How To Make Magnetic Sculptures
From keeping cabinet doors shut to cleaning up stray metal objects, there's no doubt that neodymium magnets can be extremely useful for a variety of purposes. But, did you know you can make stunning sculptures with them?
The possibilities are endless for creating awe-inspiring works of art using magnets in a range of shapes and sizes. These pieces can make a great desktop piece for your office, or even just a fun conversation piece for your living room. The best part? You can easily change the shape of the sculpture over time.
Magnetic Sculpture
Supplies:
- A variety of neodymium magnets
- Metal base
- Hot glue gun
- Your imagination!
Instructions:
There are three different methods to build magnetic sculptures:- It's best to build a base for your sculpture. Instructables recommended using a cylindrical project box, which provides an ideal platform for displaying your finished piece. After heating up your hot glue gun, apply some of the glue to a few disc magnets and affix them to the inside of the box. If you follow this technique, you can actually use metal nuts and bolts to build sculptures on top of the project box. Note: The stronger the magnets you use, the taller the structures you can create.
- Another idea is to start with a baking pan, which will hold your neodymium magnets in place. All you have to do is begin attaching block magnets, bar magnets, or whatever shape your heart desires to build your sculpture up from there. The addition of rings and cones can make for some truly unusual and interesting sculptures.
- If you have extra time on your hands, you can easily create a 3-D doodler with magnets. Unique Projects suggested centering a large magnet of any shape in a block of wood and marking the outline. Then, remove only the wood inside the outline using a Forstner bit in a drill press. Once you've created the hole, prepare the wood using sandpaper and finishing oil. Set the magnet inside the hole and use strong glue to affix the magnet inside the recess. Finally, cut and attach a thin plastic sheet (less than 1/16") to the wooden base. Use a sharp blade along the edges of the plastic so that it fits evenly on top. Then glue the sheet in place and start sticking small metal parts, such as magnetic washers, on the base to create your work of art.