Understanding Steel Springs

A wide variety of industries depend on steel springs. Some of these include electronics, medical, military, automotive, oil and gas, telecommunications, textiles, agriculture, and aerospace. Applications for steel springs include power equipment, fitness machines, retractable tape measures, timing devices, gardening equipment, toys, as well as a variety of safety mechanisms.

Steel springs are fabricated from tempered wire. Different wiring drawing processes are used to create distinct wire diameters. Starting as a 100 to 1000 pound bar about 2” in diameter, the wire is continually drawn through smaller dies, reducing it to the required diameter and enhancing the tensile strength of the metal.

The most widely used steel types used in the fabrication of steel springs are carbon steels and stainless steels. Music wire is commonly used due to its high carbon content, and results in better quality and more uniform steel springs. A drawback to the use of music wire and other carbon steels is that they rust.  Stainless steel is a better option for steel springs that will be used in wet environments, due to the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. When creating springs from stainless steel, it is important to keep in mind that some types of stainless are slightly magnetic in spring tempered form.

W.B. Jones manufactures a variety of steel springs to meet a variety of needs:

• Compression Springs
• Extension Springs
• Torsion Springs
• Custom Springs

We offer expertise and capabilities that include the fabrication of steel springs made to precise specifications. Our team assists customers in ordering steel springs that meet all application requirements and work within an established budget.  All W.B. Jones springs are manufactured in the U.S. – and most custom orders ship within 3 to 10 days. Contact us to discuss your steel spring needs.