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Hey guys I went and got my citadel drill today (not a lot of options to purchase something I know will work in my area) and I had 3 questions.How hard is it to magnetize metal minis and then how do I know what size magents I'm going to need and where is the best place to purchase them? I'm going to need ALOT probably in the ballpark or 200 or so and I wanted to make sure I could get enough and how difficult it is to magnetize a metal mini! -thanks!

Making holes big enough for magnets on metal models will be a tremendous pain in the ass unless you happen to have a vice and power drill with the correct size bit. Doing it with a pin vice will take forever and may not even work.

That being said, iirc 3/16" diameter is the size you want, as thin as possible.

hmm, so putting them on the metal models isn't worth it...ok that's not a big deal lol I guess I need to start lookign for websites that have the 3/16" that sell in bulk lol

Well the thing of it is, you have to hollow out the 3/16" hole yourself unless you have a vice and power drill with that bit, doing it with a hand drill won't work. On plastic it's easy enough but metal is just too hard. Alternately, you could use a Dremel with an engraving tip to bore out the holes which is what I do, though I haven't tried it on metal.

Let me ask you this have you ever used the GW drill? I'm going to order the magnets from the site that everyone on dakka has said to use but I have NO idea which ones I'm looking for I know thinner is better but I can't tell for the life of me which one would be the best =[ I'm doing grey knights and I need to make my strikes purifiers and interceptors interchangable so if it helps I have space marines I need magnetized =[

http://www.themanufactorum.com/dakka/

Purchased magnets from this site to magnetize arms for some termies after purchasing magnets from a different retailer. I will definitely buy more from the manufactorum in the future.

I know that there are kits available to magnetize backpacks, so it shouldn't be much of a stretch to say you can use the same kit for your GKs (the kits are for assault marines). Of course, you can always buy the magnets by themselves in (usually) units between 10 to 100.

I haven't used the new GW drill but I have the old one. I now use a Tamiya Handi Drill for all my pinning and what not as a dremel is often overkill.

3/16" diameter are my go-to magnets - I find them to be a good balance between strength and ease of placement. Anything too heavy for them usually also has a large enough joint that I can compensate with a second magnet or, if torsion is the issue, a pin. I recommend checking out K&J, especially if you're looking to buy in bulk. Their prices and shipping vary from reasonable to unbelievably awesome, depending on how much you're buying and whether you luck out and find something useful on their overstock/clearance page.

As far as drilling is concerned, I've heard lots of people recommend the Tamiya Handy Drill. Then again, I've also heard lots of people recommend a Dremel, so I take it with a grain of salt. Personally, I just stick with the good old pin vice. Maybe I'm just a tough-as-nails drilling machine of a man with an opinion as abrasive as his beard, but white metal miniatures are soft as butter compared to aluminum, let alone mild steel - with a good drill bit, you shouldn't have any trouble (in a pinch, I've drilled through 3/16" aluminum with a bit held between my fingertips - not comfortable, but if my spidery fingered girly-hands can handle that, a child should be able to drill a white metal model). I guess I should give the naysayers the benefit of the doubt, at least, and assume they're incredibly impatient, not merely a bunch of lady-boys.

Besides, unless you have a fancy, adjustable-tilt machinist's vice and a drill press, you won't get nearly the same degree of control using a power tool. If you're having trouble, you can always drill in stages - increasing bit size step by step will take longer, but it's much easier on both your hands and the material (it's easier to get purchase with a narrower bit, then subsequent passes are merely shaving material away to enlarge the hole, not burrowing into it).

Poofish wrote:http://www.themanufactorum.com/dakka/

Purchased magnets from this site to magnetize arms for some termies after purchasing magnets from a different retailer. I will definitely buy more from the manufactorum in the future.

BEWARE!

This guy is in fact awesome, but there were some supply issues as of last month, and he's been spotty on the boards for about 6 months. Not sure where people are with orders at this point, but definately do a search for manufactorum before you send any money, just to be safe.

UPDATE: His last logon was Sept. 28. Here are the relevent threads:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/391202.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/400251.page

oadie wrote:3/16" diameter are my go-to magnets - I find them to be a good balance between strength and ease of placement. Anything too heavy for them usually also has a large enough joint that I can compensate with a second magnet or, if torsion is the issue, a pin. I recommend checking out K&J, especially if you're looking to buy in bulk. Their prices and shipping vary from reasonable to unbelievably awesome, depending on how much you're buying and whether you luck out and find something useful on their overstock/clearance page.

As far as drilling is concerned, I've heard lots of people recommend the Tamiya Handy Drill. Then again, I've also heard lots of people recommend a Dremel, so I take it with a grain of salt. Personally, I just stick with the good old pin vice. Maybe I'm just a tough-as-nails drilling machine of a man with an opinion as abrasive as his beard, but white metal miniatures are soft as butter compared to aluminum, let alone mild steel - with a good drill bit, you shouldn't have any trouble (in a pinch, I've drilled through 3/16" aluminum with a bit held between my fingertips - not comfortable, but if my spidery fingered girly-hands can handle that, a child should be able to drill a white metal model). I guess I should give the naysayers the benefit of the doubt, at least, and assume they're incredibly impatient, not merely a bunch of lady-boys.

Besides, unless you have a fancy, adjustable-tilt machinist's vice and a drill press, you won't get nearly the same degree of control using a power tool. If you're having trouble, you can always drill in stages - increasing bit size step by step will take longer, but it's much easier on both your hands and the material (it's easier to get purchase with a narrower bit, then subsequent passes are merely shaving material away to enlarge the hole, not burrowing into it).

I was going to buy the magnets in bulk but I didn't know if I needed the discs or what actual type and they have 3/16 and some other measurements following that of like 4 different type and I didn't know exactly which magnet to use. My metal models are the gk terminators and it's not a HUGE issue if I can't magnetize do to the sheer variety of models I have. But, I wanted to knwo which type everyone felt was the best like 3/16 in a disc or oval or whatever I'm not even sure which ones there are atm but I hope I have given you guys at least an idea of where I am. And I'm not sure...but I think the GW drill only came in one size but I couldn't see a massive difference or even a slight difference in any of the bits =[

http://www.miniwargaming.com/magnet-guide

That's as good a SIZE guide as any.

If it's the same drill I have they're all the same size (6 of them in the handle), and the size is about 5/32. I have a small Drill bit case with sizes in 1/32 increments up to 1/2" I use as well, Getting the larger bits into the GW drill is fun, but doable. Again, if it's the same as mine you can take the tip completely off, and there's a slightly larger chuck on the reverse.

For metal dudes with metal packs, like the BA apothacary I used a D21 from K&J and two D31 on the base to hold him to steel sheet in the carrying case.

And Dremel to drill.

Bounty wrote:http://www.miniwargaming.com/magnet-guide

That's as good a SIZE guide as any.

If it's the same drill I have they're all the same size (6 of them in the handle), and the size is about 5/32. I have a small Drill bit case with sizes in 1/32 increments up to 1/2" I use as well, Getting the larger bits into the GW drill is fun, but doable. Again, if it's the same as mine you can take the tip completely off, and there's a slightly larger chuck on the reverse.

Now that I have the size does it matter what shape? Just a disc or...I'm not totally sure XD

Gharron wrote:Now that I have the size does it matter what shape? Just a disc or...I'm not totally sure XD

Not exactly. What you need to pay attention to is Direction of Polarity. I'll get you a link for this. http://www.kjmagnetics.com/magdir.asp The end point though is that round magnets are almost always Flat side is the 'sticky' side. Cube magnets that's harder to tell, and because the shape determines pull, you can sometimes get stronger rounds in smaller widths.

Also, drills make round holes, so fitting is easier.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1095460
That's what I bought yesterday and according to miniwargaming the sie I need is the first thing k&j sells XD of course...but yeah if you guys know that the drill I bought will work with those magnets and my marines I'll order some asap. Is there a guide or article someone started that shows how to magnetize? Do I just drill the hole apply glue insert magnet - profit?

That guy I warned you about buying from? He's got the Tutorials, not the best ever IMNSHO, but more than sufficent to help someone who knows which end of the drill to hold to add magnets.

This one is Tau Specific, but the rules remain the same
http://www.themanufactorum.com/kits/tau/crisis/assembly.htm

To find the tutorials, go into the KITS section, click on a kit, and there's a link to his instructions for that kit.

Is that GW drill going to be sufficient do you think?

For plastic no doubt it would work, you'd need a larger bit, but that is the one I use, and I make short work of all kinds of holes with mine.

For metal I can't say 100% that it'll work, as I haven't drilled metal myself, but I've managed to score metal models with my thumbnail, so I can't imagine it'll be to difficult. It's not like you need more than a 1/16" hole anyways.

you will however need a new drill bit of the same size as the magnets you ordered. Any drill bit of that size should work, and any hardware store should carry them.

I hope ace does lol so I just need to write down the 1/16x1/32 and find that bit and I should be good to go?

If you're going with the 1/16" x1/32" magnet, you need a 1/16" drill bit. Quick web search shows the ACE brand bit is retailing for $2.99

lol I think I can afford that! So I only need to order the disc 1/16x1/32 magnets get that bit follow the instructions and I should be good yead?