Large Magnetic Socket?

[Greatwhitewing]

Have a special application where I need a 1-5/16" MAGNETIC Socket strong enough to securely hold a 7/8-9unc x 2-3/4 long grade 8 bolt to get it started, then torqued. It's less than a pound but HAS TO BE secure.

Special tool design to get behind a 6' high 10' long cabinet 6" from a wall and install about 20 bolts. Be able to see the hole from the top and sides but not reach it by hand.

The tool design will be a very long extension with socket holding bolt, start the threading and then torque it to a value TBD.

One option is buy a rare earth magnet and stick it up the socket but like to have it as part of the socket if at all possible.

Shipyard application is all I can say.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Hmm, no replies?

 

[metaleltr]

What about using epoxy to attach the rare earth magnet to the socket?

 

[Greatwhitewing]

What about using epoxy to attach the rare earth magnet to the socket?

Definite possibility but I worry about not enough surface area for a reliable bond. If the magnet and bolt fall out behind the cabinet it would be a really bad day. 18,000 pound box with little headroom so moving it to chase a lose bolt would really ****...

 

[Murphy4570]

Why don't you just magnetize the socket itself? Simple process to do. Hell, you could probably just wrap copper wire around the socket, attach both ends to a 9 volt battery, tape it all on there, and have at it! Bam, instant electromagnet.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Not a bad idea... Thanks..

 

[Dustball]

Better make sure the socket doesn't come off your extension then.

 

[A_Pmech]

Have a machine shop drill and ream the center of your extension (which will presumably be custom). Press in a cylindrical magnet with enough extending into the socket so the magnet and bolt head make contact.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Better make sure the socket doesn't come off your extension then.

Absolutely, maybe a tether attached too just in case..

 

[BigTJ]

Absolutely, maybe a tether attached too just in case..

If you use a battery, once your bolt is started, unhook the battery? Idea maybe.

 

[metaleltr]

I assume this is very specialty application. So if you weld the extension to the socket it wont go any where. Then use epoxy putty packed into the bottom of the socket to hold the rare earth magnet.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

It is indeed a custom engineered tool that we have to supply to the shipyard to perform the labor. Be a lot easier if our engineers could do the work...

I saw some small cylindrical electromagnets that looked promising too.

BTW the extension will be a 4130 steel tube welded to each HALF of the socket with the extension being about 6 feet. A very nice snap-on torque wrench connected at the top. I think it's 72" long handle!!!

Trying to determine if I need a mechanical aid is needed to precisely lower the wrench/extension/socket/bolt assembly while the bolt is started in the threaded hole???

 

[unslow1]

They make locking extensions. The kind you have to trigger a release to get the socket off. I've siliconed the bolt into a socket before to make sure it didn't drop.