cool magnetic bowls/trays

[esantoro]

I hate spending twenty minutes or more looking for something I had just 10 seconds ago, so I bought a bunch of magnetic bowls to be places throughout my work area. Now I drop screws, needles, bobbins, nuts, washers, and anything else metal in these trays and ALWAYS know where to find them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...?Itemnumber=659

ed

Edited January 17, 2008 by esantoro

[Kani]

What a good idea. Thanks Ed. I can also use that when I am sewing.

[esantoro]

I just got in some 4" magnetic bowls. Get the 6" instead: larger , stronger magnets that work better at keeping the bowl secured in any fashion. But maybe the 4" bowl is good for smaller work spaces.

[bcurrier]

My wife uses them for pins, pushpins, binder clips and the like in her sewing area. They work great, and I doubly appreciate them because the room is carpeted. There's nothing quite like stepping on a needle!

The magnetic dishes are not only handy to hold the contents wherever they sit, but they stick to the sewing machine heads, too. Don't try that with a home machine or industrial with a head-mounted servo control panel, though!

Bill

[Andy]

Good idea, I run magnets on all my equipment, holds scissors, razor blades, tools that I need for the machine etc...I like the bowl idea!

[esantoro]

This may seem necessary, but I'm worried about using one of the bowls on my heavy stitcher head. I just imagine that over time the magnetic pull might cause problems with the timing. I do use a few 3/16" by 1/8" magnetic discs on the head to hold small allen wrenches, screws, needles, etc.

ed

[esantoro]

My wife uses them for pins, pushpins, binder clips and the like in her sewing area. They work great, and I doubly appreciate them because the room is carpeted. There's nothing quite like stepping on a needle!

The magnetic dishes are not only handy to hold the contents wherever they sit, but they stick to the sewing machine heads, too. Don't try that with a home machine or industrial with a head-mounted servo control panel, though!

Bill

I use a telescoping wand with a 3/4" diameter magnet with a pulling power of 9 to 15 pounds on the end to pick up dropped needles that are difficult to find.

[esantoro]

Steven King once wrote that he has typewriters all over the house, so if he gets an idea he can immediately sit down and start writing.

I did a similar sort of thing with these magnets and magnetic bowls. They are placed all over the place so I can get to work in any space and keep track of needles, screws, tools, and such.

HEre are some pics.

[bcurrier]

... I'm worried about using one of the bowls on my heavy stitcher head. I just imagine that over time the magnetic pull might cause problems with the timing.

No way, no how is a magnet going to affect timing on a mechanical machine head, unless you have a part so loose that you already have a problem.

Bill