Where to find powerfull magnets

[Rawhide]

I get mine from woodcraft.

Woodcraft magnets

[esantoro]

I've got the fetish, too. Thanks.

Hiya,

</geek mode on>

Here is a picture of some of the magnets i have liberated... yes... i seem to have a fetish for the damn things.

As for the tools to remove them... usually a cross head/posi/philips screw driver and a number of star drive heads. The set i have has T4 thru T10 + T15 and T20. Dunno if the larger automotive ones use a similar size notation but these are the smaller jewellers/watchmakers sizes.

There are usually posi/cross heads around the lid but look out also for stealth screws. Often there will at least two (star drive screws) hidden under small round lables that match the metal top...

Once the lid is off you should see one or more "platters" (good coasters), the read/write arm and the magnets. It is usually possible to remove a couple of screws and pull the top "bridged" magnet. You may need to leverage as it's pull will not want to let it shift.

Then it is worth looking on the side of the Read/write head spindle. if there, is remove it. There is also usually a small plastic doofer that stops the heads moving too far in one direction or another... this will probably just lift out. Now you should be able to swing the heads clear of the platter and lift it off it`s shaft. Look under the housing and there may be a screw to release the bearing the head spindle was mounted on. If not it could be knocked out. Got a few stashed which i might use in a lace splitter/beveller.

Remove the small screw keeping the platter(s) and the spacers in place then lift them out too! You could also turn the housing over, remove the PCB underneath then knock out the platter spindle. Older models may even have a platter spindle and bearing in a housing that can be unscrewed and removed. I had this and used it as a base for an anemometer for my kite flying.

</geek mode off>

Enjoy!