Knight Magnetization Advice

[librisrouge]

I'm looking to remagnetize my IK's arms and I wanted some advice before I started such a project. Currently I have two small magnets on the inside side of the shoulder, of the weapon arms, connecting to two magnets on the IK itself's shoulder. This was fine when I only had three knights but I have more now and want to swap arms around more freely (for crusaders and gallants). I'm wanting to use just two magnets per arm, one on the knight and one inside the arm. They need to be powerful enough to hold a connection without the arm's weight just dragging it downward, but not so strong that glue (or apoxie) could not hold it on.

 

For this I need a few pieces of advice. How big a magnet should I be looking for? Any advice on what to put between the magnet and the inside of the arm to raise the magnet enough to tough the other?

 

Also, I'm not sure how to ensure a strong hold when the magnets are so smooth. Do I need to scour them? Some other adhesive?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[CommodusXIII]

I've never had any problems securing magnets with superglue.  They have a strong pull, but not enough to rip a magnet loose.

 

As for location, I always recommend magnetizing the following joint:

 

http://i.imgur.com/uD29hGDl.png

 

Grind down the ridges on the lower half of the arm, so it slides in an out of the joint rather than being locked into place.  Countersink magnets on both sides.  I find it best to drill a pilot hole with a pin vise, and then ream it out with a hobby knife until the magnet sit flush and snug.  A healthy amount of superglue will keep it in place, and if it oozes up over the magnet you can sand it smooth.

[Gumo9]

JB Weld will secure even the strongest of magnets. I used this to magnetise my Warhound with no issues whatsoever.

 

G

[librisrouge]

Seems like sound advice so far; I'll have to experiment some.

 

Commodus, would you recommend I attach the shoulder joints permanently, cutting the lower arms off and placing magnets there? How much to the weapons swivel? On some knights, I tried to pose the arms for something dynamic and I don't want gravity ruining my plans yet again.

[CommodusXIII]

If you magnetize that joint, you can leave the shoulder-torso and arm-weapon joints loose for dynamic posing.  A little paint or glue in the joints will give a snug fit, so they don't flop around quite so much.  You might want to test this out prior to final assembly.

[jeffersonian000]

Or you can magnetize the joints for positioning that stays, using a small neo magnet and a steel washer wherever you need to pivot. I mean, it is a action figure, after all!

 

SJ