What "poundage" for a grinding magnet?

Kentucky

Kentucky

Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
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Ive seen several 100 lb ceramic magnets on ebay with handles..Would these be enough for grinding magnets? What do you suggest?
 
The 100lb magnets have been enough for everything I do in the shop but I only grind flat stuff I want to clean up that's too small to hold easily.
 
100 lb. works great for me, picked mine up at HF for Cheap. I have to have a handle, I had one without and didn't feel like I had as much control of the work.
 
I have a 25# welder's magnet that works pretty well but I do get some slippage when really hogging. I imagine 100# would be plenty strong.
 
When I first got one I wanted to make sure no blade was going to go flying off of the magnet, so I went big and got a 120 lb. welder's magnet. It works great, but if I get another I'll probably go a bit smaller since the 120 holds so tight that it can be a pain to pull the blade off of it sometimes. That can be a problem when you've just finished grinding your flats to 800 grit and have to wrench the steel off the magnet. Even with tape on the magnet that's a quick way to scratch your blade and cause more work for yourself. I think 100 lbs. of pull should be more than enough.
 
I have four 25# square magnets on a piece of ½" × 2" channel about 6" long. I think it's actually a bit stronger on the smaller pieces than the big welding magnets. You can get them from K&J Magnetics.
 
I bought a 100# lift magnet for grinding, but I find that it causes me to have problems. What it does, if I am not careful, is it will pull towards the steel frame of my grinder causing a lopsided grind:o After my move I plan on getting a lighter magnet and figuring out a way to mount adjustable pins on it to hold the blade in place. that way all the magnet has to do is hold the steel to the plate with the pins, and the pins will hold the blade in place.
 
I have a laptop hard drive magnet attached to a small block of wood that works fine for me but it does move occasionally. I am going to make another one with two of the magnets on it and that should be fine. You can probably get some rare earth magnets with a hole in the center for direct mounting for fairly cheap.
 
Just picked up a 50lb Welding magnet from Harbor Freight and it works EXCELLENT. Knife is super secure and the Magnet actually has a hole in it and is very comfortable to hold.
 

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i found out that older vcr players have a round magnet that works great for holding a blade for grinding. if you take the bottom cover off the vcr, you will see a round steel disk with a belt going to a small motor. you can be sure its a magnet by sticking a bent paper clip under the disc. you have to trash the vcr to get it out but its a good strong magnet.
 
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