Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 21, 2010 10:09pm | #1

   I have a bunch of them.. I only play with them on occasion. No magnetic expert but those magnets may be strong but allow very little depth of the magnetic field and still be able to hold anything. I think they sell metal plates that you can afix at the surface and have the magnet on the back of the plate. Not sure but I think so...

   Lee valley has a sample set of magnets for a small price (plus shipping) lol   No.. I was very happy when I got them... I still play with them when I have nothing better to do.

   Maybe a very thin veneer plug may work.

1. 
   Lataxe | Apr 22, 2010 05:44am | #2

   WillG,

   I've used those rare earth magnets as door catches on a number of items but always left them exposed.  However, I have read in a number of places that they will still work if covered by thin veneer, as you mention.  Lee Valley also sell metal cups that the magnets fit into, as they allege locating such a magnet in a cup amplifies the magnetic pull of the magnet.

   I imagine it will be easier to cut a rectangular veneer-thick recess over the area where the magnet is to be concealed, than to make a round magnet-shaped piece of veneer.  A larger veneer patch would be easier to make/handle and might also help with matching the grain more exactly because there is no curve involved and grain is generally straight (ish).  Certainly this is true for ordinary dutch patches used to cover a blemish or inadvertent tool-poke.  (I use a lot of reclaimed timber which often has blemishes in the mifddle of an otherwise pristine plank - Sod's law subsection 77c).

   Lataxe, whose whole life consists of pulling together and patching stuff.

   Edit PS  When there is distinct contrasty grain involved, I have often used a long-diamond-shaped dutch patch (grain running with the line atween the long points of the diamond) as any slight mismatch of the dark-to-light grain pattern then blends in much better.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 23, 2010 02:32pm | #8

   Sir Lataxe.. As always someting intelligent to put out for us in sometimes strange words.... You are a delight....

   I have used veneer 'patches' and it works. IF... I can cut them to look natural!

   I have tried two or several magnets 'back to back'. I have never seen that it improved the strength of the magnetic field much.... Maybe a 'bit'..?

2. 
   lea137 | Apr 22, 2010 06:36am | #3

   rare earth magnets

   I'm using some now and intend to cover the recess by cutting a thin shaving of dowel stock so I can keep the circular shape of the recess.  I have some 3/4 magnets and 1" magnets and will simply epoxy them in place and then cut a contrasting wood dowel of the same size as the cover.

   I still haven't seen anything about how deep to recess the magnets.  I guess I'll just use trial and error.  I'm going to use them to hold chef's knives and I don't want the blades to touch the metal.

1. 
   RichClark | Apr 22, 2010 10:27pm | #6

   Yea Im looking for some logic on the depth...

   This is a "pine 3/4 Build" all from teh box store.. Its made to fit upstairs in the only place that is "out of the way" an area between the upstairs landing and the master bedroom.  (our house was before AC was invented and they kinda stole the origional Linen closet built in space and put an air handler in it... I prefinished the shelves and inside in french polish and rub them out with 5 Ot and wax and the outside is gonna be "MILK Paint" and sealed. 

   My wife chose the pulls they are ornate single post pulls that are attached from behing the frame...  Lax...  I was going to replace the packaged hardware to attach them...  with machine screws and chamfer some Washers to act as the catches..  and countersink the depth of the washers so that everything is flush and such...  

   I didn't want to have a shinie bit that you can see when you open it...  and I was hoping someone has noodled out how thick the covered venier needs to be.. but perhaps If I can get some felt cut circles Ill just recess the surround of the magnet with stan and Forsner the magnet to that depth below. so that I have a soft clunking.. 

   Ill photo and post when I am done..   This is going to happen this weekend..  Its screaming to be finished.. Its done!

   Thanks for all the ideasII  I guess I will learn and grow

   Rich

   PS  -- Roc .. I got me a new LA #7...  used it to set the doors .. am I officially addicted yet?

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 23, 2010 01:18am | #7

   REM Knife Holder

    Epicurean makes one.  If you can inspect one, you may be able to get the critical specs. 

    http://www.epicureancs.com/knifeholders.php 

     

1. 
   lea137 | May 27, 2010 07:17am | #11

   REM Knife Holder

   Thanks for the site address and suggestion.  Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.  

3. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 23, 2010 02:35pm | #9

   As Lataxe stated.. A veneer strip of wood should work. Maybe even a contrasting wood strip.

3. 
   sapwood | Apr 22, 2010 11:24am | #4

   One way I've used these magnets is to replace that door pull screw with a socket head machine screw. Lightly grind or sand off the knurled texture of the head. Drill a recess into the door stile so that the screw can be made flush with the surface. Also drill a recess in the shelf edge for the magnet... glue it in flush with the surface. Cover the magnet with a felt or rubber pad. That will add a soft touch to the action. Now you've got an depth adjustable arrangement. Simply back out the machine screw a tad to make the adjoining doors or cabinet sides flush with one another.

   There are many other ways to use the magnets as door catches. I think Lee Valley has numerous ideas on their web site... you might want to take a look there. 

4. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 22, 2010 01:05pm | #5

   Experimentation is the word.

   Rich,

   You will need to experiment with your door and cabinet.  Of course, the larger the magnet, the greater the attractive forces.  Bedding the magnet in a cup will effectively multiply the force by about 3x, if I recall correctly.  The other thing that will have an impact on the attraction force is the distance between the two faces of the magnets.  If your doors mate perfectly, then there will be very little space between them.

   Be careful not to make the attractive force too strong, or the cabinet will be hard to open.  If the door is relatively light, this is more of an issue than if the door weighs twenty pounds and is super-rigid.

   I would start testing with a pair of 3/8" magnets, uncupped, with two pieces of veneer between them and seeing if they offer enough strength.  You may find that putting them in cups or stepping up to 1/2" diameter magnets will be necessary.  I think it's best (and easiest) to use just one pair of mating magnets per door.  Also, the closer the magnet is positioned to the handle, the easier it is to open the door and the less racking forces will be applied to the door and hinges.

   I'm not sure what you are asking about the handles.  Are they the kind that take a machine screw from the inside, or a wood screw from the front?

5. 
   RichClark | Apr 23, 2010 04:20pm | #10

   What Ive done

   My Magnets are 5x10MM So I used a 3/8" Forsner bit and made holes so that each door had a maganet centered at an oposing shelf.  When I set the magnet to check the fit... it was a really tight fit, so tight that infact I could not get the "test" one out.. I got a bit of 3/8 walnut dowel and used that and a hammer to tap the magnet so that it is was slightly recessed.  For the shelves I got some "roofing Nails" (they are short and have large heads).  I drilled a recess for the head and pre-drilled a hole for the nail and hammered them home (again using the dowel for the last bit).  I am going to shelac the backs of the doors and the shelves faces.  Something must have been keeping an eye on me as I took a few scraps and placed them at the hinge side (top and bottom) and the magnet will draw the door closed at about 1/2" from the door shutting,  It will allow it to open with just enough force.  Course the is me not the OYMO but she is in a pretty good mood as this is going along briskly and she seem content.  Course all this could change.

   Then I plan to put Some Felt circles to cover the nail heads. 

   If I had planed the out better I would have "Preset" the magnets and then covered them with wood to make them pretty.

   Ill post pics once this is done. 

   Here is the "design"  we tend to "argue" with design so we have a "new" way to discuss things.. "Who ever holds the Pencil gets to talk..."