Magnetic Clamps

While perusing ebay the other day I came across some Neodymium block rare earth magnets, I hadn't a clue these even existed and it gave me an idea. I remembered seeing the magnetic clamps that Barrie has and after seeing the price of these clamps I could not resist the challenge, I just had to have a go at making some.

I bought some 20mm x 10mm x 5mm magnets at approx. £1.40p each and a 200mm x 200mm piece of 10mm Acrylic sheet, cost about £6.


I used my new Proxxon table saw to cut some bits of Acrylic sheet to the desired size (only made one fopaux).And set a magnets in two to start with, more to follow.


Here are the resulting first pair

Very Nice  They look to be a  bit bigger than the ones I bought, which will be better for boat building. Mine were designed for model railways and are not always big enough to handle boat size structures.
I do have some very ferocious magnets - might have a go at making some.

Barrie

Hi Barrie, on the York Modelmaking site they do quite a few different types and sizes I am going to make some variations on this one as well. Your clamps are I think just over 30mm mine are about 45mm.

I got the Acrylic sheet from ebay but you could always use wood, but they wouldn't be as tough though.

Yes have a go, it's just a bit time consuming but I think worth it for the satisfaction I got from making them. If you do make some would you post some pictures on this thread please.

Yes - I notice they now list different sizes, but they are expensive. When I bought mine they just had the two types. Its not top of my priority list, but I may get round to making some - it would use the magnets I bought for hatch fixings but are way too powerful for that.

Barrie

Paul,

OK - having said it wasn't top of the list, here is my version. I have started planking my hull, so lots of waiting for glue to dry - I'm using aliphatic at the moment, though may switch to CA.

These are made from 4 pieces of 1.5mm plasticard. Each side is 4mm. The two inner layers have a hole cut to accommodate the magnet. Not as neat as the acrylic  but cheaper - these were from the scrap box

The photo includes one of the magnets. To give an idea of the strength, when I was returning one to the stack of 5, it slipped and the force of attraction was sufficient to crack it in half.

Barrie

They are awkward little B's, they have a tendency to fly at anything made of steel, it does say in the leaflet they shatter if they hit each other.

Yes your idea is probably a lot quicker to make, I hadn't thought of alternative materials but now you have me thinking, thanks.