magnetic silly putty

Thinking Putty (also known as Silly Putty) is a silicone polymer children's toy. Silly putty is fun because it has some unique properties: it is viscoelastic, meaning it can be stretched and shaped and mashed back together again; and as its apparent viscosity increases directly with respect to the amount of force applied (read: it can be torn or shattered with impact). Silly putty is a non-Newtonian viscoelastic polymer, better characterized as a dilatant fluid. Also, it bounces.

Ok, enough science. I'm sure we've all played with Thinking Putty in our youth, but how about magnetic silly putty?

By adding a ferrous component to an already wacky toy we can keep all characteristics of the original putty, but now have the additional dimension of magnetism! I've seen magnetic thinking putty for sale on other websites, but I'll show you how you can make your own for a fraction of the price and in about 20 minutes.

Enough talk, let's make some magnetic putty!

Step 1: Tools + materials

tools: disposable gloves (latex or other) disposable face mask disposable work area (paper plate)

materials: Thinking Putty ($2.00 or less) - any colour ferric iron oxide powder (artist supply stores) neodymium magnet

The secret ingredient that makes the putty magnetic is an iron oxide powder, which is ferric (magnetic). Ferric iron oxide is a fine powder used as black pigment and can be found at art stores. If your local artist supply store doesn't carry it, you can always purchase it online.

Comments

[mikeasaurus]

No.
Oxide powder is found in lots of pigments and is a descriptive term used for the mashed up minerals used to create what particular pigmentation, not all oxides are magnetic. Iron oxide is ferrous (magnetic) and is found in black or red.

But iron isn't the only magnetic mineral that is used in pigments. There might be another colour that works! Why not bring a magnet to the store and see which ones are magnetic? _{^{(hint, hint!)}}

I'll even double the 3-Month membership and throw down mad patches to anyone to post a colour other than black!!

[ian9114]

is this the stuff i don't want a whole lot, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005VEDM0K/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2BHZF73QCEZYR

love the Instructable

[mikeasaurus]

Black Iron Oxide pigment, looks like the same stuff I used. Good luck!

[ian9114]

I have glow in the dark silly putty do you think it will still glow after i mix in the Black Iron Oxide

[mikeasaurus]

I doubt it glow in the dark putty will retain that characteristic after mixing, black iron oxide is a pigment.

[glagar5678]

o. my. goooooooooosssshhhhhhh! thats amazing!!!

[moskay]

Awesome

[yinyumi]

Where can I buy the Thinking Putty & neodymium magnet??? I really would like 2 know i'm making christmas gift 4 my family @ last minute.

[jmcconnell5]

I made some of my own, here it is with a magnet inside that was absorbed by it :D
I tried adding a green chalk like substance to make it green again and it ended up being a dark olive drab, so it didn't work too well...

[gumcrazy]

This looks fantastic! I'll swing by the art shop to see if they have what I need

[jhuang7]

can i use Precious metal because i dont have any iron oxide powder

[mettaurlover]

No, it has to be ferromagnetic in order to work, and I'm reasonably certain that no precious metals can stick to magnets.

[mitch and sean]

Is it the smart mass thinking putty or can it be bouncing putty . Does it have to be that exact putty.

[yapoyo]

it relies on the iron so u can use any putty

[yapoyo]

Any putty my friend.

[dzmelik]

Yea I'm not sure which putty we need

[kooldoode]

But if silly putty is a silicone based substance wouldnt hitting it with high voltage heat it up and possibly turn it into a glass like substance?
haha my little bro made silly putty in his class, may borrow it for experimentaion......

[Yokel]

Nope, it might if the silicone was actually silicon ...

[ncaguioa]

i used magnet sand well i came up with the name..
1.get a magnet
2.bury it in sand
3.take it out
4.and waaaala here is magnetic sand!!!

[almateus]

I didn´t read the 432 comments, so I have to ask you if someone else talked about it. You can make your own black iron oxide using very simple things: steel wool, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and household ammonia. I am a chemist and I can write an instructable for this (if nobody did it already). Unfortunately it is hard to find silicone putty here in Brazil... I will have to try this with white glue slime instead.

[mr.mountaineer]

Would fine steel shavings like this from grinding work?

[mikeasaurus]

I caution against trying it.
Steel will work as it's ferrous but I have reservations about using anything other than a fine powder, like the one I show in this project. For reference here's my first attempt at this project using finely cut steel wool, the results worked but I got painful slivers in my fingers no matter how fine I cut. You may find that though your 'shavings' or 'grindings' get stuck in your fingers. 

[mr.mountaineer]

Thanks for the reply. but i still might have to give it a try. some of the shavings are as fine as powder so maybe I'll try to find something to sift it with. they say nothing ventured nothing gained and whats a few metal shavings in your fingers for science. and if it don't work I'll have to find some of that stuff in a jar. Thanks for the advice.

[Rebreg]

Yeh really fine steel should work. My dad have a metal shop and I have been collecting lots of shavings

[darman12]

One question, when you play with the putty, will it ferric dust get left behind, or will the putty hold on to it?

[slash51]

Old hard drives have a powerful magnet in them. New ones do too but ...

[darman12]

I have this Instructable outlining how to take apart a hard drive, if anybody wants to go about getting the neodymium magnets: GEEK-TO-YOU: How to take apart a hard-drive (humor included)!

[darman12]

Nice Instructable! It's gonna be so much fun! Also, you have 101 Instructables...binary for 5...I just geeked out :)

[AussieAnglerGal]

totally cool!

[jpineda6]

Hey man can i replace the neodymium magnet for any magnet.

[mikeasaurus]

Don't any magnet has the magnetic attraction that neodymium magnets do and might not be able to overcome the viscosity of the putty. Luckily neodymium magnets are inexpensive, I just saw some at the Dollar Store recently!

[Kiteman]

Don't feed this to any hamsters!

[Terranan]

OMNOMNOMNOM MAGNET

[jhuang7]

Does it shatter?

[or_ford98]

the real question is... but will it blend?

[fantastikrauss]

This guy gets it.

[BLUEBLOBS2]

(removed by author or community request)

[lemonie]

What are you just saying?

L

[techno guy]

How do you polarize the putty?

[mikeasaurus]

You can polarize the putty (albeit temporarily) by having the magnet rest against the putty for a few moments (without the putty devouring the magnet). When the magnet is removed the putty should keep it's polarity and be able to lift small, light objects like tacks and paperclips.