Left Hand Coil Spring

Compression springs can be left or right hand coiled.

Left hand coil spring.

If the direction of the coil from top to bottom can be simulated by bending the index finger of the left hand the coil is left hand wound. Sometimes though you wouldn t want the pitch of the spring to get caught up in the pitch of the threaded mating part. In applications such as one spring operating inside an other it is necessary to coil the springs so that the helices are in opposite directions right and left. If it s in the 3 o clock position the spring is right hand wound.

If the end of the spring wire in the 9 o clock position then the spring is left hand wound. If the last coil of the spring points in the same direction of your fingers then you are looking at the right handed spring. For compression and extension springs. Pick up your spring and look into it.

If the wire is jutting out at the 9 o clock. The direction of wind of a spring can be determined by simply holding it in your hand with your fingers placed around the outside of the body and your thumb pointing straight up. The fingers should be placed on the outside of the body and your thumb should point upwards. In the us most screws are right hand.

Pick up the spring and look into it. If you are screwing a compression spring onto a mating part you would want the coil direction to matc h that of the threads. If the last coil ends in the same direction that your fingers are pointing that is the hand direction of wind of the spring. The direction of the spring wind can be easily determined by holding it in hand.

A coil spring can be wound in either a left hand or right hand direction similar to a screw type thread.