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Magnetic Feet DIY - Brian Spradlin Do you want to be able to pose your Stikfas with even more stability? Do you have a spare Altoids tin or two sitting around the house without a use? Then this is the perfect tutorial for you! With just 5 minutes (and the right tools) you can add some very powerful, 3mm wide "rare earth" magnets to the feet of your Stikfas figures. This allows them to stick to any metal surface securely, even just by one foot. Links for buying the magnets are also included, and hopefully will be the cheapest place to find them.  | | What you need: 1. 7/64 in. drill bit (for 3mm magnets, use a drill that matches your magnet width)
2. Drill (optional if you want to turn the bit by hand)
3. Stikfas figure (obviously)
4. 3 millimeter width "disk" magnets (click here or here)
5. Regular pliers
6. Masking tape |  | | Step One: Remove the Stikfas feet (or other part you intend to use) and get your drill ready with the proper drill bit. Find the spot in the toe of the Stikfas foot that you intend to place the magnet in. I usually drill right in the center of the "L" and "R" letters on the bottom. Start drilling, slowly. The flatter the magnets are to the bottom of the feet, the better they will stick to metal. If they are in at a slight angle they may not stick as well as others that are completely flush, so be sure to drill your holes in straight the first time! Important Note! Keep a very good grip on the foot as you drill! When you reach the depth you want you will feel the drill bit "catch" on a small hollow spot in the middle of the foot. If you don't have a good grip on the foot it can spin out of your grasp. Once you feel that pocket, you've drilled as far as you need to go. Stikfas customizer Justin also had this to pass on:
Rather than holding the piece with your finters, place it into a wad of Sculpey (that has been stuck to a flat surface.) This will hold it steady." |  | | Step Two: Remove the drill bit from the feet and clean out any extra bits of plastic that the drill may leave behind in the holes. You should now have two feet with holes ready for your magnets. |  | | Step Three: Prepare your pliers first by wrapping some tape around one end three or four times. This is very important if you want to keep from digging grooves into the top of your Stikfas feet as you press the magnets in. Once the tape is in place, set your magnet on the other end. It will stay conveniently in place, since your pliers are solid metal. |  | | Step Four: Place your Stikfas foot into the pliers with the magnet lined up with your newly drilled holes. There should be enough width to feel the magnet set in place before you start squeezing. Keep a firm grip on the foot again, as the tape on the one end of the pliers can make it too slippery to get a good hold as you squeeze. Now, simply squeeze the pliers together slowly and the magnet will be pressed into place. You might want to use the very tip of the pliers to fit it completely flush to the sole of your feet if necessary. |  | | Step Five: You're done! Both magnets should now be securely pressed into the Stikfas feet and should be flush to the plastic around it. Test them out by placing them on a metal surface and feeling how well they "grab" it. |  | | Step Six: Put your feet back on your Stikfas and have fun posing him on your refrigerator, Altoids tins, spray cans, paint cans... anything you can find that's metal! Just keep them away from your computer disks! |
As mentioned, you don't have to limit yourself to adding magnets to just the feet. The 3mm magnets are easily small enough to add to the chest (t-bolt) or even head (o-cap) of your Stikfas figure. Also, the more magnets you have linked, the stronger they become. If you drill a hole deep enough to hold two magnets, it will be able to stick to metal with much more force!
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