Where to find a spring for a drill chuck?

[toolmiser]

I have a small hand drill that I found at a garage sale. It's in pretty good shape, but the springs are missing from the hand "chuck". I tried at local Ace hardware, but theirs are a little too big. I've also tried one from a pen, but that is also just a little too large (diameter) Are most springs from pens about the same? Is there a possibility that this one never had them- but has holes drilled to accept them. Any ideas where to find one. Thanks

[Boatman53]

Try taking apart a Bic disposable lighter. I've saved a couple of springs from under the flint, and I believe they will work for you. It's been a number of years since I did it so I hope they haven't changed the design.
Jim

[Admiral]

If you have the old spring, or another one from the chuck, measure the diameter of the wire, then go to a music store and buy a mandolin wire string, find something that you can wind it around to get the OD of the original spring, and wind a few. I've done this successfully in the past, for my Yankee drills in my user kit, which are now working like they should.

[lilrichard2]

Boatman53 said:

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Try taking apart a Bic disposable lighter. I've saved a couple of springs from under the flint, and I believe they will work for you. It's been a number of years since I did it so I hope they haven't changed the design.
Jim

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Jim,

You've listed a number of good ideas, that I've never seen before, over the years I've observed your posts. Have you ever considered putting them together in a booklet form? If not, i think you should do so.

Oh, thanks for the tip, and for the OP making the post - I have the same need and have not seen such a simple solution before.

Riichard

[Boatman53]

Richard, I come from a long line of scroungers. I should share some of the 'tools' that I found in cleaning out my Dads and Uncles houses.
Jim

[Mike Brady]

I bought some new springs from this source: http://www.georgesbasement.com/
This was a few years ago, but the site is active and he should answer your inquiry. He will need information about the make and model of your drill.

[MikeS.]

I bought springs from McMaster Carr that worked great. Measure the diameter of the hole the spring goes in, I used a drill bit to get the size. Also measure the depth of the hole and double it for the length of the spring( the spring must compress all the way down into the holes when the chuck is fully closed). I used the drill bit again for this. Look up the closest size on the chart.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/121/1261/=zqi0xo
I used this one on a smaller Millers Falls
0.500" 0.12" 0.016" 0.205" 1.87 8.50 9434K13 4.85

[GeorgeV]

Contact George Langford at George's Basement
http://www.georgesbasement.com/

[enjuneer]

Here is a shop built machine that Paul Hamler uses to wind springs. He used a pricey collet spin fixture because he had one, but it works and allows different rods to be used simply by changing the collet.