Magnets to hold on a replica pin/badge

Cristar Attevan

Cristar Attevan

Member
Hey, guys... I was wondering if any of you had some advice on what kind of magnets to use for holding a pin on an article of clothing. Specifically, I have the set of QMx Star Trek XI badges from the Best Buy Blu-ray set, and I've clipped off the pin backs and filed the backs flat, so I can attach magnets to hold the badges on, instead of puncturing whatever article of clothing on which I want to wear them. I know magnets are used in this way sometimes, so I figured you guys might know the best kind to use. Also, the pins are pretty small (relatively screen-accurate, if I'm not mistaken), so the magnets have to be small or at least able to be cut to fit well. I really appreciate any help! Grazie!
 
Any time I need strong magnets, I rip apart a dead hard drive, Dremel the magnets inside to size, and epoxy them into place.
If you do so, be VERY careful. Those buggers are strong enough to give you a very nasty nip!
 
KJ Magnetics are great. I've dealt with them before.
The rare earth magnets are the strongest you can get and they're available in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
 
Reverend Scapegoat said:
Any time I need strong magnets, I rip apart a dead hard drive, Dremel the magnets inside to size, and epoxy them into place.
If you do so, be VERY careful. Those buggers are strong enough to give you a very nasty nip!
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I was pulling apart a drive a few weeks ago and didn't get my hand out of the way in time. I ended up with a huge blood blister on my thumb and index finger.:cry

My wife said afterwards that I invented a few new swear words to convey my feelings at the time.
 
I know what you mean. I got some 20 pound rare earth magnets with hooks on them for hanging things and pinched the daylights out my finger. Not fun but just goes to show you the power of these magnets.
 
I use rare earth magnets for helmets (the clone buckets are really not designed for human heads!) and other small stuff like magazine attachment into a sci/fi pistol etc

also known as neodymium magnets. Arent all that expensive, and can get em in all shapes & sizes . as others have said though - they are super powerful - for instance I use small rounded ones like these (4 pairs) to hold my helmet together: daimeter of each magnet is only 5 mm!!

Neodymium_iron_boron_magnet.jpg
 
Hey-- thanks for the quick responses, guys! :thumbsup I checked out the K & J site, and they have plenty that I can work with. Excellent site!

Funny thing-- I was reading the list of uses that K & J cites for their magnets, and way down at the bottom there is this entry:

Holding "Star Trek Transponders" to Costumes (no kidding)
More than one customer has used our magnets to make removable and replaceable Star Trek Transponders for use in a production.
Click to expand...

Ha! I'm sure that by "transponders," they're referring to comm badges. I knew I wasn't the only one who had thought of this! :D

Thanks again for the help!
 
+1 for rare earth.
a local woodworking store here sells them in wonderful little kits.
one side is a "cup" that holds the magnet...with a hole in the middle to screw it to whatever you want.
the other side is a flat metal disk the same size, with the same hole drilled for mounting.
I have a few 1 1/4 inch sets of these, and you REALLY have to pull hard to get them apart.

I think i only paid a buck or 2 for each full kit too.
well worth every penny.
 
another +1 on the hard drive. i'd also try headphones. i don't know how heavy the Best Buy badges are, but i made a TOS-ish badge out of Altoid tins for the remake premiere, and used a magnet from a broken earbud to secure it.
 
I just go to the toy section and get a box of Magnetics in a pinch. They are small and very strong. About 5mm in size. Cost about $10 and you get about 25-30 magnets.

P.S. Hard drive magnets are my favorite and best for activating magnetic reed switches. But you have to have a failed drive to get them.
 
aahhh, but busted earbud magnets are FREEEEE. :D
unfortunately i have a substantial supply.:unsure

yay this is my 100th post.
 
Anomaly said:
+1 for rare earth.
a local woodworking store here sells them in wonderful little kits.
one side is a "cup" that holds the magnet...with a hole in the middle to screw it to whatever you want.
the other side is a flat metal disk the same size, with the same hole drilled for mounting.
I have a few 1 1/4 inch sets of these, and you REALLY have to pull hard to get them apart.

I think i only paid a buck or 2 for each full kit too.
well worth every penny.
Click to expand...

wow!!! thats what I have been thinking of and wishing for. the little bu**ers are sometimes so strong, they pull off the glue/bondo that I have to fix em in place
 
Another source for small but powerful magnets is Radio Shack. Their part number 64-1895 is pair of 3/16" diameter magnets. I used several pairs to hold the halves of my cut-away light saber together. They are quite strong!

ATL
 
Thanks again for all the great ideas, guys! I ordered a few from K & J-- the small ones I needed to fit properly on the backs of the pins were only about 20¢ - 30¢ each! And they're nice and thin (they come in all different thicknesses, of course), so the ones I got won't bulge under the fabric or anything. Thanks again!
 
One suggestion I would recomend is to use two on the back of the pin. if you just use one, it can become a rotational point.
 
Magnets and especially these types can be hazardous. Keep them out of reach of children and dumb adults!

Why? If swallowed they can try and stick together across intestinal walls... with lethal consequences.
 
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