Rare Earth Magnets

Create a Post
Val

Val

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Posts
6,729
Loc
Carson City, Nevada
I have an order on the way from Lee Valley, for a shadow box project that needs a removable top. Customer just called and now needs it completed before the magnets will arrive. I don't want to do hinges, the design is set for magnets. I need eight 1/4" magnets.

Any idea where to look on a local level? Would hardware stores (BB or indy) have them, or an equivelant?

ACK!!
 
From the lack of responses Val, you (or more accurately, your customer) may be out of luck. I don't know of anywhere else to buy the magnets.

Did the customer push up the agreed upon date? If so, I'd be tempted to tell them it ain't happening until the magnets show up.

If you (they) are desperate maybe you could offer to velcro the top on and they can bring it back when the magnets show up?
 
Val, try some local woodwork supply shops. I think they might be more likely to carry the magnets than Homeless Despot or another hardware store.
 
Doug Gemmell said:
Did the customer push up the agreed upon date? If so, I'd be tempted to tell them it ain't happening until the magnets show up.
Yes....again. It's a gift for a retiring colonel from the Army Nat'l Guard, a pistol. They just found out that he will be moving away the day after the retirement ceremony, which is Wednesday.

If you (they) are desperate maybe you could offer to velcro the top on and they can bring it back when the magnets show up?
Click to expand...
I thought of that, but not an option now. I guess I'll just have to go with hinges after all.

Paul, thanks for the suggestion, but there aren't any woodworking supply places here....just Home Depot and Lowe's and an independent hardware store.

Looks like it's hinges.
Edit: Maybe not, Rick was typing as I was...hope!!
 
Rick Bergeron - CPF said:
What size? How many?

I believe that I have some 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4" ones with the mating catches.
Will USPS be too slow?

That also assumes that I can talk Kathleen through finding them where I last saw them.
Click to expand...
Ooh, Rick! That would be great! I need eight 1/4". UPS or Calif Overnight would work. I have access to a commercial UPS or FedEx account and could call you with the account number.

As long as I could get them by Tuesday early afternoon, it would work.
 
An alternative is to build it as a slider (if you have appropriate materials on hand). Otherwise hinges would seem to be the way to go. There are no Rockler stores near you otherwise they might have rare earth magnets in stock (maybe).
 
Sounds interesting Andrew....I know what a slider is, but have never built one. Can you explain?
 
It's one of Jim Miller's concepts that he teaches in his "Design & Construction of Shadowboxes" class. A plug for Jim ... a really excellent class.

The finished article consists of two frames, an inner and an outer. The clearance between the two is small. The outer frame slides on and off the inner frame. The outer frame rests on top of the inner frame.

The inner can be constructed from a variety of materials (e.g. fabric wrapped liner or small dimension lumber, floater frame, etc.)

The outer can be a shadowbox moulding, or stacked mouldings (cap moulding on top of sideways stacked moulding)

Glass/acrylic is fitted into the outer (e.g. with silicone)

Inner contains mounted object and is secured to wall (security hangers would be good choice)
 
Val

1/4" I have 5 magnets, 7 mounting cups and 8 washers
1/2" I have 7 magnets, 8 mounting cups and 0 washers

Are you using 4 pairs or 8 separate?

If any combination will work, just email the address and UPS info. That way, I can print the label tomorrow AM and schedule the pickup before Kathleen gets to the store. UPS cutoff here for overnight or 2nd day is 11am. I can also use my UPS account and forward the invoice. Whatever makes things easiest if it'll work.
 
Last edited:
Rick, I sent you an e-mail just now.

Thank you soooooooo much!
I'm SOOOOOOOOOO HAPPPPPY!!!:D:D:D
 
Greetings from Hotlanta. Just checked in and found dinner; thought I'd give The G a look before bedtime.

Val, sorry you couldn't get your magnets in time from the supplier. I would have been happy to send you some by OvernightWhatever, but it seems Rick has come to your rescue. AttaBoy, Rick.

That's a good description of the Slider, Andrew. Thanks for your kind words about the class.
 
I just got on the grumble and read your post. I was thinking that Radio Shack might have rare earth magnets so I just checked out their website and they do. If you've got a store near you, you can check them out. They are 3/16", slightly smaller than what you want, but maybe a backup plan just in case. I've never used theirs, so I don't know how strong they are, check them before you buy them.
 
Oops, I missed Andrew's post on the previous page.

Andrew, have you seen the Nielsen jersey frame? One rail attached to the plexi that slides for easy changing. Is this anything like that? Sounds like it.

Apparently, there will be others to frame (pistols, from what I understand)in the future, from the same Nat'l Guard office for future retirees. The slider sounds like another good way to go, but I will practice on one first....no time for this one.

Jim, I would've gotten the magnets in time if the original due date hadn't been moved up nearly a week. I could've re-ordered them with o'nite shipping, but the shipping would've been more than the magnets....over $40....ouch. This project has to be kept within a certain budget, that would've put it over. I've been meaning to order a supply of the magnets, to have on hand when I needed them.....procrastination....hadn't needed them until now! Go figure!

Edit: Marky, Radio Shack! Hadn't even thought! I just called and they do! But they only have two in stock. ACK! shipment coming in tomorrow, don't know if the magnets will be on it. I'm headed there now, (they close in 15 minutes)
Bye!
 
Honey, I'm home! (Fast, huh?, they're only 3 blocks away)

They (Radio Shack) only carry the 1/8" Rare Earth at that store, 3/16" would've worked, but holy cow, are those little suckers magnety!! Still, only 2 pair left (I bought them anyway!), and that won't be enough for what I need.

So....back to Plan Rick.

I love this place!
 
Another solution, depending on your design, would be keyholing. I do this with jersey boxes.
 
Val said:
Andrew, have you seen the Nielsen jersey frame? One rail attached to the plexi that slides for easy changing. Is this anything like that? Sounds like it.
Click to expand...

Yes I have seen the Nielsen jersey frame ... in fact I have a demo unit in my store.

No, it's nothing like a slider!

The front of the Nielsen slides from left to right. In a slider the entire outer slides over the inner from front to back. The outer completely fits over the inner.
 
Dave said:
Another solution, depending on your design, would be keyholing. I do this with jersey boxes.
Click to expand...
Okay Dave, I'll bite.....what's keyholing? I have an idea, but....

CAframer said:
The front of the Nielsen slides from left to right. In a slider the entire outer slides over the inner from front to back. The outer completely fits over the inner.
Click to expand...
Andrew, got a picture/diagram? My brain is fuzzy this morning. I dreamed about this thing all night.
 
Keyholing is where you route out a "T" groove with a large circle cut out at the bottom of the groove. It looks like an old fashioned skeleton key hole upside down. The groove is routed out on the back of the frame on both sides and a round head screw is then put into the front edge of the shadowbox leaving it the depth of the groove sticking out. You align it with the top of the groove.

The groove on the back of the frame is cut like a "T" so that the screw goes into the hole and slides down into the top of the groove and is then flush with the frame.

To remove the front you just lift the front frame up and pull it away from the box.

Sounds confusing, but it's really quite simple. Wish I had one done to show a picture. Don't ask me how the routing is done because I have a friend with a workshop who does it for me and I haven't ever watched him. He's says it's easy though with the router bits he has.

Only hardware required is two screws and nothing shows.
 
Val said:
Andrew, got a picture/diagram? My brain is fuzzy this morning. I dreamed about this thing all night.
Click to expand...

Here is a crude sketch of one configuration. As I said before there are a variety of materials that can be used not just those shown in the sketch.
slider-1.jpg
 
Okay, Andrew, that's how I planned to do this thing, except using the magnets inside the "cap frame" to keep the top secure while it's being moved around.
 
Val said:
Okay, Andrew, that's how I planned to do this thing, except using the magnets inside the "cap frame" to keep the top secure while it's being moved around.
Click to expand...

FWIW sounds as though my sketch and what's in your mind are still not quite in sync ... not that it matters ... but here are some thoughts which may sync up the two:
a. a slider is quite secure without additional fastening mechanisms
b. if you are constucting a slider I don't see how you would use hinges, as you mentioned as your fallback if you didn't get the magnets in time
c. sounds as though you have planned a cap moulding flush fitted on top of a box, not completely overlapping as would be the case in a slider. In this config yes either magnets (preferably coupled with positional dowels) or (barrel) hinges + fastener catch would be good.
 
CAframer said:
FWIW sounds as though my sketch and what's in your mind are still not quite in sync ... .
Click to expand...
Probably not. Seems my mind is not in sync with much today......but I'm trying! (ouch-ow!)
 
Yeh it's been a bit like that for me lately! Not sure if I mentioned it before or not, but my son had a real bad motorcycle accident a couple of weekends ago (5 hours of surgery), and there are so many issues to resolve. I won't bore you with all the details but just let's say it is a complicated situation involving someone who ran a red light at high speed and knocked him off his bike. It's keeping us hopping!
 
Yes you told us about that....I hope he's doing better now. And you too!
 
Val, I know the horse has left the barn, but you probably could have ordered a second set of magnets from Lee Valley with next day delivery, and returned the original order for a refund.
 
I ordered a bunch of them, Paul, to have in stock.

And yes, I could've done overnight from Lee Valley but the cost was prohibitive.Unfortunately, this is a "government project" and a tight(-wad) budget.

Thought of all that....but thanks.

Rick's sending some and they'll be here on Monday.
 
Val said:
this is a "government project" and a tight(-wad) budget.
Click to expand...

I thought the government was fond of drastically overpaying for things they could have bought well at retail. I guess in this case they are buying well at retail. At least they didn't pay KBR $17.3M to frame it.

:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick

P.S. My local Ace Hardware sells "Neodymium" Magnets at about 6/$4.95. These are about the size of shirt buttons, but they are so strong it is hard to get them apart from the stack. Keep away from children.
 
I get good ones by mail from Woodworkers' Supply and I bought some from Radio Shack when I was in a jam once after calling every hobby shop, etc. in our area. The Radio Shack version are nowhere near as strong, though.
 
Yes, I saw Deacon's post, and it was too late then, too. I had already ordered from Lee Valley when the customer (local Army Nat'l Guard office) moved the due date up a week, and then, another 2 days. Argh! I was able to get some magnets in time from Rick Granick, but unfortunately, the moulding I had to work with limited to in-stock, not even enough time to order that!) wasn't deep enough to accomodate the depth of the magnets. I ended up telling them they couldn't get the project in time, with a removable lid and the pistol removable, but could do it in time with a different approach.

I ended up using melinex straps to mount the pistol, and attached the top "lid" frame to the bottom "box" frame with eye screws behind, and screws holding that down. If the recipient wants to, he can remove the top easily with a screwdriver, and I can re-do the mounting with formed rods at a later date, but not in the time I was allowed.

I could've done the formed rods, but nowhere in this entire town was the wire available in the right guage.....either too thin or too thick (1/8" turned my hands black and blue trying to bend it) I gave it my best effort with what I had in the time I had and had to settle with a compromise.

It hasn't come back, and they seemed to be quite pleased with the project when they picked it up last Wednesday.

P.S. The magnets arrived today from Lee Valley....didn't get shipped out right away because the guy on the phone transposed a number from my credit card, and my spam block kicked out their e-mail telling me about it. They finally just sent it on with an invoice.

Thanks again, Rick and to everyone else with all the magnet resources. Now that my order is in, I'll have enough for the next 10 years worth of projects! And they are strong little suckers!!!
 
Val, while I would love to claim credit as your night in magnetized armor, it was probably Rick Bergeron, since my only contribution on this topic was mentioning that they are available at Ace Hardware. Glad the project worked out well for you anyway.
:cool: Rick
 
Oops, you're right Rick....wrong Rick....but you're still both my knights in magnetized armor!

Thanks, Rick Bergeron!

And thanks to all others for your suggestions. I know waaaay more about Rare Earth Magnets now!
 
Create a Post
Back
Top