Originally posted by LtKojak
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
US made pickup magnets ?
Collapse
X
-
-
Originally posted by JGundry View PostI asked AZ for a quote years ago for cast and formulated int he USA and after a few weeks they sent me a quote that was significantly more than either Arnold or T&S.
Leave a comment:
-
I've been getting my Alnico rods from Cullen-Legois Manufacturing in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. They are a small manufacturer that specializes in magnetic tools for the machine shop. They also stock Alnico rod and bar magnets of many sizes. They buy their raw castings from China, but they cut and grind them in house. They are a little more expensive than other sources, but I like them because their magnets are very accurately sized and consistent quality.
I believe they will cut & grind magnets to custom sizes, with a quantity order.
Leave a comment:
-
If the originals are sand cast then there's not much need for a mold, just a plug, usually wood, that the sand gets packed around. The plug is then removed and the mixture is poured into the cavity in the sand. Once it cools the sand is busted up leaving a rough-looking magnet that can then be ground to final dimensions. Typically you would line up several or many plugs in the same sand mold and pour all of them at once.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Helmholtz View PostThat makes sense, but the question is: Are they actually making (or willing to make) the magnets as they used to over 60 years ago?
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by LtKojak View PostWho have you been in contact with? All the mag vendors in Italy actually re-sell chinese-made mags. Only the magnetic fixtures specifically made for the military and auto industry are made in the foundries located in Italy, the alnico bar mags and rods for p'ups are exclusively made in China. Who in Germany is actually locally pouring batches for bar- and rod mags for p'ups?
There´s only 2 magnet factories left, one specializing in cheap ceramics (think fridge magnets and such), the other in Alnico.
They have tons of highest quality Alnico, because their customer is Argentine Navy.
They reverse engineered (a.k.a. "copied") German made wire guided torpedoes from the late 70´s which we are forbidden to buy since 1982 so the design was "frozen" there ... and that German torpedo used Alnico in all its electromechanical devices so the clones do the same.
Ridiculously expensive?
Maybe, but when has cost been a problem for the Military?
I guess the Iranians are doing something similar with their cloning of 1970´s Hawk missiles and Northrop F5 light fighters.
Leave a comment:
-
both Arnold and T&S have records as they relate to guitar pickups that go back much further than what you will find overseas.
Leave a comment:
-
Arnold and Thomas and Skinner are the only two magnet makers I know if that formulate and cast magnets in the USA. Permanent magnet used to also but they are out of business. AZ grinds in the USA but with Chinese material the last time I checked. I asked AZ for a quote years ago for cast and formulated int he USA and after a few weeks they sent me a quote that was significantly more than either Arnold or T&S.
The reason USA made is different amounts to history of making magnets for guitar pickups over many decades. That matters because both formulation and heat treating processes affect the tone of the finished magnET and both Arnold and T&S have records as they relate to guitar pickups that go back much further than what you will find overseas.
Leave a comment:
-
I spoke to Cermag a few months ago about getting some magnets custom cast and they said they cast their own stuff. Whether they mix their own alnico alloys or import them from china, I've no idea.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by the great waldo View PostIs anything not made in China anymore?
Leave a comment:
-
Do cermag really cast their own alnico or are they a chinese product reseller ? Is anything not made in China anymore?
Cheers
Andrew
Leave a comment:
-
These guys cast in Sheffield UK https://www.cermagmagnets.co.uk/
For small orders, they'll grind down larger magnets, but expect to be paying around £5 (US$7)ish for this kinda thing.
If you want stuff casting to size, you gotta order 200, but then the price gets pretty good at around £1 (US$1.30) Per magnet
Leave a comment:
-
The UK had foundries in Sheffield. Not sure if the foundries of the UK still exist though.
Leave a comment:
Leave a comment: