Welding magnets - How do you keep them clean?

[blaze_125]

As the title states... how do you keep them clean?
Mines are filled with shavings and whatnot.

 

[JamieK]

Compressed air does a good job of cleaning off magnets.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Bigger magnet? you could probably use a wire brush.

 

[blaze_125]

I read some people just blow torch it?

 

[Stick]

I usually don't bother to try to keep them clean other than wiping off the shavings once in a while. If you have a real need to keep the shavings off, stick them inside a latex glove before you use them, then pull the glove off once you tack everything in place and remove the magnet.

 

[blaze_125]

stick them inside a latex glove before you use them

My biggest problem with shavings on it comes from grinding. I store the magnets close to my workbench and whenever I grind something or even file something, the magnets start stocking up on unwanted cr@p. I could store them elsewhere, but I like having them close to my work area so I can have quick access to them.

I do like the latex glove idea for when I actually put them to use.

 

[lilredex]

I just wipe a rag around them occasionally.......good enough for me.

 

[Professur]

Clean magnets? What's that?

 

[blaze_125]

Clean magnets? What's that?

Ok ok.... partially clean.
I don't mind the dirt spots... it's shavings working their way through my skin that bothers me a bit It gets as itchy as fiberglass dust.

 

[nismomans13]

i bought the auto clean magnets, every once and a while while using them i drop them on the concrete floor and all the shavings fall off...haha

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I have a set I bought from the miller rep when he was around and they have an on/off switch just like a dial indicator stand. Which is nice just shut them off when not in use or to clean them, most stuff just falls off.

Edit: Mine are like the one's found here,

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Strong-Hand-Weld...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2548b888f7

 

[bradleykd]

put em in a freezer bag (tougher than a sandwich bag) and take the bag off to clean em...

 

[nate379]

Brush them off with the bench brush or compressed air.

That is one reason I don't buy any socket holders with magnets. I would have a hell of a time keeping them free of metal "fuzzies"

 

[Professur]

I tried the baggie idea. Didn't stand up too well to the welding cherries.

 

[Stephenw]

A few quick swipes with a wood handled wire brush (brush in one direction) cleans them right up.

 

[78Bird]

Compressed Air, only thing I know of that'll get it all off there.

 

[cheap bastard]

Wrap them in one layer of aluminium foil. Remove the foil and remove the dirt. You may find that spraying paint or wrapping the foil with tape to secure the dirt will help the process. I don't, but maybe I'm just not that picky, or too damn cheap.

 

[reinhardt]

i work in ship repair and use mine often. i also use a magnet torpedo level, retrieval magnet, mag based mirror, etc... they all get covered in metal shavings, and it affects the accuracy of the level, the welding magnets dont hold as well, the retrieval magnet doesnt retrieve, etc....

a large wood handled wire brush does it every time. as stated, brush in one direction - away from yourself.

 

[mrholeshot]

I just wipe them off with a rag. I can't use them like I use to. The magnets cause my pacemaker to speed way up.