Smart Shop tips!

[JK22]

I mentioned this before but it's worth repeating.

I have 2 of the HF 250lb retrieving magnets. I keep them each wrapped in a 'thick' plastic bag, like the ones Menards uses (compared to the thin walmart bags). I put both magnets in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and drag or bounce it along the ground to clean up nails, screws, steel scrap in burn piles, etc. When the bottom gets covered I hold the bucket over the 'trash' barrel and lift the magnets to release everything collected. It keeps the magnets clean, especially with the bags, and is simple to collect, drop, collect, drop.
Last week after cutting and drilling some steel, I realized a 1 gallon bucket can be used with a single magnet and it even easier to use indoors.

That’s clever... I grind inside my shop and I’m constantly dealing with metal dust. I might try to fashion a similar solution near my grinding station to collect dust as it’s generated. I’ve looked into downdraft stations but either too expensive or too much time to DIY.

 

[Ford850]

That’s clever... I grind inside my shop and I’m constantly dealing with metal dust. I might try to fashion a similar solution near my grinding station to collect dust as it’s generated. I’ve looked into downdraft stations but either too expensive or too much time to DIY.

That grinding mess might be more stone grit than metal. I don't think I ever tried in on mine though. But for metal shavings it works amazing, especially compared to a brush or broom.

 

[JK22]

That grinding mess might be more stone grit than metal. I don't think I ever tried in on mine though. But for metal shavings it works amazing, especially compared to a brush or broom.

My magnetic roller sweep picks most of it up, so your concept should work. I’m thinking about inverting your concept and putting the bucket upright with the magnet underneath. Even if it only catches half the dust, I’d be way ahead.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I saw a youtube channel where the guy was removing stuff by hand from a Princess Auto Magnetic Sweeper. I have the same one and did the same thing for a while not realizing you could pull on a handle and have the stuff drop off! Those pickup things in various styles are so cheap on sale, you just can not have one.

 

[BukitCase]

Agree on the mag pickups; I have one of the HF 36" sweeps (no longer available) for one area, a 30" for another, and at least 3 of their approximately 3" round ones. The area where I normally use my mag drill is gravel floor, so after the "curly fry explosion" I just blow everything onto the floor and run the sweeper around listening to the clickety-clack. One pull over the scrap barrel and done... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

I saw a youtube channel where the guy was removing stuff by hand from a Princess Auto Magnetic Sweeper. I have the same one and did the same thing for a while not realizing you could pull on a handle and have the stuff drop off! Those pickup things in various styles are so cheap on sale, you just can not have one.

Dang. I was hoping mine was the same but it wasn’t.!!

That’s what I get for the ten cereal box tops and $1.99 postage and handling special.




Pretty sad day when when a Princess Auto product would be a major upgrade for a tool I have.

 

[ovrszd]

That is sad Terry. And surprising.

 

[Big Barn]

Tools are like animals, Richard. I love them all

 

[John0829]

Me being frugal, i.e. cheap, I use a bunch of magnets from old microwave ovens. Tie a cord to em and drag em over the area but I do cover them with cheap aluminum foil first to make removing the metal bits easy. My wife bought a cheap roll around magnet at one of the box stores that we still must use the foil on to make removal of the metal hassel free.

 

[JK22]

Me being frugal, i.e. cheap, I use a bunch of magnets from old microwave ovens. Tie a cord to em and drag em over the area but I do cover them with cheap aluminum foil first to make removing the metal bits easy. My wife bought a cheap roll around magnet at one of the box stores that we still must use the foil on to make removal of the metal hassel free.

Neat idea but aluminum foil is expensive! I just brush everything off with a shop cloth or a bench brush.