Magnetic. Non-magnetic, durable  handle. Could see lots of use when the van
is running. For a Vanagon interior. Excellent clues, old man! Given these
clues, I would extrapolate that it is make to hold up pre-cut strips of
toilet paper for easy access near the portapotty. Ergo, Alistair is going
to Mexico! Bon Voyage!

Elementary, my dear Watson.

Jim

On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 5:47 PM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> Don't forget Elm, colloquially "piss ellum" by those who burned it indoors
> in a stove. So hard it was used for wagon hubs.
>
> Jim
>
> On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 4:40 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Allison, the gadget is of course, as you hinted on your blog, a third
>> hand.  So, when working on something on the van (or any vehicle, or
>> anything ferrous that can't be gotten to a vice or clamp, just use this to
>> hold it in place against a ferrous background.  The work item wouldn't
>> even
>> need to be ferrous, if thin.  Wood, plastic, non-ferrous metal, any could
>> be held in place against a ferrous base.
>>
>> Regarding dogwood, excellent for walking sticks and for mallets.  Gavels
>> are typically dogwood.
>>
>> Another wood besides lignum vitae that sinks is Osage orange, also known
>> as
>> bois d'arc, hedge apple, and horse apple.  It also will not rot, and many
>> a
>> house in the lower midwest and Texas is on bois d'arc posts rather than
>> concrete piers.  It was the favorite wood of Native Americans for bow
>> wood,
>> hence the French name bois d'arc (arch wood).  Woodworking tools are
>> ruined
>> quickly trying to work it, however.
>>
>> mcneely
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 2:01 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > The cup provides a path for flux lines from backside of magnet to get to
>> > the front, creating intense flux in the gap between them.
>> >
>> > Yrs,
>> > d
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 4:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Old shipwright gave me some scraps, wasn't from broken mallet.
>> > >
>> > > Yes, could use it for all those purposes, but isn't the primary use.
>> > >
>> > > The metal cup for the magnet I got from lee valley but must be
>> available
>> > > from many places. Sized for the magnet and has countersunk hole for
>> > screw.
>> > > I think they now have a notch in the side so you can get the magnet
>> out
>> > > again. Pretty well impossible to pry the magnet out of my version.
>> > > Supposedly the metal cup alters the magnetic lines of flux enhancing
>> the
>> > > attraction on that side.
>> > >
>> > > Alistair
>> > >
>> > > > On Jul 5, 2017, at 1:18 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
>> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > Very nice. Lignum vitae scraps? You must have had a woodcarving
>> mallet
>> > > come
>> > > > apart on you. Also sticking notes, maps and such to the dash of a
>> > diesel
>> > > > vanagon! Where'd he get the magnet with the pocket on one side, or
>> is
>> > > that
>> > > > just the way it appears?
>> > > >
>> > > > Jim
>> > > >
>> > > >> On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 3:03 PM Edward Maglott <emaglott3@gmail.com
>> >
>> > > wrote:
>> > > >>
>> > > >> to prop open a too loosely swinging vent window?
>> > > >>
>> > > >> Edward   (who once made a much less attractive magnet with stick
>> glued
>> > > on
>> > > >> for this purpose.)
>> > > >>
>> > > >>> On Wed, Jul 5, 2017 at 3:57 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
>> > wrote:
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> This little gadget might be too small for Felder industries to
>> bother
>> > > >>> with. It might be even considered silly, but it works.
>> > > >>> But just having a magnet on a short handle is handy for finding
>> > screws
>> > > >> etc
>> > > >>> dropped in the gravel or dirt.
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Most every van owner could use this, not saying many will, but
>> they
>> > > could
>> > > >>> :-)
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> https://shufti.blog/2017/07/05/vanagon-whats-this-gizmo-used-for/
>> > > >>>
>> > > >>> Alistair
>> > > >>
>> > >
>> >
>>
>