Shim stock dilemma

[seber]

I finally got the right shim stock to build reed valves on my three cylinder compressor. Third time is the charm. This is .010" full hard spring steel. 6" by 54" roll in a ring. This stuff is really stiff. I'm used to just pulling it from the inside but this stuff won't pull out even with a pliers. How do you get this out to work with it?

 

[Gunfixr]

You're most likely going to have to grab the inner end with something, and rotate it tighter, so it becomes loose inside the ring, and slide the ring off.
Be careful, it's going to "spring" forth, likely violently.
You could tape it beforehand, or after moving the ring enough to get room, then release the tape.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Use a "C" clamp or Vise Grip to hold the wound spring just after the place you want to cut. Use a cut-off-wheel. Take the material from the outside.