Magnetic chuck

[bob colles]

I have a 16" magnetic chuck on my grinder and its pulling power seems to have declined over the last year. Is there anyway to remagetize it?

[.RC.]

I don't think there is.... I read somewhere that once they lose their power they can only be refurbished by the factory.... At least that was with Eclipse ones...

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general-archive/magnetic-chuck-rebuild-151671/

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/how-open-magnetic-chuck-146719/

[bob colles]

Thanks for the links RC. The more I read about it the more I think it cannot be done. Time for a new one. Trouble is they ain't cheap.

[RayG]

I have a 16" magnetic chuck on my grinder and its pulling power seems to have declined over the last year. Is there anyway to remagetize it?

Hi Bob,

As .RC says it might not be possible... but if you've got nothing to lose..

What's needed is another magnet to re-magnetize the ones in the chuck, don't ask me how you would do it, it would need to be set up with the north/south poles aligned with yours and strong enough to re-magnetize yours. Which is probably how it was manufactured in the first place, so perhaps the best approach would be to see if the manufacturer would re-furbish it.

Regards
Ray

[BobL]

I would have thought a 12V DC coil carrying say 5A would do the trick?
Sounds like a computer power supply again!

[Ropetangler]

I would have thought a 12V DC coil carrying say 5A would do the trick?
Sounds like a computer power supply again!

or a DC welder running through dome HD jumper leads or similar, wound into a coil:p
Rob.

[danielhobby]

i know a fella who may still be refurbishing magnetic chucks,pm me and i will contact him over the next day or so.DONT pull you chuck apart unless you have steel bars handy to short the magnets out and keep them in place.what brand is it?.you could also approach ERIEZ MAGNETICS in campbellfield vic to see if they still do them.i used to work for this company and am only putting this info up as assistance to forum member.

[danielhobby]

the magnet charger we used was based on a lincoln torpedoe welder,350ampsdc and it had to wind up and peak before it would "set" to charge

[bob colles]

I was just reading that for the best results they need to be almost molten hot while they are charged in a coil ....something about the atoms in the thing going back into alignment with the field's north/south. That's actually doable, all you would need is a blow torch and a coil.....and a pair of heat resistant tongs!

[BobL]

I was just reading that for the best results they need to be almost molten hot while they are charged in a coil ....something about the atoms in the thing going back into alignment with the field's north/south. That's actually doable, all you would need is a blow torch and a coil.....and a pair of heat resistant tongs!

That sounds like a quick way to destroy magnetism rather than make it magnetic.

[bob colles]

I have no idea whether it would destroy it or not - I was just quoting something I read. It is all 'magic' to me. However, there must be a way to rejuice them.

What is difference between them and the junk yard magnets that need electricity to work?

[danielhobby]

the chuck has a series of bar magnets that are dragged by a cradle frame left and right under the rectangular pattern you see on the face of the chuck,it maybe left shorts the magnets under ferrous bar and right moves the magnets under a non ferrous bar,allowing the magnetic field to reach up through the chuck face (this is on/off on the throw handle).the tolerances are very fine between the bottomplate,middle cradle and mags and chuck face underside and a lubricant allows it all to slide finely,when the lubricant fails,the plates wear and the magnets pick up the fine metalic powder it then shorts itself internally.DO NOT heat the magnets,you will destroy them!!.magnets are charged cold,(at least ceramic magnets are).cheers danny.

[harty69]

you could always build your own look here (http://aaybee.com.au/Magnabend/Building%20Your%20Own%20Magnabend.html)
this is for a folder but you could modify it for a chuck maybe
its been put up by the bloke that invented the magnabend very cool bit of gear


cheers
Harty