Magnet collection - What to do with them??

Elaine

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 9, 2001
Posts
1,569
Loc
Skaneateles,NY USA
As you have probably seen, many people are replacing their appliances with stainless steel and the family magnet collection won't stick.

I had a customer come in today and brought a bulletin board with the idea of buying a metal frame and framing the bulletin board and applying the magnets to the moulding all the way around the bulletin board. One problem, the magnets won't stick to the Neilson frames that I carry.

Question: Ideas for a solution?? The customer wants to place the magnets all the way around the frame and not share the space with the bulletin board. I have in the past used sheet metal behind a finish to use for magnets.

Any ideas?? Thanks for your help

Elaine
 
What about gluing, brass tacking, a sheet metal strip onto the top of a flat cap moulding. Youcould even dado out the moulding to flushmount the sheet metal strip for a more finished look. OR angle iron around the moulding. But that might be a little heavy!
 
:D

Thanks for the chuckle!
 
Lee Valley has rare-earth rod magnets that are 1 long, 1/4" diameter. These could be glued to the upper inside of the moulding and I think a refer magnet would then stick to the moulding. Not cheap though: $1.90 ea. and you would probably need one every two inches or so.

You will want to choose a moulding that would accept a 1/4" dia. cylinder. The N-15 inside radius is a little too small.

And if that doesn't work.....chicken wire.
 
Doug,

Strip magnets are free at your local landfill/transfer station/ dump.

You can cut open the seal from "dead" fridges and yank the strip out. I had some around my shop that I use for the "be back in ...." sign. I made an 8 1/2 by 11 frame and tacked the magnets on the back edge. This frame sticks to my front door (fire door).

Works great, except that one side seems to stick better than the other
 
What an elegant solution Bob...use fridge strip magnets to hold fridge magnets and I like the recylcing aspect.

I think the magnet would have to go inside the moulding to be as close as possible to the edge the fridge magnets would adhere to.

Elaine, get thee to a dump.
 
Why stop at that? Just get the whole door off the old fridge, figure out a way to hang it on your cust. family room wall, and let him put all the magnets on this. I know it's not what he asked for, but when you propose it he'll think you are a genius.
:cool: Rick
 
I have a desire to hang a old style fridge door to my wall in the shop that I can stick magnet frames to, but then I'd have to make magnet frames!

I have a freind that makes pins and objet de art out of something called freindly plastic. Plastic you cut into strips then dunk into scalding hot water and it melts enough to stick together. He makes really cool butterflies and dragonflies among other things out of this stuff.

But that aso means finding the "right" fridge door!

See you at the landfill Elaine! You can have th emagnets, I want the door! Old Lassie style when the big chrome locking lever that used to shut with such a satifying "klunk!
 
can you have a "mat" cut out of sheet metal? you can paint it over to coordinate with the frame you choose and the decor in the room. I have never worked with sheet metal personally; I know it can be tricky and a custom cut piece could be costly, but you could always pass that cost along to your customer. Hey, don't forget to ask for the fallout, lol!
 
Elaine,

Perhaps you could use some sheet metal as a Mat around the bulletin board. If they don't want to give up the bulletin board space - make it bigger!!

Will never be an award winner I am sure - but hey beats the ones I have done with the sheet metal in the frame - VERY attractive!! TIC

Roz
 
Bob
Good Idea but I think Elaine is trying to put magnet into the frame and magnets to magnets repell
As nielsen frames are aluminum magnets won't work but the nielsen flat backing plates for the connectors will work. If you trace where you want to mount the magnets and cut pockets in a mat (same thickness) and attach with maybe atg to the backing. Then stick on the magnets.Done
 
Doug - magnets will stick to each other so long as you are connecting the right sides - one way they will repel- the other they will connect.
 
I stopped at one of those little crafty places that you find in 'arty' towns, and the WHOLE STORE was magnets! They had lots of fridge doors as display surfaces. I shoulda snapped a pic!
 
Neilsen Elements frames - wrought iron variety - are CLAD with actual iron and magnets will stick to them - I tested this as soon as I got the corners!!!
 
Dang, she beat me to it.... 'corse she's 3 hours ahead.. :D

All the way down this thread I was thinking the copper.. which works too.
 
Thanks! Lots of ideas, I like the Elements idea the best, nice looking if not covered, no worry about attaching anything to anything, and I won't have to hang out at the DUMP! Whoops, I forgot... heerre in Skaneateles, it is referred to as "The Transfer Station" lotdeda!

I had the elements frame picked out first, but didn't think to check it with my magnet, but for some reason checked it on the other neilson frame

Where do I get copper frames?? Is this Baer's build it yourself, or is there a vendor for a line of copper frames???

Thanks again!

Elaine
 
Just tried a refer magnet on the Elements. It sticks to the flat surface on some fairly well but not on others. Didn't stick on the curved surface on any. It sticks much better to my metal desk than the Elements moulding so make sure the customer knows they might not hold too well on this moulding.

This post has nothing to do with my desire to hear Elaine's report on her trip to the dump/landfill/transfer station.
 
Thanks Mike - sent them off an email.

The Elements wrought iron works, and I am going to try to attach a then strip of magnet to a sample frame to see how that works.

Thanks!

ELaine
 
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