My Magnetic Setup

Okay, so after a weeks worth of small mishaps involving sheet metal and neodium magnets, here is my new and improved, theft deterent kit.

I love these black jewelry display cases becasue the top and bottom are deep enough to have paint in both, but shallow enough to not take up much room in my bag...it is heavy thought with all the paints in each one, but set up is a LOT quicker! I lay a 1/4" thick rectangle of foam over my paints before closing the case...just in case I were to drop the case and somehow jar the magnetized paints from the steel sheet they're sitting on. A plus to redoing my kit is that I officially don't have room for anything else! Not without buying another box and outfitting it...which I will never do again!

I know, labor intensive, but at least now I'm happy with my kit, even if it's not a new innovation.






I had some extra magnets and I found a doohickey that's used to make lazy susans so I made a mini lazy susan out of it for my glitters. I put little magnets on the bottom of my bottles and a circle cut of steel on the top of the susan, painted it and viola! No more tipped over glitter.

Lazy susan for your glitters and they won't tip over?!?!

GENIUS! Quick, get a patent and make a bunch, and sell em!

I love the black jewlery cases to, but I am a total clutz, dropped mine, and busted it all up! When I got the fat max, I replaced the case with the open trays for jewlry display because they fit perfect in the top bin.

And I recognize the brush holder you made when we first joined the forum - wipes a single glistening tear of nostalgia from her eye.

Very cool. How does one get these neodium magnets? And is it hard for you to grab the cake from it's magnet home, or do you just work from the palatte?

great job!! Looks awesome and very professional. I took all of my paints out of there holder and squished them in a container to minimize space used. While I love having so much less space used, they look more professional in there original cases.

JBax wrote:Lazy susan for your glitters and they won't tip over?!?!

GENIUS! Quick, get a patent and make a bunch, and sell em!

I love the black jewlery cases to, but I am a total clutz, dropped mine, and busted it all up! When I got the fat max, I replaced the case with the open trays for jewlry display because they fit perfect in the top bin.

And I recognize the brush holder you made when we first joined the forum - wipes a single glistening tear of nostalgia from her eye.

Very cool. How does one get these neodium magnets? And is it hard for you to grab the cake from it's magnet home, or do you just work from the palatte?

Ha ha!
I love the lazy susan...not because of the convienence but because of the little "click" sound it makes when I put the bottle back. Lame...yes I know...and you're surprised why?

Okay, the magnets I got from Magnet4less on Ebay. They are by far the best seller price and quality wise and they ship fast.

For heavy cakes, I used the magnets that were 1/8" thick x 3/8 or 1/2" but you could probably use the 1/4" diameter as well...just watch your fingers...the suckers have magnetic personalities...

For the lighter cakes, I used the 1/16" thickness magnets again with the diameter of 3/8" or 1/2". I didn't trust the 1/4" diameter (at this thickness) with anything but my rainbow cakes and minis (you may have to put 2 on the larger cakes.

For the glitters I used 1 1/16t X 1/4" diameter magnet at the bottom of each bottle.

Important: You have to use epoxy to fasten the magnets, they are strong and will rip out of the setting with the other types of glue. Get the two-part with a plunger and just mix small patches at a time...or the no mixing kind and do it all at once.

Also Important: While the magnets are setting in the epoxy, separate the cakes by at least 6-inches...otherwise you will have to watch your magnets drag themselves through epoxy (and high water) to get back to each other...I made that mistake only once and it took forever to pull the sticky gloopy mess apart...well, not forever, I had to move fast because the expoxy was drying fast. Just keep them apart and you'll be find.

VERY Important: When ever you're using the magnets (when they aren't attached to your cakes/bottles) make sure you're holding them firmly, I have a blood blister from where the 3 magnets I was holding in my right hand decided to go all fatal attraction with the 15 or so I had in my left.

And to answer your question about picking up the cakes...
I placed sheets of thin metal at the bottom of my box, so that's what attracts the magnets. As long as that sheet is in the box firmly, you exert more pull force on the magnet that it can resist, so they come up effortlessly. I tested this before I even started by taping a magnet to the bottom of my cake and putting it on a piece of metal...no problem...of course...I AM the alpha female...so it could just be me. I have no problem picking up the cakes and just "click" putting them back down. I love it!

If you pm me your address, I can send you a couple of magnets that I have left over so you can see how they work. No...I insist...

this is such a great idea! I love how you did the glitters! Mine are just in a reusable lunch bag tote and a real pain to dig through while I am painting.. wow! you are a genius LJ!

Lady Jayde wrote:Ha ha!
I love the lazy susan...not because of the convienence but because of the little "click" sound it makes when I put the bottle back. Lame...yes I know...and you're surprised why?

Um...that's kind of my fave part about purses that close with that "click"...can I join the Lame Club?!

Absolutely! I too have been guilty of opening and closing my purse a hundred times just to hear the sound! There's something awesome about the *click* sound!

I think we need to get some buttons...Lame-o's unite.

I feel so good knowing I'm not alone!

Ooh, buttons. I'll wear one with my "No Acrylics" button. I want to get a "Tipping: Not Just For Cows" button - or something similar, too, haha.

great solution!

on the topic of lame buttons... there's one I saw that I really want to get at some point.... in tiny little font it says "stop looking at my badge"

I thought I was the only geek who likes things that click...

That is why I carry a pen with a lid

Yay for happy noises! I like them too. And the sound of crunching leaves and biting a potato chip.

I know this is an old thread, but where do you get the jewelry display cases?

I think I got my from an ebay seller last year...it was a while ago and the prices have gone up significantly...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Black-Removable-Lid-Jewelry-Display-Case-/360351162367?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e69a5fff

GinaW, I am currently working on a frugal version of this!! I had looked at those jewelry cases - they are perfect but a little pricey for me. Then the other day at the thrift store I saw a folding backgammon game for $1.99! It's just the right size! I've just finished ripping all the innards out and now I need to sand it a bit and paint it. I'm keeping my eye out for another one.

I thought I had found my dream solution with some plastic divided trays that I fell in love with, but they ended up being a real pain. I'm really regretting the money and time I spent on them. So I'm really hoping this will work out for me.

Such a genius idea. How did I miss this thread the first time around? Definitely going to have to try it. But I think that I might just build my own box instead of buying one. That way I can have it the size I want.

Yeah, I know, they're very expensive now...when I got them they were something like $13 each! I guess they got popular enough for them to raise their prices? I think it's a dumb move on their parts. I like them because they're black and extremely sturdy. Amanda, who posts here often, was able to find an inexpensive paint kit at Pat Catan's and gutted it to make a similar kit. You can also get the neodymium magnets at Pat Catan's as well, but they are limited in the size options. I got mine on Ebay so that I could get larger (but thinner) magnets, but the come in just about every size imaginable! Good luck on your pursuits, feel free to pm me if need my help with your endeavors.

...looks like I need to go thrift store shopping!

Lady Jade, Thanks for all your info!!!! I don't need special magnets because I'm not worried about theft. I'm planning on using the magnets just to be able to attach them wherever I want without using a foam insert. Right now, I'm using a scrap book page holder with the paints stuck to them. It works well, but it's a pain to clean because I have to un-stick and re-stick it all. I figured metal with magnets would let me take out the paints easily to clean the bottom.

Yeah, my kids used to have a paint and marker set that came in a hinged wooden box very similar in dimensions to that. Wonder if it's still kicking around...

I have some of those neodymium magnets, I picked them up from a supply seller on Etsy. Not sure if I'll use those or velcro... I like the idea of the "click" when you put them back in!

Something I was wondering about, some of my paints do not stay firmly in their holders, especially ones I have previously pried out and cut in half for splits then put back in. Do you ever have problems with paints falling out of their holders when you close the case?

As I said I'm currently using a scrap book page case with the pots stuck to both sides. ... so I can answer that one. I've only had it happen once. It was a home made split cake that included Snaz. I do have lots of other splits made with TAG that don't ever come out. It might be because I use them more so they are always a little damp? ...or they are just softer and creamier. I don't know. I have noticed that when I'm making splits, TAG tends to be creamier, especially the non-metalics and ones that I have already used a little. I think there is a bit of a saturation that has to happen the first time you use them. I hope that makes sense.

The stronger magnets aren't just a theft deterrent they also allow me to load paint into the lids and the base and when I close the box up, the magnetic pull is greater than the effect gravity is supposed to be having on those paints in the lids. All of the kids stay where i put them and set up is a breeze. I tried to do it with those brown magnets, but it never failed that every time I closed my kit, the heavier paints would dislodge.

...And then there's the satisfying "click" that you can only get with those silver babies...

You are so clever Lady Jayde. Thank you for sharing this! P.S. I love clicky noises too but my fav. sounds are a baseball hitting a wooden bat, and the sound the gravel makes when rolling over it with a car!

Just curious and this might be a common question or one that a lot of you have experienced but I'm new at this and hearing about theft made me wonder if it's all that common? Have you guys ever had that happen and what was taken? etc....

a little muchkin stole my red!!! I was in the middle of a 5 gig weekend and nobody else could get spiderman that whole weekend!!