metal bracket on hard drive magnets ? - Page 2

I like to use the holes that are already in the brackets as mounting holes, and I put screws through them and make a row of the magnets on the studs on the wall that my bench sits against. I use them to hold screws in items I am taking apart in order of removal (top to bottom), and also keep the most commonly used bits for my driver their, like phillips and various common sized of torx bits. Keeps them handy, and I can spend more time working and less time looking for the proper bits and tools!

I have found it handy to have magnetic screwdrivers
(once you stick steel to a magnet, it turns magnetic, or just wipe it across the magnet a few times)
as they keep the screw attached to the screwdriver when you pull it out.

Sometimes a screw gets cockeyed just at the finish of the thread & jams in there, the magnetic screwdriver (actually its a 'Screwturner') helps to stop that happening.

I have a hard time understanding how magnets can be so scarce in parts of the country. Isn't the 1st time people have asked for some.

Then again I did bunch a buy off ebay cuz I am always misplacing them.

I should paint them a neon color so they're easier to see.

Originally Posted by Scrap Metal Mike

Well u could sell (or give) them to me I am in desperate need of a few trusty magnets!

I just sent you some and your asking for more?

Originally Posted by harrisvh

Most yards do not currently set a price at the metals true value, many will not recognise it. There are specialist buyers however who will simply reuse the alloy its it's permalloy form. Because of this, theya re able to give the highest prices. If you can find these buyers and have the quantities to suit their needs, it currently holds a value of around $7 lb.

Any suggestions as to how to find such places? Are any of them in the US? What kind of a quantity would be needed to get such a price?

Originally Posted by TheHoss

Well, how do you get said magnets off the bracket? Without destroyin the bracket or magnet, of course.

It's a lot of work; but, here's how I do it:
1) Sort magnets into matching groups. (If you ignore this step, you'll wind up regretting it.)
2) Have some scrap plexiglass handy, either hanging or leaning against a non-magnetic surface. (I like strips that are about 4 to 6" wide and about 12 to 18" long.)
3) Have a metal surface, covered with a mat or a piece of plexiglass, handy. (This is extremely important; since, these magnets will bite the daylights out of you, given even half a chance!!! Even with just 1/8" thick magnets, if you get skin trapped between them, about all you can do is grit your teeth and tear the skin off... If they're not on a magnetic surface, they WILL jump several inches to get to another magnet.) Putting them directly onto a metal surface makes them VERY hard to get back off. With a mat or plexiglass, it's possible to slide them to the edge.
4) I use a metal beam with an end cap, attached to the old "feet" from a scrapped out semi-trailer; but, some folks use a securely mounted vice, to hook one end of the bracket into. I have a pair of vice grips attached to the other.
5) Bend the bracket just until you hear a quiet "pop."
6) Slide a break-off blade razor knife into the small gap; and, CAREFULLY work it along the length of the magnet until it comes loose.
7) Set magnet on the covered metal surface.
8) Remove vice grips and toss bracket into one of 2 buckets: Clean or needs further cleaning. (I also have a bucket for the ones that aren't nickel plated.)
9) CAREFULLY pair the magnets on each side of the plexiglass. WARNING: They will try to grab onto the mags you're reaching over; so, I try to work from the far side to the near side, to minimize having to reach over already placed mags. (They're a bear to get apart, if you let them stack!)
10) Clean all plastic, brass, etc. from the "to be cleaned" brackets.
11) Find somewhere that's willing to pay decent for the brackets. (I'm still looking...)
12) Find a project for the magnets. (I'm working on some alternative energy ideas for my own use.)

OR....
Blow off all of the above, keep all of your skin on your hands intact, and give me a shout... ;p If the price is right, I'd probably be interested in taking them off your hands; especially if I can find a decent market for the permalloy...

Ha! Thanks for the tips KR

Originally Posted by KR74868

Any suggestions as to how to find such places? Are any of them in the US? What kind of a quantity would be needed to get such a price?

The price I got at the time was from people in the US. I think Gustavus mentioned getting that price amongst others. I weighed some pairs of brackets and they came in at 50-70g for the older ones giving the largest at 70g a value of $1.08 per pair. I haven't taken any brackets in as permalloy or Mu-metal scrap myself but it's usage and the fact that they are getting smaller and thinner with newer hard drives suggests strongly they hold value. If nickel goes back to its old highs the brackets will be worth triple what they are now.
I have also been saving the neodynium magnets with a neodynium price of about $160/kg and roughly 30g per pair for the larger older ones gives them a value of $4.80 per pair scrap value. I have no idea where you might sell them however but suspect that in time there will be somewhere. Neodynium bubbled at $480/kg last august (giving the magnets a scrap value of $14.40 per pair) but considering it started at $6/kg in 2008 that kind of whups silver and golds ass in price increase. I will save mine and see what the future brings.

they lose alot of the magnetism when you have 20 pounds stuck together, it wont stuck to anything trust me, try sticking a 20 pound ball of these to the side of a fridge, its not gonna happen =) there is too much scrap steel mixed in to cause it to stick to anything when you have that much mass

I keep all mine. I had a pretty good size container full, brought them to school last year (for those who don't know i'm an Auto Tech student), and all my classmates got a kick outta how strong they were...well needless to say half my stash was gone...come back for 2nd year and everyones using the magnets to stick their paperwork onto their toolboxes so they don't blow away from the fans blowing...made me feel good knowing i could help my friends out a bit.

Originally Posted by mrbillbus

How do you ship them? These things are strong. Pack a box full and it will be stuck to the delivery truck.

I have 20 or so pairs that are 1/2" thick magnet attached to a 1/3" thick casting (where the plate would be in a smaller version). Get a finger between two of them and you will be hurtin' for certain. Set a shipping box with those babies on a metal cart and you may have to ship the cart too!

Bill

I like Ur sense of humor. That sucker would be stick'n to perking meters, car bidies etc. Hahaha. Thanks 4 the chuckle friend. lb

I had a couple of the old fatboy magnets, I dropped one in each pocket of my coveralls, then attached screwdrivers, crescent wrenches, a hammer, etc to the 'outside' of the pockets. Got a few strange looks walking around the jobsite

Many people think the brackets are a nickel superalloy called permalloy or MUmetal in fact magnet brackets are low carbon steel. Pure iron is one if the best flux carrying materials to use. Cold rolled low carbon steel is a trade-off for manufacturability. The brackets are plated in a nickel alloy and the unique dual polarity of the magnets allow for one direction magnetic field.

Originally Posted by mrbillbus

How do you ship them? These things are strong. Pack a box full and it will be stuck to the delivery truck.

I have 20 or so pairs that are 1/2" thick magnet attached to a 1/3" thick casting (where the plate would be in a smaller version). Get a finger between two of them and you will be hurtin' for certain. Set a shipping box with those babies on a metal cart and you may have to ship the cart too!

Bill

This made me laugh about being stuck to the delivery truck. I could see the fedex driver trying to pick it up of the floor of his truck and not getting any where