Isaacs FBHI, Peter Mak, Ron Schorr
Suspensions and clicks
When it is necessary to replace a suspension or click spring and it is not a standard, or you have not got a spare, it is necessary to make a replacement. Often the hardest part is finding a source of material to make the item out of!. For Suspensions and click springs there are a couple of very accessible sources of steel.
- Old Mainsprings. worn out and broken mainsprings still have enough springiness left in the to be used very easily.
- Feeler Gauges. These can be purchased in most high streets from either a car spares/garage or most DIY shops. If you use a lot of one size, 12" strips of feeler gauge steel can be bought from Moore & Wright (UK) or Starrett (USA) and most engineering supplies outlets. This steel can be blued if required
Soft Iron Wire
In lots of European clocks, the levers etc. are secured using a small piece of soft iron wire. This wire can be obtained from two places.
- Wire Used for securing new mainsprings. This wire that comes with new mainsprings is very good, and free. It will probably need to be pulled through a Draw Plate to reduce it to a useable size. These plates are available through most tool suppliers. They are very expensive, but the do last a lifetime.
- Florist shops. It is sold in small bundles for dried flower arrangents
Soft Magnetic Iron (for high performance relays magnets etc that are sometimes used in electric clocks)
- Purchased from: Hutchinson & Dibley, Ltd. Unit 4, Wessex Rd. Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5DE United Kingdom
Clock fan friction springs
- The friction springs on strike and chime fans can be replaced by using small pieces of watch mainspring. This is can be purchased with the required with and thickness to fit all types of fans.
