Spring softening

[soundcolor]

Does anyone have any clue how to make a spring softer.
I am waiting for some much softer springs to come in, but in the mean time all I have is some stupidly hard springs.
I tried heating some other smaller springs I had laying around and was able to make them really, really soft. But the harder springs I have dont seem care how hot I get em, and for how long. (I left one under the torch for 25mins it was absolutely glowing red).

Any ideas?

[wheelhead4x4]

I was going to say try heat but you got that coved already. I dont know man you got me.

[Jkelley]

if its anything like metallurgy, to soften something you must heat it to extreme heat like you did but instead of letting it cool off all of a sudden it needs to slowly cool down. when i'm drawing back something hard at work. I usually place the oven on 1850 (depending on the material) once it gets up temp, I cut off the oven and let the metal cool down slowly with the oven. normally takes until the next day or late that night. I doubt you have anything like that laying around the house though.

[soundcolor]

I dont have that kind of a oven, but I do have an aceteline torch. I'll give it another shot tommorow. I didnt really let it cool down slowly, just dunked it straight into some water.

[crawlinlosi]

maybe its a dumb newb question but wouldnt thinner shock oil soften the shock with less compression pressure? In my 1:1 air shocks less nitrogen psi makes the set-up softer so sub the nitrogen gas for the shock oil and same principle...

[rex cars]

you can try burying it in dry sand for the cool down. this will help hold the heat in for the cool down. Dry the sand on a baking sheet in the oven at 150deg or so if it seems wet.

[gottorque]

Originally Posted by crawlinlosi

maybe its a dumb newb question but wouldnt thinner shock oil soften the shock with less compression pressure? In my 1:1 air shocks less nitrogen psi makes the set-up softer so sub the nitrogen gas for the shock oil and same principle...

Well maby but you would lose some damping action of the shock. it would be a bit bouncy and would not compress as well as with a properly set up shock and spring.