'Best' Magnet for Retrieval Use ?

[SvenG]

From the "always prepared" department:

What are the best sources for magnets specifically for use in fishing ferrous stuff out of the bilge (or over the side without diving) ?

I've seen plenty of ads but suspect that there probably are some really good powerful rare earth magnets out there that would be ideal for this purpose ? If they are already set up for attaching a line to that would be even better, but not essential as one could probably epoxy them to something or even use them in a bag tied to a line.

Thanks,



-Sven

[David M]

You don't necessarily need the strongest magnet available to fish unreachable tools out of the bilge.

You could always lower an old speaker magnet on a string into the bilge and save yourself some money.

[Chief Engineer]

I took some magnets out of an old radar....they work real well.

I also made my own heavy lift magnet out of radio shack magnets sandwiched in steel plates...steel/mag/steel/mag/steel/mag/steel

I have retrieved pipe wrenches from 30+ feet of water

[Kashmir cat]

Someone gave me what appears to be a super magnet last year. It is about 3 1/2 "X 2"X 2". It is so powerful that it not only took a crow bar to pry it off my tool chest but another pair of hands standing by so it didn't immediately re-attach itself. I pity the poor fool who gets his fingers between that bad boy and soft metal. Every nail, small tool or fastener from a radius of 2 feet eventually makes it's way to the magnet. I think it killed my cell phone and a couple of credit cards. PLEASE take it off my hands. I will ship it to you free of charge, the only problem that may arise is that the box may stick to the inside of the UPS truck. Also, don't worry about glueing a line to it. Just attach any large metal washer to a line and it will attach itself to the magnet and not come off. Seriously, give me your address and I will send it to you.

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by Kashmir cat

Seriously, give me your address and I will send it to you.

I bet it will get stuck in the steel mailbox but I can't resist your kind offer :-)

PM coming.

Thanks,


-Sven

[noelex 77]

A line with an old fishing float and broken shackle is a useful thing to have in the cockpit. If you drop someting valuable overboad while at anchor throwing the float overboard defines the position. Searcing for an earring in weed or cloudy water after your boat has swung around at anchor is harder than it sounds.
Unfortunately most things lost overboard that are worth retrieving are non ferrous.

[Hyprdrv]

Open up a damaged Hard Drive. Remove the magnets in there and don't put your fingers between them! Bigger Hard Drive=Bigger magnets. All kind of neat stuff in there.

Steve in Solomons MD

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

throwing the float overboard defines the position. Searcing for an earring in weed or cloudy water after your boat has swung around at anchor is harder than it sounds.
Unfortunately most things lost overboard that are worth retrieving are non ferrous.

Excellent idea and unfortunately a good point too.

Originally Posted by Hyprdrv

Open up a damaged Hard Drive.

Hmmm, I just recycled a few. Should have thought of that instead of taking a sledge hammer to them.

Thanks,


-Sven

[Efraim]

I'll second the hard drive suggestion. Other than the engine, which really shouldn't be going overboard anyways, there isn't much you can't pick up with it.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Kashmir cat

Someone gave me what appears to be a super magnet last year. It is about 3 1/2 "X 2"X 2". It is so powerful that it not only took a crow bar to pry it off my tool chest but another pair of hands standing by so it didn't immediately re-attach itself. I pity the poor fool who gets his fingers between that bad boy and soft metal. Every nail, small tool or fastener from a radius of 2 feet eventually makes it's way to the magnet. I think it killed my cell phone and a couple of credit cards. PLEASE take it off my hands. I will ship it to you free of charge, the only problem that may arise is that the box may stick to the inside of the UPS truck. Also, don't worry about glueing a line to it. Just attach any large metal washer to a line and it will attach itself to the magnet and not come off. Seriously, give me your address and I will send it to you.

and of course, beware how close it's stowed to the compass!

[SeaBungalow]

I'll second the speaker magnet. I took one out of an old guitar amp, about 6 inches in diameter. It is pretty strong and will pick up pretty heavy objects.

[TexSail]

I found some very powerful magnets cheap at a army/navy surplus store. They were from the magneto on an aircraft engine.

[GordMay]

➭ NASA's New Super-Magnet Is So Strong It Could Make Lab Rats Levitate

[fishwife]

We've seen the maglev train. Maglev (transport) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Using the magnets mentioned by Gord, anyone up for designing the maglev boat?

P.