mag switch

Re: mag switch

All magnetic bases have a twist knob to rotate permanent magnets to change the magnetic flux. Nothing magic, and nothing to "wear out" There are videos on YouTube if you want to see it work.

Re: mag switch

Funny! I guess in the world of airplane flying  "mag switch " has its own meaning.

Thought was motor starter magnetic switch

Re: mag switch

Eliot.....I believe this is what you're asking about......I don't think it matters; but, I always turn the magnets off when I store it so that other metal based things in that drawer aren't being drawn to the magnets......

Re: What is that, and what is it used for?

Peter.....that there is a genuine, modern magnetic marvel !!.....yes sir.....it's a marriage of an old world idea and the new, space-age technology wonders of the 21st century!!......and it's American made!!.....right here in the good-ole US of A (mostly by legal residents as far as we know)......it's a feather board!!.......with strong magnets under those black looking knobs......but, the thing is......those magnets can be turned on and off by those knobs!!.......yes sir......on and off......you can move that feather board around on any metal surface were you might want to use it and then just engage those powerful magnets......and wella......it stays in place!!

You'd probably know more about this if you'd spend less time and money on those questionable dating sites.......

Re: What is that, and what is it used for?

Roger beat me to it but I am not sure he was clear.  A feather board is used to press your work piece against a fence.  You place it slightly closer to the fence than the thickness of material and the fingers or feathers bend slightly and provide the pressure.  It can also reduce the chance of a kick back.  In the past these were clamped to the tool or had a bar that slid in the miter slot on the saw table and locked into that.  They also need to be reversible so they can be either left handed or right handed depending on which way the stock is moving.  As Roger pointed out the switchable magnet is and interesting variation.

Re: mag switch

The instructions that come with the product say DO NOT turn it to ON position unless it is on a ferrous/metal surface.

mag switch, I wonder what the profit margin is on that thing?

At $62 for the one you showed, it should be pretty good. I'd like to see the other side, and wonder how it actually works. Is it one or two strong magnets that the power of the screw lifts it away. And if extraneous metal filings do get stuck on the bottom, I'll bet that would greatly interfere with it's holding power, and be a royal pain to tear off of rare earth magnets. 

Re: mag switch, I wonder what the profit margin is on that thing?

Keith......I don't know what the profit margin is on their products.......I'm sure they are doing well......but, as yet no Chinese knockoffs as far as I know.

My limited understanding of the mechanism is that there are two magnets inside each devise and when you turn the knob, those magnets are adjusted in the off position to cancel each other out......and in the on position they are aligned to compliment each other and produce a very strong combined magnetic field.

I just tested them for my reply to your question and I found that in the off position there is still a very weak residual magnetic attraction which is capable of holding a steel washer in place......however, that attraction is very weak and that washer was removed easily.

The idea for this product (as I understand it) originates in the metal working world where welders use these types of magnetic devises to hold their work in position while they tack weld the parts.......there certainly would be a lot of metal shavings in such an environment; but, welders do not seem to have any problem with removing metal shavings from these magnets. I see no problem in this regard either.

Look around your shop.......you may already be using similar technology as I am in the base of my work light......which uses magnets that turn on and off......

Re: What is that, and what is it used for?

Just in case there are some reading who take you literally , the "metal" in this case needs to be iron or a steel that a magnet will stick to. So, they do not work on Shopsmith TS tables (aluminum) or on the ways of a Robust lathe. Robust chose to use austenitic stainless steel for their ways and magnetic accessories do not stick.