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UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the kind words. If you like this instructable, please hit up the "Vote Now" link for the Green Contest at the top of the page.
This is the final product: A surprisingly strong magnetic key hook that takes just a few minutes to do. It is ridiculously inexpensive and does not involve replacing your existing plastic switch plate. I did not even use tape or glue. This is so easy I debated not even posting it. However, someone else may find the information useful. Keep in mind that you need to have the cheap, ubiquitous, builder's quality, plastic switch plates to make this work. The magnetic force will easily cross a plastic switch plate. Any other switch plate is YMMV.
When you are done, you can turn the light out and take your keys. I already have 2 key hooks mounted on the wall next to the light switch. However, my wife has insisted on using both hooks to wrap the 2 rings she has on her key chain over top my keys. I constantly need to take her keys off the hooks to get to my keys. Instead of make a Federal issue over it, I made the switch plate into a magnetic hook for my car key.
This is the final product: A surprisingly strong magnetic key hook that takes just a few minutes to do. It is ridiculously inexpensive and does not involve replacing your existing plastic switch plate. I did not even use tape or glue. This is so easy I debated not even posting it. However, someone else may find the information useful. Keep in mind that you need to have the cheap, ubiquitous, builder's quality, plastic switch plates to make this work. The magnetic force will easily cross a plastic switch plate. Any other switch plate is YMMV.
When you are done, you can turn the light out and take your keys. I already have 2 key hooks mounted on the wall next to the light switch. However, my wife has insisted on using both hooks to wrap the 2 rings she has on her key chain over top my keys. I constantly need to take her keys off the hooks to get to my keys. Instead of make a Federal issue over it, I made the switch plate into a magnetic hook for my car key.
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Signing UpStep 1Begin with a strong magnet and something to wrap the sides
Begin with a strong though small neodymium magnet. You can find them at hardware stores and on eBay. I had one lying around the house. I just found a rubber cap I had around the house. You don't have to use a cap. I needed it to bulk-up the magnet to wedge it between the switch plate and box. You could just as easily tape the magnet to the inside of the plate or glue it.
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Like, what if the magnet gets loose and sticks to the nearest ferrous object.
To others re hard drive, thanks for the info!!!
Indeed, I had a great deal of fun reading these comments! Thank you.
Could also be used instead of a hide-a-key because it could be placed somewhere a key shouldn't be like stuck to the under side of the eaves a bit down from the door, or the trunk of a nearby tree.
But a great, SIMPLE idea (which is probably why I never thought of it before HI HI) pure greatness!
Try a magnet from an old hard drive.
It will probably hold up a frying pan!
Just kidding, surprised how many people don't read other peoples posts! Looks like a great I dea thaat I'll be doing once I'm in my new house. Thanks!
And no, the magnet is FINE to have here. They don't use magnets to store information in the fob.
IF YOU HAVE A PROGRAMMED SMART KEY FOR YOUR AUTOMOBILE, you could demagnetize it... and loose your ability to start your car.
Worse, if your key becomes magnetized, you'll be carrying a new magnet in your pocket...and possibly erasing objects that it comes in contact with.
If you deal in magnetic media, jump drives, floppy discs, cassette tapes, credit cards, etc... this could be a VERY REAL RISK for you. USE CAUTION!
You don't have any risk of these things at all. Mythbusters showed that to erase a card you would need a magnet with such high Gauss that it would be gigantic in relation to the card.
And even still, you don't put the split ring on the same way each time--thereby negating the magnetic effect each and every time you put it on there.
If you look at the picture, it is the keyring that is feromagnetic. Not the keyfobs or keys. I've been using the magnetic hook for months with 3 vehicles: An Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes. The Audi and Infiniti fobs have no feromagnetic surfaces. The Mercedes keyfob is weakly magnetic on one side but it cannot support its own weight. You still need to use the key ring. The smart keys in the Audi and Mercedes are aluminum. The Infinitii is keyless entry.
In any case, nothing has happened to the switch, my key or key fob alarm remotes. Everything continues to work fine. Furthermore, I have not noticed that I have been found "more attractive" either. I had hoped this would have been an unintended consequence. :)
I already have to keep my cell phone separate from the credit cards in my wallet, I can't imagine the juggling i would have to do if my keys became magnetized as well!
So to each his own, I suppose?
http://shop.thefancy.com/product/magnetic-switch-cover
This just makes the DIY that much better.
I do wonder, however how well it would work here as the front plates on UK switches are fairly thick. Might be OK with a metal plate.
The only material I know of that acts as a "shielding" for magnetic fields is lead. If you had a lead faceplate, it would in fact block the field.
Every other metal either helps is (if it has iron in it), or has no affect.