Flexible bb feed tubing

Kokanee · January 27th, 2007, 19:49

Finalizing the design for a new project, and starting to source out materials. I'm looking for the flexible metal tubing that alot of the M249 manufacturers use for their boxmags

as seen on this boxmag here;

looks like tightly wound coils of metal... for the life of me I haven't been able to locate a source for this, and I'll be requiring at least a foot of it.

If anyone has a line on this item, I'd be very appreciative.

cheers

CDN_Stalker · January 27th, 2007, 19:56

It is a spring coil Josh, and is roughly 1/4" ID. The coils are placed side by side touching each other, so it's the type of spring that only pulls, like one to close screen doors (although not as big).

Have you tried any of the hardware stores or Rona/Home Depot? Heck, Valley Hardware on Bentley might be the place to get one! Just cut to length and de-burr as best as you can. (Have modded Apoc's M249 mags with the "Stalker Mod" so I know some of the issues with using that tube system.) Maybe even Princess auto? Anyways, you have enough info now, not sure the name of the spring type, but it has to be 1/4" ID. Shouldn't be that hard to find.

BTW, what project you have in mind? Enquiring minds want to know.

Dirty Deeds · January 27th, 2007, 19:58

Josh, you might want to check out low tension springs with a 6mm inner diameter, possibly at Home Depot or local industrial stores.

Not exactly what you wanted, but it may serve it's purpose?

EDIT: Damn you Stalker. Yeah, it's a tension spring and not a compression spring.

Kokanee · January 27th, 2007, 20:00

Thanks Mike I'll check out valley tomorrow.

MadMax · January 27th, 2007, 20:02

1/4" ID tension spring:

mcmastercarr.com
smallparts.com

You can also wind them with some patience, spring wire (hobby store), and a power drill.

CDN_Stalker · January 27th, 2007, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kokanee

Thanks Mike I'll check out valley tomorrow.

Heads up, doubt they are open tomorrow. I know they are only open on Satrudays from 10am to 1pm, so chances are they will be closed Sundays.

Ibby · January 27th, 2007, 23:16

Luckily in Victoria there's a place called oddly, Victoria Spring. They mainly deal with vehicle suspension springs, but they have quite a selection of small springs like what you're looking for on the wall there. I took one of my 249 feed tubes down and measured out the springs they had. Found one that matches in a snap. The spring I picked up was originally intended to be a return spring for a screen door for a house, if that helps at all.
And yeah, I'm kinda interested in what you'd need a foot for. I needed more as I made a really simple way to swap box mags on the 249. Easy to do in a firefight. Sure saves trying to load up a box again.

Kokanee · January 27th, 2007, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMax

1/4" ID tension spring:

mcmastercarr.com
smallparts.com

You can also wind them with some patience, spring wire (hobby store), and a power drill.

smallparts.com is the best site ever! must...resist..credit card...

Dirty Deeds · January 27th, 2007, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kokanee

smallparts.com is the best site ever! must...resist..credit card...

+1

Madmax that site is crazy, added to my favorites.....woot

MadMax · January 28th, 2007, 00:29

My favourite is still mcmastercarr, but they've unfortunately stopped shipping to Canada. I have to bounce my orders from a friend in the US.

Smallparts will service Canadian orders, but you have to email them in as their online shopping cart does not accept Canadian postal codes. Still they've got some useful stuff like orings and little springs.

Vivisector · January 28th, 2007, 01:47

How sharp of an arc do you think you'd be able to put in that stuff before BBs won't make it through? I need something to bend BBs around a corner for a project i'm working on, but the arc has to be tight (under an inch).

MadMax · January 28th, 2007, 02:08

You can probably get a low as 0.5" rad bends on the inside. Bending 0.5" rad on the outside is pushing it. The CA box mags use a spring as a bb conduit. It won't pinch in like tubing. You can bend it until the spring links spread out too far to contain bbs. The downside of using springs is that they're not enclosed. Dirt and crap can find their way thru the spring winds.

talon · January 28th, 2007, 02:13

put a nylon sock sorta thing over it then? or a larger piece of tubing?

Ibby · January 28th, 2007, 02:15

Once you have the spring shaped the way you want, put heatshrink on it. It's a good seal and will keep the spring shaped the way you want.

Vivisector · January 28th, 2007, 10:07

All great advice, thanks. You've all just saved me a lot of trial and error

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January 27th, 2007, 19:49	#1
Kokanee Ministry of Peace Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2002	Flexible bb feed tubing Finalizing the design for a new project, and starting to source out materials. I'm looking for the flexible metal tubing that alot of the M249 manufacturers use for their boxmags as seen on this boxmag here; looks like tightly wound coils of metal... for the life of me I haven't been able to locate a source for this, and I'll be requiring at least a foot of it. If anyone has a line on this item, I'd be very appreciative. cheers

January 27th, 2007, 19:56	#2
CDN_Stalker Official ASC Bladesmith Trader rating Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ont.	It is a spring coil Josh, and is roughly 1/4" ID. The coils are placed side by side touching each other, so it's the type of spring that only pulls, like one to close screen doors (although not as big). Have you tried any of the hardware stores or Rona/Home Depot? Heck, Valley Hardware on Bentley might be the place to get one! Just cut to length and de-burr as best as you can. (Have modded Apoc's M249 mags with the "Stalker Mod" so I know some of the issues with using that tube system.) Maybe even Princess auto? Anyways, you have enough info now, not sure the name of the spring type, but it has to be 1/4" ID. Shouldn't be that hard to find. BTW, what project you have in mind? Enquiring minds want to know. __________________ STKR Knives http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STK...17036668380871 Last edited by CDN_Stalker; January 27th, 2007 at 19:58..

January 27th, 2007, 19:58	#3
Dirty Deeds Trader rating Join Date: May 2004 Location: Montreal	Josh, you might want to check out low tension springs with a 6mm inner diameter, possibly at Home Depot or local industrial stores. Not exactly what you wanted, but it may serve it's purpose? EDIT: Damn you Stalker. Yeah, it's a tension spring and not a compression spring. __________________ Team Bad Karma(BK-09) CAUTION: Evil Genius at Work Those that wear the "Tin Foil Hat" stand on guard for thee. All others stand on guard for themselves.

January 27th, 2007, 20:00	#4
Kokanee Ministry of Peace Trader rating Join Date: Mar 2002	Thanks Mike I'll check out valley tomorrow.

January 27th, 2007, 20:02	#5
MadMax Delierious Designer of Dastardly Detonations Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: in the dark recesses of some metal chip filled machine shop	1/4" ID tension spring: mcmastercarr.com smallparts.com You can also wind them with some patience, spring wire (hobby store), and a power drill. __________________ Want nearly free GBB gas?

January 27th, 2007, 23:16	#7
Ibby Trader rating Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Victoria/Kingston	Luckily in Victoria there's a place called oddly, Victoria Spring. They mainly deal with vehicle suspension springs, but they have quite a selection of small springs like what you're looking for on the wall there. I took one of my 249 feed tubes down and measured out the springs they had. Found one that matches in a snap. The spring I picked up was originally intended to be a return spring for a screen door for a house, if that helps at all. And yeah, I'm kinda interested in what you'd need a foot for. I needed more as I made a really simple way to swap box mags on the 249. Easy to do in a firefight. Sure saves trying to load up a box again. __________________ "Anyone with a name like Amanishourbariki should give a few letters to the poor Ng family." - Snarfangel, Fark.com

January 28th, 2007, 00:29	#10
MadMax Delierious Designer of Dastardly Detonations Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: in the dark recesses of some metal chip filled machine shop	My favourite is still mcmastercarr, but they've unfortunately stopped shipping to Canada. I have to bounce my orders from a friend in the US. Smallparts will service Canadian orders, but you have to email them in as their online shopping cart does not accept Canadian postal codes. Still they've got some useful stuff like orings and little springs. __________________ Want nearly free GBB gas?

January 28th, 2007, 01:47	#11
Vivisector Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Etobicoke, Ontario	How sharp of an arc do you think you'd be able to put in that stuff before BBs won't make it through? I need something to bend BBs around a corner for a project i'm working on, but the arc has to be tight (under an inch). __________________

January 28th, 2007, 02:08	#12
MadMax Delierious Designer of Dastardly Detonations Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: in the dark recesses of some metal chip filled machine shop	You can probably get a low as 0.5" rad bends on the inside. Bending 0.5" rad on the outside is pushing it. The CA box mags use a spring as a bb conduit. It won't pinch in like tubing. You can bend it until the spring links spread out too far to contain bbs. The downside of using springs is that they're not enclosed. Dirt and crap can find their way thru the spring winds. __________________ Want nearly free GBB gas?

January 28th, 2007, 02:13	#13
talon Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ghosts HQ	put a nylon sock sorta thing over it then? or a larger piece of tubing? __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lon/ghosts.gif ACUFART Forever!!! Team GHOSTS - Fides et Amicitia

January 28th, 2007, 02:15	#14
Ibby Trader rating Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Victoria/Kingston	Once you have the spring shaped the way you want, put heatshrink on it. It's a good seal and will keep the spring shaped the way you want. __________________ "Anyone with a name like Amanishourbariki should give a few letters to the poor Ng family." - Snarfangel, Fark.com

January 28th, 2007, 10:07	#15
Vivisector Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Etobicoke, Ontario	All great advice, thanks. You've all just saved me a lot of trial and error __________________

Flexible bb feed tubing

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