djhobby Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 I have an idea for a cache and was wondering if rare earth magnets can be painted or stamped with letters? Preferbly both. Has anyone done this? Also where is a good place to buy some magnets? Quote Link to comment
+flgAZ Posted June 20, 2005 Share Posted June 20, 2005 (edited) Painting shouldn't cause a problem but do not shock them with stamping. Very very brittle. I was happy to get some from K&J Magnetics I also saw some availble at my local Ace Hardware Store. Edited June 20, 2005 by flgAZ Quote Link to comment
bogleman Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Try an engraver or a sharp awl then paint the entire magnet white, when it dries sand off the paint and the remaining paint will be left in the deep scratches and will be less likely to rub off. If you are really frugal (and have some spare time) go to a CPU repair store and ask for the damaged hard drives and tear them apart, they have some very nice RE magnets inside, just soak them in nail polish remover overnight to get the mounting bracket off. Quote Link to comment
+BadAndy Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Don't heat rare earth mags either, as this can cause them to lose much of their power. You'd be better off using small stickers for the lettering than trying to stamp or engrave these *very* brittle magnets. Just give them a final coat in clear ceramic sealer after the lettering. Quote Link to comment
+Chuy! Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 (edited) My WebpageI get my magnets from Home Depot. I'm sure you can find them at Lowe's and hobby shops. Maybe even Walmart. Stamping them will definitely shatter them. Just saw this website. Edited June 21, 2005 by Chuy Quote Link to comment
+Deneye Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 (edited) both of those links hit the same "amazing magnets" page... Edited June 22, 2005 by Deneye Quote Link to comment
+DaveA Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 well if you find a way to paint them that 'sticks' let me know. I have tried super glue and epoxy to try and get them to stick to a plastic mailbox and if it gets real hot or cold they just pop off. Quote Link to comment
+BadAndy Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Most RE magnets are chrome plated. If you are very careful with a sharp knife you can "peel" the chrome off, leaving a rougher surface for the gorilla glue to stick to. You *do* know about gorilla glue.....don't you? Quote Link to comment
+Ice_man Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 If you are really frugal (and have some spare time) go to a CPU repair store and ask for the damaged hard drives and tear them apart, they have some very nice RE magnets inside, just soak them in nail polish remover overnight to get the mounting bracket off. Finally I know how to get those magnets off their brackets! Thank you thank you thank you. I tried finding info on how to do that and all I found was boil them in hot water. *sarcasm* Boy that worked well. /sarcasm Quote Link to comment
+MountainMudbug Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Haven't tried it on RE magnets myself, but in reading this thread it occurred to me that maybe permanent ink might color them. I use permanent solvent ink pads by Staz-On for my rubber stamping on plastic, wood, rocks, and paper, and it is pretty impressive stuff. "For every surface; designed especially for use on plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, paper, & leather (not recommended for fabric)". It dries in 3-5 minutes. They have a few colors - black, brown, dark green, blue, purple, red, orange, yellow. Found in arts & craft stores as well as craft depts of some superstores. I think you could dab the ink on the whole magnet to color it solid, or use rubber stamp letters/numbers to put coordinates on it if the magnet isn't too tiny. Quote Link to comment
+glowstick Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I would check for compases, ect. before placeing a magnet. and do likewise if placing a compas. Quote Link to comment
Prof. Y. Lupardi Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Most RE magnets are chrome plated. If you are very careful with a sharp knife you can "peel" the chrome off, leaving a rougher surface for the gorilla glue to stick to. You *do* know about gorilla glue.....don't you? At least I do. Yesterday I repaired my Monkey Wrench with it. Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Anybody else ever try attaching RE magents to a cache with JB Weld? It's interesting, since there are metal shavings in the JB Weld. Quote Link to comment
+erik88l-r Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Anybody else ever try attaching RE magents to a cache with JB Weld?It's interesting, since there are metal shavings in the JB Weld. Yes, I've done it, and to my surprise the magnet sunk down into the JB Weld and then the JB Weld worked it's way over the magnet. It was like watching something alive attacking that magnet. I didn't understand why it happened, but it sorta makes sense if the epoxy has metal in suspension. ~erik~ Quote Link to comment
+wandererrob Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I have an idea for a cache and was wondering if rare earth magnets can be painted or stamped with letters? Preferbly both. Has anyone done this? Also where is a good place to buy some magnets? How about "Industrial" Sharpie markers? Those things are resistant to extreme heat, chemicals and such. And the usually write on anything. Quote Link to comment
+DaveA Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Anybody else ever try attaching RE magents to a cache with JB Weld?It's interesting, since there are metal shavings in the JB Weld. no, but I used it to attach one to the flag on my mailbox. It stayed on for about a week. I am told JB Weld is great stuff, but I wasn't impressed by this application. Then again nothing seems to make these magnets stick to the plastic flag. Quote Link to comment
+Deneye Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 is a "neodymium" magnet a rare earth magnet? I have a bunch here and I just tried the industrial sharpie on it and it works great once dried...scraping with a fingernail doesn't even touch it... I picked these up at Princess Auto...called Super Magnets...made by The Magnet Source Quote Link to comment
+BadAndy Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 is a "neodymium" magnet a rare earth magnet? I have a bunch here and I just tried the industrial sharpie on it and it works great once dried...scraping with a fingernail doesn't even touch it... I picked these up at Princess Auto...called Super Magnets...made by The Magnet Source Yes, neodymium are also called rare earth mags. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Very very brittle. That depends on the type of magnet. Ceramic magnets certainly are. I had one shatter just from the force of attracting another magnet of the same type. On the other hand, neodymium magnets are fairly tough. Quote Link to comment
+hikergps Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Cow Magnet Activity Kit Quote Link to comment
+DocDiTTo Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 I have an idea for a cache and was wondering if rare earth magnets can be painted or stamped with letters? Preferbly both. If all you're using it for is writing on, then why bother with a rare earth magnet? Use a cheaper ceramic magnet available at any hobby store or Walmart. Rare eath magnets are super strong to hold a decent weight, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're doing. Actually, the best thing might be to use the photo-backer magnetic sheets. Just write on a piece of paper, laminate it and stick it to the magnetic sheet. Thin enough to be hidden almost anywhere. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 (edited) Just write on a piece of paper, laminate it and stick it to the magnetic sheet. Thin enough to be hidden almost anywhere. I much cheaper source of magnetic sheets are the floor vent covers you can find at most hardware shops. Edited June 23, 2005 by Prime Suspect Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Cow Magnet Activity Kit For some reason, cow magnets disgust me more than just about anything. Quote Link to comment
+Mudinyeri Posted June 23, 2005 Share Posted June 23, 2005 Having used and sold quite a few rare earth magnets, I can attest that painting them won't harm them. Writing on them with a Sharpie marker is a good way of putting identifying marks on them. They're pretty durable - at least the ones with coatings on them are - and good ones will stand up to quite a bit of abuse. They are quite strong - I ultimately switched to selling a smaller magnet to put in my micro's as the larger ones pulled out the glue (RV Goop) that I used and initially recommended. Quote Link to comment
+CompuCash Posted June 24, 2005 Share Posted June 24, 2005 (edited) Just write on a piece of paper, laminate it and stick it to the magnetic sheet. Thin enough to be hidden almost anywhere. I much cheaper source of magnetic sheets are the floor vent covers you can find at most hardware shops. ow! yer stealing my idea! check this link http://www.dickblick.com/zz289/21/ about the cheapest magnetic sheet stock I have been able to find cc\ Edited June 24, 2005 by CompuCash Quote Link to comment
+Knight2000 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 For some reason, cow magnets disgust me more than just about anything. A lot of people don't know this but they can be used a stud finders in commercial construction. A lot of carpenters i showed didn't believe me at first. Afterwards though- everyone wants one! Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 (edited) Just write on a piece of paper, laminate it and stick it to the magnetic sheet. Thin enough to be hidden almost anywhere. I much cheaper source of magnetic sheets are the floor vent covers you can find at most hardware shops. ow! yer stealing my idea! check this link http://www.dickblick.com/zz289/21/ about the cheapest magnetic sheet stock I have been able to find cc\ That's only a few tenths of a cent cheaper per square inch, than the vent covers. And once you include their shipping costs, which are more than the cost of the item itself, you're far better off just going to your neighborhood hardware store. Edited April 28, 2007 by Prime Suspect Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 (edited) For some reason, cow magnets disgust me more than just about anything. A lot of people don't know this but they can be used a stud finders in commercial construction. A lot of carpenters i showed didn't believe me at first. Afterwards though- everyone wants one! Huh. It was my post, but I had to reread the thread to remember what a 'cow magnet' was. Since it's been a few years since I made that post, I don't feel bad. Edited April 28, 2007 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
Mustcache Posted April 28, 2007 Share Posted April 28, 2007 wondering if rare earth magnets can be painted Just use a wire brush. Quote Link to comment
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