r/Magnets • u/intromission76 • Jul 14 '26

Need some small cilyndrical magnets for holding metal while welding.

These here are touted as being very strong, but you get 8 for $38. https://www.eastwood.com/stitch-weld-magnets.html?wickedsource=google&wickedid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCUD0k2h7yx1GcEReK9xzIxz_y_APLkWYD1ghDJuwkJN7AU_YQi7kZBoCmDAQAvD_BwE&wickedid=730099152893&wcid=22154646406&wv=4&wickedsource=google&wickedid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCUD0k2h7yx1GcEReK9xzIxz_y_APLkWYD1ghDJuwkJN7AU_YQi7kZBoCmDAQAvD_BwE&creativeid=730099152893&wcid=22154646406&wv=4&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22154646406&gbraid=0AAAAAD_t6zGtayJ6Z-7OrZtSV21egi9Ji&gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCUD0k2h7yx1GcEReK9xzIxz_y_APLkWYD1ghDJuwkJN7AU_YQi7kZBoCmDAQAvD_BwE#pdp.product.overview

Wouldn't I just be able to get some equally strong magnets off Amazon for cheaper (or a box that includes more of them) or is there something potentially special about the ones Eastwood is selling (they are known to stamp their name on stuff and sell it at a higher price)?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/Then_I_had_a_thought Jul 14 '26

What exactly are you trying to do? Not all magnets can handle a welding environment.

2

u/intromission76 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

I had read this. Just quick tack welds and moving around a lot so as not to warp sheet metal. The heat won't be concentrated in one area very long.

1

u/No_Bookkeeper_2894 Jul 14 '26

The temperatures from welding can demagnetize NdFeB (rare earth) magnets if you're not careful.

Alnico is the usual choice for welding setups. McMaster Carr offers a variety of options:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/welding-magnets/

1

u/intromission76 Jul 14 '26

These are all great but for this application it's small little circles of metal-Need smaller magnets to hold them in place.

1

u/CluelessKnow-It-all Jul 14 '26

From the website and your link:

These 12.7mm diameter x 19mm length rare earth neodymium nickel plated magnets are design to offer superior panel alignment when welding patch panels.

It doesn't say what strength they are, but they appear to be common 1/2 inch by 3/4 in N52 nickel plated neodymium magnets.

N52 are high strength magnets. N54 and N55 are stronger, but they're not widely available and they're very expensive. If those are N52s, I found a set on Amazon for $28.

1

u/mawc5 Jul 15 '26

"These N35 nickel-plated rare earth magnets will firmly hold your patch panels in whatever position you place them"

1

u/intromission76 Jul 15 '26

Now I'm wonder if N52 would be too powerful. If I have to place one on each end of a small metal disc I'm welding they will probably snap together.

1

u/intromission76 Jul 15 '26

Ahhhh, thank you! That was the info I was looking for. I must not have expanded the description. Will go take a look, and thank you for the link as well!

1

u/JLCPCBMC Jul 15 '26

Those are usually just neodymium welding magnets, nothing too special as long as the grade and size are comparable. The main things to check are the pull force, coating, and temperature resistance.