There's more to it than you might think.

Sure, springs seem simple, and in essence they are. What's not to get about coils of wire that compress under tension and story energy through their tendency to re-expand and return to their original shape? But if you actually go and make some of your own, for whatever reason, turns out there are a few things you'd want to know. Aluminium Powder 325 Mesh

The Art and Science of Making Your Very Own Springs

As this surprisingly in-depth overview from YouTuber This Old Tony explains, they require a little bit of special equipment. You'll need a mandrel, for instance, the metal cylinder you slap into a lathe to spin your wire around. For compression springs, it can just be a bar with a whole through it, but torsion springs require a slightly different rig. Beyond that, there's the matter of picking a material, figuring out the diameter of the thing, the number of active coils, and the space between them, all of which factor into how much energy it stores, how far it can be compressed, and how long it will last.

That's not even everything you need to know:

Just like any component in anything, a simple spring can turn out to be wildly important. A highly-engineered but still-humble spring sent waves rippling through Nascar in the late '90s.

Though for most DIY purposes, you could probably just grab some random spring you've got lying around, or buy a few online. But, in the very off chance you need something wildly specific, it's good to know how to get starting rolling your own, literally.

Source: This Old Tony via Digg

Lowe’s Discounts Craftsman Tool Chests

Safe and Fun Rules for Using an Angle Grinder

Amazon Discounts Klein Hand Tools for 36% Off

Best Wire Pulling Tools for DIYers

The Best Workbenches for DIY Projects

Best Wire Strippers for Any Electrical Job

Best Mini Chainsaws for Lawn Care

The Best Lawn Mower Blades for Residential Mowers

Tested: The Best Orbital Power Sanders

When to Use WD-40 or Reach for A Different Lube

The 8 Best Rust Removers for Every Surface

The Best Pressure Washers, Tested

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link.