Making a tool holder: how do you attach HDD magnets to plywood?

I decided to make a wall tool holder using a bunch of HDD magnets. Here's an album with a couple of photos of what I made so far:

http://s941.photobucket.com/user/ily...0tool%20holder

I only put one magnet there to test how well it will hold a tool on the other side. The results were disappointing: although the plywood piece that's between the magnet and the tool is thin, the magnet did not hold a large screwdriver very well. So need to improve something, but not sure what. I'll experiment but for now I have one question: what's the best way to attach the magnets to the plywood so that (i) they are attached well but (ii) their magnetic power is not reduced? Is there a glue of some type that would work well? Or do I have to use some sort of bracket on the back of the magnet to press it against the plywood?

Thx

Could you just attach a strip of metal on the backside of the wood all the way down the holder and then stick magnets to it? Hopefully when more than one magnet on metal strip the pull force will be greater and all tools on the other side will stick.

Gorilla glue

Pizza!

Does the magnet have to be on the backside? I used an epoxy to mount a magnet to my compressor to hold the air chuck. Don't recall what I used though. Still holding even with the vibration.

One thought that comes to mind is using a piece of flat iron and popping the magnets off their backs and stick the magnets to the flat iron, then mount that to your wall.

If you're wanting to hide the magnets, use a piece of sheet metal, then the magnets will stick by themselves on the back.

Or cut out a panel from a washer or dryer. You can also use it to write notes.

I have a little experience in this type project. Earlier in a thread called Tips, Tricks, and Tools I posted a pic of my tool holder that I use all the time, a Shell oil can with HD magnets stuck on the inside. It works great for screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and other small tools. If you use sheet steel, you can just stick them on the back side no problem. If you really need to use plywood, I'd suggest stacking the magnets. Remove the backing plates from them and stack them for better pull through the wood. They add power up to four stacked magnets, then the addition of another doesn't help much. You'd be amazed what you can do with a stack of four of these. I used my stack of four to hold full thickness Progressive Farmer magazines to the fridge. Any of the glues suggested should be fine to hold them to the plywood.

Here's mine. Two drywall screws on the edge on my work bench. Not fancy, but functional.

Jimicrk's setup is basically what I use.

To put them behind wood, you'll want to stack a couple. Could you use just a veneer of wood with bracing behind it.

For metal to metal contact, these work very well. I currently have a hammer and a crow bar hanging on my wall (On separate magnets).

Thank you all for the suggestions! I like the sheet/strip of metal idea the best. 2nd best is pizza

I thought about just sticking the tools to the magnets directly (like Jimicrk's setup), but aren't those magnets pretty brittle? Jimicrk, how long have you had yours? Did you notice any of the magnets starting to shatter after some time? It seems that a thin strip of whatever -- metal, plywood, veneer -- between the magnet and the tool should be enough to protect the former.

Originally Posted by BurlyGuys

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-m...der-60433.html

For five bucks here's a quick solution. I have several of these.

Looks like he wants to craft something of his own! And I am sure it will cost him more than the one for $5 from HF to do it! I think that it will look nice when done, he could even sell some (more than $5 Burly! LOL)

Originally Posted by hobo finds

Looks like he wants to craft something of his own! And I am sure it will cost him more than the one for $5 from HF to do it! I think that it will look nice when done, he could even sell some (more than $5 Burly! LOL)

Hey, theirs are more than $5, you have to add shipping and maybe tax!

I am sort of moving away for the wooden block that I made towards a big sheet of steel (like a side wall of a desktop case maybe?). Not sure yet. I'll post pix of whatever I end up with...

This thread gave me an idea )
I think I'lll make myself a shovel, rake, etc holder out in the garage.
But use megnetron magnets.

Why not just take the magnets off of their metal brackets, glue them to a board, fill between them with glue or something similar, and use that wood laminate stuff to stick a super thin layer of wood over it?

UPDATE: my original idea pretty much failed miserably. I glued up a strip of steel that I cut from a desktop tower cover to the backside of the plywood piece and then attached a bunch of magnets to it. I was using magnets with brackets. If I'd removed the brackets I would be able to put more magnets on the strip. But the way I had it, it did not hold tools well. Looked pretty but didn't work. So I'll try the sheet of metal idea next.

Why a box? Try flipping it over look like you got magnet facing the wood. Or do I need new glasses.