The IRODA PT-800W is a typical high power Iroda propane or MAPP gas torch that is a good choice when you want to anneal and reset springs. Let’s take a look at how you can use an Iroda gas torch to heat, anneal, and reset the compression spring in a lever action airgun.
Why do you need to use a gas torch to reset springs?
Springs lose some of their strength and resistance to compression over time, and you need to use a gas torch to heat them to the temperature at which you can reset them to their original length and strength. The spring will need to be heated to a glowing orange heat, and a gas torch is the best way to do this.
- Springs lose strength & compression resistance over time.
- You need to heat the spring to a high temperature to be able to adjust it.
- A gas torch is required to get enough heat, especially with larger springs
Valve springs in automotive engines are an example where a significant change in spring performance will stop the engine functioning normally. Compression springs in air pistons, spring powered hatch and hood lifters, and suspension springs in vehicles are all examples of springs that can be reset.
When resetting springs, ensure you follow safety guidelines
It is important to consider, however, that some springs are not suitable for resetting at home with domestic tools – this is especially true of balanced springs like the springs used for vehicle suspension systems, which must function correctly to ensure vehicle safety.
How do you anneal & reset a spring with an Iroda gas torch?
The process to reset a spring is not difficult, you need to heat the spring to a high enough temperature for the metal to soften by annealing. You can see the process in the video above, where we are heating an overstretched airgun compression spring and adjusting it with pliers.
- Heat the spring until it glows orange
- Adjust the spring with pliers to restore it to the correct length
- Allow the spring to cool or heat & quench the spring in water to temper it
While the spring is in a hot, annealed state, you can reset the spring to the length that you want. A pair of pliers is used to adjust the length of individual coils in the spring. Then you can heat the spring up again and quench it to restore hardness (tempering) and resistance to compression. Some springs are supposed to be comparatively soft. These can be left untempered but will require resetting more frequently than tempered springs if they are excessively compressed or stretched.
Why choose an Iroda gas torch for annealing and resetting springs?
You can see in the picture above a reason why Iroda gas torches like the Iroda PT 800W are a good choice for annealing and resetting springs. You can see that the high temperature flame is split into four jets to give excellent heating over a larger area. This enables you to heat something like a spring very evenly without concentrating the heat too much in one place.
Consider gas torches that can use both propane & MAPP gas
Another advantage of Iroda gas torches like the PT 800W is that they can be used with propane or with MAPP gas. This gives you the option of using MAPP gas when you need higher heat output to evenly heat larger objects or when working in cold temperatures. In the case study, we used MAPP gas to get very high heat into an air rifle piston spring very rapidly.
What range of gas torches does Iroda offer?
Iroda makes gas torches that can be used for all sorts of DIY and commercial tasks. Our smallest soldering iron sized gas torches, like the Iroda SolderPro 110K, are ideal for heat shrink as well as silver and gold jewelry making. Iroda butane gas blowtorches give you intense heat for soldering and brazing.
Our high power gas torches and hot air guns are ideal for heavy duty paint stripping, loosening fasteners, annealing and spring resetting. Discover our range of soldering irons, blowtorches and heat guns at the Iroda Amazon store.
FAQs
Why do you need to quench some springs after resetting?
Heating the spring to a glowing heat anneals the metal and makes it soft. If the spring was engineered to be very hard, which is commonly the case with heavy duty compression and valve springs, you need to quench it when it is glowing hot to temper the spring, making the internal structure of the metal very stiff and resistant to compression.
How do you decide what type of gas torch to use for spring resetting?
The physical size of the spring is a good indicator of the type of gas torch to use. The flame from the torch should be big enough to heat the spring evenly and rapidly where you want to adjust it, so for very small springs a pencil flame is enough, but for bigger springs you will need a high power, larger gas torch.
Are Iroda gas torches manufactured to certified safety standards?
It’s very important for gas torches to be manufactured to certified safety standards, and all Iroda gas torches, soldering irons, culinary torches and heat guns are certified to US, EU and other international standards for the countries where they are available for purchase.
