That was too flipant a statement on my part.. what I mean is that one should have some pretty good experience with metal to consider making one...springs are very strong .... and mild steel would not be appropriate for this... and improperly heat treated steel would not be safe either...there are lots of other homemade tools without the kind of injury/death potential of a spring compressor...
Does it sound like I am scared of springs ? R E S P E C T is the operative word.. and I have all my fingers/eyes/teeth to show I have worked at it.....