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1. Get the facts on "lifting power" versus "lifting distance"

Manufacturers often measure a magnet's "lifting power" in pounds of solid steel. This lifting power should really be called "holding power". Usually the lifting power statistics don't indicate the distance the magnet can pick up the weight. It only indicates the magnet's hold on this weight of steel without lifting it up. However, holding power is not as important as the lifting distance capability of the magnetic sweeper.

When comparing magnets for picking up debris compare maximum lifting distances and other features.

Holding power is a secondary concern. In fact, if you have too much holding power you may have trouble removing the debris from the sweeper. when designing some of our models and testing them with our industry partners, we've actually purposely decreased the magnetic power sometimes because the holding power was too great. Our testers indicated it was too hard to clean off the magnetic sweeper. The ideal is to have a lot of lifting power but not too much holding power that it creates a clean off problem.

Compare the lifting distance of our magnetic sweepers

2. How is "lifting power" measured?

There is no standard for measuring "lifting power". Some manufacturers use pounds of nails, some use pounds of a steel bar. All magnets will hold more pounds of a steel bar than pounds of nails because it's difficult to arrange many nails closely onto the magnet.

However while manufacturers refer to "Lifting Power" it should really be called "Holding Power" because it refers only to the maximum weight that the magnet will "hold onto" no where does it mention the height that the magnet can pick this weight up from. This is why Bluestreak does not consider "Holding Power" as good of a performance indicator. We believe maximum "Lifting Power" is a better indicator.

3. Common problems when comparing  "housing" sizes.

Be careful when comparing magnetic sweepers by housing width and depth. The housing is the part of the sweeper that encloses the magnets. The actual amount of magnet inside the housing can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The amount of magnet used will effect the lifting distance and lifting power of the magnetic sweeper. Magnets are expensive. So some manufacturers will space their magnets out in the housing or use thin, longer magnets. This leaves the housing partially empty. Therefore ask each company for the exact size and type of magnet that is in the housing. They shouldn't mind giving this to you.

At Bluestreak we tell you exactly what's in the aluminum housing for each of our sweepers. We pack our housing end to end with magnets so you get the best lifting distance with our sweepers. Some of our sweepers include a double or triple layer of magnets.

4. If you're planning on using your magnetic sweeper in grass, consider the ability of different sweeper options to deal with "wipe off".

"Wipe off" occurs when grass or weeds brush the bottom of the sweeper and the debris attached to it, causing the debris to be pushed backward on the sweeper bottom.

If the debris gets pushed far enough backward and out of the magnetic field of the magnet, the nails or debris you picked up can fall off. This can happen with many sweepers that have a magnet inside a housing, where the magnet is much smaller than the housing.

At Bluestreak we design some of our seepers with a "Wrap around" feature specifically to deal with this problem. If debris gets pushed backward, it simply snaps around onto the back of the sweeper and isn't wiped off.

If you want a sweeper with "wrap around", take a look at our "Roofing application" sweepers or look for "Wrap around" as a feature in the product description.

5. Comparing magnets.

If you're buying a magnetic tool, it probably has permanent magnets inside, either ceramic or rare earth. Rare earth magnets will always have a stronger magnetic field than ceramic. There are different grades of both ceramic and rare earth magnets that affect magnet strength. Higher number grades have higher strength. For example, Ceramic 8 is stronger than Ceramic 5.

Permanent Magnets

Bluestreak uses permanent magnets. When properly charged these magnets will never need recharging. At Bluestreak we are routinely asked how long the magnet will last or if it will need recharging. It will never need recharging. We have test magnets that we leave outside year round for years to test durability and weathering and they perform the same as they originally did. There is some confusion in the marketplace because some magnet models of competitors have "replacement magnets" available for purchase.

Ceramic Magnets

Bluestreak uses Ceramic magnets, grade 8 in our ceramic magnet sweepers. Grade 8 is the highest grade of ceramic magnet providing greater power than other grades such as grade 5.

6. Next, seriously consider how you are going to adjust, clean off and otherwise use the magnetic sweeper.

Try and visualize yourself using the magnetic sweeper in your situation.

Are you going to need a certain sweeping height? If you're in grass, you don't want a magnetic sweeper with a fixed sweeping height of 1" because it won't push through the grass, you'll need 2 or 2 1/2" of sweeping height for grass and you'll also need a magnetic sweeper with "wrap around" capabilities.

Is the magnetic sweeper you're looking at going to have enough power to pickup what you need to pickup? Look at the manufacturers specs on lifting height or ask them directly and look at their videos. If a retailer doesn't provide this information make sure you can send the unit back if it doesn't perform. The bottom line is, make sure, because all magnets are not created equal, and you can't judge much just by looking at the size of the exterior housing, alot of the time there is just a lot of empty space inside housings.

For each magnetic sweeper, it's important to think about what the clean off process is. What are you going to have to do? Are you going to have to wipe it off by hand? do you pull a lever to clean if off? does it have a removeable sleeve to clean it off? where does the debris go? how are you going to pick up the debris to get rid of it? what are you going to do with the debris once it's picked up? Look at what similar buyers say about the product, especially if they are using it in the same conditions you have.