Given a magnet's powerful hold over metal, it's no wonder that so many home-repair folks feel a strong attraction to them. They come in handy for a multitude of tasks around the workshop—everything from organizing your workbench to cleaning up spills. Here are a half-dozen fantastic ways to put them to work for you.
• Fix a large round magnet to the wall next to your workspace (or suspend it from the ceiling, if necessary) to keep small metal parts and tools from getting lost in the middle of repair work.
• Before using steel wool, wrap a small bar magnet inside the pad to catch any loose steel strands or particles and keep them from messing up your work area.
• Place small round magnets inside jars or boxes of screws and brads to prevent or contain spillage if they're accidentally knocked over.
• Put a bar magnet inside a plastic sandwich bag to pick up spilled nails, nuts, or washers—or even to clean up metal filings. The objects will stick to the outside of the bag, which you can then turn inside out to contain them.
• Magnetize the head of a screwdriver by rubbing it several times with a small horseshoe magnet.
• Hot-glue several magnet strips inside your toolbox or workbench drawer to keep your favorite flat tools at the ready.
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Magnets are an essential home-repair tool.
