my GF and I want to build a ferrofluid sculpture. We'll need a pretty damn powerful electromagnet to make it work. The problem is where the hell do we get a powerful but inexpensive electromagnet. I'm hoping that we can build one. Is this something that a total amature can pull off?

Someplace like this

American Science & Surplus : Search Results for "electromagnet"

it's going to have to be way more powerful than one you'd make with a couple of batteries and some magnetic wire. I'll probably have to find a decent volt dc power converter. I might be able to find an old laptop power supply somewhere. I'd like for somebody to tell me what to do so I don't kill myself by making a mistake.

Ask KG... he would know.

my GF and I want to build a ferrofluid sculpture. We'll need a pretty damn powerful electromagnet to make it work. The problem is where the hell do we get a powerful but inexpensive electromagnet. I'm hoping that we can build one. Is this something that a total amature can pull off?

How inexpensive?

Electromagnets on A.P.W. Company

the four inch one is 160 dollars which is way out of what I'm willing to spend. I can build one for for under 25 dollars magnetic wire and all.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions though JB.

the four inch one is 160 dollars which is way out of what I'm willing to spend. I can build one for for under 25 dollars magnetic wire and all.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions though JB.

Do you need a magnet that will pull 400+ pounds? I saw some that will pull 50lbs that were about $40. I have no idea how much power you need.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBxCnHU8Ao&feature=related]YouTube - Ferrofluid[/ame]

400lb at the contact point just won't be enough I don't believe. magnetic fields dissipate at a rather short distance dramatically. I'll need an an extremely powerful field to be able to lift that much ferrofluid. I just got some money from my school today to experiment with this stuff so I have a little more money than I anticipated. I may be able to buy a serious magnet now. We'll see.

just a thought, have you considered visiting your local scrap yards and see what magnets they may have on the cheap ?

Is there a specific reason you are wanting to use an electromagnet rather than a permanent one ?

Looking at "http://scitation.aip.org/phf/gallery/2003-lorenz.jsp" you may be looking for magnets capable of exerting 100G for the ferrofluid to perform.

Spoiler warning: the following link shows lab procedure and results (on page 7) found by exposing ferrofluid to different strengths of magnetic fields.

http://www.nsec.ohio-state.edu/teacher_workshop/Measuring_Magnetic_Fields.pdf

It looks like a fun subject for a project

what you want is half of the electromagnet pictured here to do the

tricks you want.

http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/electromagnet.jpg

A couple of little details. 4 Tesla inside the gap. Weight of magnet

4300 lbs. Runs on a DC amplifier that is up to 60 volts at 25 amperes.

WATER COOLED...

I have an old 3000 lb magnet from a VG sector instrument. You can

have it for free. You pay for shipping, or your pick it up. Weighs about

2500 lbs. Also needs water cooling.

just a thought, have you considered visiting your local scrap yards and see what magnets they may have on the cheap ?

Is there a specific reason you are wanting to use an electromagnet rather than a permanent one ?

Looking at "http://scitation.aip.org/phf/gallery/2003-lorenz.jsp" you may be looking for magnets capable of exerting 100G for the ferrofluid to perform.

Spoiler warning: the following link shows lab procedure and results (on page 7) found by exposing ferrofluid to different strengths of magnetic fields.

http://www.nsec.ohio-state.edu/teacher_workshop/Measuring_Magnetic_Fields.pdf

It looks like a fun subject for a project

I would lik an electromagnet because you can adjust the field strength with out moving the magnet. I did buy a bunch of the largest neodymium magnets I could find on the web just in case my dreams of an electromagnet don't come true.

what you want is half of the electromagnet pictured here to do the

tricks you want.

http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/electromagnet.jpg

A couple of little details. 4 Tesla inside the gap. Weight of magnet

4300 lbs. Runs on a DC amplifier that is up to 60 volts at 25 amperes.

WATER COOLED...

I have an old 3000 lb magnet from a VG sector instrument. You can

have it for free. You pay for shipping, or your pick it up. Weighs about

2500 lbs. Also needs water cooling.

That is a generous offer kevin but I just can't afford to even pick it up let alone the massive DC power supply that it must take.

Kevin, you seem like a guy who's seen a lot of tools in your day. Can you identify the type of drill or boring bit that is used in this video--or if it even a bit at all?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me5Zzm2TXh4&feature=related]YouTube - Sachiko Kodama, Yasushi Miyajima "Morpho Towers -- Two Stand[/ame]

I don't think those are drill bits.

damn, that means that she machined them. Fucking engineers!

I thought that it may be some type of step drill bit or reamer.

I would have assumed that was an animation, rather than live video.

That may or may not be a custom machined piece. It is certainly

not a step drill bit, that would be concentric circles. There is a reamer

bit for 1.5 inch or so iron pipe that looks a lot like that.

maybe the tip of something like this

http://burlington.craigslist.org/tls/902589360.html

fuck yes! thanks again kevin. I found a rusty on with a 2 1/8 inch base for 25 bucks after shipping. I think I can clean it up, take out the bit and wrap some magnet wire around the post and turn the thing into an electromagnet.

plan on an entire can of wd-40 to get that thing clean.

don't worry, I drink a can of wd-40 whenever i start a project like this.

Keep posting, the results sound interesting.

plan on an entire can of wd-40 to get that thing clean.

Fortunately the picture made it look way rustier than it actually is. A wire brush and lubricant took care of it in only an hour's work.

I'm glad somebody is taking an interest in this project besides my girlfriend and I. I'll be sure to keep this thread going as the project moves ahead.

I think i'm just going to spend the money on a dc power supply. I really don't have any experience with them and really don't know what to buy. What kind will power an electromagnet?

I bought a mastech 30 volt 50 amp dc power supply. I'm hoping it will be enough to power the magnet. I really couldn't afford anything higher.

I bought a mastech 30 volt 50 amp dc power supply. I'm hoping it will be enough to power the magnet. I really couldn't afford anything higher.

Magnetic art, AND a room heater. That's just smart shopping!

That looks like the coolest thing in the universe. Good luck!

You should really like this video then.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBxCnHU8Ao&feature=related]YouTube - Ferrofluid[/ame]