Lightening a sear spring

[satwel]

Kind of a basic question. To lighten a sear spring, do you reduce the thickness of the metal or the width of the spring? Or is it a combination of both? I assume if the answer is reduce the thickness, it must be done as evenly as possible along the entire length of the spring?

Thank you.

[Blacksmoke]

Satwel:  When weakening any spring leaf spring it should be done over the intire length with a slight taper being fashioned from the tip end to the bend.  Thin at the tip and thicker at the bend. This applies to both thickness or width.  Hope that helps,   Hugh Toenjes

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Bear in mind that removing metal from the thickness rather that the width, removes spring strength 8 X more than from the width.  So a little, is a lot.  The sear spring is meant only to snap the sear up into the notches...not hold it there.

[Acer Saccharum]

I found that WHERE the spring bears makes all the difference in the world. If the tip of the spring bears as close to the pivot screw as possible, it almost doesn't matter how stiff the spring is, the sear has so much leverage that it depresses very easily.

Shortening the spring a bit so it bears farther from the pivot will increase the pressure required to depress the sear tremendously.

Not that you are talking about shortening the spring; just be really careful not to take any metal off the tip while you merrily remove blade thickness.

By the way, these springs are really easy to make. Just in case you flub it up. Been there. 

Tom

[satwel]

Thank you everyone for the guidance--it is exactly what I was looking for.

Cheers