An adhesive magnet (“peel and stick” magnet) is one that is coated with an adhesive so that it can be stuck to a non-metallic surface. Adhesive magnets can be found in most hardware stores and can be purchased online in virtually any size. They are often used in construction, crafts, and tapestry. Adhesive magnets are similar to magnetic tape, but should not be confused with magnets that have been attached to a surface with hot glue.

 

How Adhesive Magnets Work

An adhesive magnet can be any type of magnet, whether ferrite or neodymium, that has been coated on one side with an adhesive. Generally, adhesive magnets come with a plastic or rubber sheet that covers the adhesive side to make sure it does not stick to anything during handling. The adhesive used is often a JB Weld or Loctite solution and is specifically designed to have high resistance to heat, electricity, and moisture without interfering with the magnet’s properties. Adhesive magnets can be either single-sided or double-sided, although the former is much more common.

 

Applications

Adhesive magnets are often used in construction to keep cabinet doors closed. While hot glue or super glue is sometimes used for this purpose, adhesive magnets are much stronger and last longer. Adhesive magnets are also used in crafts for miscellaneous purposes, such as converting business cards into business magnets, keeping small doors closed, and holding frames to other objects. Likewise, adhesive magnets can be used in tapestry and fashion for use with fabrics.

 

Advantages

Adhesive magnets are advantageous because they remove the need for nails, screws, and other adhesion methods that destroy surfaces. They can also be used in a much wider variety of applications than these other methods, without requiring the user to have any special skill or equipment to apply them. Adhesive magnets are cheap and last longer than regular magnets that have been glued to a surface, as they do not chip or lose their bonding with time.

 

Disadvantages

Adhesive magnets are very difficult to remove once they have been attached to a surface and doing so will typically result in damage to the surface. They are also extremely sticky once the protective sheet has been removed and may leave their glue on anything that comes in contact with them, such as the user’s fingers or surfaces they are accidentally dropped on.