I have a mini wood chess board that I am converting into a magnetic set, but to do so I need a small sheet (3.5” x 3.5”) ferrous metal. Any idea where I can find this? Seems super simple, but my search so far has been fruitless.

Edit: thanks so much for the recs everyone! My biggest problem is finding it cut to the right size, the nice woodworker helping me has no metal cutting tools so I need it to be 3.5” square already.

I’m not really a fan of Amazon but for your purposes you could just order a piece of plain steel by your dimension. Nothing fancy.

Be careful as some stainless steel’s are non-ferrous.

I tend to use these guys for non-blade materials:

https://www.onlinemetals.com

Check out Ebay for 20 or 24 gauge sheet steel:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.htm...sheet+steel&_sacat=0

This is something commonly used in tabletop wargaming to make "movement trays" or to line miniature transport boxes.

Alternately, people use self-adhesive magnetic sheets coupled with small neodymium magnets on the base of each piece.

If you're not already committed to a plan, googling a tutorial on building a "movement tray" will get you many results to help you out.

How thick do you need?
I can raid the "leftovers pile" at work tomorrow for a look.

I found this at Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ev...eet-801447/204225782

12" x 18" 22 gauge for $11.58- even have some in stock at my local store.

Tractor Supply

It also might be worth a trip to your local dollar store with a magnet. You might find something you can repurpose for $1.

Edit: Look for an old speaker grill. If you don't have something laying around, try a local audio shop. I'd give you a grill if you stopped by my shop. Getting harder to come by, but usually some stuff laying around. The mesh will work fine for sticking a magnet-doesn't have to be a sold sheet.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
How thick do you need?
I can raid the "leftovers pile" at work tomorrow for a look.

Thanks! I already have the board made (someone made me a gorgeous maple and walnut board), I have the magnetic pieces… all I need is the piece of ferrous sheet in the right size. I think 1mm thick should be good enough, maybe even a bit smaller. It just has to be thick enough to attract the pieces. 3.5” square.

Homedepot

Look in the section with threaded rod, angle iron, etc.

They sell small sheets in various gauges and sizes.

They sell thin sheets you could use snips to cut your squares

SIGnified, I think that’s exactly what I’m looking for!

reloader, if the selection at Home Depot isn't what you're after, give me a shout.

Reloader, I’d take the scrap offered to you by Vthoky. It’ll save you $20 bucks

Mcmaster Carr or a local sheet metal shop.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
reloader, if the selection at Home Depot isn't what you're after, give me a shout.

Thank you so much! If you happen to have a 16 or 20 gauge lying around that’s 3.5”, let me know! Otherwise I’ll use SIGnified’s link, it’s exactly what I needed. ($22 total)

Glad to help! Email me please, so I'll have your contact info. I'll check the stack in the morning and email you back.

OK reloader… We expect photographs when you’re done with your project.

FWIW Metal Supermarket LINK has stores across the country. There’s one near me, I needed a small piece of a certain steel for my buddy to make me something. I walked in told them what I needed, and they cheerfully cut a small piece of stock and handed it to me. Price was coffee shop money, you might look at the link and search for one near you. They have a LOT of metal, all types and sizes, custom cut, whats not to like.

I liked their selection, service, price and attitude so much I bookmarked and saved the info.

EDIT TO ADD: how a piece of flexible flat magnet? I imagine it should cut to size easily using shears or scissors or a razor knife, and should work for your purpose, if I understand it correctly. Link to this
Or google “flexible flat magnets”, there are tons of options and cheap prices, colors, etc.

Any local HVAC company could cut you a piece from their scrap.

Or I could send you a couple.

Just shop the local trash along the road, as in the trash people put out for pick up.
You just need to be a bit creative thinking.