GentlemanJim Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 After many go arounds with springs, Main springs and recoil springs. I plan to manufacture a simple spring tester that tests recoil springs and main springs in 2011 1911 platforms As the user of such...would you prefer?? 1 a non mounted ...hand held tool 2 a more substantial wall mounted tool 3 a more substantial bench mounted tool Thanks for any input! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Jim, some thoughts.... Easily portable, so I can carry it in the bag. Relatively inexpensive - I don't need accuracy to a 100th of a pound or anything, so a super-crazy-high-zoot scale isn't required. However, balance price with quality, sturdy construction - I'd like to have a nice tool, not a cheap, flimsy thing that dies after I use it twice or that I have to baby a lot. If it could fit into a Dillon 650 caliber conversion box (or break down to that size) that would be a plus - that means roughly the size of a 5" guiderod? Those boxes are perfect for carrying stuff in the bag... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Thanks Dave! The parts I manufacture will be bullet proof....the scale will be an inexpensive one...and the only breakable part. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 After seeing your receiver and upper... I figured as much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Jim, can I get dibs on a beta part to test? I think this will be a valuable tool to all of us, we will be changing springs based on REAL information and not guessing. Keeping springs in the window is absolutely essential to maintaining the best possible performance in a racegun and I am really glad Jim is going to move forward with the design and build. It will be AWESOME, he doesn't do anything less!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I would like to see a prortable one that I could use my own scale with. = That way the user could perchase a 10$ fish scale or a $50.00 scale to use. The holder is the thing, I made a few atempts but was disapointed with what I had. IF you made a holder that the user could "hook" his own scale to that would be very cool and keep the cost down. That would be ultra cool if it would work with main springs too jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cking Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I want two measurements, pressure when closed and pressure when open. Something like drop in tube, with two marks on a plunger, that I can mark it so that it minicks my spring tunnel. I do that now with a fish scale, a recoil rod and cap stuck in a vise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Howabout versatility, as in capable of measuring different springs for different guns. 6" 5" and 4.25 1911's as well as other gun designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Two roads to choose from? 1...functional with a little fluff...looks cooler..costs more. 2...absolute simplicity...lowest cost. Thanks Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyinBlue Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Jim, can I get dibs on a beta part to test? I think this will be a valuable tool to all of us, we will be changing springs based on REAL information and not guessing. Keeping springs in the window is absolutely essential to maintaining the best possible performance in a racegun and I am really glad Jim is going to move forward with the design and build. It will be AWESOME, he doesn't do anything less!! Howard...I remember Beta testing your magazines so, I think this is an excellent idea. I will instruct Jim to send you the 2nd one he makes...cuz you know who's gettin the 1st one. Or it's Tofu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Go for the nice one. The absolute-lowest-cost folks will have made their own from a long bolt or other random chunk of metal by now... The cool thing would be if it could be made small, including the scale, and rapid-fire, so you could run through a batch of springs quickly. Maybe a little stubby spring-scale could be made since the range of springs is only going to be in the 7-20 lb kind of range. A hydraulic pressure setup would be nice too, but probably a little too many $ A caliper-style design might be entertaining as well. Wouldn't be super small, but could be thin. Oh yeah, make a bunch of cheap quick clip-on weight tags to go with it-- maybe a little plastic or metal marked cylinder that goes inside the spring and has a feature to grab on and hold it there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Frank Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Even though I made one from a long bolt, the biggest problem I had to "accurate measurements" was the scale. Until I found a fishing scale that would retain the measurement upon completion (like the RCBS 8lb trigger scale), I found the device kinda undesirable to use. I'll take one. Good luck with the venture...Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CenTX Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 (edited) Jim, Being able to test mainsprings as well recoil springs would be great. I have a bunch of main springs I'd like to check. A tester small enough to go in the toolbox and be made in such a way that you could put it in a vise on the work bench if desired. I have the SDM unit you can borrow if that would help you any. It is only marked for 5" springs. Edited April 25, 2008 by CenTX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted April 25, 2008 Author Share Posted April 25, 2008 Thanks guys! The sdm unit costs $65.00 I want a tool at half that price...or less Compact and easy to use I have a prototype idea for a range bag type tool... Going out to the mill and lathe...will post pics soon for your critique Keep your preferences coming...I am creating a tool that meets YOUR needs Thanks Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastshooter03 Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Ours are portable and simple. So that would probably be the way to go. Some people are unorganized (not me of course!) so how bout making some nice Poundage tags to go on each recoil spring after you know what it is? Now we are using cut up credit cards with a hole drilled in them. Can't afford a nice pouch(see--cut up credit cards). Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyinBlue Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Ours are portable and simple. So that would probably be the way to go. Some people are unorganized (not me of course!) so how bout making some nice Poundage tags to go on each recoil spring after you know what it is? Now we are using cut up credit cards with a hole drilled in them. Can't afford a nice pouch(see--cut up credit cards). Nick Help me out a little...when you say "ours are portable and simple" who are you referring to and do you have pic? And those tags have been on my mind too. I hate it when a spring is out of the package, on the work bench, right next to 4 or 5 other springs and no clue as to which one is which. cut up credit cards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLM Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 And those tags have been on my mind too. I hate it when a spring is out of the package, on the work bench, right next to 4 or 5 other springs and no clue as to which one is which. Yep, I think I've thrown away more recoil springs than I've used, LOL! Sturdy and basic get my vote. Maybe sometime some sort of a conversion so you could check "other" springs like CZ, EAA, Beretta, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CenTX Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Ours are portable and simple. So that would probably be the way to go. Some people are unorganized (not me of course!) so how bout making some nice Poundage tags to go on each recoil spring after you know what it is? Now we are using cut up credit cards with a hole drilled in them. Can't afford a nice pouch(see--cut up credit cards). Nick Help me out a little...when you say "ours are portable and simple" who are you referring to and do you have pic? And those tags have been on my mind too. I hate it when a spring is out of the package, on the work bench, right next to 4 or 5 other springs and no clue as to which one is which. cut up credit cards? You can buy thin, round, plastic tubing a little bigger than the recoil sprins and caps/plugs for them. Put the weight on a little piece of paper and slide it in the tube. Another possibility would be plastice "Shooter" tubes from the bar supply, $.10 - $.15 each., but you wouuld still need caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I want one , Tell me ware and how much to send , If you want to test breakability = I have a buddy that can break a steel ball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Nanci, thanks so much!! Jim, maybe we can trade for an Open gun if you are as backed up as I am LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AikiDale Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I want one , Tell me ware and how much to send ,If you want to test breakability = I have a buddy that can break a steel ball Have we met? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Ok here is a prototype. The rod used for the mandril are just cheap stuff ...real ones would be made from precision rod stock the mandril and bushings for mainsprings are not shown...no suitable material in hand this is just a quick proto...no flaming The marks on the mandril are read in the slot in the carrier What think ?? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMITH Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 That is a heck of a lot nicer than the one I made..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Looks good to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I want one , Tell me ware and how much to send ,If you want to test breakability = I have a buddy that can break a steel ball Have we met? No but Stuart is famous. he can break guns by just looking at them close. And the guy can rust stainless steel with just a touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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