Storing Magnets

[Stan H]

What are the best methods of storing different grades of Alnico bar mags? I have 10-15 each of everything from A2 to A8 along with ceramic. I know that the same grades can be left stuck to each other but with 5 or 6 different types how far apart should they be kept? I'm afraid of getting them close to each other because of magnetic interaction/de-charging, etc. How do you guys do this?

[David King]

Keep the ceramics away from the alnicos. Ceramics are much less likely to loose strength so I wouldn't worry about them.

Alnicos are typically stored with "keepers", basically you want to form a complete loop or path for the magnetic force to follow, I would stack them edge to edge NSNSNS in cake layers alternating N and S on each layer. think bulldozer treads, you are forming a flattened loop... I wouldn't mix the grades, A2 is very sensitive. A8 is nearly as resistant as Ceramic to demagnetization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet_keeper

[Stan H]

Thanks for the info David. Actually, I already know how to stack like grads, I'm more concerned with storing different grades. You know, can they be in parts drawers a couple inches apart or do they need to be isolated more?

[David Schwab]

And keep neos away from EVERYTHING!

Especially your fingers.

[Stan H]

And keep neos away from EVERYTHING!

Especially your fingers.

You don't have to tell me twice!

[SkinnyWire]

Individually, with keepers would probably be the best way, if not a bit impractical for most of us. Even storing end-to-end/separating like grades impacts the strength with AlNiCo magnets. Doesn't matter as much if you use a charger. You can wait until the end to set things and as long as you don't do permanent damage to the magnets prior to using them you can store end-to-end, brick, etc.

[Yves]

Charging magnets

And keep neos away from EVERYTHING!

Especially your fingers.

Sorry if this is not exactly the subject of the thread, but since this is mentioned here: what kind of jig/method do you people use when charging magnets using neos to prevent from hurting fingers ... and to do the proper job.

I've just ordered Neo 42 bars 4" x 1/2" x 1/2" for charging purpose, but I don't know yet how exactly I am going to use them (well away from my credit card and equipment at least)
So any advice would be welcome.

As for storing, as SkinnyWire says, I am not sure there is some recommended practice that would be much practical... not to mention the handling / shipping before you get the magnets that may have altered their strength, hence the need to charge them for consistency IMO.

Yves.

[chevalij]

I guilt a jig like the pic. It's made of oak, screwed and glued. Of course, I bought the neo's with a hole anticipating doing this. I also slapped together the "shuttle" for charging a set of strat pickups in one shot. This keeps the pickups centered and away from the magnets. Only mistake was not double slotting the pickup "holders" so I could charge a RWRP mid at the same time. I got these to mags stuck together while building the jig. No kidding, took 1/2 hour, a screw driver and a bunch of wood shims to get them apart.

[David Schwab]

Those are scary looking! How did you manage to get them in place? Block of wood between them?

I deal with much smaller neos and I still have to keep an eye on them. I keep a small steel bar handy to stick them to. Otherwise they try to make friends with anything they can!

And when you have 30 of them in a stack... just getting one off is a chore.

I was goofing around and actually used two neos to increase the charge on a couple of really weak ceramic magnets I pulled out of some cheap pickups. That surprised me.

[David King]

It's my understanding that neos work much better for charging if you can connect them together with heavy steel plates to form a horse shoe circuit with a narrow gap where you pass your pickups or alnico bars through. A lot of folks use a big steel vise so they can adjust the gap easily. Just stick the neo or pair of neos to one or both jaws with a N and a S facing the gap.

Chevalij's jig with the holding fixture looks safe and effective to me but it could charge up larger alnicos and probably even ceramics if the base was 3/4" steel instead of oak.

[Joe Gwinn]

It's my understanding that neos work much better for charging if you can connect them together with heavy steel plates to form a horse shoe circuit with a narrow gap where you pass your pickups or alnico bars through. A lot of folks use a big steel vise so they can adjust the gap easily. Just stick the neo or pair of neos to one or both jaws with a N and a S facing the gap.

The traditional approach is to use a cheap drill-press vice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00077KKE2?...0&linkCode=asn

[chevalij]

The traditional approach is to use a cheap drill-press vice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00077KKE2?...0&linkCode=asn

I was using one of those with smaller magnets. My fear was that these two may like each other more than the vise. IF they did... I didn't want a pickup or my fingers in between them.

[David King]

Well it shouldn't be that hard to keep the magnets in place. I'm thinking a larger vise wouldn't saturate and would be more likely to hold everyone in place?
A 2.5" vise is darned puny. I think a ch'import 5-6" machinist's vise from HF would get you more iron for your dollar...

How about this one? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94428

[kevinT]

I was using one of those with smaller magnets. My fear was that these two may like each other more than the vise. IF they did... I didn't want a pickup or my fingers in between them.

C.

You're no fun....you could of sent me a pic of the aftermath of this event....that way I could of included a picture of your swollen and bruised fingers/hand in my new book that i'm writing called "Hands of Shame...A Hardcore Handwinder's Tale of Pickup Winding".

Seriously,...why not store them the way that the came from the vendor...in a brick? Wouldn't all the mags in the brick settle down to certain gauss level? Taking into consideration that the weaker ones would siphen strength from the stronger ones ...kinda like an averaging out sorta thing.

And then you wouldn't have to worry about other stronger grade mags or magnetic fields stealing gauss from them.

Has anyone asked Rob or sales folks from other vendors how to store them?

I just leave mine in a brick with each grade having their own dedicated space in the drawers of my rolling rubbermaid crafts cabinet.

[jonson]

[QUOTE=kevinT;66147]C.

I just leave mine in a brick with each grade having their own dedicated space in my rolling rubbermaid craft cabinet.(/QUOTE)

Rolling Rubermaid eh! That accounts for the hands I one thinks!!!