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Hello!

I am new to the whole magnetizing thing and since i am putting together my first big vehicle that needs it (Stormtalon) I thought I would ask the great people at Dakka about them.

My biggest question is: where do you get the magnets? I live close to a Hobby Lobby, Michaels arts and crafts, Joann's sewing, Wal-Mart, Smith's, and probably a few other big-name retailers. Are there decent magnets to be had at a reasonable price there? or do I have to buy them off eBay? I'd rather just go to the store and pick them up than wait for shipping and what-not. What have you used in the past?
What do you recommend?

ebay

500 1/8" x1/16" magnets for $11.02 shipped. Less than 2.5 cents each...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/500-x-Neodymium-Disc-1-8-X-1-16-Super-Strong-Rare-Earth-Magnet-N35-D3x1-5mm-/170806449706?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c4db962a

I've purchased mine from http://www.amazingmagnets.com/
heck, they even throw in samples and other sizes...

K&J Magnetics has a HUGE line of rare earths from small round button types less than 1/16th of an inch all the way up to cubes several inches across.

If it's just for a single project, pick them up from a local craft store or your FLGS. You pay a premium, but the lack of shipping usually ends up saving you money on a per-project basis. If you think you'll use them, though, ordering online is usually much cheaper, especially in quantities large enough for bulk discounts to kick in.

In that case, I would also recommend K&J Magnetics. Their selection is massive, even just focusing on what could potentially be useful to the modeler, and their usual prices/shipping are reasonable, if not mind-blowing. If you can find something in their clearance/overstock page that fits the bill, though, you'll never get your stuff cheaper. I got 100 of my preferred size, once, bought and shipped for barely over half of the normal cost of the magnets, alone.

Awesome guys. Thanks for the help!

I looked at prices for like 2 magnets from the store and it's pretty expensive compared to just grabbing some bulk.
I'll probably find ways to use them.
Thanks for the help!

Just don't let little kids eat them. The mags will end up in different sections of their intenstines then find each other and clamp the intestine walls together.
Very expensive surgery ensues assuming the little one lives long enough.

I think that can (and should) be broadened into "Don't let anyone eat your magnets." Sound advice, although I would imagine it generally goes without saying...

One more thing, the strength of your magnets might be important. Try to get N52 Neodymium magnets. They are the most powerful and more expensive but you will only need 1 verses 2 stacked to keep some of the heaver bits in place.

Awesome thanks for the advice The_satin_one. I do like a strong magnet.

Also scary advice from dkellyj. I'll make sure I keep these out of the hands of little ones.

Casey's Games and Stuff on ebay, is the seller I get my magnets from. Have also used a couple other sellers from time to time if they are having a great deal - lotsotreasures and WishDreamComeTrue. WishDreamComeTrue is out of China I believe but I've gotten good magnets from them, and they usually large bulk, 100 to 500 magnets, but the same price as some others selling less quantity.