Warning: Do not buy those $60 magnetic screw holders on Amazon

Picked up a set of those magnetic wristbands and trays for a duct job in Phoenix. Spent 4 hours fishing screws out of return vents after they kept jumping off the magnets. Anyone else had these things fail on a metal ladder?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles44214d ago

Those Phoenix duct jobs get wild with the heat loosening everything up too, which probably doesn't help those magnets hold steady. Mason.brian makes a good point about the angle thing - once you tilt your wrist even a little on a ladder, those screws are just going to slide right off like they're greased. Idk, maybe those wristbands are designed more for flat workbenches than real world jobs where you're moving around in tight spaces.

mason.brian14d ago

I had a buddy who tried those on a roof job in Tucson and same thing happened to him. The magnets aren’t strong enough to hold a #8 screw through anything but thin drywall or flat surfaces. You’re on a metal ladder and every time you move, the whole band shifts and stuff slides right off. Plus if you’re reaching or climbing, the angle changes and gravity wins. Honestly I think people just leave good reviews because they unboxed it and it looked cool on their bench at home. Not saying your ductwork wasn’t a hassle but maybe the problem wasn’t all the magnets fault. Could be the placement or the type of screws you were using too. I’ve used a cheap magnetic tray from Harbor Freight for years with no drama.

king.aaron14d ago

Totally agree with you on the cheap magnetic tray. I use one from Lowes that was like $8 and it sticks to the side of my ladder or the ductwork itself. Hasn't failed me yet. I had the same problem with one of those wristband things a few years back on a big commercial job. It just couldn't hold a #10 screw when I was crawling through a ceiling grid. The band would twist around my wrist and the screws would catch on my sleeve. I ended up tossing it after two days. The tray is way more practical because you can set it right where you need it and it doesn't move. Ever try sticking one of those wristbands to a steel beam or the side of a ladder? It doesn't work. The tray just sits there and holds everything until you need it. You ever tried one of those bucket lid trays?