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I had an interesting idea, wanted to know if anyone had tried it:

We all know the "trick" of magnetizing arms and torso to allow weapons swaps

What I am thinking, and wondering if anyone has tried, was to put magnets in the torso then super gluing some iron filings on the arm, so that you don't need to worry about polarity and drill as deep

My idea is to use steel micro screws. I don't think you'll get much 'grip' with just iron filings but interesting idea none the less.

Thought of that too...

For small/light bits I've used nail heads I clipped off.

Yes, pieces of nails or similar steel pieces would work, but I think you will be halving the strength of the joint.

I have used 1/8" steel welding rod in the place the stems of my BFG ship bases and put magnets in the ships. The magnets are slightly recessed, so the stem fits into the hole before connecting with the magnet. Horizontal joints like arms are tougher though.

T

timd wrote:
Yes, pieces of nails or similar steel pieces would work, but I think you will be halving the strength of the joint.

I have used 1/8" steel welding rod in the place the stems of my BFG ship bases and put magnets in the ships. The magnets are slightly recessed, so the stem fits into the hole before connecting with the magnet. Horizontal joints like arms are tougher though.

T

I like that idea. How do you cut the rod though? I've tried cutting brass rod with my clippers before now & they end up damaged. Steel is harder than that, isn't it?

JmOz01 wrote:
I had an interesting idea, wanted to know if anyone had tried it:

We all know the "trick" of magnetizing arms and torso to allow weapons swaps

What I am thinking, and wondering if anyone has tried, was to put magnets in the torso then super gluing some iron filings on the arm, so that you don't need to worry about polarity and drill as deep

Doesn't work. Although the magnets are really strong, it loses most of its attraction even at 2mm of distance - and this is for magnet-to-magnet attraction. And the amount of magnets that needs to be "put inside" will be much greater than if you were to magnetize the individual joints.

And plus, the "snap" from the magnets meeting is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo satifying

 skchsan wrote:

JmOz01 wrote:
I had an interesting idea, wanted to know if anyone had tried it:

We all know the "trick" of magnetizing arms and torso to allow weapons swaps

What I am thinking, and wondering if anyone has tried, was to put magnets in the torso then super gluing some iron filings on the arm, so that you don't need to worry about polarity and drill as deep

Doesn't work. Although the magnets are really strong, it loses most of its attraction even at 2mm of distance - and this is for magnet-to-magnet attraction. And the amount of magnets that needs to be "put inside" will be much greater than if you were to magnetize the individual joints.

And plus, the "snap" from the magnets meeting is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo satifying

I think you misunderstand (I may be wrong)...

The idea is two magnets at the shoulders (one each), not one magnet in the center

Then iron fillings on the arm (where it will basically touch the magnets)

 bubber wrote:

timd wrote:
Yes, pieces of nails or similar steel pieces would work, but I think you will be halving the strength of the joint.

I have used 1/8" steel welding rod in the place the stems of my BFG ship bases and put magnets in the ships. The magnets are slightly recessed, so the stem fits into the hole before connecting with the magnet. Horizontal joints like arms are tougher though.

T

I like that idea. How do you cut the rod though? I've tried cutting brass rod with my clippers before now & they end up damaged. Steel is harder than that, isn't it?

Yes, steel is harder than brass. Cut with a cheap grinder from Harbor Freight with the rod held in a vise (and eye protection). A hacksaw will also work.
Find a 20% off coupon for one of these:
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-69645.html

T

timd wrote:
Yes, pieces of nails or similar steel pieces would work, but I think you will be halving the strength of the joint.

Nope. A magnet imparts a magnetic field on the steel, so magnet to steel is pretty close to the same strength as magnet to magnet. The only exception is if the steel has poor magnetic properties or if you space them apart (if there's a gap the magnet can't do as well imparting a magnetic field so it won't be as strong as 2 magnets with the same gap).

Whether iron filings would work, dunno, never tried it, maybe, depends whether they can still set up a strong magnetic field, they might not because small gaps between the filings might prevent a nice strong field from forming.