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aradru

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« on: April 29, 2012, 02:35:31 AM »

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« Last Edit: October 13, 2015, 01:29:22 AM by . »
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malcolmbebb

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2012, 12:16:58 PM »

I will leave the advice on spring tension for the experts, but would suggest that copper is a very unlikely material for springs.  It will work harden and break very quickly. I would be thinking phosphor bronze, but I don't know how it compares with steel.

I don't think stretching would be the way to go, and trying to compress them, if successful, not much better so personally I would be thinking about looking for alternatives.

I believe there are those here who do make their own springs. It might help if you can describe the size and material of the springs you want to replace, and maybe identify the box.

Cheers
Malcolm
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Anahata

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2012, 01:05:16 PM »

On melodeons where different spring strengths are needed for inner and outer rows (to get the actual button pressure the same with different leverage), this is achieved by using different thickness of (steel) spring wire. I'd suggest choosing your wire gauge for spring strength in the same way.

Copper is soft - when you bend it, it stays bent, so it's useless for springs. Maybe phosphor bronze, but steel of the right thickness should be fine.
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Theo

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2012, 01:32:06 PM »

If your box has coil springs then softer springing can be achieved by using springs with on or two more coils.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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blafleur

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2012, 02:49:54 PM »

I lighten coil springs by using a screwdriver (I keep one sharpened just for this, but sharpened not necessary) that I push in the coil. Each time you push it in it opens that coil ever so slightly, lightening the tension.  I have a keyboard holding jig that I use to hold the key board with the pallets as they would be on the accordion, and a cut out to get to the springs.

blafleur

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2012, 03:10:48 PM »

It's my standard.  When I install springs, I install them where they are slightly heavy in tension, then adjust each one to where I want them.  I do that because some people like lighter tension and some like heavier.  I don't see any  problems to come of doing it that way, other than trying to spread them too  much.  Since you're lightening an existing accordion, you probably won't be going very far with it.  If you do it this way, just go very slow until you get the hang of it.  Kind of like tuning a reed.

Bill Young

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2012, 05:23:20 PM »


I am also interested in any information on how to make your own springs.


Here are some links to spring making. I've used a jig like this one on YouTube to make small tension springs, though I wound them by hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQBbGF4-t4s

Here's a different type of spring, from the Bernard Loffet website:
http://diato.org/trucs/fabr_ressorts/image001.htm

And a much longer article:
http://home.earthlink.net/~bazillion/intro.html

I found a supplier of various diameters of spring steel wire, i.e. piano wire, on eBay.
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rees

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2014, 09:43:14 PM »

I suppose it just softened the tension in the steel. I wouldn't think it's too good a method as once the steel loses temper then the springs might keep stretching.

I've not tried Bryan's sharpened screwdriver method but it sounds good. So far, I've always fitted longer springs if I need to lighten the action.

Emmanuel Pariselle gave me a long length of coil spring that I simply cut off the length of spring required then bend out the two end loops. This is now getting quite short. If anyone knows where to buy this kind of thing please post here.
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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rees

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2014, 10:08:44 PM »

The action was definitely lighter.

I'll see if Charlie sells it in longer lengths.
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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Theo

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2014, 11:59:20 PM »

Perhaps Carini?  item 30042 MOLLE A SPIRALE BAYAN 0.45 D mm 8.45 X L cm 25
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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rees

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2014, 11:11:47 AM »

Thanks Theo, 8.45mm diameter is too big.
I was in Carini in July and asked them but they didn't have anything suitable, although Emmanuel said that he got his from Carini.
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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Theo

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2014, 11:01:07 PM »

I would not want to just stretch the whole spring, it's too hard to control.  I've not done this myself, but if I had to I would just bend the end coil away from the body of the spring. The end coil that has been turned through a right angle to form a hook will also need some adjustment to put it back in the correct position.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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Theo

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2014, 11:10:52 PM »

All the earthly springs have been used to anchor the lander to the comet.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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Pete Dunk

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2014, 11:28:28 PM »

Thanks Theo, 8.45mm diameter is too big.

Yes I can see that piano/harp wire 8.45mm in diameter with only one turn might produce a spring that was a tad heavy for a trebuchet never mind a melodeon!  ;D
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Broadland Boy

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2014, 01:27:05 AM »

If you know anyone who had been involved in telecoms maintenance pre electronic era (or keep an eye on ebay) you may be lucky enough to see or even acquire some of the weird and wonderful array of special tools for spring or contact (leaf spring) bending, which at simplest can be made from a bit of wire say 1/8th - 3/16th dia with a slot cut for the spring at one end with a junior hack or piercing saw and bent at 90 degrees at the other end. with a pair of these (or one and a pair of pliers) remote springs can be set or tweaked with precision.

In addition to the adjusting tools, the GPO /BT also equipped their guys with a set of spring force gauges so a prescribed value could be checked or set - these go nicely with one of those fur edged hood garments on another thread :o
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rees

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Re: SPRING TENSION
« Reply #15 on: November 13, 2014, 12:12:44 PM »

0.45 D mm 8.45 X L cm 25

0.45 is the diameter of the wire.
8.45 is the diameter of the coil.
25 cm is the length of the coil.
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Rees Wesson (accordion builder and mechanic)
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