magnets for modelling

Magnets... are great tools. Share some uses you have for them.

"Rare-Earth" magnets (Neodymium and Samarium Cobalt) are very powerful and more expensive. They are becoming more easy to find now. Retailers that have an "assortment" of ceramic (reg.) magnets may have them. They are generally small in size... "round" and most commonly 3/16"-5/16" in diameter. Thickness is usually less than the diameter...

Attach one to the end of a long thin stick/dowel,  and you have a handy tool to retrieve metal parts that have; fallen on the floor, under the table, under the washing machine, down the drain.

A short (6"L.) version of the above can be kept in your flight-box and/or on your work bench in a "handy tools" mug. (a great use for an old "retired" coffee mug... I keep an assortment of items in mine)

Clips/washers/screws etc. can be tough to "fish-out" of bins in organizer trays. The magnet tool works better than tweezers, because... even if it picks up "more" than intended... your not going to drop/lose any of it.

Keep a large ceramic disc-magnet handy. If you drop a tiny metal part on the floor/carpet... and can't see it, just scan the area with the magnet. You'll find the part...

Magnets can be used in construction for holding parts in alignment, and if powerful enough; can even be used as clamps; when gluing small/thin pieces together.

A magnetic dry-erase white board is an excellent thing to have in the shop, for notes/reminders.