Ashley 1/28/12

I wanted to pass this inquiry on from the PACCIN website. Any suggestions? ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** I am wondering if anyone has had success securing sculptures with magnets. I am concerned with increased security in the case of an earthquake. The works in question are already mounted well on bases with steel plates on their bottoms. The client moves their artworks regularly, so wants flexibility and will not consider clips to secure the bases to the shelves. I was wondering about using rare earth magnets below the shelves or tabletops to further secure the steel plates on the bases to the shelves.

If anyone has experience/advice, I would really appreciate hearing it.

Thanks, ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* My thanks for any insights or experiences that you might be willing to share. Cheers, Ashley

-- T. Ashley McGrew PACCIN Publications Chair Art and Object - Integrated Preservation Systems 3749 2nd. Avenue La Crescenta, CA 91214 (646) 265 - 5526 ashley@pacin.org

Chris Harrison 1/30/12

Ashley, I've been using some heavy duty magnets to secure the back panels of some wall cases for over 4 years now and have had great success. These panels are z-clipped at the top so the magnets are just there to keep the panel from shifting during install/de-install. They are not really bearing any of the weight. I have not tried them in the way you suggest in your email but I don't see why they wouldn't work there too. One difficulty I encountered with my panels is the need for a method of breaking the magnetic hold without scratching the surface or edge of the panel. The same will be a consideration in your application. You will want to experiment  of course. One other consideration: The magnets I use are only effective when in direct contact with the steel plates that are mounted to the back of my MDF back panels. And these magnets are very powerful dudes (about 3" in diameter and 3/4" thick!). If your thinking of moving the works around then routing the magnets into the shelf or table top is probably not an option. Its hard to tell how effective magnets would be through the thickness of a table or shelf.... Good luck! Chris