Easy to store idea

[garage nut]

I was always looking for my pencil or the scriber, so came up with this idea. I have screwed some old magnets to the side of a wall mounted starage box. It is now easy to place the scriber onto a magnet. I was a bit challenged for the pencil and the felt tip pen. The solution was some very thin wire wrapped around them. I will still buy some large heat shrink and cover the wire winding with it just to make it look neater.. I also secured a round piece of plate to my tape measure and this has its own round magnet.

[mklotz]

The convenience of magnets is indisputable but be careful what you stick on a magnet, especially so in a shop where metalwork is done.

Anything stuck to a magnet will become mildly magnetized itself; how powerful this transfer is depends on the power of the magnet. Then the tool itself becomes a magnet for every bit of ferrous fuzz, swarf or chips it nears. Swarf stuck to a cold chisel or hammer may not interfere with its use but swarf on a prick punch or caliper jaws can be a royal PIA. Think about how metallic fuzz will affect the use of the tool before you get it near a magnet.

You'll want to learn about the various shop tools and techniques for demagnetizing tools. A search of the forum will probably produce a comprehensive list of same.

[garage nut]

I know what you mean. I had a vernier that I finally gave up using because it picked up all the little chips of the abrasive cut off saw. Will search that demagnetizing tip and perhaps I can restore it to its forma glory as my main vernier. As you can see I restrict this to pens and pencils and the occasional power driver bit. The scriber is not too bad as a quick tap on the edge of the work bench and it is clean.

[mklotz]

If what you describe as a "vernier" is the older all-metal style and not the newer version containing electronics (properly termed digital calipers), then a coil-type demagnetizer will be suitable. By coil-type I mean the style made from a transformer, commercial demagnetizer as used in shops with magnetic chucks, or a bulk tape eraser from the electronic antiques store. If the calipers contain electronics, then I would not use any of the aforementioned. They might survive or you might create an expensive paper weight.

Steel wool is a real problem around magnetized tools. If you use it, make a bench sweeper to clean the bench. A magnet in a plastic bag will gather up the fines. When finished sweeping, hold bag over trash can and carefully remove magnet allowing fines to fall away into trash.

[garage nut]

Seems my measuring tape magnet is a demagnetiser as well.

Yes old type, I prefer them but they seem to be more expensive these days as the "digital" versions.

[garage nut]

And this one should handle my old school vernier.

[DIYer]

Thanks garage nut! We've added your Magnetic Storage to our Storage and Organization category,
as well as to your builder page: garage nut's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Magnetic Storage by garage nut

tags: magnet, storage