After that, polish up and then heat until the colors on the polished part have run through straw to a blue. That is the usual spring temper, unless you know different. So if you’re unsure which steel would best suit your project, just give BSS a call on 0114 244 0527 and we’ll recommend the right grade of steel. When you have it to the right shape, heat again, and then quench in oil or water. You can even air-cool thin pieces, but oil etc is more positive. Achieving a high yield strength can be achieved through either hardening by heat treatment or through work hardening.

You can get rolls, or pieces about 12" long x 1/2" or so wide. It probably needs to be annealed before cutting or forming. You can heat with torch, or on stove, to red and let cool. Selection of the quenching medium is dependent upon steel analysis, component geometry, the heat treatment furnace used and the manufacturing stage at which hardening and tempering is carried out. The resultant temperature changes induce physical transformation of the steel, resulting in mechanical property changes.

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That’s where BSS come in – we’re perfect partners for model engineers and hobbyists as we ship as little as just one sheet of steel, with a fast turnaround and expert advice just a phone call away.

Laser Cutting – we operate a state-of-the-art laser cutter and if you supply drawings or DXF files, we can cut to your exact requirements Type 301(1.4310) is an austenitic steel, it permits cold working to the ideal combination of mechanical properties desired for springs. Its unique combination of hardness and toughness makes for better forming quality in this Full Hard Temper plus increased fatigue life in the finished spring. Most spring steels are manufactured by heat treatment from medium to high carbon steels, and alloyed carbon steels. A minimum percentage of carbon is required to facilitate this process and whilst grades with upwards 0.25% carbon will respond to heat treatment, carbon springs steels more typically start with 0.50% carbon through to 1.25%. Additional elements including silicon, manganese and chromium also have an impact on a steels response to heat treatment. Whilst basically hardening the steel is achieved by heating and quenching, this process does cause the steel to become brittle and a key part of the overall process is tempering, which is performed after quenching and used to relieve stresses and to achieve more controlled tensile strengths. Spring steel in the hardened and tempered condition is used mainly for the production of flat springs, blades and saws, and is it very difficult to form.Forming may take a couple rounds of annealing, if you have to do much bending. Bend about 90 deg, then anneal, then complete, if over 90 deg bending is required. The quenching medium can be air, oil, water, molten salt, fluidised bed or a pressurised inert gas, such as nitrogen.