Electromagnet?

[kooldino]

I could find some use for an electromagnet in my toolbox. There are times that I need to clean up shavings, and using a regular magnet is a hassle to constantly clean off.

Any advice?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

A steel bar, 20 feet or so of 16 gauge wire and a 12 volt battery.

 

[M900]

A steel bar, 20 feet or so of 16 gauge wire and a 12 volt battery.

And some form of handle.


How to make an electromagnet
How to make an electromagnet #2

 

[Mickey O]

Vacuum cleaner.

 

[M900]

Vacuum cleaner.

I would think metal shavings may ruin a vacuum eventually.
I may be wrong.

 

[Patz]

How about one of these?
I have also seen other (better) types of this tool, but i can't remember where.

 

[kooldino]

A steel bar, 20 feet or so of 16 gauge wire and a 12 volt battery.

LOL, Thanks Mr. Wizard.

Honestly though, I was just looking for a nice small well-made one.

 

[Mickey O]

I would think metal shavings may ruin a vacuum eventually.
I may be wrong.

Maybe a vacuum cleaner for a house but not a shop vac. As long as the filter is before the impeller it should be fine.

 

[kooldino]

Vacuum cleaner.

magnets will hold metal stronger than a vacuum can pull it off.

And before you tell me to use the vacuum directly in what i'm working on, the head of an attachment is far too big.

 

[kooldino]

How about one of these?
I have also seen other (better) types of this tool, but i can't remember where.

How does it work?

 

[Patz]

How does it work?

Basically just a permanent magnet attached to a rod inside a tube.
When you push/pull the rod the magnet moves inside the tube.
You pick up chips with the magnet at the front. When you pull the magnet back the chips are caught by the plastic ring, and as the magnetic field decreases, they fall off.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Put the magnet in the finger of a rubber glove, pick up shavings, remove magnet from inside glove, shavings fall off. You'll have to upgrade the idea from this. We use shop vacs for shavings every day at work, but they are devoted to this. They have the 2-1/2" hoses.

 

[bgott]

Stick a regular magnet in a plastic bag. When you need to clean off the magnet, pull off the bag.

 

[Coach James]

What is the shavings don't contain iron?

Coach

 

[ourkid2000]

I see where you're going with the electromagnet idea but the thing is that once you remove the power, the residual magnetism that results will still be present and you'll still have the same sticking problem.

I like this idea: "Stick a regular magnet in a plastic bag. When you need to clean off the magnet, pull off the bag"

 

[mkdive]

Stick a regular magnet in a plastic bag. When you need to clean off the magnet, pull off the bag.

That's what I do, works great

 

[kooldino]

Put the magnet in the finger of a rubber glove, pick up shavings, remove magnet from inside glove, shavings fall off. You'll have to upgrade the idea from this. We use shop vacs for shavings every day at work, but they are devoted to this. They have the 2-1/2" hoses.

Stick a regular magnet in a plastic bag. When you need to clean off the magnet, pull off the bag.

Great tip! That should definitely work.

 

[dps]

I do similar with plastic bag, but use rigid container instead. I have a doughnut sized magnet that just fits in the bottom of a cottage cheese container that I can hold comfortably and wave over the area, then stand over trash and remove magnet momentarily.

A nicer version is found in old-fashioned hardware stores for buying nails by the pound out of the bins.