SuperMagnetMan
I have been buying Neodymium Iron Boron (NIB) super magnets for years. Back then, the previously-reviewed Wondermagnets was the only source for hobbyists and they had quite a selection. But times have changed. For the past five years, I have been ordering my magnets from "Mr. George the SuperMagnetMan," unequivocally the best source today. His prices are the best on the net. His selection is vast: no one else has the stock he has or the variations in size of commonly available shapes. This is no exaggeration or hype. He's got stuff you can't get anywhere else and is constantly adding new items, like axially- and diametrically-magnetized NIB wedding rings and radially-magnetized ring magnets. He has magnets so large they are dangerous (fortunately he has put videos on YouTube that show you how to safely handle these monsters -- with large leather welding gloves and a special wooden wedge and a 2x4!). He also sells magnetic hooks, pyramid shaped magnets, magnetic jewelry, teflon coated magnets, heart, star, and triangle magnets. You can even get powdered magnets that act like iron filings on steroids! You name it he's got it. Most magnets are N45-N50 grade, the highest strength you can buy.
Some of the products I have ordered are the magnet powders, radially-magnetized ring magnet, various size sphere magnets, conical magnets, large rectangular magnets, cubes, and many others. Shipping charges are reasonable. Service is great. One time I ordered a bunch of stuff and never completely checked what I got. I went to use one of the magnets months later and found out it was the wrong size. He sent me the right size in the mail a few days after I emailed him.
Mr. George seems like a pretty cool dude, too. An electrical engineer, Mr. George develops magnet products himself and caters to other engineers, inventors, and hobbyists. He can have custom magnets made to order. He has also put up a series of educational videos on YouTube and has done a lot of work with kids. He has a saying, something like, "Give a kid a magnet and you have a friend for life."
Separating magnets:
Favorite (15)
Leonard Gallion
I too have ordered several times from SuperMagnetMan and the service is very good, the prices are great and selection is pretty impressive. Highly recommended.
Children's Librarian
I'm a public librarian and I have several hundred of his magnetic ceiling hooks. The are perfect for displaying things from the ceiling in our children's area and every summer I use them to hang mobiles which track our kids' summer reading progress. They are awesome!
Adam K
I'm jealous. My office assistant just went to work for SuperMagnetMan. She will be missed but obviously now has a very cool job.
Christopher
"Give a kid a magnet, and watch your television become unwatchable."
or
"Give a kid a magnet, and kiss your PC goodbye."
or
"Give a kid a magnet, and watch him turn an iPod into an iBrick."
Kurt
It's actually pretty tough to hurt a computer with a magnet, except for a CRT monitor. The hard drive is probably the only component really susceptible to magnetic harm, and it's nestled safe inside the computer housing. You'd need a much stronger magnet than one you'd let a kid play with to be able to affect it.
Moon
You know what would be great? Making all your furniture float. Then your Roomba wouldn't have to work so hard.
Or you could get a giant automatic sqeegee installed and sqeegee your whole floor at once.
Laral
Actually Chris, he was giving magnets to kids in 3rd world countries. No electronics. No iPods. No sophomoric know-it-all spoiled brats. Hard drives have absolute killer magnets inside them real close to the read head. In fact trashed ones are good sources of NIB magnets:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Pulling-apart-a-desktop-hard-drive-to-get-rare-ear/
The magnetic field is well contained between the two magnets. Also the case makes an effective shield. NIB magnets are shipped with steel shielding around them to prevent stray fields emanating from the package. Magnets wouldn't probably affect an iPod for the same reason.
But hide any piece of plastic with a magnetic stripe on it. Which I'm assuming parents are doing for more economic reasons anyway. ;)
M31
If you would like a graphic illustration of just how dangerous these larger magnets can be, look here, but not if you're eating lunch:
http://www.geekologie.com/2009/02/guy_loses_finger_to_neodymium.php
(If you must know, a guy got careless and got the end of his finger completely crushed.)
Stephan Zielinski
Y'know, these days, the folks who actually manufacture magnets will sell them to you directly, should you so desire. The one time I had need of a bunch, I got them from K&J Magnetics-- web site at http://www.kjmagnetics.com/ . I can't speak to the warmth or fuzziness factor; they just mailed me what I asked for. I wouldn't mention this at all-- but the prices are lower. (Example: 3/4" N42 sphere at K&J, $4.95:
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SC
3/4" N40 sphere at SuperMagnetMan: $6.10:
http://www.supermagnetman.net/product_info.php?products_id=457
)
thom
Stephan is right, there are several sites that will sell you magnets for a lot better price. I did not realize that the 2x2 inch magnet that I own and look for rebar in concrete is worth 90.00. I certainly didn't pay 90.00 for it.