Building with magnets
 

Hey guys, need some info. For those of you who build with a magnet system, what is the recommended steel sheet for this application? Where do you buy your steel and how much do you pay for it?

Dale

Are you talking about small applications like hatch covers? For those I use rare-earth magnets and washers.

No, I am talking about building complete aircraft with a magnetic system in lieu of the traditional pins/board

Thanks, that's the idea... now to make it 24 X 60 or 72 ;)

A lot of old appliances (dryers, washers, etc.) are/were made of metal and the sides, tops, etc. make good surfaces to build on. The problem is cutting off the desired areas without leaving sharp or ragged edges that can be a problem.

I don't know if you saw or not but you can buy just the magnets. As far as the base plate, you don't really want to use something that is unfinished as it can and will rust. Rodney's thought on using appliance skin would work well if put on some sort of rigid base material so that you can move it without it bending/creasing as well as protecting the hands from the sharp edges

Easybuiltmodels.com offers a 13.5 X32 inch board plus 30 magnets for $39.75 (2014 catalog). I bought the smaller one (12X24 inches )and it works great. They use a piece of galvanized sheet metal (no rust) with finished edges. I glued mine down to a piece of 1 inch plywood to keep from bending it.

Plate steel runs about 65 cents per pound plus shipping. You can have it cut to size usually for a few cents more. Maybe find a machine or fab shop that will get you a piece on their order. You can clean and paint it or even cold blue it to help control rust. Another option is to see if you can find a steel door, i used to have one i got on the cheap because it had a corner crushed and it couldnt be installed.

The old ej lind boards were wire brushed and the grid silk screened on and then lacquered and they held up pretty well.

Another resource is www.airfieldmodels.com Looks like they have allot of good info on systems in general. I have one of the Great Planes magnetic building board systems that I bought years ago and it looks very similar to what they show.I like it for various projects that require stick building and alignment. The steel sheet has a grid printed on it that comes in handy for alignment of various components....I don't use for every project but on my current build, a VK Camel, it will come in handy.
Sam

Look for sheet metal shops in your area.
I walked into one and they cut and gave me 2 24" x 30" sheets of scrap for free.
I had to butt them on the board - no problem.

I was looking for a piece that is used in HVAC.
These are galvanized and won't rust.
Don't paint whatever you get, the magnets will scratch it to hell.
Instead, wax it periodically with car wax.
Or go to a woodworking supply company and get what they use on table saws.

Good Luck,
KW_Counter

This is one of the first places to look for building information. You will find much helpful information on building with magnetics .....http://www.airfieldmodels.com/index.html
Leo

Ray - I got my sheet steel, 24X48" 16 ga., and it seems to want to lift on the edges. I'm thinking about gluing it to my bench, which is a Sears workbench with a (finished) particleboard top. What glue did you use and how should I go about it? Anyone else have any suggestions that would work instead of gluing it?

Got my building set from Paul @ http://www.airfieldmodels.com/index.html ... Medium set... Danish Oil finish applied, ready to go in 1-2 days
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2135516