+Nakedbamboo Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I know I kept trying to find some magnets to hold an altoid can to a fence post, but nothing was strong enough. I tried ones from Walmart and Lowes, but they just kept adding more to the weight than the strength of the magnet allowed. Anyway, I finally stumbled onto something called Neodymium magnets. These are what you want. They are massively strong for their size. I am sure a lot of people already know about them, but for those that don't here is a good website: www.kjmagnetics.com. It allows you to by them singlely which I found to be very rare. Everyone wants to sell them in batches of 100 or more. By the way, I am not in any way related to this company, I am just a very suprisingly satisfied customer. Many other places sell Neodymium magnets, this was the only one I found where you could get individual ones. Quote Link to comment
BoostJunkie Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 If you want real strong magnets for free, take apart broken/junk computer hard drives. Very thin and strong. Quote Link to comment
+CharlesIsland Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 If you want real strong magnets for free, take apart broken/junk computer hard drives. Very thin and strong. I have a bunch of hdds and I can't seem to get them apart. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment
O-Mega Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 If you want real strong magnets for free, take apart broken/junk computer hard drives. Very thin and strong. I have a bunch of hdds and I can't seem to get them apart. Any suggestions? Unscrew the back off of them, most are held on by the same size screws (star) inside and out, the magnet is glued onto a piece of metal that has to be bent off (peeled if you will) because its on their so well. The HD is broke so you can do as you will without hurting anything, I have even broke some of the magnets...no problem I go two for one :-) Quote Link to comment
+Rattlebars Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Most hobby stores (Like Hobby Lobby) have what they call "rare earth" magnets (visit link) that are super strong and also relatively cheap. They come in sizes from an aspirin to a coupla fifty cent pieces stacked together. These are insanely strong magnets, so strong you have to slide them apart. They are bright silver in color and I have seen them at our WalMart in the hobby section (but not all Walmarts are created equal since our Walmart carries only Eveready rechargeable batteries and not Ray-o-vac or Sanyo like some have mentioned in another thread). Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 (edited) Neodymium magnets are a type of rare earth magnet. The best source I've found for them is Lee Valley Tools. They are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes. Edited September 28, 2007 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+Team Cotati Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 The best place for magnets on the planet: http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment
CoyoteRed Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 You can go to your neighborhood engraving shop that make name badges and ask for their magnetic badge findings. We sell those as a service to the caching community. Quote Link to comment
+Ambrosia Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 If you want real strong magnets for free, take apart broken/junk computer hard drives. Very thin and strong. I have a bunch of hdds and I can't seem to get them apart. Any suggestions? Baseball bat. Quote Link to comment
+9Key Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Nakedbamboo - Hobby Lobby has the rare earth magnets in our area for a decent price - $2.99 for the smaller round ones and $3.99 for a slightly larger size. Quote Link to comment
CacheNCarryMA Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 (edited) www.magnet4less.com looks cheaper than those sources (at least for the 1/2" dia 1/8" thick discs that I usually buy). Even though the discs are smaller than a dime, they have 5.4lb force. Two magets (or even one) will hold an altoids tin on a metal post. For example: 1/2"x1/8" discs KJ Magnetics: 50 count @ $30 Lee Valley: 50 count @ $29.50 Magcraft: 14 count @$8.99 magnet4less: 50 count @ $9 I don't mind buying 50 at that price. I use them as swag. Edited September 28, 2007 by CacheNCarryMA Quote Link to comment
+Rattlebars Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 www.magnet4less.com looks cheaper than those sources (at least for the 1/2" dia 1/8" thick discs that I usually buy). Even though the discs are smaller than a dime, they have 5.4lb force. Two magets (or even one) will hold an altoids tin on a metal post. For example: 1/2"x1/8" discs KJ Magnetics: 50 count @ $30 Lee Valley: 50 count @ $29.50 Magcraft: 14 count @$8.99 magnet4less: 50 count @ $9 I don't mind buying 50 at that price. I use them as swag. One must pay attention to shipping charges. Magnets4less charges $16 to ship, and the others are not much better, but I didn't check them all. Your local craft store or hobby store is your best bet unless you want to buy lots and lots of magents....!!!! Quote Link to comment
CacheNCarryMA Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 www.magnet4less.com looks cheaper than those sources (at least for the 1/2" dia 1/8" thick discs that I usually buy). Even though the discs are smaller than a dime, they have 5.4lb force. Two magets (or even one) will hold an altoids tin on a metal post. For example: 1/2"x1/8" discs KJ Magnetics: 50 count @ $32.50 Lee Valley: 50 count @ $29.50 Magcraft: 14 count @$8.99 magnet4less: 50 count @ $9 I don't mind buying 50 at that price. I use them as swag. One must pay attention to shipping charges. Magnets4less charges $16 to ship, and the others are not much better, but I didn't check them all. Your local craft store or hobby store is your best bet unless you want to buy lots and lots of magents....!!!! $16 is for USPS Priority Mail. They'll ship via UPS Ground for $10.63. I noticed that Magcraft charges $5.06 to ship via FedEx Ground (not sure if it would be equal weight). Still, even with the higher shipping cost (for that particular item) magnet4less.com ends up being about half the price. Quote Link to comment
+stepshep Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 My dad used to work at Dana and they broke down one of the machines and completely took it apart. It has magnets on it used to hold up engines while they were being worked on. He says they're just regular industrial magnets, but they might be the same as the Earth Magnets, it's heavy but a piece about 1" by 1" can pick up and hold 10 lbs. So I broke it into chunks and was using one to hold up a cache, then the rest of the magent got thrown away, go figure. Thanks for the links! Quote Link to comment
+Rick618 Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 As to the hard drive magnets, a google search will point you to several sites for how to, you'll need a couple of small Torx drivers or willingness to just rip 'em apart with pliers. Watch your fingers they can get pinched. This guy has some interesting info along with pics of some hard drvies apart. http://www.dansdata.com/magnets.htm Quote Link to comment
+Arndtwe Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 How about this? Or this? Both of these and more can be found here Quote Link to comment
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