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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Things from the Basement on 04 October 2020, 08:43:23 PM

Title: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: Things from the Basement on 04 October 2020, 08:43:23 PM

I am wondering what is the best way to work with small (3mm round) rare earth (neodym) magnets?
Regular tweezers don't work as they are magnetic. Plastic tweezers? Ceramic ones? Anything else?
Looking for suggestions.
Thanks!

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: fred on 04 October 2020, 09:15:43 PM

Anything but metal tools!

I've used other magnets as the tool. Basically take a stack of magnets (usually how they come). Take the one you want off, pop a small piece of plastic bag on the stack, add the original magnet back on. Now you can position the magnet where it wants to go, with the piece of plastic stopping the glue going too far. Leave it set for a bit, then push down on the bag, while sliding the magnet stack off.

Not sure I have explained that too well - but hopefully you get the idea.

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: Skyven on 04 October 2020, 09:22:59 PM

Jeweller's brass tweezers (steel can cause problems when working with silver and pickle) for as little as £3.50 on Amazon.

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: snitcythedog on 04 October 2020, 10:53:22 PM

Quote from: Things from the Basement on 04 October 2020, 08:43:23 PM

I am wondering what is the best way to work with small (3mm round) rare earth (neodym) magnets?
Regular tweezers don't work as they are magnetic. Plastic tweezers? Ceramic ones? Anything else?
Looking for suggestions.
Thanks!

If you are working with superglue or resin put packing tape around one magnet.  Then you can use that one as a tool to apply other magnets without it sticking to your glue.  If you are using plastic cement then all of the other suggestions will work a treat.

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: levied troop on 06 October 2020, 08:24:43 AM

Cocktail sticks used either as chopsticks or a single one to push the magnet into place. Currently doing a lot of bases using these and it seems to be going well.

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: Cacique Caribe on 13 October 2020, 04:23:31 PM

Plastic tweezers work great.

Dan

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: Morin84 on 13 October 2020, 06:17:58 PM

I sometimes use toothpicks, but a better solution is to apply poster tack to the blunt end of a pen.

Title: Re: Rare earth magnets and tweezers
Post by: AndrewBeasley on 19 October 2020, 04:21:32 AM

I just use metal tweezers and push the magnet into the glue using the edge of my knife blade. Then holding it down I remove the tweezers and then slide the knife blade off.


Just make sure you use the sharp edge and keep it as close to 90deg as possible.


If that gives you issues just use a toothpick instead of the knife blade.