Cleaning shop floor with magnets - GIF

Cleaning shop floor with magnets.

<video controls autoplay loop>
<source src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hmt-forum/shopclean_magnets.mp4" type="video/mp4">
Your browser does not support the video tag.
</video>


Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...295#post121722
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...614#post104788
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...410#post122179

Nice idea,...
Now I just need to find some ferromagnetic aluminum and brass.

looks like someone had been turning cast iron

I have a magnet designed for this purpose of picking up iron swarf off the floor. The use of a plastic jug bottom is good, as removing fine material from the exposed magnet is a PITA.
I machine plastics as well non ferromagnetic materials. That coupled with a rubber mat system with holes, makes for extra fun clean up. I typically hand pick up the larger swarf, then vacuum the dust and small turnings.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Frank S

looks like someone had been turning cast iron

---

My impression is that remains of flame cutting, grinding and sanding typical in weld shops.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

My impression is that remains of flame cutting, grinding and sanding typical in weld shops.

---

Would generally have larger chunks in the sweepings for flame cutting I'll yield tot the grinding though.

Yes, chunks certainly in the pit below table and outside perimeter. I recall the oxidized dust piling in drifts everywhere else. It's like graphite, except abrasive and must be semi-spherical shape, because heavy parts slide nicely over it. Closest similar material is glass bead blast media, just as hard to sweep.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Yes, chunks certainly in the pit below table and outside perimeter. I recall the oxidized dust piling in drifts everywhere else. It's like graphite, except abrasive and must be semi-spherical shape, because heavy parts slide nicely over it. Closest similar material is glass bead blast media, just as hard to sweep.

---

But a really good Tennent vacuum will make short work of it.

When I was home gunsmithing I got one of those big retrieval magnets and hung it from paracord to swing it close to the floor. The first time I used it I found enough pins, springs, detents and fasteners to more than pay for the magnet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crusty

When I was home gunsmithing I got one of those big retrieval magnets and hung it from paracord to swing it close to the floor. The first time I used it I found enough pins, springs, detents and fasteners to more than pay for the magnet.

---

those small bits do have a way to escape don't they?

Yes.
Small parts of firearms are born with ability to shoot a long way. May be due inbreeding; or in bins before assembly, they unionize.

loaders keep ballistic reports on all of their custom loads but I sometimes think pins screws and springs may go just as far and just as fast as some hot loads the problem is the trajectory is totally unpredictable