Magnetic Track Debris Pickup

Very good idea.  Gotta look for the right car.

Thanks John

From experience you need one with plastic wheels and no significant metal in the trucks.  This one was perfect, the only steel is in the axles.  Even so, they rotate a bit stiffer than normal, simply because of the pull of the magnet. 

If you lay this magnet flat on a steel surface, it's almost impossible to get it off again!  I stuck one to my workbench legs, and it was a real fight to remove it!

John, I need to build one of these. How do you release the metal you pick up? Thanks for the motivation!

I made a similar car from a junk postwar flat car, and glued a rather large speaker magnet to the modified bottom. Works!

hokie71 posted:

John, I need to build one of these. How do you release the metal you pick up? Thanks for the motivation!

Simple as pie, just take the fake coal load off and lift the magnet, all the stuff falls off!   That's why I like the REALLY powerful magnet, it can be farther from the item and still pick it up.  The magnet will pick up a screw or nut from several inches away.

DUH, I assumed it was glued there!  Thanks 

Not glued for that very reason, it would be a PITA to pry the stuff off if I couldn't remove the magnet.

For anyone thinking of getting smaller magnets than GRJ recommends (1x2x1/2), I tried a 1/2 x 2 x 1/4 that I had around the work bench and this did not quite have the reach for use on traditional track- it is along way from the bottom of the car to the table top under the track, where metal may be lurking.   

One thing I did discover: even one of my smaller magnets likes the metal side of the 364 log loader   very much!  As the car passed the 364, The magnet flew like a rocket out of the gondola car it was resting in for the test I was running to find small nails seeded around the track.  What a PITA to remove! 

My "recommendation" was really based on the fact that I had a few of these kicking around.

Better than the ones I had kicking around it appears!

How do you keep the magnet from sticking to tubular track?

I have not built mine yet but that is why GRJ has the magnet separated by the bottom of the car from the track.  On my test the magnet sat on the bottom of one of the old postwar plastic gondolas with plastic trucks.   the magnet  does exert some attractive pressure on the car toward the rail.  trick is to be sure you can pick up the metal but not bog down on the rails.  There was at least one thread several months ago where forumites shared designs on these cars but for some reason my searches do not find it.  

gftiv posted:

How do you keep the magnet from sticking to tubular track?

Look at the pictures in the first post.

Funny - this magnetic debris problem wasn't common when we all used Magnetraction....I had a Warhorse J that kept "finding" things, then bringing them home to me.

Just kidding (mostly); good idea.

D500 posted:

I had a Warhorse J that kept "finding" things, then bringing them home to me.

Something that I'm trying to avoid!   Usually, when the locomotive picks up the stuff, bad things frequently happen.

hokie71 posted:

I have not built mine yet but that is why GRJ has the magnet separated by the bottom of the car from the track.  On my test the magnet sat on the bottom of one of the old postwar plastic gondolas with plastic trucks.   the magnet  does exert some attractive pressure on the car toward the rail.  trick is to be sure you can pick up the metal but not bog down on the rails.  There was at least one thread several months ago where forumites shared designs on these cars but for some reason my searches do not find it.  

Think of the high SPEEDS one could obtain if they used a magnet in every car!!! 

Great idea for the next Lionel or MTH catalogs.... a car which picks up metal debris and also does the "maglev" thingy.  We could get rid of those pesky transformers!  I love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x8Vf8UtElQ  

GRJ, you are an inexhaustible source of information regarding sources for unique components.  Where does one find these magnets?

Somewhere I have a wooden drop-center flat car I made decades ago to hold a camera.  Now to find it.

So as not to violate any copyright laws, I'll post a link rather than copy the text.  Danger warnings for these magnets.  https://totalelement.com/pages...gnets-safety-warning

There are the ones I have, but I bought them for a fraction of this price.

https://www.kjmagnetics.com/pr....asp?prod=BY0X08-N52

I concur with the previous warning.  When I bought them a number of years ago, I got eight of them.  They were shipped as pictured in the insert with padding between them.  You need to unpack them VERY CAREFULLY.

I was out at my brother's place on Oregon a few years ago and he had some similar magnets.  Two got loose and shot across the bench and joined forces.  They shattered into many pieces with very sharp stuff shooting out in every direction.  I just had to pick one shard out of my hand, since he was closer, he had several divots in his hand and arm.

I use a Lionel Boxcar with a flat metal bottom. Place 2 magnets on the bottom of the boxcar.

These magnets are available at an Ace Hardware Store. I use Great Lake Ace Hardware in Commerce Twp., Michigan. I place this boxcar behind my North East Track Cleaning car and it does pick up junk from the track. I use a LionChief Plus, Diesel locomotive. FT • A-B-A, all these locos have power.

Side view 

Bottom view 

Hope this helps: Gary

I used an MPC gondola car and a magnet from a local hardware store. When I first built my layout, this picked up all kinds of "fuzzies". As for cleaning, I put a little piece of clear packing tape on the magnet. That seems to have little of no effect on the magnet. Peel the tape off and the metal drops off with it.

I concur that Lionel or MTH are missing the boat if they don't off one. It also picks up the assorted screw or detail part that may fall off while operating. My magnet straddles the center rail.

I suspect if one uses magnets of the type GRJ does, it would be virtually impossible to remove the steel dust from them.  Putting them inside the car sounds like a great idea.

GRJ, how far apart were they on your brother's workbench.

RJR posted:

I suspect if one uses magnets of the type GRJ does, it would be virtually impossible to remove the steel dust from them.  Putting them inside the car sounds like a great idea.

GRJ, how far apart were they on your brother's workbench.

Hi RJR: Who has them on the inside of the car? I see them on the outside of the car. Do you have an example of inside the car?

Lost at the station: Gary

trainroomgary posted:

RJR posted:

I suspect if one uses magnets of the type GRJ does, it would be virtually impossible to remove the steel dust from them.  Putting them inside the car sounds like a great idea.

GRJ, how far apart were they on your brother's workbench.

Hi RJR: Who has them on the inside of the car? I see them on the outside of the car. Do you have an example of inside the car?

Lost at the station: Gary

I can't for the life of me figure out why nobody is looking at the three very straightforward pics in the top/first post:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

...

Just drop the magnet in the car, connect it up and take it a couple laps around the layout.

This is the car I started with, only because I happened across it.  I used the same one for a tender on my K-Line Porter to haul it's electronics around for the command upgrade.

Gary, GRJ's picture and description make clear that he puts the magnet on the inside of the car's plastic floor.  So when he holds the car over the trash can, and removes the magnet from the inside, the metals falls off.  Since he uses a plastic car, it could also be washed.  Believe me, removing slivers from a magnet can lead to some mean finger splinters.

ADCX Rob posted:

trainroomgary posted:

RJR posted:

I suspect if one uses magnets of the type GRJ does, it would be virtually impossible to remove the steel dust from them.  Putting them inside the car sounds like a great idea.

GRJ, how far apart were they on your brother's workbench.

Hi RJR: Who has them on the inside of the car? I see them on the outside of the car. Do you have an example of inside the car?

 

Lost at the station: Gary

I can't for the life of me figure out why nobody is looking at the three very straightforward pics in the top/first post:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

...

Just drop the magnet in the car, connect it up and take it a couple laps around the layout.

This is the car I started with, only because I happened across it.  I used the same one for a tender on my K-Line Porter to haul it's electronics around for the command upgrade.

 

 

Thanks: Got it.....

Gary

I kinda like the thought of having trouble lifting the engine; traction . 

Hhhm...NMRA scale weight ? 😲

Could it be run upside-down like some of Dale M.s ?  🙃 

I have a couple (weak) barrels somewhere.

I have a block of regular magnet and use it by hand. The tracks aren't inaccessible. I like to drag things towards the outside edges of the ties first.

I always just used some kind of tape to "vacuum" metal from magnets.

You can also use tape as a removable protective "catch layer" by putting tape over one before you sweep. After, wrap more tape over splinters to capture them, then cut and peel away the tape like an onion skin.

RJR posted:

Gary, GRJ's picture and description make clear that he puts the magnet on the inside of the car's plastic floor.  So when he holds the car over the trash can, and removes the magnet from the inside, the metals falls off.  Since he uses a plastic car, it could also be washed.  Believe me, removing slivers from a magnet can lead to some mean finger splinters.

In lieu of tweezers, rare-earth (neodymium) magnets work pretty good for removing metal splinters from your hands and fingers.  Using any old tape to remove splinters from rare-earth magnets, not so good.  Make sure it is VERY sticky tape if you want any chance at all of some results.

Common ceramic or alnico magnets are probably best for general O-gauge ferrous scrap pick up (like Train Room Gary and Gilly show).  Far less dangerous in my opinion.  If you never thought that simple little magnets could be dangerous, you haven't experienced rare-earth (neodymium) magnets! 

Paul, using neodymium magnets vice tweezers is a great idea.  Who'd have thought that magnets could be dangerous?? I'm awaiting GRJ's reply on how far apart the magnets were on the workbench.

I think they were about 4-5 inches, I didn't see the start of the incident, only heard the loud snap as they joined and self-destructed!  Let's say my brother was suitably impressed with the carnage. I also know a guy that had his finger broken when he had similar magnets, obviously from less than careful handling as well.

I have slid mine off a metal toolbox and had them get together (without the carnage) once, and I had to use a vice and a large pair of pump pliers to get them apart.  One of them did get a big chip in the end, but I still use it, it's on my toolbox to magnetize tools. The ones I have are the 100# variety, not to be trifled with.

I use a VCR tape eraser to demagnetize tools if necessary, so I have both ends covered.

If you like big neodymium magnets, check out some of this guy's videos on YouTube. The bigger ones are insanely dangerous, but fun to watch when handled by someone else! 

Jim

At the conclusion, the narrator reports he got a reading of 1 Tesla.  FYI, current generation MRI units get up to 3 T, and have been known to pull a fire extinguisher off the wall, severely injuring a patient.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think they were about 4-5 inches, I didn't see the start of the incident, only heard the loud snap as they joined and self-destructed!  Let's say my brother was suitably impressed with the carnage. I also know a guy that had his finger broken when he had similar magnets, obviously from less than careful handling as well.

I have slid mine off a metal toolbox and had them get together (without the carnage) once, and I had to use a vice and a large pair of pump pliers to get them apart.  One of them did get a big chip in the end, but I still use it, it's on my toolbox to magnetize tools. The ones I have are the 100# variety, not to be trifled with.

I use a VCR tape eraser to demagnetize tools if necessary, so I have both ends covered.

One neodymium magnet on-line supplier that I purchased magnets from a decade or more ago had some strong warnings on their website about the potential dangers of these magnets.  One such story they offered was about a guy who, after playing around with a couple of sizable magnets, placed them in his loose-fitting gym short pockets (one magnet in each pocket) to keep them apart from each other.

And yes, if you haven't guessed it yet, after the guy got out of the hospital a month or so later, he was no longer able to father any children. 

I think any site that sells the larger magnets has a lot of warnings about handling them, and it's for good reason.  When just looking at them, you wouldn't think they could pose such a danger, just a smooth little chunk of metal, right?  It just has very bad manners when it's around ferrous metals or another magnet.

Great post GRJ and great preventative maintenance. It's amazing how when just a small piece of metal collected by a train's speaker distorts the sound. With regular use, no more speaker buzz issues.

Worse is when a small piece of metal pierces the speaker cone and shorts the speaker coil to the frame and takes out your $200 PS/2 or PS/3 board!