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.

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.

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.

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.