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Anyone ever tried repairing broken mainsprings in vintage wind-up toys? I've got a few charming little fellas – a tinplate drummer and a clockwork train – that are sadly defunct due to snapped springs. I'm hesitant to just toss them, but finding replacement springs seems near impractical.
I've been reading up on spring tempering and annealing, but the process seems extremely delicate. I'm curious if anyone has had success with actual spring repair (welding, soldering, etc.) versus just sourcing replacements. What kind of tools would be essential for this kind of work? I imagine proper heat control is crucial to avoid further weakening the metal.
Also, any recommendations for searching for replacements? I've tried general searches, but haven’t had much luck beyond finding springs for much larger clock mechanisms. Maybe specific vintage toy part dealers are the way to go? Any advice would be much appreciated before I accidentally turn these nostalgic treasures into scrap metal!