Wire type for replacement click spring?

[DavidADav]

I lost a click spring for an old USSR movement I was servicing, and it has disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle, never to be seen again (swept with a magnet bar around the entire room to no avail). Rather than worry, I’d rather just create a new one, as it’s a skill I’ve been meaning to acquire. 
 

Does anyone have any suggestions as to they type of wire and where best to source it? Tutorials I’ve managed to find seem to show only an appropriate shaping of the wire is required. Is that correct?

Many thanks for your time!

[jdrichard]

43 minutes ago, DavidADav said:

I lost a click spring for an old USSR movement I was servicing, and it has disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle, never to be seen again (swept with a magnet bar around the entire room to no avail). Rather than worry, I’d rather just create a new one, as it’s a skill I’ve been meaning to acquire. 
 

Does anyone have any suggestions as to they type of wire and where best to source it? Tutorials I’ve managed to find seem to show only an appropriate shaping of the wire is required. Is that correct?

Many thanks for your time!

G string from a guitar. Works great and can be shaped and retain its springiness.

[Plato]

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/click-spring-wire

[watchweasol]

The way I would approach it would have a look on Ebay for a donor or check the likes of Jules Borel and Esslingers for assortments, which are reasonably cheap as mentioned Guitar string wire  and Cousins uk  who I know has assortments.

[DavidADav]

Thanks all, much appreciated! I have plenty of guitar string, so I will start there. 

[jdm]

1 hour ago, DavidADav said:

I’d rather just create a new one

As a practical option you may want to consider the inexpensive assortment below. 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/straight-springs-wristwatch?code=W36105

[HSL]

1 hour ago, DavidADav said:

Thanks all, much appreciated! I have plenty of guitar string, so I will start there. 

I would let the guitarr keep it strings because i dont't know if they are meant to act like a spring  but rather like an oscillator. The quality of steel varies quite a bit due to it purposed use.

I have bought those assortments JDM recommends just because I’m sometimes lazy but I have also bought real spring steel, sometimes the click spring one needs is flat and I guess a guitarr string is mostly round, but the USSR one you need might often be round. However to assure the click works over a longer time I would go with the real thing, I read about E,D  and G strings but why go with stuff like that when the correct spring is cheap in any form too?

 

Edited July 3, 2021 by HSL