Extending the life of your lift magnet

In a scrap yard or other places where lift magnets are used on a regular basis they are an essential part of daily routine. But it is also a tool that can easily be ruined, abused or broken if not taken care of properly.

A few simple tips will keep your lifting magnet up and running for longer and better.
When you are getting your magnet out over the piles that you are going to be picking up make sure that you don't power up the magnet until it is over the pile. This will ensure that the magnet doesn't pick up anything along the way to the pile. Picking up stray pieces to the pile could block the magnet and can keep you from getting a full load. When you turn on the magnet let it sit on for a few seconds allowing it to power up completely and get a maximum magnetism.

It might seem like a good idea to work with a group of small piles rather than one large pile, but when working with a magnet the opposite is true. By gathering up small piles into a single larger pile will make the job go much faster.

Only use your magnet for lifting, using it for any other purpose can break the magnet and can be very costly to replace. Using a lifting magnet as a skull-cracker or battering ram can cause pretty big damage. When you are using your lifting magnet use it with care and let it down onto a pile gently to avoid banging it up.

Every so often you should check the magnet and casing for loose or broken bolts and replace them right away. These bolts help to not only hold the magnet together but also to keep moisture from getting in and causing electric shock.

Keeping the magnet cool will not only help to keep the magnet in a good working condition, it will also make your magnet carry more. A cool magnet is able to carry much more than a hot magnet. If your magnet does begin to over heat don't use water to cool it down. Store the magnet somewhere dry and off the ground to keep it from building up moisture.

Proper care and maintenance will keep your magnet running for longer and better. Paying attention to how they are being used and keeping tabs on their state will help to keep you from needing to replace your lifting magnet or spending a lot of money on repairs.