A Trusted Music Wire Spring Manufacturer
Coiling Technologies, Inc., designs and manufactures high-tensile music wire springs. This includes compression springs, extension springs, and torsion springs that can withstand repeated loads and high stress while retaining resiliency and elasticity.
Understanding Music Wire
Music wire falls under the following standards: ASTM A228, AMS 5112, SAE J403, QQ-W-470, DIN 2076 17223 Grade D, BS 5216 Type M, and JIS G3522 SWP-A/ SWP-B. It is made from steel with manganese, silicon, and a high content of carbon, which strengthens and hardens the steel.
Music wire is one of the toughest and most widely used materials for small springs; it is an outstanding spring material for a wide range of high-stress applications.
Music wire provides:
- High tensile strength
- High ductility
- Moderately low thermal conductivity
- Excellent fatigue life
- Versatility
- Affordability
- Durability
Material for music wire springs is cold-drawn (mostly to diameters ranging from .008 - .250) and is either round, rectangular, or square-shaped. The wire is typically cold formed, fabricated, and or coiled into springs.
Music wire derives its name from one of its most popular applications, piano strings. Metal wire has been used to make musical instruments since the 1350s. At first, iron was used to craft music wire. As the piano gained popularity around 1800, manufacturers began using steel to create music wire; steel was stronger and provided greater string tension.
Applications of Music Wire Springs
Coiling Technologies, Inc., supplies high-quality, high-performing music wire springs in a variety of thicknesses (from .008 to .375 diameters) and tensile strengths for use in a wide range of applications, including:
- Motors
- Regulators
- Valves
- Pipe Hangers
- Clutches
- Motors
- Spring clamps
- Small aircraft landing gear
- Springs subject to high stresses or require good fatigue properties.
- Springs that experience repeated loading, stretching, and relaxing (e.g., springs for windows to enable opening and shutting)
Music wire springs are not recommended for service temperatures above 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). Also, music wire carbon steel springs are not corrosion resistant; However, music wire can be purchased with a phosphate or zinc / galvanized coating if the spring will be exposed to light corrosive environments. There are also options to electro plate the spring if it is required to operate in an open or corrosive environment.
| Technical Specification | Music Wire |
|---|---|
| Nominal Composition |
C: 0.70 - 1.0 Mn: 0.20 - 0.60 Fe: 97.8 - 99 Si: 0.10 - 0.30 |
| Density |
0.284 lb./in3 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (E) |
30.5 x 103 ksi |
| Modulus of Rigidity (G) |
11.6 x 103 ksi |
| Min Size |
0.004 in (0.100 mm) |
| Max Temp |
120oC (250oF) |
| Uses |
Used for high-quality springs that are subject to high stresses or require good fatigue properties. |
Your Music Wire Spring Partner
Coiling Technologies, Inc., incorporates innovative processes and state-of-the-art technology to design, develop and deliver the strong, reliable music wire springs you need in the exacting specifications for performance, materials, and size you require.
Coiling Technologies, Inc., is driven to provide exceptional service. We accomplish this every day with every customer and client with our highly skilled engineers, well-experienced staff, and the best practices we apply to our manufacturing products and services.
We offer our customers comprehensive services beginning from requirement gathering and analysis, assistance in design, and manufacture custom music wire springs that meet your requirements for quality and cost.
Our range of customization is unbeatable, and with our springs’ high-performance and quality, you can count on us to deliver exactly what you need every time.
Coiling Technologies manufactures custom music wire springs to meet the meticulous demands of industrial customers. With products made to your size specifications and a wide variety of materials and options to choose from, we can help you create the right product for your needs. Contact us to request a quote today!
Music Wire Springs FAQs
What is music wire and why is it the most commonly used spring wire material?
Music wire (ASTM A228) is a high-carbon steel wire produced to the tightest quality standards in the spring wire industry. Named for its original use in piano strings—where consistent tension and tone demand precise mechanical properties—music wire is today the most widely specified spring wire for precision springs across a broad range of industries. Its combination of very high tensile strength for its wire diameter, excellent surface quality, tight dimensional tolerances, and consistent mechanical properties makes it the default specification for precision and high-cycle spring applications where performance consistency matters.
What makes music wire the highest-quality carbon steel spring wire?
Music wire is produced under more stringent quality controls than other carbon steel spring wire grades. The steel chemistry is tightly controlled (typically 0.70%–1.00% carbon), the wire undergoes patenting heat treatment followed by controlled cold drawing to develop high tensile strength, and surface quality standards minimize the surface defects that initiate fatigue failures in service. The result is the highest strength-to-diameter ratio and best fatigue resistance of any standard carbon steel spring wire, with more consistent spring-to-spring mechanical properties than hard drawn or oil-tempered wire grades.
What is the tensile strength range of music wire at different wire diameters?
Tensile strength in music wire decreases as wire diameter increases—a characteristic of all drawn spring wire. Representative benchmark values: 0.010-inch diameter wire typically achieves approximately 390,000–420,000 psi; 0.050-inch wire approximately 295,000–330,000 psi; 0.100-inch wire approximately 255,000–290,000 psi; and 0.250-inch wire approximately 210,000–240,000 psi per ASTM A228. These values are generally 5–10% higher than equivalent-diameter hard drawn wire, reflecting the tighter production controls applied to music wire.
What temperature limitations apply to music wire springs?
Music wire springs are generally limited to continuous service at temperatures not exceeding approximately 250°F (121°C). Above this temperature, the cold-drawn microstructure begins to soften and the spring will experience accelerated stress relaxation, losing its intended load. For applications requiring service above 250°F, chrome silicon, chrome vanadium, or stainless steel springs should be specified. Music wire also has no meaningful corrosion resistance and is not suitable for contact with moisture or corrosive media without a protective surface coating.
Can music wire springs be used in wet or corrosive environments without coating?
No. Music wire has essentially no corrosion resistance and will rust when exposed to moisture, salt, or corrosive media. For applications in wet or outdoor environments, music wire springs should either be replaced with a corrosion-resistant material such as 302 stainless, 17-7 PH, or phosphor bronze, or protected with a coating such as zinc electroplating, nickel plating, or black oxide with oil impregnation, depending on the severity of the corrosive exposure and any dimensional constraints the added coating thickness creates.
How does music wire compare to hard drawn and oil-tempered wire in performance and cost?
Music wire (ASTM A228) offers the highest tensile strength and best fatigue resistance of the three, making it the correct specification for precision and high-cycle applications where consistency matters. Hard drawn wire (ASTM A227) is the most economical option, manufactured to looser dimensional tolerances and appropriate for static or low-cycle applications where maximum fatigue life is not required. Oil-tempered wire (ASTM A229) occupies a middle position: stronger and more consistent than hard drawn wire, it is the practical default for many general-purpose larger-diameter compression and extension springs where cost and performance balance is important. When fatigue performance and lot-to-lot consistency matter most, specify music wire. When cost is the primary driver and the application is static or low-cycle, hard drawn wire is adequate. Oil-tempered wire is the appropriate choice for mid-range applications where neither extreme is required.
What spring types and wire sizes are manufactured from music wire?
Music wire is used primarily for compression springs, extension springs, and torsion springs in small-to-medium wire diameters. Commercially available music wire ranges from approximately 0.004 inches to 0.625 inches, with the most common spring manufacturing range being 0.010–0.250 inches. Music wire is especially prevalent in applications requiring tight tolerances on spring rate, load, and free length, such as precision instruments, medical devices, electronic hardware, and high-quality consumer goods requiring consistent spring performance across production lots.
