Magnetic Sweepers....yay or nay?

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I am thinking about getting a magentic sweeper for my shop.  I mainly want it for picking up steel grinding dust and chip debris from my chop saw and drill press.....and any other steel work I do.  Basically, I know these are really designed for picking up nuts and bolts, etc.  Do they work well for picking up chips, shaving, and grinding dust?
Reply:Yes they do work for picking up any kind of ferrous metal as long as it's not too heavy for the magnet to hold onto.  I have a couple magnets here I use once in a while, but I find sweeping is faster.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I use one for picking up stubs and metal slivers that I drop and don't make to the bucket as I weld.  They will put a hole in a tire in a heart beat and at the shop I worked at they said the stubs were one thing the osha guy was looking for as a negative mark.  They pose a slip hazard.  So yeah, I use a magnetic sweeper.  I use a cheap one, but if I had it all to do over again I would use one that had the release feature.
Reply:I was thinking about picking up one of the Harbor Freight 50# pull magnetic sweepers (with release).  I think they are ony about $40, but I wasn't sure if it would pick up all the grinding dust.  I hate broom sweeping that grinding dust off the floor.  It seems that I am never done.  I was hoping that a strong enough magnetic sweeper would just suck all that steel dust right up!
Reply:I've used one for cleaning up grinding dust, etc. during my outdoor kitchen project.  I didn't want it to get wet and stain the concrete.  Works great!  However, it won't pick up welding slag because it's not magnetic.I picked up a roller magnet that's about 18" wide, with a release, for $15 at one of those truckload tool sales.  I can't understand why some of them are so expensive.America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetalI was thinking about picking up one of the Harbor Freight 50# pull magnetic sweepers (with release).  I think they are ony about $40, but I wasn't sure if it would pick up all the grinding dust.  I hate broom sweeping that grinding dust off the floor.  It seems that I am never done.  I was hoping that a strong enough magnetic sweeper would just suck all that steel dust right up!
Reply:Greatest thing since sliced bread."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetalI was thinking about picking up one of the Harbor Freight 50# pull magnetic sweepers (with release).  I think they are ony about $40, but I wasn't sure if it would pick up all the grinding dust.  I hate broom sweeping that grinding dust off the floor.  It seems that I am never done.  I was hoping that a strong enough magnetic sweeper would just suck all that steel dust right up!
Reply:Leaf blower is what I use. It works better than any thing else I've tried. Of course I have had big enough clouds of metal dust coming out of the shop that the neighbor called the fire department, thinking my shop was on fire.
Reply:I find that my magnets pick up the fine metal whiskers in grinding dust that give the worst splinters, but the abrasive part of the dust (about 1/3), gets left behind.That's why I just use the green sweeping compound and forget about the magnets for the most part.
Reply:The HF model works real good at my shop especially for 40.00 dollars. Darrell
Reply:why not
Reply:I get alot of construction field trucks pulling through the shop yard! Seems like when they come in I always get a few nails, roofing staples, etc out in the yard and parking area. I have a 24" rolling nail bar I picked up at NorthernTools. It has saved alot of tires as well as our dog from getting nails, staples, burrs, cut offs  etc in the foot ( as well as the customer's feet). Yep an essential tool in any shop.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanI find that my magnets pick up the fine metal whiskers in grinding dust that give the worst splinters, but the abrasive part of the dust (about 1/3), gets left behind.That's why I just use the green sweeping compound and forget about the magnets for the most part.
Reply:Sweeping compound is basically wet sawdust. The old stuff was soaked in an oil of sorts, but that's a bit too flammable for my taste.  My hardware store has it in 50lb bags, in a non-flammable water based variety (so you need to keep the bags sealed) for a few bucks.You sprinkle it around and as it gets pushed around by the broom, it clumps and picks up all of the fine grit and dust, keeping the finest dust out of the air too.
Reply:We had a huge one that went on the front of the forks, It picked up things I never knew were out there, lol. So yes I think they work great.
Reply:well........... I ended up getting the 50# pull harbor freight unit under the xmas tree.  I assembled it, but I haven't tried it out yet.  I will report back with results.