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Forming Wire
I am putting a new seat cover and foam padding in my truck (1970 3/4T Chevy). When I got all the soft stuff off I discovered two broken springs. I went up and bought some piano wire in 5/32" thickness to make the new springs. Bending the wire is proving a challenge for my "shop". I tried clamping a tire iron to the work bench and forming the wire over it, but I'm not enjoying this. I've seen that there are forming tools for this, but for two springs, I'm not excited about buying them. Is there anyone close to me that can form them? I'm in Simi Valley, CA. I'd gladly pay for the work instead of buying tools that I'll probably never use again. The springs aren't available for a 53 year old truck.
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~Steven |
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can you find similar springs in other seats?
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Pat |
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I did think of that, but I was talking to my youngest brother about it this afternoon, and he came up with a couple of jigs to form the wire. He worked as a fabricator for some major companies. I can't believe I didn't think of asking him first.
I might have to buy a couple more $4 pieces of wire after our experiments, but that's better than no seat springs. The main problem is that the wire available locally is 36"; 40" would have made it possible without fudging the shape. I'm convinced that I'll be dead before a couple of "off" bends wreck the seat.
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~Steven |
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auto seat spring suppliers
Auto restoration professionals are keen to find "supply houses" that supply
hose, clips, extrusions, seals, bolts, and etc.etc.etc. for producing good useable automobiles - (but also can have "onsie-twosie" custom springs made by a machinist who has a winding setup - or sourcing a "springworks" for a production run.) I have worked in resto shops over many years who have used all sources. (I helped one owner find Studebaker Golden Hawke seat springs for his resto-mod last year. I'm now un-wrinkling the stainless body side moldings for it.) Perhaps one of these might help you? https://www.albrightssupply.com/springs American Trim in Oklahoma (http://www.atrim.com) Gilbreath (http://www.upholsterysupply.com/index.html) https://www.upholsteryconnection.com...s/coil-springs
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Kent http://www.tinmantech.com "All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919. |
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Thanks for the links! We (mostly my brother) bent them into shape. They are now installed. When it's cool in the morning tomorrow, I will put the foam and seat covers on.
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~Steven |
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I see you have solved your problem - well done.
Here in my third-world city, we have a spring manufacturer who can make any spring. Further to that, he has a room upstairs with boxes and boxes of overruns and rejects that are astounding and sold by weight or eyeball price. Surely you must have many spring manufacturers in CA? Springs can be shortened, modified etc. to suit purpose. I would begin, by sourcing an existing item to be modded, then if unsuccessful, looking to manufacture a replacement.
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Manny Remember that the best of men, are only men at best. |
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