Spring steel?

[inchpincher]

I tried to weld a piece of steel rod to what I think is hardened spring steel... Anyway it produced a white powdery residue and lost it's springyness (ie deformed when bent). Why, please?!?!

It's a trip switch from a speedo and i notice the adapters at both ends are glued... which is what I'll be doing now!

Thanks.

 

[Hitch]

My guesses are the heat from welding made it loose its springyness...and the white stuff, id guess the spring was zinc plated...?

 

[shenion]

Yeah, looks like galv plating. Have seen it generate what looked like white cocoon.

 

[storm monkey]

Yeah, the spring will have undergone a probably fairly complex and precise heat treatment. Melting it and then letting is cool slowly will anneal it, making it softer. Also, the filler material will have altered the metallurgical (try saying that after a few) composition, and totally changed the material properties.

Phil

 

[inchpincher]

Thank you fellas.

 

[dannyweld]

hi, you cant heat up spring steel simple as that, have done a tour in a spring factory and most springs are made out of normal bright mild or 304 stainless wire, its the forming that creates the springyness (if theres such a word)

 

[gaz_moose]

a good game is to blast old car suspension springs with an oxy torch and watch them deform.