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I know where to buy em, but I am total garbage about picking size properly. I need magnets for space marine bodies, as well as for Tyranid MC arms. Can I use the same size? What works best for you all? Help me out, please and thanks

Also....Magnets how do they work

Space Marine bodies I think can take 2x1mm magnets.
But for anything but HQ's it usually isn't worth the bother.

I don't have any MC's, but I'd wager that 2mm are too small for that. I'd guess dreadnought sized (6x1mm)or something similar would work, depending on the MC.

And.. uh... physics/magic?

1. As big as you can countersink in the pieces.

2. Magnets are pieces of ferromagnetic metals that emit a magnetic field. They're generally magnetized in a specific axis, with one side "negative" and the other side "positive". For a disc magnet that's above and below, for cubic or spheric magnets it's one of the possible vertical lines in general. The magnetic field's force is proportional to the inverse of the distance squared, which means that you'll get a much stronger bond if both magnets sit flush, and much weaker if they're kept a small distance apart.

Magnets are created from ferromagnetic metals (metals of which the atoms are not neutral from a magnetic standpoint), which are in general well balanced overall as all atoms are in random directions and the overall piece of metal is neutral from a magnetic standpoint. Then you melt (or heat +hammer) that material, and let it cool while submitting it to an intense magnetic field, orientating all of the atoms along the magnetic field, which will in turn produce a magnetic field when the cooled piece of metal is on its own. You can also lightly magnetize any ferromagnetic metal by leaving it under the influence of a magnet for a while, like your magnets tend to make your exact-o blade or screwdriver magnetized over time. That happens because some of the atoms still find a way to change their orientation even though the iron or other metal appears to be solid.

Just want to point out that you can use magnets of different sizes together. Like a 3x1 mm in the shoulder joint and a 1x1 or 2x2 mm in the arm. Thanks to magnetic properties the stronger magnet will hold the 1x1 mm better than if you use two 1x1 mm.

I usually get assorted magnets from 1x1 to 5x2 mm since with all the varying models there will always be a point where I am glad I have that special size.

I use 2x1mm on my Eldar arms and was using them on my marines until I found that 3mm also fit. As pointed out the bigger the magnet, the better the stick.

I went a bit nuts and fully magnetised the space marine captain box. He has every option available including a spare bike. Arm sockets and wrists have 2mm magnets, his torso had a 3mm.

One thing I have learned is sometimes it is better going for a smaller magnet and making a small hole next to the magnet, so you can also include a pin. This will stop arms from swinging around etc. Instead of a 3mm magnet, use a 2mm as that's enough to get arm to stick, then make a 1mm hole and use a pin.

I've also used that technique on my wraithknight arms, but used a 6mm magnet and pins above and below the magnet

Kavik_Whitescar wrote:

Also....Magnets how do they work

Shout out to the juggalos. Woop woop.

 melkorthetonedeaf wrote:

Kavik_Whitescar wrote:

Also....Magnets how do they work

Shout out to the juggalos. Woop woop.

Im glad you got the joke, but no not even a little bit I feel dirty now and you should feel bad.

After a ton of vehicles, monsters and some HQ or heavy infantry with some infantry spliced in, my recommendation is to stock 2x1, 2x2, 3x1, 3x3, 4x1 and 4x4 magnets. I keep 5x5 and 6x6 around as well and have 5x3 (perfect for the clearance under the bigger bases) and 6x2 as well.

Top tip for picking the right size to use and checking the depth of the drilled hole is very simple: get a sliding calliper at the home improvement store.

Kavik_Whitescar wrote:

 melkorthetonedeaf wrote:

Kavik_Whitescar wrote:

Also....Magnets how do they work

Shout out to the juggalos. Woop woop.

Im glad you got the joke, but no not even a little bit I feel dirty now and you should feel bad.

Can I feel dirty as well? Also, I like the packs that have magnets with a drill bit included. It takes the guesswork and some of the measuring out of it.