Magnetic Back Board in the Shed/Over Workbench - Would it be any Good

[4xsama]

Hi All,

First off - apologies if this is in the wrong section of the forum. I did a quick search for shed stuff as a category and didn't see one so here goes....

Does anyone have a magnetic sheet or use a steel sheet and mount items with magnets above their work bench? I'm planning my next shed and think the use of a magnetic sheet/section of a back board could be useful for often used items like impact drill fittings, allen keys, screwdrivers etc. Would also be good for squares, possibly tape measures and the like.

What I'm not so sure on is if the magnetic properties will transfer onto bits and tools which might become a pain.

Cheers

[windsock]

Once tried similar but with button neodymium magnets placed on a tin sheet holding various bits and pieces. Handy for some stuff that is small and easy to misplace.

I do a lot of metal work from time to time and the magnets eventually became full of metal filings and drill bit swarf. Became a problem with cleaning up but the final straw was a savage metal splinter in the thumb while grabbing a drill bit from the magnet. I dismantled the system and went back to wooden shelving.

[cjc_td5]

I like your thinking, but I think swarf or filings collecting on the magnetic surfaces would become tedious after a while.

[4xsama]

I like your thinking, but I think swarf or filings collecting on the magnetic surfaces would become tedious after a while.

Yes. This is what I was thinking too. Might need to clean off at the same time as the bench or just accept it and not put anything on which would be affected. Tape measures might be a good thing to avoid magnetisation. Grit etc on the tape would soon become a hassle.

[cjc_td5]

As you mentioned, would the tools themselves get magnetised? This would be a greater pain, as if you dropped one on to a dirty surface, it would come back hairy with swarf.

Yes. This is what I was thinking too. Might need to clean off at the same time as the bench or just accept it and not put anything on which would be affected. Tape measures might be a good thing to avoid magnetisation. Grit etc on the tape would soon become a hassle.

[RANDLOVER]

On the subject of workshops and annoying metal debris, expect a big clean up job if you ever use one of those sheet metal nibblers as they punch out thousands of little metal dots, took hours to clean up, go for a shear attachment instead if cutting straight lines, having said that the nibblers are good for intricate curves, circles, etc.

[JDNSW]

Not exactly what you are proposing, but one of my benches has a shelf just above head height that comes level with the front of the bench. A few years ago I got a couple of magnetic tool holder strips and put these along the front edge of the shelf. I use these for small tools that I have found I have trouble remembering where they are. This has been so successful I have got a couple more of them.

[austastar]

......they punch out thousands of little metal dots......

Hi,
One plastic bag, one magnet.
With the magnet in the bag, drag it around over the swarf.
Turn bag inside out over bin and extract magnet.
Drop bag full of bits in the bin.

Repeat as necessary.

Cheers

[350RRC]

Hi,
One plastic bag, one magnet.
With the magnet in the bag, drag it around over the swarf.
Turn bag inside out over bin and extract magnet.
Drop bag full of bits in the bin.

Repeat as necessary.

Cheers

Yep,

Old loudspeaker magnets are good for this, especially Wharfedale!

Another use for smaller magnets is just sit them on the top of your mobile toolbox, to be used when something goes missing doing a repair in the scrub, etc. Use mine quite a lot.

DL

[Saitch]

Another idea.

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