Clearning dirty magnets

[Ideator]

I've got a dozen magnets that are coated with metal filings, bits of MIG wire, scale knocked off during heating operations, and bristles ejected from brushes. I can get the big chunks off by wiping with a gloved hand but there are always plenty of whiskers that remain attached. I wonder if there is a way to really clean magnets to remove all the debris. Any ideas?

 

[zardoz]

I know what you mean about bits of filings etc on a magnet. Just this weekend i dropped a bolt on to the floor, where i accidentally kicked it in to a pile of crap I'd just brushed into a corner. I couldnt see the bolt anywhere and foolishly tried a magnet to find it. All i found were thousands of filings and tiny bits of wire I'd snipped off the MIG.

The only way i have ever found to get them clean is to get a glove and hold them in a water stream from a jet washer.

 

[Sean]

depending on the magnetic object - push all the fine dust to one point then give the magnet a sharp tap on the edge of the bench, usually dislodges more than trying to pick it off.

 

[chunkolini]

I just a hand held wire brush, a quick scrub and it all gets flicked off.

 

[julianthegypsy]

As chunko says, wire brush. Quick swipe and off it all comes. Happens with my magnetic clamps all the time.

 

[normspanners]

For a clean magnet the end of a little finger off a thin rubber glove slipped on the end with a small cabletie or you could use a condom but nowadays I have rubber gloves lying about!.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

Sticky tape will lift off almost everything. I just use masking tape, Sellotape, parcel tape, insulating tape, or whatever is near at hand.

 

[pedrobedro]

Next time put the magnet in a plastic bag before you look for your bolt. I always forget though and have the same problem

 

[Robotstar5]

I always use an air line to clean them - remember to use eye protection!

 

[gordon stephenson]

Another vote for hand held wire brush.

 

[ibrooks]

Similar to a wire brush but I use the hand brush from the dustpan and brush which has fairly stiff nylon bristles. Direct it into the bin and wear eye protection because it fairly throws the stuff off.

Iain

 

[grandads_shed]

in future put the magnet in a shopping bag ,, then when u need to clean it u just change the bag

 

[Shox Dr]

Clamp in a pair of mole grips and giving it a short sharp tap, will remove most.

Plaggy bag is the way forward, after that.

 

[inchpincher]

Air line for me.

 

[Pete.]

I used to build the rotors for brushless DC motors and Blu Tack is the best way I have found to get a really clean magnet. You can keep folding it to get a fresh piece.
Also very handy for getting the iron filings out of your mobile phone speaker.

 

[bigbadbugga]

I used to build the rotors for brushless DC motors and Blu Tack is the best way I have found to get a really clean magnet. You can keep folding it to get a fresh piece.
Also very handy for getting the iron filings out of your mobile phone speaker.

Genius

 

[normspanners]

For a clean magnet the end of a little finger off a thin rubber glove slipped on the end with a small cabletie or you could use a condom but nowadays I have rubber gloves lying about!.

I was talkin about telescopic type magnets BTW.

 

[ibrooks]

I do have a speaker magnet and a couple of rare earth magnets from hard disks in the garage that I use for odd stuff and they live in plastic bags but the welding magnets just get brushed off.

Regarding tapping magnets - it's not the best way as iron or steel ones will lose their magnetism if you do that. OK it takes a while but if you wanted an inert lump of metal rather than a magnet then why did you get a magnet.

Iain