Magnet and Hook Reuse

Magnet and Hook Reuse:

The Sonicare E Series Toothbrush uses magnets in the brush head, which are coupled to an oscillating magnetic field, to generate the bush's movement. The magnets used in the bush head are very strong and are probability rare earth magnets. This Instructable shows reusing the magnets for hanging objects on steel surfaces such as kitchen appliances and filing cabinets.

Figure 1, 2 and 2A show the magnet assembly on the base of the brush head. The assembly is made of two bar magnets glued to a steel plate. It is attached to the plastic magnet holder by a small plastic rivet.

Supplies:

Used Sonicare E Series Toothbrush Head.

Hooks. In this Instructable a swag lamp hook and a cup hook are used.

Epoxy glue.

Small straight blade screw driver.

Using the small, straight blade, screw driver pry the steel base off the plastic holder. The plastic rivet snaps off fairly easily. Sometimes the adhesive holding the magnets to the steel plate will break easily. Other times it will not. The magnets can be used both situations.

An individual bar magnet can be used to attach other items to a steel surface. Figure 5 shows a binder clip, holding a stack of index cards, attached to the side of a file cabinet with one of the bar magnets. Figure 5B shows a bar magnet holding note paper to a file cabinet. Figure 5C shows the magnet assembly holding a cardboard placard to a file cabinet.

Because these magnets have a strong field they can be used to attach hooks to a steel surface. Figures 6 and 7 show the magnet assembly glued to the base of an antique hook that was salvaged from an old swag lamp. The steel plate connecting the two bar magnets is attached to the hook's base using a two part epoxy glue. The bar magnets must face away from the hook for it to be able to attach to a steel surface. The magnets may have a rough surface or sharp edges. A thin coating of epoxy on the top surface of the magnets will help prevent the magnets from scratching the surface they are attached to. Figure 7A shows the hook, attached to the side of a file cabinet, with a flashlight hanging from it.

Figures 8 shows a decorative cup hook saved from a kitchen cupboard that replaced. Figure 9 shows the magnet assembly glued to the bottom of the cup hook. In this case, the rivet hole in the steel plate of the magnet assemble was drilled to enlarge the hole size so the screw of the cup hook would fit through it. The length of the screw was cut to be a little longer then the thickness of the steel plate. Figure 10 shows a flashlight hanging from the cup hook that is attached to the side of the file cabinet.