Awesome Magnets

Magnetic interactions can be so satisfying. Take, for instance, this grid of 15 gears that spin when just one of them is turned. MagnetTricks set up this brief physics demonstration using hundreds of magnets arranged into a rainbow of colors. We wonder if there’s a limit to how many gears you could have before the chain reaction stops working.

After making a neodymium magnet float inside a thick copper tube, metalsmith Seth Robinson thought he’d see if he could achieve the same inside of a sphere. What he ended up casting was a cool-looking truncated icosahedron with holes in it so we can see if the magnetic orb inside would levitate. (Thanks, Jesse!)

Concord Aerospace expands its line of space-inspired goodies with a collection of coasters featuring images of wacky monsters and aliens. The colorful ceramic coasters have magnets on the back to keep them neatly stacked and felt pads to protect surfaces. Buy four or more Monstronauts coasters for a discount. They’re great for geeky or ghoulish get-togethers!

An RC airplane is typically launched using its motor or by tossing it into the air by hand and then turning on its engine. Tom Stanton thought it would be cool to build a model airplane launcher that works like a railgun, building up speed through the opposing forces of electromagnets. Tom previously built a less powerful version for paper airplanes.

The latest compact flashlight from YSMART is easy to carry on a keyring or belt loop thanks to its magnetic quick release. It automatically turns on when detached from its base, and is available with a bright white, UV, or red LED light source. YSMART is offering it in brass or titanium in a variety of finishes.

This specialized gadget from Strong Hand Tools is a welder’s best friend. It uses powerful magnets to hold two pieces of steel together at 45º or 90º angles without clamping. It provides up to 90 lb. of pulling force and is easy to remove thanks to its magnet deactivation switch.

This versatile pocket tool offers horizontal and vertical driver sockets and packs numerous bits in its magnetized body. It can also open bottles and boxes and has a built-in hex wrench and rulers. Available in a 29-in-1 version with 6mm shaft bits or a 36-in-1 version with 4mm shaft bits.

Celebrate your love for rock climbing with this set of mini magnetic holds you can stick on your fridge, filing cabinet, or side of your ride. Map out your climbing route or use it to document your adventures with photos. Includes 15 mini holds, five mini quickdraws, and three feet of skinny climbing rope.

These hook-and-loop storage straps attach to steel surfaces with an extra-strong magnet. They’re great for hanging items from tool cabinets or a pickup truck bed. But we think the best idea is to secure a metal plate to your garage or workshop wall; then, you can hang and rearrange tools and cords without drilling holes. Sold individually or in 2- and 4-packs.

Holstery’s clip-on accessory attaches to your belt or bag, providing a strong magnetic holder for tools. Its made from durable Kydex and its internal magnet is powerful enough to hold hammers, pipe wrenches, pry bars, and other steel tools. It can also hold nuts and bolts so you don’t lose them while working on a project.

The opposing forces of magnets can produce a tremendous amount of energy, and can even be used to levitate and move trains along a track. In this clip from Magnetic Games, he demonstrates these physics at work, though on a smaller scale using a bunch off-the-shelf neodymium magnets he got from Supermagnete.

You might think magnets aren’t particularly scary. But once you get a look at the attractive forces between two strong neodymium magnets, you’ll have a new respect for magnetic fields. The Slow Mo Guys show us how energetic they can be, capturing magnetic collisions at up to 187,500 FPS. You definitely wouldn’t want your hand in between those.

This fascinating tabletop showpiece features a miniature replica of our solar system. It uses magnetic levitation tech to float accurate models of each planet in orbit around the sun. The positions of each planet are synchronized in real-time using NASA data, and it’s available with a light-up sun. You can also accelerate the orbital speed for faster action.

Jarl AB’s clip-on holster provides easy access to up to 15 hex bits and packs a powerful magnet that can grab onto hardware and other metal items. A stiff pocket clip ensures it won’t pop off of your belt or tool pouch. UK-based TF Tools offers worldwide shipping.

Magnets can be quite useful, but sometimes they’re just fun to play with. Magnetic Games is back with another series of setups that demonstrate how the vibrations caused by magnetic fields can make music, and how moving one magnet can set off a chain reaction between others.

A normal bike uses a set of gears to influence the amount of torque sent to its rear wheel. Tom Stanton wanted to see if it was possible to create a bike transmission that uses magnets to turn its wheel and create resistance. Put your thinking caps on for this brainy video that incorporates physics, math, and engineering.