magnetic sweeper?

[Jared Stenoien]

I was just looking through a harbor freight catalog when I stumbled upon this thing, anyone have one or have used one? Seems like it might be nice for cleaning up all the metal dust on the floor

 

[mete]

Dust on the floor contains metal and abrasive particles and other dirt....You might be able to pick up knives and pieces of knives with it !!!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I use a similar (round head) magnetic pick-up tool to get metal pieces up from the floor.When cleaning up the shop (yearly?) I give the floor and corners a sweep down with it. I also clean up after building things outside (screws and such) with it.

The best trick for magnets is on the grinding bench.
I have about six of the big welding magnets sitting all around the grinder table to catch the metal dust. Without all that metal filings and dust to weight it down the abrasive dust has a better chance of getting pulled away with the vacuum of the dust collector.
Stacy

 

[SteelSlaver]

I got magnets everywhere. They are great. If you have any equipment with a coolant system a magnet will help keep it clean. Hard to get place around you end mill, grinders. I just wish they would clean off better.

 

[sputnick]

ib2v4u: Not sure if this is what you meant, but why dont you just wrap something around the magnet. When you'd like to clean it off you just unwrap the magnet and the metal falls right off the wrapping.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

There's no beating sweeping compound for cleaning the floor! Man, that keeps coming up with me, lately... weird! I think this is the third post I've mentioned the stuff in -- maybe I need to talk to a counselor!


About the only thing I use a magnet for in the shop is retrieving stuff I either can't reach or can't find.

 

[butcher_block]

i keep a mag at the grinder to "grab" some of the stray dust
i need to get a few more

they also work best when wraped in plastic shopping bag so you can un wrap and clean with ease

 

[warrior24]

ib2v4u: Not sure if this is what you meant, but why dont you just wrap something around the magnet. When you'd like to clean it off you just unwrap the magnet and the metal falls right off the wrapping.

How about a condom or saran wrap

 

[SteelSlaver]

Duh, as usual the best ideas are the simple ones. THANKS

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Zip lok bag !

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

I use magnets in my shop also, they work well for me. A+----------:thumbup:

 

[Allan Molstad]

in the first post, is that link still there?

 

[jll346]

There was no picture shortly after the post.

 

[WA Martin]

We'll see if my link works any better.

 

[Any Cal.]

Guys that use magnets in gold panning cut off the bottom of a Coke can, when you pull the magnet up, all the iron falls off the can. For a larger magnet it would not be too difficult to fab something similiar out of some aluminum flashing.

 

[J.McDonald Knives]

my grandpa always used ziploc bags on his magnets because they are tougher and can be used more than once. then again all his magnets were freaking strong. grocery bags seemed to rip too easily.