Rare earth magnets?

[MaineBrickFan]

I know at least a few forum users have switched to rare earth magnets to help with the problem of coaches separating on long trains. I did some googling but haven't found a source yet for magnets of an appropriate size. Any guidance on sources would be helpful! Also, for those that use the,, do you replace the LEGO magnets, or do you simply use the rare earth magnets in between the existing couplers?

[Duq]

Never heard them called rare earth magnets. They're known as Neodymium and info really isn't that hard to find: http://bfy.tw/3e4u

[dr_spock]

I ordered a bunch from China through eBay last year. Free shipping took about a month to arrive.

[legoman666]

They're all over amazon too.

[brickbuilder711]

Yes - last I checked they should be relatively easy to find on the net. GFLUG (we do call them rare earth magnets) uses them and I put them on a rock train once, and it worked like a charm. Worth the investment.

[Man with a hat]

Well with the "new" train magnets I don't have a lot of problems. But for my extra long trains I simply attach a 1x2 tile to fix them. That also works.

[MaxSupercars]

Well with the "new" train magnets I don't have a lot of problems. But for my extra long trains I simply attach a 1x2 tile to fix them. That also works.

Right... Simple and secure. :)

Max

[greenmtvince]

Maybe combine rare earth magnets with http://www.altbricks...-gray-10-count/ and http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/B000CPIN9S to get something that looks like the original train magnets but at a far greater strength. I'm sure if you email Steve at altBricks, he can give you the exact inner diameter of his magnet holders to source the appropriate size magnets. He is holding a caliper on the front page of the site after all. I've used Amazon in the past to get the exact REMs I was looking for, but it wasn't for this application.

Alternately, I've seen a few builders just placing a REM (I'm guessing about 3/8") between the two train magnets to boost the strength of the connection without modifying the Lego elements.

@Duq, In the US, they're marketed as "Rare Earth Magnets" because Neodymium is from "Rare Earth Elements" https://en.wikipedia...e_earth_element

Edited January 11, 2016 by greenmtvince

[SteveB]

I get a lot of stuff from www.banggood.com and had no issues. Typically it is free shipping too.

http://www.banggood.com/search/rare-earth-magnets.html

SteveB

[greenmtvince]

Steve, which size of magnets does one need for the magnet holder and coupler you sell?

[Heppeng]

I use these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wholesale-20pcs-Strong-Disc-Round-Rare-Earth-Neodymium-Magnets-10mm-x-1mm-N50-/151444270355?var=&hash=item2342c82d13

Dirt cheap. You just place one between your existing Lego magnets, and they are so thin you can hardly tell they are there.

[SteveB]

Steve, which size of magnets does one need for the magnet holder and coupler you sell?

Yikes, I don't actually know! :-) I assumed you'd use the existing LEGO ones which slide out with a little coaxing. I guess I'll measure them and post that info.

SteveB

[codefox421]

Yikes, I don't actually know! :-) I assumed you'd use the existing LEGO ones which slide out with a little coaxing. I guess I'll measure them and post that info.

SteveB

I'd love to know too. Adding non-LEGO magnets to the altBricks holders might prove to be more economical than bricklinking those old style couplers.

[codefox421]

Steve, which size of magnets does one need for the magnet holder and coupler you sell?

Yikes, I don't actually know! :-) I assumed you'd use the existing LEGO ones which slide out with a little coaxing. I guess I'll measure them and post that info.

SteveB

I measured one this evening. It's 10.2mm in diameter and 7.4mm thick.

[Brickthus]

I found a local store that has magnets in 3 sizes. I tried the medium size, which is about 12mm diameter and 3mm thick. Seems to be the right diameter to put between the old-style couplers.

I needed them for my BB-8 droid, to hold the head on, but I'll get a few extra ones for trains. I use Technic half beams in rakes of wagons to save on couplings, since the versatile ones are obsolete.

For safety, strong magnets should be encased to prevent kids swallowing them so I found a smaller solution than the current buffer beam.

Mark