Thread: Magnets in brush handle bases. Your thoughts?

So I’m in the planning stages of building myself a small display for my brushes and those to come. I’m a novice at brush making, but am looking to countersink magnets into the base of the brush handles for upside down hanging. Any advice would be great if there is anything someone has tried that would be good to know up front.

I’m planning on using either 12mm x 3mm or 15mm x 3mm disc magnets but am not sure if I should countersink them further than the 3mm and use epoxy or acrylic as a thin layer on top of that. The other option is to leave the magnet flush with the handle base.
I’m leaning towards not having the magnet flush because I don’t want there to be a chance of it dropping and potentially breaking. It would be attaching to magnets that are a bit stronger; Neodymium bar strip magnets.

What are your thoughts regarding magnetically hanging brushes upside down?
Cheers!

Double magnets would be overkill & you would have to be sure on the polarity, I would just use a metal strip. Lastly, if any of your brushes are natural you will want to be sure you have sealed the magnet.

Measure 2x, drill once. The eye will catch pretty much any mis-measurements for center.

I make them flush. Use CA for glue and rough the bottom of the magnet to help the glue to have something to grab.

I've made quite a few. No need to countersink, flush is fine. CA has given me no problems, for adhesion.



The first ones I did, were a bit overkill. So strong they could hold a brush to a countersunk, finishing nail.



Take caution around your razors..!!

flush is fine. I put a strong cylindrical magnet in the brush itself. I even put one on the base of the knot, to be able to switch it out. I use 2 part marine epoxy for the magnet on the knot and I drill a tight hole for the magnet in the handle. I use super glue on the handle magnet and also put a layer or three of super glue on the base of the handle.








This one had three magnets: One on the knot, one in the top of the base to attract the knot, and one in the bottom. My later version skipped the magnet in the top of the base as the magnets were strong enough to hold the knot in. They stick well to metal. You would not need to put a strip of magnet to attach your brushes to.

All excellent advice, gentlemen! Thanks a million. I love the idea of the magnet at the base of the knot for switching them out, too! How intuitive. I’m a huge fan of wooden displays, so I’ll probably use the magnet strip within the display. I’ll post pics when it eventually gets made.

I need to find the magnet from my brush and get it glued back in. It is a useful feature.