Magnets! How do they even (you probably know where this is going…)

[Kaede45]

I recently bought some custom bits for my minis & I would like to start trying to work with putting magnets into them. Trouble is knowing not how to do it as that I’m sure I can find. The real trouble is figuring out the right tools for the job. What kind of magnets would work? What kind should I avoid? What tools should I use? How should I approach this? Any help is greatly appreciated & please include any images or links that may be helpful. Thank you for your time & as always, God bless!

[Halandaar]

A lot of this will come down to what you're looking to magnetize, and what you want it to stick to. Magnetizing arms (or hands) on Space Marines will warrant different magnets than sticking different weapons on Imperial knights, bases to cases and so on.

 

So what are you looking to achieve?

[Kaede45]

2 hours ago, Halandaar said:

A lot of this will come down to what you're looking to magnetize, and what you want it to stick to. Magnetizing arms (or hands) on Space Marines will warrant different magnets than sticking different weapons on Imperial knights, bases to cases and so on.

 

So what are you looking to achieve?

Well, starting with what I have:

Primaris Captain in Gravis Armor - arms, head, legs

Thunderwolf Cavalry - rider arms, rider heads, saddles (maybe)

 

I will probably stick mostly to Imperial Forces (Battle Sisters, Space Marines, Ogryn, etc.) & animals, so anything pertaining to those would probably help the most, but any help is appreciated.

[tychobi]

Drill bits that match your magnets are really helpful for the fiddly little magnets. To be frank arms and such are a pain. A small dab o super glue is very easy to break, doesn't run the risk of sag and dodges all the fiddly magnet application.  Magnet Baron offers kits with bits and applicators and step by step instructions, me get be worth checking out. 

[Grotsmasha]

You will need a pin vice drill, and matching drill bits for your magnet diameter. N52 magnets are what you're looking for. Depth of magnets also add extra strength. So if you don't have much diameter to play with, a longer magnet can help.

For Infantry, 2mm(roundx1mm(depth) is plenty strong enough for wrists, shoulders you'll want to bump up to 3mmx2mm.

Once you get to dreadnaughts and tanks youshould look at 5mmx2mm.

[Firedrake Cordova]

For fiddly little bits like heads I'd also consider the "old-fashioned" method of pinning (it may be easier than finding a sufficiently small magnet, etc).

[Grotsmasha]

Additionally, when magnetising, do a shoulder, then every arm that will attach there. When putting the magnets in the arms, to guarantee correct polarisation, place the magnet on the shoulder and push the arm into it.

Then when doing subsequent squads, use an exiting model to  ensure correct polarisation between squads.

[Heraclite]

For primaris arms I used 2mm x 1mm magnets and they work just fine. It seems they're actually 3mm x 1.25mm

 

I also bought some salvage assault squads just for the jump packs. I magnetized the back packs of my assault intercessors and the jump packs with the same 3mm magnets and they hold, though you have to avoid grabbing them by the jump pack as the bond is just strong enough for it to stick but isn't rock hard. I'll try to post some pics later.

 

As for the tools, a pin vice with drill bits that matches the diameter of your magnets goes a long way as has already been pointed out. 

 

For handling and gluing the magnets in place a wooden coffee stirrer with a tiny amount of blue tack helps with not getting glue on your fingers, plus you Can use it horizontally to make it flush with the hole you drilled in case it went in at a slight angle.

Edited December 11 by Heraclite
true size of magnets + typos

[Heraclite]

Here are the promised pics :

 

magnet placement :

end result :

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Looks like a great result!  

[Kaede45]

On 12/6/2024 at 11:59 PM, Firedrake Cordova said:

For fiddly little bits like heads I'd also consider the "old-fashioned" method of pinning (it may be easier than finding a sufficiently small magnet, etc).

 

I’ve never heard of this “old-fashioned” method. Could you please elaborate for me?

[Firedrake Cordova]

The super-short version is you drill a hole into each side of the join, and put a piece of rod into the hole.

 

Vince Venturella has a good video on it: