DIY Electromagnet Spool of Magnet Wire

Magnetic wire often turns warm.

Are you ready for an exciting science project? Constructing an electromagnet spool of magnet wire will wow onlookers as your project physically attracts metal objects. The trick to giving your wire spool its magnetic effect is to charge the wire with an outside power source. Holding your completed project one inch above a pile of metal paper clips or steel BB pellets, for example, will demonstrate the electromagnetic power of the device as the objects become stuck to the spool.

Things You'll Need

• 12 inches of 30 AWG wire
• 3/4-inch-by-2-inch steel bolt
• Ruler
• 120 grit sandpaper
• Electrical tape
• Wire clips (1 set)
• 6 volt battery
• Metal paper clips (optional)
• BB pellets (optional)

Instructions

1. Place a 12 inch strand of 30 AWG wire and a 3/4-inch-by-2-inch steel bolt onto a work surface. Purchase the 30 AWG wire at your local electrical supply store.

2. Stand the steel bolt on its end. Wrap the wire tightly around the stem of the bolt -- beginning from the base -- until only the top one-quarter inch of the bolt stem remains exposed. A portion of the AWG wire will remain unwrapped. The length of the unwrapped portion will vary.

3. Rub one inch on the end of the remaining unwrapped portion of the AWG wire with 120 grit sandpaper to rough and remove the coating. Cover the tightly wrapped portion of wire with electrical tape. The spool is now complete.

4. Attach one end of a set of wire clips to a 6 volt battery. Attach the opposite end of the same wire clip set to the rough 1-inch end of the unwrapped portion of the AWG wire.

5. Pick up the spool by the body of the stem. Turn the spool upside down so the exposed one-quarter-inch end of the bolt stem is facing down. Hold the stem one inch above a pile of metal paper clips or steel BBs to see how many your spool attracts. Disconnect the power source to release the BBs. Disconnect the power source and allow the wire to cool if it becomes too hot to touch.

Tips & Warnings

• 30 AWG wire often remains cool to the touch. Alternatively, 22 or 26 AWG wire may turn warm quickly.

References

• Cool Magnet Man: DC Electromagnets