AZGUY

Disappearing post issue is striking me again:

No a piece of strap stock say 1/8 to 3/16 depending on how much umph you need will work fine.  There are many ways you can gussy it up a bit. I like to split the end a ways up forge the pieces square and then octagonal or round and then curl them up into spirals to rest on the sides of the moving leg while the center pushes out on it.  Also rather traditional is to bend the top over 90 so it catches on the top of the mounting bracket (the spring goes between the mounting bracket and the stationary leg and then down and is bent out to rest against the moving leg.)