Magentic stand for DTI?

[PaulRParticipant @paulr]

Noobish question – I'm just tooling up my workshop after returning to the hobby and need to get a new DTI + stand. I've seen plenty of magnetic ones, but don't these magnetise whatever they're attached to and consequently make steel swarf a nuisance?

I see Chronos sell a stand with a clamp as an alternative to a magnetic version and this is what I'm thinking of getting.

[PaulRParticipant @paulr]

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Never thought of that when I bought mine. Magnetising a DTI's gearing could be bad too.

The good news is that I haven't noticed any problem with magnetisation whatever. If there is an effect it must be very small. A magnetic clamp is very convenient and I wouldn't change it now.

Dave

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I have one and use it on the cross slide and headstock of my lathe or the table of my mill. I haven't noticed any magnetisation issues.

Neil

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

It's a trade-off but magnets in the workshop IMHO are far too handy to try to banish – the upsides outweigh the downs IMHO.

I've embraced mag bases, neodimium magnets and swarf pick-ups and almost exclusively turn steel without any serious problems with residual magnetism.

HTH

Jon

[JAParticipant @ja]

I hate magnets and try to avoid them. I try not to use stands with magnetic bases. The coolant tube is now firmly fixed to the lathe cross slide (this has the added advantage in as much as it does not move when making a cut). Every so often I have a session of de-magnetising spanners, screwdrivers, allen keys, nuts and screws I am using on a model etc. However I have never had a problem with magnetised steel swarf and my DTI has never been effected. I do find a swarf pick-up stick too useful, though.

JA

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

You won't magnetise cast iron too easily. Most things need to be 'stroked' or 'rubbed' against a magnet, so the usual clamp type magnetic stand (or even a magnetic table) will impart little magnetism to the item on which it acts.

Stop worrying about something that is likely not a problem. Demagnetising the occasional item is usually fairly straightforward.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Biggest part of DTI gearing is usually brass Sometimes even the return spring

[PaulRParticipant @paulr]

Thanks for the replies, seems like magnetic is the way to go after all – certainly looks more convenient than clamping.

[ALAN CANTWELLParticipant @alancantwell54065]

In 48 ( is it that long, oh heck) of manual maching on every machine tool concievable, i have never had trouble with usung a mag base clock, and ive used some big uns! Only problem, thinking about it, is when you remove tge cloc stand, while still on mag, put it on the bench, and when you pick it up again, it weighs twice as much, because you have picked a load of spanners, tools, and sundry metal items up! Another 28 month, and i will be doing this at home, lol,

[PaulRParticipant @paulr]

Posted by ALAN CANTWELL on 19/11/2016 18:48:56:

In 48 ( is it that long, oh heck) of manual maching on every machine tool concievable, i have never had trouble with usung a mag base clock, and ive used some big uns! Only problem, thinking about it, is when you remove tge cloc stand, while still on mag, put it on the bench, and when you pick it up again, it weighs twice as much, because you have picked a load of spanners, tools, and sundry metal items up! Another 28 month, and i will be doing this at home, lol,

Hopefully for another 48 years Alan. I bought a magnetic one and have to admit it's flipping great.

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