Relacing battery contacts (what's a good alternative?)

[egr]

I've been finding a gold mine of cheap bendable toys lately but seems like most will have nasty corroded batteries and battery contacts in them.  It seems a lot easier to just replace the contacts as that's usually the only problem the toys have.  What's a good material to use for this?  I would just pirate the contacts from other toys but the bad ones far out number the good.  Any suggestions?  Especially for the spring type.  TIA!

[egr]

After some googling I think I found my aswer:  paper clips!  Anybody see a problem with this?

Link to the page:  http://imhdd.ms11.net/CLIP/01.html

[Gordonjcp]

Paper clips aren't very springy.  Maybe you could do something with brass shim stock, at least for the contacts that look like leaf springs?

[egr]

Paper clips aren't very springy.  Maybe you could do something with brass shim stock, at least for the contacts that look like leaf springs?

I think I like your idea better.  There's an Ace Hardware nearby that should have it.  Thanks!

[Bogus Noise]

I see you're in the US, so this may not be directly helpful, but Rapid Online have replacement battery contacts in their catalogue. Presumably you'll be able to find them other there as well

http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/Batteries/Boxes-Holders/Slot-in-battery-contacts/62293

Then it's just a case of pulling the old ones out and glueing the new ones in place. They have holes in to resolder the power wires back on. Only thing I find is that if the old ones are really badly corroded they kinda fuse to the plastic, which can be awkward.

[egr]

Hmmm... well I guess that COULD work 

I've been hesitant about mail ordering anything as of yet.  I don't really trust my terminology or descriptive prowess.

Thanks for the link!

[shimshon]

a little bit of coca cola will clean those right off. i use a cotton swab and just lightly brush the corosion off

[ne7]

hey lads,
i've fixed loads of springs and contacts with paper clips - just works every time - just get a smallish round pencil and wrap it round to the sharp end and make yourself a nice spring...

also to clean contacts i recommend isopropyl alchohol and cotton swabs / cotton buds - look IA up on ebay - thats where i last got a load from (you can also try your local chemist - they normally carry it in smaller quantities), its also very good at cleaning edge connectors of expansion boards and rust off of battery connectors and evaporates very quickly...

hope that helps