Clever latch on the cheap.

[tq60]

We are building a project for the irrigation system that will have its own thread but we thought we would share an idea for our magnetic cover latch.

Our cover uses a set of parallel arms to swing down and away.

It was an afterthought so we did not have room for offset arms so we needed to come up with a way to keep the cover closed.

A local well stocked hardware store had nothing suitable.

Our space was about 5/8 inch and when closed is 2 parallel surfaces.

Went to the notions department for magnets as we were told they had some with screw holes.

Nothing suitable but we noticed some magnetic cup hooks.

Ordered 15 for 7 bucks.

Had a metal knob, not matching threads in both but close to 8-32 so we tapped both and cut a long screw as all thread.

Made a steel round for the magnet to grab as the project is aluminum.

One was existing hole, other side was close to our lettering, if only we made it a bit higher, we removed a bit from the back to clear the letters.

Made a tool from angle aluminum to hold the transfer punch perfect to have hole in cover align.

Photos of the parts and the catch.

Easy to make and can be in many places.

We have glued into wood the screwdriver magnets and a woodscrew in mating part, this worked much better for our applicatiin.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[brino]

A local well stocked hardware store had nothing suitable.

I find that's always the way.

/rant on

The hardware store only expects people to say "I need a new faucet.".

However, I usually go in with:
I need a piece of rubber membrane about 1/8" thick and 3' by 4'......what have you got?
I need a piece of plastic block about 1" x 2"..........what have you got?
I need a piece of stainless sheet..........what have you got?
I need a thick chunk of aluminum.........what have you got?
What's the biggest piece of copper or brass that you have?

.........and I do not care if that piece of material is from a hockey puck, a cutting board, a garbage can, or a fitting or faucet.
or if it is from the plumbing section or fencing, or roofing, or automotive, etc.

I don't care what it was supposed to be; I know what I need and how to make the final part.

Think bigger people!
I do NOT want an "off the shelf" answer; think for yourself!

/rant off

-brino

 

[hman]

It may just be a rant to you, but it's a way of life to me! Many's the time I've been tasked with a project (sometimes self-tasked) and just wandered through a couple of stores in what I call a "creative fog" ... looking at everything on the shelves with all my attention on shapes, sizes, materials and thinking about combining this item with that for such-and-such subassembly. Other times, I'll wander randomly through a store (even online) just to see what kind of stuff is available out there. You can never predict when the memory of some obscurely available item will turn out to be "just what you need."

 

[chatter chatter cut cut]

sounds like me

 

[Shotgun]

I find that's always the way.

/rant on

The hardware store only expects people to say "I need a new faucet.".

However, I usually go in with:
I need a piece of rubber membrane about 1/8" thick and 3' by 4'......what have you got?
I need a piece of plastic block about 1" x 2"..........what have you got?
I need a piece of stainless sheet..........what have you got?
I need a thick chunk of aluminum.........what have you got?
What's the biggest piece of copper or brass that you have?

.........and I do not care if that piece of material is from a hockey puck, a cutting board, a garbage can, or a fitting or faucet.
or if it is from the plumbing section or fencing, or roofing, or automotive, etc.

I don't care what it was supposed to be; I know what I need and how to make the final part.

Think bigger people!
I do NOT want an "off the shelf" answer; think for yourself!

/rant off

-brino

Do you ask those questions in a "hardware store", or in a "home improvement center". Those are NOT the same thing. The former is almost extinct, having been replaced by the latter. I know of a few actual hardware stores in the area, and I try to use them as much as possible. But even they have moved to mostly carrying the same junk as the big box stores, except in smaller quantities and with less variety.

 

[C-Bag]

I have no proof but I think they all use the same stocking program. Since like the 90's if one big box doesn't have it, none of them do. I find most of my engineering stock in yard sales or in the materials and free section of CL. That "creative fog" is often what state of mind I'm in. And once I have the parameters for a future project I'm paying attention to what's available.

Unless it's for a specific piece of hardware, the hardware store is basically worthless. We had an old Ace hardware that had been around since the 40's in Merced and it was a goldmine. Unless you've actually gone through a place like that, you have no idea what you're missing. And we who actually make stuff have every right to rant IMHO.

 

[homebrewed]

Quite a few years back I was wandering through a store in that "I'll know it when I see it" mode, and the store assistant thought I was shoplifting!

Can't say I blame him, though, since I was picking stuff up, looking it over and then putting it back.

 

[C-Bag]

Quite a few years back I was wandering through a store in that "I'll know it when I see it" mode, and the store assistant thought I was shoplifting!

Can't say I blame him, though, since I was picking stuff up, looking it over and then putting it back.

Been there, had the same shadow.

 

[brino]

Quite a few years back I was wandering through a store in that "I'll know it when I see it" mode, and the store assistant thought I was shoplifting!

Can't say I blame him, though, since I was picking stuff up, looking it over and then putting it back.

Yep I guess we look suspicious when we go up and down every isle looking at everything to see if it could be stock for the part we want to build.
I probably mutter to myself too, things like "no that's not thick enough" and "this could work if it didn't have that hole in it!"

-brino

 

[C-Bag]

I remember we were getting a Lowe’s and having felt disappointed by the other big box I went in one evening when it was fully stocked and not had the grand opening. I walked the whole place and besides the different layout found even though it coved what seemed like a whole city block, there was nothing different. I have to say our little Ace hardware must have somebody paying attention in the ordering dept because even though the whole store could fit in just the space the checkout are in HD, it has more what I need. And the best part is, if they don’t have I KNOW HD 10mi. away hasn’t got it so go online.