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I have some models that have options for weapons and looks that i would love to be able to alternate instead of just picking one and glueing it into th model.

I keep hearing about magnetizing them but ive never seen them and when i look up videos theres no HOW TO kind of videos that i could find.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

i love your name

maggot for life!

I get my magnets from online, mostly ebay. You just drill a hole big enough for the magnet to fit in, and glue the magnet in. if the other side of the hole is empty, then fill it with some putty. Make sure the magnets have the correct facings pointing outwards, less you want your models arm to reject the joint.

Go to youtube and search for this:

How to magnetize warhammer 40k

There's tons of how to videos.

some good tutorials were posted by miniwargaming for magnetizing, good part is that they also sell magnets on their website. Don't know where else to refer you to


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also, use the dakkadakka article search/ forum search function. guaranteed you might find someone that took a bit more effort in answering your question than we did.

Then again, you may also want to consider perma-tizing your model. I designed some stuff to be interchangeable, and while it is always awesome in theory, I seldom find myself deviating from my core build

Isn't there some hard ass on dakka that sells magnets and plans?

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ZD4

N35, 3mm x 1.5mm
100 for $3.00

I got 500 with s/h for less than $20. Don't ebay them, you're getting ripped off.

I use them on space marine arms. Sometimes I don't want that Sgt to have a power sword...

I sink the magnets into the torso by drilling it out until the magnet can sit flush with the arm area.
In the shoulder I drill out using the same process. Make sure the holes align. The magnets will align up perfectly, even if you don't want them to.

In the arm I make sure the magnet is aligned properly by putting it next to the torso one, with my xacto knife inbetween.
I then add glue to the arm hole I drilled out for the magnet. Put the arm onto the magnet. I use the hobby knife to hold the magnet in while I move the arm away from torso.
I then carefully slide the knife away and hold in place with a piece of plasticard.
Once the glue dries the N35 strength is enough to hold a Metal SM arm in any posed position.
If you're thinking large model I would look at a bigger magnet or stronger one.
Make sure you don't have magnets glued into place that polarize from each other, that's bad...

what do you use to drill into the models, my dads one of those MR. fix it guys and i help him so when you say drill, im thinking POWER DRILL O_O

A power drill might work. But, he probably means a manual drill. GW has one. GF9 has one. They're small little things. Or least that's what I've always used. And by always used I mean I bought one in the hopes one day I will use it.

lol ok good, when i heard "drill" i was imagining a SM spinning around attached to the drill head XD

I use a pin vice to start the drilling. I use this as a guide.

I think the 3mm is 1/16. I use a .58 cent bit from the local hardware store that has a longer/thicker shaft for my power drill that I just hand twist for plastic models. Would it help if I took photos of the whole process?

Ardor wrote:I use a pin vice to start the drilling. I use this as a guide.

I think the 3mm is 1/16. I use a .58 cent bit from the local hardware store that has a longer/thicker shaft for my power drill that I just hand twist for plastic models. Would it help if I took photos of the whole process?

It would be greatly appreciated, im one of those learn by seeing types, thts why i went straight to youtube but didnt find anything besides the ways you can use them, like if i dont want this guy, i pop it off and pop this on kind of things.

Bloodquest here on Dakka has a magnet business.. sells starter sets for about $12..

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/352890.page

Also, I just magnetized an Ork Deff Dread and drilled my holes with my trusty DeWalt power drill.. just need to be careful!

Thanks for creating this thread. I had been curious as to the process of magnetizing minis.

alright I will dig out my camera/cord and hopefully get you some shots tomorrow.

Got this Ryobi 9.6v Rechargeable handheld today for the exact purpose of drilling to place magnets in Crisis Suits. I used it today to pin arms on Flamers, which are thin, and it worked great. The chuck closes down to nothing, so it can hold the tinyest of bits. 30 bucks at Home Depot.
I got my magnets from Amazing Magnets.

I sell Magnetizing Starter Kits, magnets "a la carte", and an expanding range of kits for magnetizing specific units. I cater purely to 40K, just because that's what I'm into myself.

There are some videos on my site, but they're mostly to illustrate the "features and benefits" of the kits.

However, there are links to step-by-step instructions (with plenty of photographs and illustrations) for each of the kits on the appropriate page.

Your sig lists Space Wolves - take a look at the instructions for some of the space marine kits, even if it's just for ideas.

Most of my magnets come from K&J and Amazing, but I pass on to you guys much of the savings from the fact that I'm purchasing thousands at a time.

My site is http://www.themanufactorum.com/

But then again, you might not want to deal with a "hard ass"...

Blood! I meant it in the best way. Your avatar looks so mean I just figured that was how you looked IRL.

For instance, my hair is long and dangling and permed like my avatar.

You wouldn't know it, but I've purchased magnets from you.

Alright that was a bold face lie -- but I had planned on it. And I've suggested you to my pal.

Ah! I wasn't sure -- I've also heard it used to describe someone who's obsessive (which I am) and humourless (which I'm not).

I mean, I know a lot of people don't get my sense of humour, but that's different to not having one!

I mean, I'm not German... *ducks*