Drilling a magnet

I have a large horseshoe magnet that I want to drill and tap,my question is will the swarf become lodged in the workings or is there an easy way to prevent/remove it?

Mick

Hello Mick,

​I think you will have two problems. The magnet may well be very hard and the swarf will, if you can penetrate it, will clog drill flutes and tap flutes alike

​Assuming these are attachment features, can you bond on, say, pre-drilled and tapped blocks in aluminium instead?

Regards
Brian

Eclipse pot magnets were tapped.

My first thought was to wonder if drilling the magnet would affect its magnetism.

Hi Brian

I have some small magnetic base machine lights but they are not really man enough(the magnets) to cling to a vertical surface thought a strong magnet I have may do the job your suggestion is a good one, RDG do base only about 60kg pull cost about £15 each but will try your solution 1st, thanks

Mick

I'd try putting a few inexpensive super magnets (like these on ebay) between the existing magnetic base and the vertical surface. Read the instructions if you get any, the attraction between two of them is enough to nip flesh.

I wouldn't bother trying to modify an existing magnet, especially a modern one. The one I experimented on from a Microwave Oven was hard enough to ruin a file and very brittle. Also, a good way to destroy a magnet is to bash it about or heat it up.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 12/06/2017 17:50:31

I wouldn't even try Mick... just get some of those super strong neodiminnnuminum ... ​ magnets as Dave suggests, not that expensive for small/medium sizes... large ones are expensive, I bought a bundle of oblong ones not long ago, reasonably priced, don't drop them though, brittle as hell & watch out the larger ones DO NIP!

​George.

If you have any old computer hard drives, you will find they contain two very strong magnets. Don't try to separate them from their backing pieces though, as you will obviously destroy the plating/coating, and they then start to break down.

The platters themselves are often usable as surface plated mirrors for viewing nooks and crannies.

I tried to drill a hole in one of those one penny sized neodenyium magnets once and used my lathe

As I got through the outer skin it burst into flames like a match head

Ooh, I'll have to try that.

Some are brittle and break.

When I worked at Mullard Magnetic Components in the 60's where they made besides other materials, 'steel' magnets, you could get a round bar magnet say 3/4" dia x 4" long hold it in your palm and break it in two with a hammer without hurting yourself it was so brittle, just like Seaside Rock, when tapped holes were required the magnets would be cast with a plain hole to suit a threaded insert.

I used the description 'steel' only because they looked like steel, their composition was very different.

John

Thanks for the comments gents on reflection I shall buy a magnetic base from RDG

Regards Mick