If you’ve ever had to pick up the nails littering the ground after tearing off an old roof or snag the bits of metal that can accumulate on a job site, this broom is for you. As shown in the drawing above, I modified a defunct push broom by affixing a 1×3 to the broom’s head. To this 1×3, I attached ten 1-in.-dia. rare-earth magnets (www.leevalley.com). These magnets are astonishingly strong; each one can lift a 30-lb. block of steel. The magnets fit into steel cups (also available from Lee Valley) that are screwed to the 1×3.
Mike Nathan, Hailey, ID
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #180
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I would suggest adding a strip of perforated steel strapping under the magnets (assuming the polarity works) to increase the effectiveness.
I've been thinking I need something like this, AND, I just got a magnetic tool holder as my FREE! toy at Harbor Freight. Now if I can just come up with some slick way to strip the metal off the magnet after it's been collected.
I ended up screwing my magnetic tool holder to the front of the wooden body of the push-broom. Cleaning up after drywall hangers, I could go over an area with the magnets towards the floor, pick up the screws, then turn the broom over and sweep up the scraps and dust. Worked pretty well, but it's still a pain to pull those sharp drywall screws off the magnet.