Making things more useful with magnets

[ex-x-fire]

About 6 months ago I took some old bread pans and bolted a pair of magnets to one side. They are very useful when working on a car on a lift. And they can hold a lot of weight too. A big time saver when I can toss a handful of lug nuts into them and not having to chase down a dropped one. The magnets I used were from Harbor Freight.
Anyone make something better with magnets? I'm planning on adding a bunch of magnets to a folding tool shelf, there's a part of our shop the doesn't anything to use as a temporary writing platform out back at the big lift. I'd be nice to not use the ****** jack for that.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have harvested magnets from discarded microwaves and auto speakers. A magnet is very versatile. I use a speaker magnet to hold/store my lift table ramp to the side of my sandblast cabinet.
One of the worst uses of a magnet was in a fender protector. The tool truck company had put magnets inside the protector. Magnets attract swarf and find metal dust. This was very abrasive on paint. The product was recalled.

 

[nadogail]

I have several magnets glued to ticks of varying length. They make picking things off the floor easier.

i also use magnets to remove chips from my drill press.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I often put a strong magnet in a Ziplock bag. This makes getting the swarf off the magnet easy.

 

[csp]

Whenever using magnets to pick up metal swarf put the magnet inside a plastic back to make the swarf removal much easier.

Edit: looks like two of us had the same thought at the same time.

 

[ezriderga]

Attach a magnet to screwdriver shaft to hold screw in place.

 

[2oolhound]

I have several in the shop. When I'm sorting fasteners that accumulate on my bench it helps me separate the stainless from the regular when in doubt.

When blacksmithing the processes of annealing and/or hardening steel require a temperature to be achieved whereby the metal becomes nonmagnetic. Touching your work piece to the magnet allows you to find the area where the metal transitions from magnetic to nonmagnetic quickly and easily (usually you want the whole piece to be nonmagnetic but not always). You have very little time to quench after removing items from the forge so this is fast and precise.

 

[flyingblind]

Hard drive magnets are the best. Strong enough to pinch a blister into your finger. Just used two of them for holding saw supports on my flip top table.

 

[fatfillup]

My latest use of magnets is to hold labels or signs on metal shelving.

Since the shelves are used for different projects, I make a tag out of old file folders and hold it to the shelf with the magnet. As the shelf gets emptied and new stuff goes on it, the tag changes.

 

[sparkness]

put neodymium mag in your plastic cutting oil bottles , they fall down less

 

[Lorydr]

Whenever using magnets to pick up metal swarf put the magnet inside a plastic back to make the swarf removal much easier.

Edit: looks like two of us had the same thought at the same time.

Actually, 3 of us had this thought and practice for some time.

 

[paulsomlo]

I often put a strong magnet in a Ziplock bag. This makes getting the swarf off the magnet easy.

That's a great idea - I keep hoping someone will come out with a self-cleaning lathe, though.

 

[JRC3]

Some people wire or bungee the safety lever on their push mower. I use magnets on my trim mower. It's a little safer because if it's roughly jarred or you smack it it will release killing the engine. Just a little electrical tape to hold the magnets. Been working great for 3.5 years now.

 

[Madjik Man]

Warning, one curse word:

 

[kyrbz]

I use rare earth magnets a lot in architectural applications. The black areas of this fireplace are 14ga. powder coated steel panels that are held in place with magnets. The steel panel bond to the substrate is strong but can be easily removed with glass suction cups to access areas behind panels if needed. Like on this fireplace, the TV nook has a lot of electrical stuff behind the panels which can be accessed by popping them off.

 

[JRC3]

Warning, one curse word:

On that same note, 1:50 to 2:00... lol

 

[RTM]

put neodymium mag in your plastic cutting oil bottles , they fall down less

I have quarter sized magnets under my Goldenrod magnetic oil cans, they fall down less too.

 

[purplezr2]

Stick a magnet is a piece of hose and you can use it to fish stuff out if a tight spot

Harvested the magnets out of Snap On socket trays and used them in 3D printer socket holders

 

[sparkness]

I have quarter sized magnets under my Goldenrod magnetic oil cans, they fall down less too.

I spend less time picking em up from behind the machines, i have golderod's as well but I should have ground the surface of the bottom and used a thicker epoxy such as JB Weld as some of my mags fell off!

 

[LWB]

I put a couple of 24" magnets on the side of my lift today. I hope they work out good for lug nuts, bolts, etc.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I finished my magnetic folding shelf, I used 7 of those HF strip magnets. It holds strong.

 

[ToddG]

Years ago I bought a rare earth magnet that is the size of a C battery. It’s a beast and will lift over 200lbs. I have used it for a number of things over the years but my current favorite thing is using it as a stud finder with metal studs. Super easy to tell exactly where they are.

 

[HPRifleman]