Testing blocks in the home shop

[GB SISSON]

I finally got back to this. I got sidetracked with a couple of other projects and then some cabinet jobs with deadlines. Buddie still hasn't cut those block off plates. There is another shop here that has one, but leaning back to plywood. BUT I have had success with the magnet. I continued to research the subject, finding way more info on google instead of looking at youtube. Some things I found:
Seems like 1 ohm of resistance is what we want. There is a table with the resistance of different gauge of copper wire per 1000' of wire. I determined I needed about 120' of 18 gauge wire.
A core of permeable soft iron makes a far stronger magnet than using steel, such as a bolt. I bought a piece 1/2" x 6" on amazon. 99.9% pure iron.
The core is wrapped with a few layers of tape or paper before winding. My spool ends are 1/4" plywood.
I had bought 2 spools of the wire, one 100', other 200'. I weighed them both so I would know when I was at 120' on the longer spool.
I wrapped the completed windings with friction tape. Product of 'duck tape co.' found on amazon and very nice to work with, much stickier than the stuff I remember my dad using, but still has that good smell.
My drive system is a variable speed right angle screwdriver. Hose clamp placed around the trigger gave infinite speeds. Modified six point 9/16 socket (live center)pounded onto iron rod.
The 'legs' for the magnet became a problem. Rod measured .058 and no drill bit, so I filed down the threads in some 9/16 tall U bolt nuts and pounded them on half heartedly, so as not to harm the rod, but when grinding the 3/4" rod pieces flat on my 6x48 belt sander, one wasn't seated and ended up cocked and a bit loose. Really got me p-o'd, but I will fix that tomorrow with careful filing and then lock with set screws. Even at that, my new little magnet easily lifted this 59AB head. The photo was the hard part, holding it up with my right hand while feeling around for the 'shutter' button on my phone with my left was a beyotch.. OK, late here, I probably put the rest of you to sleep already.