Spring temper coat hanger for pocket clip mod?

[MSCantrell]

Hi guys,
So I was thinking of adding a pocket clip to a Victorinox One-Hand Trekker like in this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=363384 .

Problem is, I don't have a spare clip laying around. Is it possible to whip up something out of, say, a coat hanger? Cause I do have a couple of those around. I can even heat up as hot as need be and quench in oil, if that would make one springy enough to clip to my pocket.

Anyone done such a thing? Are household coat hangers even made out of steel?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Jeff Clark]

Coat hangers are made out of a low grade of steel that is not springy. Rather than try and heat treat it you could try cold work hardening it. To do that you just pound it somewhat flat with a hammer on a hard flat surface (such as an anvil). That will make it considerably harder.

The best type of spring steel that is commonly available is called "piano wire". This is a higher grade of steel like 1095 that has been hardened by rolling and stretching it out. A lot of hardware and hobby stores stock lengths of piano wire. It is probably stronger than the clip material that the manufacturers use.