Any Good Uses for Busted Leaf Springs?

[Iplayfarmer]

In the process of re-building a trailer I found a busted leaf spring. Right now the leaf spring is in the scrap bin, but I wondered if there is some genius use for it worth more than the 4 cents a pound or whatever I'd get at the scrap yard.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

 

[Wolfy]

I made a homemade 3pt fork, using 2 equal length leafs as forks.

 

[SandburRanch]

I have one about 2 inches wide from back when springs were tapered thin toward the end and the end was rounded. My father used it as a tire iron on his A-Model ford tires so I continued the tradition. Just a few years ago I bought one similar at a garage sale that is just a little shorter and about 1-1/2 inches wide. They make a perfect pair. They are half of a full length springs.

 

[Shubie]

We use to sharpen them and peel pulpwood - good for peeling fence rails.

 

[bikerdib]

Leaf spring material is a hard steel. I can be used to make all kinds of tools and such. If it were me, I'd keep every piece of it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I made a homemade 3pt fork, using 2 equal length leafs as forks.

No Kidding!!! I guess I thought the springs would flex too much. Those must have come from some very big springs.

 

[wrenchturner]

Bucket teeth.

 

[Wolfy]

No, the springs are actually medium size, maybe from a 1/2 ton pickup. They do flex some, but it hasn't been a problem so far.

 

[BRB Hand]

Single spring works great as drywall (or any sheet material) lifter. Stand wall board up and slip arced spring under apply foot pressure and presto!!

 

[Kevin M]

In third world countries where they recycle everything I have seen them used for cutting edges, for heal plates on buckets, harrow teeth and a hundred other things I can't remember right now.

 

[crash325]

Keep the spring. You will find many uses for the metal. Springs are made from very good steel. They can be re tempered to very hard or almost dead soft. But most of the time just use them like they are.

They make good knives, a fro, big chisel's, bucket teeth. Guess just about anything that requires good steel. The temper changes very little when cut or welded.

 

[JB4310]

I've heard about the homemade knifes with that steel.

Personally I might be tempted to scrap them, if they can't be used for weld projects, I save all kinds of steel for fab work, but I don't think spring steel would be good for that.

JB.

 

[jbooth]

Believe it or not and I would have taken the "not" option prior to seeing this done. I have had a trailer for about 30 years that have welded springs on them. I questioned the practice when the trailer was given to me. The man who built the trailer told me that as long as you weld along the long part of the spring and not across they will hold up. Turns out he was right. I wouldn't want to use the practice for long road trip trailers, but this one has been from KS to Wyoming twice and Chicago a couple times and no problems. It has been overloaded on numerous occasions. (springs bottomed on the axle)

In addition I grind form tools from leaf spring for use on my metal lathe when I am cutting wood patterns. Lots of good uses for old leaf springs.

 

[k0ua]

My dad used to make knives from them. I don't remember all the steps tho, I was to young

James K0UA

 

[Tig]

My dad used to make knives from them. I don't remember all the steps tho, I was to young

James K0UA

I have a hunting magazine from 1954 that explains how to make a knife from a leaf spring. Cutting shaping and tempering.

Google leaf spring knife. Lots of hits.

They also make good "spud" blades for ice fishing.

 

[chopped]

Ive used them welded on the end of a pipe for an ice chisel in the winter...

 

[Taylortractornut]

Knives bucket teeth, chisel and subsoiler shanks. I had a friend that used to travel to China alot with his wife. He brought back several pictures of kids gathering leaf springs in wagons. THey picked everyone of them up in the scrap yard. They made hoes and froes and other things from them and alot of loader teeth there and in Mexico and here are relined with them.


THe man that builds our dumpsters uses large truck leaf springs as tooth caps for a local gravel co. New teeth wear super fast and are about 85 dollars each. He caps them with springs and they last 6 months or better. Ive seen them made on a friends chisel plow that came off a pick up. Personallt Id save them for something. One spring wont make you a hoarder lol.

 

[MacAttack]

I have a pickle fork that I made from a single leaf semi trailer spring. The single leaf spring made the best PF ever for heavy duty truck tie rods and such. Separates the toughest of all large tie rods with ease.

 

[JB4310]

I have a pickle fork that I made from a single leaf semi trailer spring. The single leaf spring made the best PF ever for heavy duty truck tie rods and such. Separates the toughest of all large tie rods with ease.

Welcome to TBN !

Sounds like a great idea :thumbsup:

JB.

 

[yomax4]

Popular for knife making.