In praise of the Fletcher SpringMate

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Holden West

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Jul 13, 2010
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I was ordering a case of foamboard and in my haste/laziness typed a 1 when I meant zero and the supplier sent me something I had never seen before, a Fletcher SpringMate. I had only used needlenose pliers to remove springs from metal frames and this was so much easier. I recommend it, and also recommend typing random numbers in your purchase orders to see what arrives just to keep things at work interesting.
 

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Holden West said:
I was ordering a case of foamboard and in my haste/laziness typed a 1 when I meant zero and the supplier sent me something I had never seen before, a Fletcher SpringMate. I had only used needlenose pliers to remove springs from metal frames and this was so much easier. I recommend it, and also recommend typing random numbers in your purchase orders to see what arrives just to keep things at work interesting.
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Yes!
I have had one of those for about 25 years and it can really come in handy.
I even have my initials written on it. I'm a tool nerd..
It's good to use to make sure a spring doesn't jump out and hit you in the eye....:cool:
We don't do as many metal frames as I have in the past but I still like having it.
 
That's one of those things that I've seen for years but wondered.. "do I really need it?".

Does it help to get out those spring clips that are squished in way too tight and there is barely enough space to get a flat head screw driver under the frame edge to try and pry the darn clip out, but it it is depressed into the foam or cardboard backer so badly you can't get it out without tearing up the board?
 
Does it help to get out those spring clips that are squished in way too tight and there is barely enough space to get a flat head screw driver under the frame edge to try and pry the darn clip out, but it it is depressed into the foam or cardboard backer so badly you can't get it out without tearing up the board?
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Yes, the tip is only 1/8" so it fits in tight spaces and has a slot to grab the spring which a screwdriver can't do.

I find it a genuine must-have tool, unlike Fletcher's wire winder.
 
I've ordered a few of these for customer's that like to put together their own metal frames.
There are some circumstances where there isn't enough room to fit the tool (less than an 1/8")
In general it is much quicker to use this tool than another. And it takes up very little room.
 
A Fletcher SpringMate tool makes a great Christmas or birthday gift for your mother-in-law. Tell her it's a zipper puller. :p
 
I hate when I find springs when there's less than 1/8" of space. They should either use thinner backing or thicker backing and use matboard strips or nothing if the fit is tight. I think if the springs are compressed that flat they're more prone to breaking in half evventually.
 
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