Magnetism for the price of magnetism.

[ironhat]

How's that for a dorky title?! It's teh best I could do... I was wandering around a large crafts store (Michael's) and came across some magnets. I didn't think that the prices were bad at all; 1/4" were $1.69 for six, 1/2" were $1.69 for six and $5.97 for 20. They had 3/4" too but I've forgotten the price. Any time I want one I decide that it's too inconvenient and too expensive to order them from a supply house. So, for all of you in my boat of ignorance, this will get you there.

EDIT: The 1/4" were $2.99 since they are nickel plated

[LCHIEN]

there are all kinds of quality/strength levels for magnets. hard to tell if that's good or not.
the real good ones are the Neodymium ones; you can find lots of them for sale on eBay in all sizes. Very strong. put two of them together you might not get them apart. they're shiny silver because i think they have a lot of nickel content.
The cheap magnets are blacker and brittle when dropped, coarsely machined and have much less holding power.

[ironhat]

You're right, Loring. I've opened the 1/2" ones and I'd say that they would be for light to moderate strength useage. The entire package of 20 was packaged in two rows like coins on their sides with shrink-wrap over them. This package would just barely hold to the steel lid of my tool chest with the cardboard of the package against the steel. It was pretty solid with the shrink-wrap against the steel. That should give the group some idea of their strength.

[cabinetman]

You're right, Loring. I've opened the 1/2" ones and I'd say that they would be for light to moderate strength useage. The entire package of 20 was packaged in two rows like coins on their sides with shrink-wrap over them. This package would just barely hold to the steel lid of my tool chest with the cardboard of the package against the steel. It was pretty solid with the shrink-wrap against the steel. That should give the group some idea of their strength.

Were they like discs, and called "rare earth magnets"? There's a lot of uses for magnets in the shop. Here is a site with some magnet info.
.

[annunaki]

Old Computer = Free Magnets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWGNNWAvm4U

[phi1l]

I think what you will find a Michael's will be refrigerator grade magnets.

[ironhat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWGNNWAvm4U

Yes, annunaki, I know about those magnets but how do I use them? I have several on my metal tool cabinet holding up note, etc.

I think what you will find a Michael's will be refrigerator grade magnets.

Yea, you're right phi1l. Afer I pulled them out and they are crude in finish. The 1/4" mags are silver plated (what with?). They don't seem particularly strong so they are about refrig grade with an expensive jacket.

Sorry for the false excitement.

[radhak]

Been there, done that!

I now realize that regular stores are not gonna sell the good stuff, because they come under some extra regulations on shipping and storing.

I got a bunch of rare-earth from Rockler and am ever surprised at the uses I've found for them. eg : I was able to use 4 of them to attach a 36" x 36" pegboard to the side of my unisaw for small/hand tool storage. I could easily put a couple of large tools like a drill or two and that think would still hold.

Btw, I have come across some really large rare-earth that were labelled 'for military use only' ( like maybe lift a vehicle with a rope from a helicopter, maybe?) !

[BobSch]

If you want some free, extra-strong magnets just take apart any old hard drives you have sitting around. There's two magnets in each drive, kind of funny shaped but stronger than heck.

WARNING: Watch your fingers when disassembling the magnets. Blood blisters are a common hazard.

[Long Shadow]

Magnets

I guess I don't have to remind you not to carry them around in your left shirt pocket. How ya doin otherwise?

[ironhat]

I guess I don't have to remind you not to carry them around in your left shirt pocket. How ya doin otherwise?

Yea, buddy! That would shut down the generator. That's how they turned it off to insert the spinal cord stimulator. Ahhhh, memories!!

[phi1l]

Btw, I have come across some really large rare-earth that were labelled 'for military use only' ( like maybe lift a vehicle with a rope from a helicopter, maybe?) !

Either that, or some very clever marketing