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Proper mainspring cramps

I can see why these are "proper" clamps since they spread the load out widely over the springs surface. I probably should've mentioned that when I use a pair of long-nosed vice grips padded with electrical tape, that I only depress the spring just enough to remove tension from the mechanism for removal.

Steve

Vice grips are a great way to break springs~

Making a spring holding fixture is a much better way to temporarily remove and replace springs. Maybe I'll take a pic of some of the dozen or so I've made?

They are simply a slotted bar of steel with the slot just big enough to slip over the compressed spring.

May be showing my ignorance but why are vice grips a great way to break spring?
Kirk

If you use them often enough, you will be telling me.
Looking at the spring vises and how they work will tell most of the reasons.

From my experience I feel that it is far, far harder to control the compression of the spring with something like pliers, of any type, which move the spring quickly with great leverage. Plus, if it does fly out of the pliers after removing it from the lock and flies across the room (or into your face), there is a great chance of breakage. With the proper spring cramp the thumbscrew slowly compresses the spring in a very controlled manner. I've done it both ways, and the greater control from a mainspring vise gives me much more confidence.

JMTCW, SRH

Sound advice, all. I shot the gun last weekend at Hausmann's. No problems. The directions in the Brophy book suggest removing the spring and sear as one. I can seen now why as the above spring compressors would not fit in between the sear and the spring. Thanks all. The knowledge and expereince on this forum never fail to amaze.

Spring holding fixtures made to fit individual springs while compressed. Slip over spring, remove, fix or work on whatever needed, then reinstall spring without ever removing fixture or releasing spring tension. Hugely helpful, pairs are for pared spring such as main or ejector springs. Old-time gunsmith tool. Two pics of same group.

An old "jury rig" way was to cock the piece, wrap a length of wire around the cocked spring( where there was room), twist it to hold, and then release the sear.
Mike

I thought I would add a couple of Brit clamping tools that are more universal than a dedicated main spring clamp. On the left of the picture are a couple of hand vices small and large, they did manufacture many sizes in between. The late Jack Rowe was a keen user of hand vices and I did see him recommend their use in one of his videos. On the right are what we call toolmakers clamps or sometimes known as steel fingers, these are made in sizes from a foot to an inch and they all have a smooth clamping area so leave no marks on your work. Toolmakers clamps are so shaped so they can be used in confined situations and you will be surprised how much clamping force can be given by one of these.
Unfortunately, these tools are considered old fashioned these days and not many tool merchants stock them here now. These are a lot more stable than trying to use pliers!!