Magnet on a stick?

[psc1947]

I saw a similar wood length guide somewhere. A good strong magnet keeps it from getting knocked off.

 

[Bob_w]

Good idea. I got some neodymium magnets at home depot. They are so strong that seperating them is difficult. You can use them for a stud finder too. They will stick to the wall over a screw. I'm making one soon, now that you ask!

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

I built one of those a few years ago.
2" magnet
1/2" square dowel to length
coated drywall screw
Easily bought on your next trip to Home Depot.

When the magnet breaks, just superglue it back in. Works like a charm.

 

[Bob_w]

I love it! A lot more fun than drilling a bar!

 

[Philbert]

Have a whole thread on those!

Tried a bunch of things, as did other A.S. members. Decided that it was simpler to buy one of the pre-made ones, but for D.I.Y.:
- a used cartridge shell worked best as a base;
- thinner, more flexible wands were less likely to get knocked off;
- tape marks at prescribed intervals are easier than making it adjustable.

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-measuring-sticks.305553/
Philbert

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

Have a whole thread on those!

Tried a bunch of things, as did other A.S. members. Decided that it was simpler to buy one of the pre-made ones, but for D.I.Y.:
- a used cartridge shell worked best as a base;
- thinner, more flexible wands were less likely to get knocked off;
- tape marks at prescribed intervals are easier than making it adjustable.

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-measuring-sticks.305553/
Philbert

Don't know how it gets much simpler than the one I made. It's literally a single screw.

The wide magnet forms a very stable base and the lightweight dowel doesn't wobble or create any leverage to pull it off accidentally.

I only use it for 16" firewood, so longer lengths may be more problematic but I've never had a single issue with mine in over 5 years. And it was less than $5 in parts.

 

[esean]

Make sure its a good strong magnet. I made one with a weak magnet and it would get knocked off easily.

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

Make sure its a good strong magnet. I made one with a weak magnet and it would get knocked off easily.

The balance between the width of the magnet to the weight of what's hanging off it is the key. That why I went with a wide 2" magnet. The light 1/2" square dowel doesn't have enough weight to pull such a relatively wide magnet off even though it's not a very strong magnet.

The opposite of that would be a very strong but narrow magnet and even a light load can leverage it off because it just doesn't have enough contact to the metal.

Wide magnet + light "stick" = no issues.

 

[psc1947]

Have a whole thread on those!

Tried a bunch of things, as did other A.S. members. Decided that it was simpler to buy one of the pre-made ones, but for D.I.Y.:
- a used cartridge shell worked best as a base;
- thinner, more flexible wands were less likely to get knocked off;
- tape marks at prescribed intervals are easier than making it adjustable.

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-measuring-sticks.305553/
Philbert

There are nice neodymium magnets magnets out now, 1-1/4" round .3" thick grade N52 with countersunk hole, 70 lb pull force. Won't knock off $16.29 for a 5 pack del from Amazon, + 1/2" pvc cap and a few inches of pipe and a screw AND glue. Screws do seem to hold that well in pvc.

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

There are nice neodymium magnets magnets out now, 1-1/4" round .3" thick grade N52 with countersunk hole, 70 lb pull force. Won't knock off $16.29 del from Amazon, + 1/2" pvc cap and a few inches of pipe and a screw AND glue. Screws do seem to hold that well in pvc.

Or you could spend less than $5 like I did.

 

[holeycow]

Or you could just eyeball and forget the stick altogether. I guess some eyeballs are better than others..

I can cut 15" over and over when trying to cut 16's. And I can cut 18" or 20" reliably when I want to. Strangely, the eyeballing 16 eludes me. Weird.

I have no need whatsoever to actually measure firewood blocks. Maybe it's because I've been measuring other things all of my life, idk.

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

Or you could just eyeball and forget the stick altogether. I guess some eyeballs are better than others..

I can cut 15" over and over when trying to cut 16's. And I can cut 18" or 20" reliably when I want to. Strangely, the eyeballing 16 eludes me. Weird.

I have no need whatsoever to actually measure firewood blocks. Maybe it's because I've been measuring other things all of my life, idk.

I've got a good eyeball too, but measuring with the stick speeds up my whole process for me.

After I fell and limb the tree, I put my stick on my bar and mark the logs. Takes < 1 minute to do a decent length log. Then I put the stick away.

6 marks = 8', perfect for moving with my tractor grapple to my trailer or my log stacking area
1 mark is my firewood length, which I can buck, split, and neatly pack 3 stacks deep. Allows me to measure full cords and maximize my tight space at the same time.
16" fits front to back in my wood stove, 18" doesn't. I like to be able to put pieces in either direction when I burn.

 

[Dennis Gauge]

Doesn't anybody eyeball their cuts anymore and end up with pieces from 10" to 26" long? Yeesh kids these days want all their firewood the same length. The entitlement, I tell ya...

Seriously though, nice idea.

 

[Alexa Paredes]

I saw a similar wood length guide somewhere. A good strong magnet keeps it from getting knocked off.

Hello.Can you make a simple tutorial with just a stick,a hot glue gun and,well you get the idea.

 

[Philbert]

Hello.Can you make a simple tutorial with just a stick,a hot glue gun and,well you get the idea.

Check out this thread: lots of information on different homemade and commercial versions.

https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/firewood-measuring-sticks.305553/


Philbert