Toy train magnets and wheels

[CallMeKelly]

Does anyone know where I can get some magnets similar to those used on Thomas/Brio compatible wood train sets? If so, could you also clue me in on the best way to attach them... and one more thing... what size / types of wheels work best with wood train tracks?

My boys love their wood train sets and I'd love to be able to make a ton of new trains for them. I know there are other methods than magnets to attach the cars together but I'd like to stick with what they know if possible.

TIA, or thanks just for looking.

[lucky788scroller]

Kelly, you might try Ceramic Supplies, Craft, Gift and Hobby Supplies - National Artcraft. , or Scroll Saw Patterns, Plans, Scrollsaw Blades, Clock Parts, Woodworking Supplies or even Meisel Hardware Specialties . As for magnets, will these work? MAGCRAFT® Neodymium Magnets

[AKAkopa]

Check out Cherrytree toys. That is where I got my supply a couple years ago. They also had a plan for a magnetic train.

Pat

[marshall]

Kelly : just maybe if you have a local Hobby Lobby store or craft store in or near you house, this way you wouldn't have to order them> just a thought !! Marshall

[Jim McDonald]

Kelly,
Try attaching them with a spot of 5 minute epoxy. Finding the hobby magnets of the right size might be your quest and remember to align the poles of magnets properly when attaching or the cars will repell each other. (Not that I doubt your knowledge of this, just trying to prevents someone from making one of my common blunders)

[Rolf]

Be very careful with small magnets and kids toys. I believe there is new legislation and or warnings about that. It seems kids swallow the magnets and they attach to each other internally and cause all sorts of problems. It may be worth a search on the web.

[JohnB]

G'day Kelly,
I tried to to find that type of magnet for my toy trains, but:
A) I couldn't find any with a curve on the face
B) I was concerned about how to attach them, and as mentioned the risk of them coming loose.

I opted for a brass hook and eye, and place a drop of super glue in the hole prior to screwing them in.

[AKAkopa]

Just went to Cherrytreetoys once more to check on magnets. They have them in sizes from 3/8 of an anch up to 1 inch. Think they are 15 cents each. They also have what are called round head nails which you can use (after drilling holes in magnets) to attach the magnets to your train set. That answers John B's query as to how to get the curved over effect. They also still have the plans available for what they call a magnetic train which has working movable parts such as a crane car. using nails and/or magnets I would not suggest this for the real young.

As stated in my previous post---I have the magnets, the nails and the plans for this train SOMEWHERE in my garage. This project somehow or another got put on hold sometime in the past and everything got kind of stashed only Gawd knows where!

[AKAkopa]

EUREKA! Found my goodies for the magnetic train. Looks like I had the idea of making a bunch of these at one time--must have a coupla hundred half inch magnets with pre-drilled holes and an equal amount of the round headed nails. Also have beau coup train parts such as wheels, smoke stacks, bells etc. Also found the blue prints for this train and realized why I had not done one of them yet. Don't really care for the way it is made according to prints and was going to design my own style. Guess now that I found the goods and have a seed planted in my feeble little mind it's time to knock out a train or two.

[JohnB]

Thanks AKAKopa,
See you are never too old to learn something new.