I stick the neodymium magnet to a fold of paper tape like a little ribbon about 3” long. It makes it easier to handle the magnet and seems more sensitive when I drag it over used lumber or walls looking for hidden nails & screws.
When a hard drive goes bad, I take it apart and get the rare earth magnets out of them. I use these on my machines to hold the setup tools I need most. The chuck key on my drill press, the plastic bag on my dust collector so I can get the big band clamp on, the allen wrench for setting the blade guides on my band saw, etc. As a bonus, this destroys the hard drive so I don't need to worry about the data that had been on it.
One more magnet I would suggest is one with the handle that rolls around on wheels. I use one frequently to police the area after working on the house or in the garage. Saves time and finds more stuff than you might imagine.
I scrounge blown speakers and harvest the magnets. I keep them on my wheeled metal tool box and use them to keep spray cans of lube, penetrant and brake clean from falling off onto the floor. Harbor freight has some bar magnets about 18"long on sale for a couple of bucks. One of my favorite magnets I got from a pacemaker tech that are donut shaped coated in hard plastic.
That hook-style magnet has been a Godsend for me, whenever I accidentally spill a ton of brad nails on the floor or knock over a box of screws. I put a 3-foot length of twine on the hook and just swing it around the floor.....great for not having to bend over constantly!
I put some of their long ones inside my kitchen cabinet door to get the knives off my tiny counters. Liked it so much i did one for measuring spoons and cups, too. 😊
I just recently lost my little neo magnet. I kept it attached to my Leatherman and be almost 64yrs old bending over to recover a screw or nail Nah! So I would open my multi tool the its maximum length and put the magnet as close to the end as possible and sweep it back and forth to pickup the item. Also, when working around face plates and sheetrock so many things I did with my little magnet. I'll be getting another one shortly.
I saw an interesting use of a magnet. Mount a magnetic bar inside a short shop vac extension tube attach that to the vac and then your flexible hose. Sweep up around the shop. Screws and metal bits stick to the magnet, sawdust and other organic stuff collects in the vac tank. Then you can empty into the compost bin. Still wise to check for anything you don't want in the compost. 😊
I throw a big magnet in a heavy duty ziplock bag and tie a string around it to drag around my shop and pick up filings. When you're done, turn the bag inside out and pull it off the magnet to throw away the fillings.
That's one I expected to see and was surprised I didn't. They're great, especially during engine repairs to keep nuts/bolts from disappearing. Tip: if it's a 2 day job outside, don't leave a bowl full of nut/bolts exposed to light rain and cold temps overnight; get the torch. 😠
Wrap your magnet in a rag or bag before using to clear off a bench or shop floor. Then you can pick out the dropped nut or bolt and deposit the rest into a storage bin or garbage bin. This also saves you from trying to clean off all the metal filings from the magnet. Felix Imler likes to place a small round magnet in the bottle opener of his Swiss Army knife so that he always has one available.
I use the "Tool Holder" magnet for knives in the kitchen. The yellow line is tape. It works better than fancy "kitchen" magnets: It's stronger and a lot cheaper.
I use magnets in my craft room a lot too. My table I have the base commissioned by a local welder expressly for the purpose. Sewing pins, rolls of tape, you name it, all end up stuck to the leg of the desk. There's magnetic hooks for scissors, etc too, so everything is at hand without taking up table space.
I just want to add - if you have any old computers or external hard drives lying around, they contain a very powerful permanent magnet. I've used these for hanging objects and checking for drywall nails.
That flashlight is legit! Also love the idea of using rare earth magnets to scout out metal plates especially for trim work. I also need to pick up that magnet source.
My favorite magnet use by far is on the side of my drill press for the chuck. Some have plastic clip thingies but using the magnet is literally 10x better.
Yep; this trick is essential! I'm also a fan of the magnetic pads that you can stick to the side of a car and then stick tools, nuts, and bolts, etc... to it. If you work with metal, your bench-mounted tool holders will immediately collected debris...
Just something to keep in mind - magnets have a property called a Curie Temperature. Near this temperature they increasingly lose their magnetic properties. This temperature varies by the chemistry of the magnet eg Neo's have a a curie temperature of about 300C, Ferrites 300-500C, Samarium Cobalt (the older rare earth magnet type), 750C. However you don't really want to operate magnets anywhere near their curie temperatures as this is basically their complete-fail temperature, so you wouldn't want to use a Neo (NdFeB) above about 150C. You would also need to get a magnet restored (pulsed) after it has come close to this temperature. So, maybe some caution when using magnets around other hot metals...
I love magnets! My favorite are the neodymium hooks that are all over inside the house and garage. They also work on every wall and ceiling on cruise ships since they are just shipping containers! Thanks!
I have had one of the magnetic flashlights for probably 10 years and had absolutely no idea that it had the telescopic feature. I got it out of the drawer and sure enough, it extends. I don't use it that much because the flashlight isn't that bright. Now it has a purpose. Thanks for the tip!
I’d also add magnetic pick up tools - i.e. the kind that you can pick stuff up with, like a box of nails or screws you just clumsily dropped (lol) - and then move it over the box they should be in, and release it. Sometimes called magnetic separators. I bought a cheap one on Amazon and added more magnets inside it to make it stronger. I also use it behind my bench grinder to catch metal grinding dust and then just carry it over to the trash, release it, and it all falls out. Also - magnetic featherboards are great (at least if you have a cast iron table saw or something magnetic). They are much faster to set up and you aren not limited to the positioning as you would be with miter slot featherboards. I use the magswitch ones so they are easy to lock down and easy to release. I also like to keep some of the rare earth magnets you mention around, and I will stick a stack on them on top of a bolt or screw - that way I can add washers to the bottom w/o them falling off. Then last, add the nut, remove the magnetic, and you’re good to go. You could write books on uses for magnets in the shop.
That flashlight is next on my buying list. I work in IT and drop screws and cage nuts all the time under cabinets. I already have a telescopic magnet, but never thought of buying one with a flashlight on the end so you can see where the screw/nut is. Thank you!
fantastic..we use the magnet trick all the time for our tongue and groove which does not have large sheet rock screws but tiny nails. line up 3, 4, or 5 magnets and pretty sure we found the stud.
My favourite is a magnetic pickup tool with a quick release. Great for picking up dropped metal things, or for cleaning up after cutting and grinding metal. Above a garbage can, pull the handle and the iron filings cleanly drop down.
I just wrote a comment about this. I love mine. I keep one behind the bench grinder wheel to catch dust as well, and use it to pick up hardware. I added extra magnets to mine to make it stronger.
I always carry a 100lb recovery magnet for when tools fall down between stud wall bays...commercial walls, sometimes only go to the grid ceiling, with open spots along its length... my other common use is to help hold steel track to the ceiling deck when working by myself...my third set of hands :)
I use a big magnet on wheels for roofing, siding and just in general to keep fasteners out of my tires. Also used some in a project as a latch. Magnets are definitely under used. Check out the Winterblade Co Factor and Mirage. They are knives that use magnets to keep them open and closed. Cool stuff.
Those little round ones can be used to make a saw guide for sawing straight by embedding them in wood, also for removable wood protectors in your vice.
I put neos on the lid of all my screws, etc. They go on a metal bar mounted on the wall. When I'm using them, the lid sits on the bottom of the open container so if if gets knocked over, nothing spills out!
Anna Faris (The House Bunny) called. She said she doesn't want you picking her up anymore -- or any other Faris people. Happy Holidays, Ethan, and thanks for the great tips!!! -- Ehud in Tucson
Something I learned about the (de)magnetizer. So my mother's watch stopped ticking. For awhile I have been trying to find a way to fix it myself and ran across a video that watches can get magnetized and to use a demagnetizer to demagnetize it. There is a specific demagnetizer for watches but I had the one for bits sitting so I tried it. The watch head did not fit but just bringing the watch head close demagnetize the watch and bam, it started working.
I wondered about that, Castle. But I experimented with it a little and just found that I stand on the long side more, and like to just reach over and grab tools. But everybody will have their preference!
LOVE the rare earth magnets. The magnetic flashlight looks amazing and I’m definitely getting one. As for the magnetic tape, that has been a huge disappointment. But thanks for always providing great content.
Don’t forget about using a magnet to help find stainless steel fasteners. When mixed in with regular fasteners, stainless will be left behind by the magnet.
Somewhat true. Some stainless can become magnetized during making the fastener. Like SS self-tapping screws. It’ll be much weaker but will be magnetized.
OK, Carpenter, you got me. I ordered one of those magnet flashlights. But not from Amazon. I don't like Amazon, and Bezos is too wealthy. I ordered from eBay. $27 including shipping. By God, maybe now I can find that snap ring that flew out of my chain saw 25 years ago.
If you use a magnet to hold tools that will need sharpening such as chisels, keep a de-magnetiser at your sharpening station and de-magnetise you tools before trying to sharpen them. Otherwise all the swarf that comes off when sharpening will hang onto your tools like sh*t on a blanket, make it hard to check the edge and get on everything else it gets near (the swarf will be magnetic too) like electric power tools when you wipe some off.
Hi I am trying to make the inside of my wood cabinets magnetic to attach metal spice racks without having to put holes in the cabinets. Can you suggest a product to use ?
I’m a subscriber. I know this is off topic, but will you please do a series for getting from no knowledge to making a living as a carpenter for people starting out and people making a middle age career change?
I want to tackle some of that stuff next year, M! I’d like to do a lot more videos about trade careers-I’ve gotten quite a few questions about it the last couple years 🙂
Well, its not everyday a shameless affiliate plug gets me to buy a thing, but you had me at magnetic telescoping flexy flashlight. It was just too much to resist.
I stick the neodymium magnet to a fold of paper tape like a little ribbon about 3” long. It makes it easier to handle the magnet and seems more sensitive when I drag it over used lumber or walls looking for hidden nails & screws.
Oh wow, those are some really cool products, thank Ethan
Thanks Val! 😄
I love my handle magnets. I got them to help align my table saw but use them for million of different things.
Ok, you convinced me...finding nails in a stud behind drywall....great idea. My stud finder is good, but cannot dispute finding a nail head
that flashlight magnet gooseneck dark magic voodoo scifi beam-me-up-scotty miracle... I bought that think instantly.
When a hard drive goes bad, I take it apart and get the rare earth magnets out of them.
I use these on my machines to hold the setup tools I need most. The chuck key on my drill press, the plastic bag on my dust collector so I can get the big band clamp on, the allen wrench for setting the blade guides on my band saw, etc.
As a bonus, this destroys the hard drive so I don't need to worry about the data that had been on it.
One more magnet I would suggest is one with the handle that rolls around on wheels. I use one frequently to police the area after working on the house or in the garage. Saves time and finds more stuff than you might imagine.
Yep, we always used them cleaning up jobsites after a big build or cladding jobs 👍
Yeah those are awesome. Great for making sure you don't leave an area booby trapped with nails, screws or sharp metal cut offs
@@HyperactiveNeuron Or inside the house when the daughter spills her sewing kit... again.
4:16 he mentioned it and showed a picture
I scrounge blown speakers and harvest the magnets. I keep them on my wheeled metal tool box and use them to keep spray cans of lube, penetrant and brake clean from falling off onto the floor. Harbor freight has some bar magnets about 18"long on sale for a couple of bucks. One of my favorite magnets I got from a pacemaker tech that are donut shaped coated in hard plastic.
That hook-style magnet has been a Godsend for me, whenever I accidentally spill a ton of brad nails on the floor or knock over a box of screws. I put a 3-foot length of twine on the hook and just swing it around the floor.....great for not having to bend over constantly!
I put some of their long ones inside my kitchen cabinet door to get the knives off my tiny counters. Liked it so much i did one for measuring spoons and cups, too. 😊
Great vid! Just a heads up: careful with that one on your table if you keep your phone in your pocket while you work.
I love it when I learn something useful for my shop
I just recently lost my little neo magnet. I kept it attached to my Leatherman and be almost 64yrs old bending over to recover a screw or nail Nah! So I would open my multi tool the its maximum length and put the magnet as close to the end as possible and sweep it back and forth to pickup the item. Also, when working around face plates and sheetrock so many things I did with my little magnet. I'll be getting another one shortly.
I saw an interesting use of a magnet. Mount a magnetic bar inside a short shop vac extension tube attach that to the vac and then your flexible hose. Sweep up around the shop. Screws and metal bits stick to the magnet, sawdust and other organic stuff collects in the vac tank. Then you can empty into the compost bin. Still wise to check for anything you don't want in the compost. 😊
I am a BIG fan of the magnetic tool holder. Everything visible and easily accessible. I may never go back to peg board again.
Huh. that flashlight magnet is a great idea!
I throw a big magnet in a heavy duty ziplock bag and tie a string around it to drag around my shop and pick up filings. When you're done, turn the bag inside out and pull it off the magnet to throw away the fillings.
I would also include a magnetic bowl to this list. Super helpful for holding screws and nuts especially when you need to take something apart.
I’ve actually never used one…that’s a good idea!
That's one I expected to see and was surprised I didn't. They're great, especially during engine repairs to keep nuts/bolts from disappearing.
Tip: if it's a 2 day job outside, don't leave a bowl full of nut/bolts exposed to light rain and cold temps overnight; get the torch. 😠
I have 3 or 4 from harbor freight. They go on sale a lot. I put them in a zip lock bag to keep them clean from steel filings.
Omg. That flashlight! Annual birthday present quandary for hubby solved!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ I love the whole video, but this wins!
Wrap your magnet in a rag or bag before using to clear off a bench or shop floor. Then you can pick out the dropped nut or bolt and deposit the rest into a storage bin or garbage bin. This also saves you from trying to clean off all the metal filings from the magnet. Felix Imler likes to place a small round magnet in the bottle opener of his Swiss Army knife so that he always has one available.
I use the "Tool Holder" magnet for knives in the kitchen. The yellow line is tape. It works better than fancy "kitchen" magnets: It's stronger and a lot cheaper.
I use magnets in my craft room a lot too. My table I have the base commissioned by a local welder expressly for the purpose. Sewing pins, rolls of tape, you name it, all end up stuck to the leg of the desk. There's magnetic hooks for scissors, etc too, so everything is at hand without taking up table space.
Magnetic darts make great stud/screw finders.
I just want to add - if you have any old computers or external hard drives lying around, they contain a very powerful permanent magnet. I've used these for hanging objects and checking for drywall nails.
That flashlight is legit! Also love the idea of using rare earth magnets to scout out metal plates especially for trim work. I also need to pick up that magnet source.
Thanks John! Sort of amazed I had never run across this he flashlight pickup tool before now 😅
My old telescoping magnet tool broke, I'm so glad I haven't bought a new one yet, because now I know which one I want!
Yes, that's the one product from this video that I absolutely must have. (I already have the rare earth magnets.)
My favorite magnet use by far is on the side of my drill press for the chuck. Some have plastic clip thingies but using the magnet is literally 10x better.
I keep all my magnetic stuff on the pulley cover!
Me too. I epoxied one of those disk magnets to the end of the key.
Yep; this trick is essential! I'm also a fan of the magnetic pads that you can stick to the side of a car and then stick tools, nuts, and bolts, etc... to it. If you work with metal, your bench-mounted tool holders will immediately collected debris...
#1 would also work great for grates. Lifting grill grates up to be cleaned.
Very attractive tools to have.
I already have all of them, thanks for the video!
Just something to keep in mind - magnets have a property called a Curie Temperature. Near this temperature they increasingly lose their magnetic properties. This temperature varies by the chemistry of the magnet eg Neo's have a a curie temperature of about 300C, Ferrites 300-500C, Samarium Cobalt (the older rare earth magnet type), 750C. However you don't really want to operate magnets anywhere near their curie temperatures as this is basically their complete-fail temperature, so you wouldn't want to use a Neo (NdFeB) above about 150C. You would also need to get a magnet restored (pulsed) after it has come close to this temperature. So, maybe some caution when using magnets around other hot metals...
Great video and tips, Ethan -- thanks.
I love magnets! My favorite are the neodymium hooks that are all over inside the house and garage. They also work on every wall and ceiling on cruise ships since they are just shipping containers! Thanks!
He looks like he’s been working out.
He’s “honestly” getting buff for the holidays.
I have had one of the magnetic flashlights for probably 10 years and had absolutely no idea that it had the telescopic feature. I got it out of the drawer and sure enough, it extends. I don't use it that much because the flashlight isn't that bright. Now it has a purpose. Thanks for the tip!
I really like your videos short and to the point helpful for me the beginner. Thank you
I’d also add magnetic pick up tools - i.e. the kind that you can pick stuff up with, like a box of nails or screws you just clumsily dropped (lol) - and then move it over the box they should be in, and release it. Sometimes called magnetic separators. I bought a cheap one on Amazon and added more magnets inside it to make it stronger. I also use it behind my bench grinder to catch metal grinding dust and then just carry it over to the trash, release it, and it all falls out.
Also - magnetic featherboards are great (at least if you have a cast iron table saw or something magnetic). They are much faster to set up and you aren not limited to the positioning as you would be with miter slot featherboards. I use the magswitch ones so they are easy to lock down and easy to release.
I also like to keep some of the rare earth magnets you mention around, and I will stick a stack on them on top of a bolt or screw - that way I can add washers to the bottom w/o them falling off. Then last, add the nut, remove the magnetic, and you’re good to go.
You could write books on uses for magnets in the shop.
That flashlight is next on my buying list. I work in IT and drop screws and cage nuts all the time under cabinets. I already have a telescopic magnet, but never thought of buying one with a flashlight on the end so you can see where the screw/nut is. Thank you!
The magnet-demagnet tool is subtle but VERY useful. I always wished that I had one.
thanks. BTW: ordered - Merry Christmas , Ethan. To me and you!
I love magnets and all the cool things you can do with them. I bought the magnitizer/demag as a result of one of your previous videos. Thanks Ethan.
That’s awesome, David! Thank you! 😄
fantastic..we use the magnet trick all the time for our tongue and groove which does not have large sheet rock screws but tiny nails. line up 3, 4, or 5 magnets and pretty sure we found the stud.
Flashlight ordered! Thanks.
Great to hear! Thanks Rails 😄
THANKS ETHAN ,FOR SHARING YOUR ATTRACTION TO MAGNETS 🧲
AND EDUCATE US ABOUT THE VARIETY NOW AVAILABLE 🤗👍😎💚💚💚
My favourite is a magnetic pickup tool with a quick release. Great for picking up dropped metal things, or for cleaning up after cutting and grinding metal. Above a garbage can, pull the handle and the iron filings cleanly drop down.
I just wrote a comment about this. I love mine. I keep one behind the bench grinder wheel to catch dust as well, and use it to pick up hardware. I added extra magnets to mine to make it stronger.
Thanks Brother, RL
I always carry a 100lb recovery magnet for when tools fall down between stud wall bays...commercial walls, sometimes only go to the grid ceiling, with open spots along its length... my other common use is to help hold steel track to the ceiling deck when working by myself...my third set of hands :)
That makes sense, Don! 😆
I am buying that flashlight tool. It is incredible.
I’m handing some out to friends for gifts, Abhijit 😆
I use them a lot they are so handy to have thanks for showing them
I use a big magnet on wheels for roofing, siding and just in general to keep fasteners out of my tires. Also used some in a project as a latch. Magnets are definitely under used. Check out the Winterblade Co Factor and Mirage. They are knives that use magnets to keep them open and closed. Cool stuff.
Good advice, thanks
Great idea 💡👍🤠
Great idea 👍
Good stuff Ethan.
Those little round ones can be used to make a saw guide for sawing straight by embedding them in wood, also for removable wood protectors in your vice.
I can't tell you how much time mini magnets saved me when I was looking for a wall or floor stud. 👷🏿
I’ve always got them, W! 😁
Thanks so much!
great ideas
Sweet stuff!
I put neos on the lid of all my screws, etc. They go on a metal bar mounted on the wall. When I'm using them, the lid sits on the bottom of the open container so if if gets knocked over, nothing spills out!
Anna Faris (The House Bunny) called. She said she doesn't want you picking her up anymore -- or any other Faris people. Happy Holidays, Ethan, and thanks for the great tips!!! -- Ehud in Tucson
Great advice, thank you 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you, Susan!
Something I learned about the (de)magnetizer. So my mother's watch stopped ticking. For awhile I have been trying to find a way to fix it myself and ran across a video that watches can get magnetized and to use a demagnetizer to demagnetize it. There is a specific demagnetizer for watches but I had the one for bits sitting so I tried it. The watch head did not fit but just bringing the watch head close demagnetize the watch and bam, it started working.
The flashlight would be great for headers and sewers aka quilters
Thanks for the magnificent video, lots of useful, handy magnets and how they can be tools for woodworkers! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you, Juliet! Merry Christmas to you as well! 🙂
Maybe installing the metal strip magnet on the end of your work bench versus the front would be better, as it looks like it would be in your way.
I wondered about that, Castle. But I experimented with it a little and just found that I stand on the long side more, and like to just reach over and grab tools. But everybody will have their preference!
LOVE the rare earth magnets. The magnetic flashlight looks amazing and I’m definitely getting one. As for the magnetic tape, that has been a huge disappointment. But thanks for always providing great content.
Don’t forget about using a magnet to help find stainless steel fasteners. When mixed in with regular fasteners, stainless will be left behind by the magnet.
Good point, Jeff!
Somewhat true. Some stainless can become magnetized during making the fastener. Like SS self-tapping screws. It’ll be much weaker but will be magnetized.
I keep a rare earth magnet on the top of my drill press for holding my chuck key.
OK, Carpenter, you got me. I ordered one of those magnet flashlights.
But not from Amazon. I don't like Amazon, and Bezos is too wealthy. I ordered from eBay. $27 including shipping.
By God, maybe now I can find that snap ring that flew out of my chain saw 25 years ago.
0:16 I immediately recognized these as Harbor Freight magnets (even though it's an Amazon listing)
Most magnet source stuff shows up everywhere. Even grocery stores.
If you use a magnet to hold tools that will need sharpening such as chisels, keep a de-magnetiser at your sharpening station and de-magnetise you tools before trying to sharpen them. Otherwise all the swarf that comes off when sharpening will hang onto your tools like sh*t on a blanket, make it hard to check the edge and get on everything else it gets near (the swarf will be magnetic too) like electric power tools when you wipe some off.
Hi I am trying to make the inside of my wood cabinets magnetic to attach metal spice racks without having to put holes in the cabinets. Can you suggest a product to use ?
Can you make a video on how to use a router tool, thanks
👍
I’m a subscriber. I know this is off topic, but will you please do a series for getting from no knowledge to making a living as a carpenter for people starting out and people making a middle age career change?
I want to tackle some of that stuff next year, M! I’d like to do a lot more videos about trade careers-I’ve gotten quite a few questions about it the last couple years 🙂
@@TheHonestCarpenter Thank you and thank you for responding!
👍👍👍👍🔥
Well, its not everyday a shameless affiliate plug gets me to buy a thing, but you had me at magnetic telescoping flexy flashlight. It was just too much to resist.
Comment algorithm compliance
magnets, how do they work?
I believe it’s something like the shared alignment of the polarity of atoms in certain metals, riba…but I’m far from an expert on this stuff 😅
@@TheHonestCarpenter haha it's an old meme from 15years ago :D
Why do you look like the dude from cobra Kai?😂
Why is #4 a must have? Why didn’t it become #1? UA-cam profit maximization?
You’ve cracked the secret code. You’re now part of the UA-cam Illuminati 😈
I really like your content but this just feels like a 4 minute ad for that company. We're more than just views.