Okay, let’s talk about these powerful flat magnets I got recently.
My workshop was getting seriously cluttered. Tools just lying around on the bench, couldn’t find anything when I needed it. I saw some folks online using magnets to organize stuff and thought, why not give it a shot? Needed something strong but not bulky, so these flat neodymium magnets seemed like the way to go.
I ordered a batch online. They weren’t super expensive, got a pack of maybe 20 or 30, can’t remember exactly. When they arrived, I was kinda surprised. They were thin, real thin, like little metal wafers. But man, they had some heft to them. The first thing I noticed was how badly they wanted to stick to each other. You gotta be careful pulling them apart, they snap back together hard. Pinched my finger pretty good the first time.
Putting Them to Work
My plan was simple: make some magnetic strips to hold metal tools. I had a spare piece of plywood lying around. Figured I’d just glue these magnets onto the wood. Sounded easy enough, right?
First try, I used some regular super glue. Slapped a few magnets on the board, let it dry, then tried sticking a screwdriver to one. It held. Cool. Then I tried a heavier wrench… nope. The magnet popped right off the wood. Seems regular glue wasn’t gonna cut it for the stronger hold I needed, especially for heavier tools.
Back to the drawing board. I picked up some two-part epoxy adhesive. This stuff is usually stronger. Mixed it up following the instructions – equal parts, stir well. Applied a small blob of epoxy to the wood where I wanted a magnet, then carefully placed the magnet on top. Did this for a whole row, spacing them out a bit. The key here was letting the epoxy cure completely. I left it overnight just to be sure.
The Results and What I Learned
Next day, I went to test it out. Screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, files… they all snapped right onto the magnets and held tight. Even my medium-sized hammer stuck on there securely! These flat things are genuinely powerful. My tool bench is much clearer now, and finding the right tool is way faster.
Here’s what I figured out along the way:
- Use strong adhesive: Don’t cheap out on the glue. Epoxy worked great for me on wood. Super glue might be okay for very light items, but not tools.
- Handle with care: Seriously, these magnets are strong. Keep them away from electronics, credit cards, and definitely watch your fingers when handling them. They can snap together unexpectedly.
- They can be brittle: They’re strong magnetically, but physically? Not so much. I dropped one on the concrete floor, and a corner chipped off. So don’t toss them around.
- Placement matters: Once that epoxy sets, getting the magnet off is a real pain. Plan your layout before you start gluing.
Overall, pretty happy with how it turned out. A simple solution using these powerful flat magnets really helped tidy up my space. They definitely live up to their name, just gotta use them right.