Cast spring question

[P.W.Berkuta]

I am using some cast main & frizzen springs in different lock plates that I am making up along with other home made parts to assemble into completed locks. My question is - have any of you reformed cast springs and if so any important things I should look out for???. I have made my own springs out of 1075, 1084 & O1 without any issues but I have some cast springs that I want to use but they just need some "tweeking" to fit. Annealing, hardnening, & tempering is not a problem, I have the means. Do I anneal the cast spring and treat the cast spring as I would annealed 1075 or 1084 spring stock?

[Bob Roller]

I have used a lot of cast frizzen springs but nothing bigger and have treated them the same
way as the mainsprings from 1075.The thing I considered was the fact there is no rotation
of a frizzen spring and only slight compression.

Bob Roller

[LRB]

  I would suggest doing any bending at red hot, and a heat cycle process before re-hardening. Heat cycle from about 1600° to dark, then about 1500 to dark, then a third at or just below non-magnetic to black. Then do the hardening and tempering. Cast steel is notorious for having large grains and the heat cycling will greatly reduce the grain size, giving more strength to the steel.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Thanks to all for your advise -- I will put it to good use in a few days -- thanks again .

[jerrywh]

 I can't give you any better advise than the previous guys but I have done evry thing you can imagine with cast springs including welding on them.  No problems.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Thanks Jerry -- good to know