Thread: Generic magswitch

Watching, with interest, qwertyu.

Magswitch is a brand name and I picked up a featherboard for $10 from local M10 bargain bin about 20 years ago. It is magic - so useful. But miserly me only bought one!

Then I looked at making some featherboards, hold downs, end stops, movable fences, etc about 15 years ago. At that time the Magswitch brand magnetic switches cost about the same as their featherboards, etc - certainly not inexpensive. I could not find an alternative product.

Even the name - probably should be called a "switchable magnet" - switch in one position and it is a powerful magnet, switch in the other position and it is not magnetic. Magic!

Hi Qwertyu,

I've tried to find an alternative to Magswitch, however i keep ending up at square 1. Which is Magswitch appears to be the "cheapest" and fit for purpose option. Sure you can use dial indicator ones, but they do require bit of faffing about to do what you want them to do. The alternatives i did find were significantly more expensive than Magswitch's offerings as they are typically designed for "higher" callings ie lifting and rigging applications, welding etc and as such over spec'ed for what you'll want to use them for.

The other alternative is making your own, there's a couple of youtube videos on it.

But as Graeme says i too am following to see if anyone else has any breakthroughs.

Plywood DIY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MptNafdF_q8
3d printed DIY Printables

I'd like some myself but they're so damn expensive!.

Aliexpress sell these - the dial indicator style

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002975801738.html

Also saw one on Banggood - similar price.
I don't think I've ever seen the type you would use in a featherboard.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver71

I'd like some myself but they're so damn expensive!.

Me, too.

They are very high quality construction, very robust and incredibly useful.

I am still kicking myself that I only bought one when they were in the $10 bragain bin. When I went back they were about $50 - the price has more than doubled since then.

I put it in the same category as my Zyliss vice - incredibly useful but you don't realise it until you have one.