Thread: Re tension a spring?

When you are happy with the tension after bending then bring it to a full cherry red on a piece of flat steel by heating under the steel then allow to air cool. It is now fully annealed. Repeat the performance to cherry red and flick the spring into a can of engine oil. It is now dead hard and brittle so be careful. Polish the spring to a bright finish with fine wet & dry paper and replace on the steel plate and gently reheat the plate until the spring is a nice blue colour, then flick back into oil. You now have a spring which will hold tension. The secret to refitting the springs to avoid straining them is to get one leg in the correct position then carefully ease the spring into place over the other side using a small thin bladed screwdriver.