Annealed Spring Steel

[azzrock]

Not to upset you Azzrock but we do not require a special bat to retain the ashes a flippy stick would do,
,

Eric

well Sir Dick you have not upset me. Just helped me to reflect on . the joys of living in the lucky country.

[downunderoz]

No Problems Ray. The difficulty is finding a Watchmaker / Clockmaker, a skilled tradesman. Most now only change batteries and if that can’t be done, you throw it away.

I write my suggestion from experience. My father was a Watch & Clock maker and repairer. For what its worth I also have the following experience:
Indentured Blacksmith 5 years apprenticeship with Garden Island Heavy Forging, Anvil work, and Toolsmithing. Post trades course - 2 years Advanced Heat Treatment. Back to school - Metallurgist.
Workshop experience - Fitter, Welder & Machinist with Hydraulic and Pneumatic engineering firm.
Worked in Alcan Aluminium as Metallurgist. Product Manager for one of BHP Metal Distributors. Post graduate in marketing and in 1996 a Masters. Had my own business supplying Aluminium and designing light Truck bodies, and architectural products in Aluminium.

With previous practice in my Blacksmithing days, lots of experience with case hardening but I’ve never heard of the practice of making a spring by casehardening, however thats not to say the finished article would not have the degree of “spring” you may need. If you are going to go this way you may be able to “Stellite “ ( in powder form, high in Arsenic ) to case harden the Mild Steel.
Hope this helps if not disregard. Now retired and probably going senile !!
Cheers