The Glade 4.0

http://www.getbuckyballs.com/

It is 216 rare earth magnets. They are slightly larger than BBs. The amount of magnetism housed in such a small package is astounding. Each one of them is a surprisingly strong magnet.

These are incredibly addictive. I have not stopped playing with them since Christmas morning. They were with me all day Christmas and I have brought them with me to work all week so far.

I want more sets, preferably one in black next.

_________________
This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Those look amazingly fun.

But I have to admit when reading the link, I was wondering why you would want to get Bucky's balls from Get Fuzzy...

I've been thinking about getting those for quite some time, but keep talking myself out of buying them because we're about to have a tiny child in the house. I just keep having visions of them eating delicious ball bearings....

Hm.. I feel ripped off! Years ago I got this same thing for Christmas, only the magnetism is very much weaker. You can't do any cool things with them as they don't support their own weight all that well. These definitely seem much more fun. :p

possible yours were dropped or heated and cooled? Remember, ferromagnets like this lose much of strength when subjected to either of these two events.

Hm, possibly. I don't really know the situation. My money was on cheap knockoff but this was so long ago I don't really remember. :p

Got a set last Christmas. They are definitely excellent.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

I got a set too... Lots of fun stuff to do with them. I'm using them to make big DNA strands atm...

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

Taamar got a set of these about 2 months ago and they're quite enjoyable.

_________________
Go back to zero, take a pill, and get well ~ Lemmy Kilmister

They are awsome! My BIL got some for christmas, I think I played with them more than he did.

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

So how did your sister feel about you playing with her husband's balls?

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

I am so glad I refrained from making the "playing with my balls" reference in my OP as I have been saying that since I picked these up.

Thank you, Kaffis, for going there for me.

_________________
This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

I had a feeling this was gonna surface too .... Geez Kaf...why didn't you Quote Foamy bout playing with his balls :p

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

I've been playing with small magnets for years. They're great fun when you're just idling at your computer. However, I will mention that you should expect them to wear out and break after a while (unless you're always super gentle, I guess).

edit: If they're spherical, they're much more durable than magnets that aren't.

I wear them as jewelry. Nice having balls hang around your neck. Sorry sorry

_________________
"None is more important, none more legitimate, than that of rendering the people safe as they are the
ultimate guardians of their own liberty."- Thomas Jefferson

"Yeah, I'm rehearsing my poker face. I don't handle stupid well. *sigh*" - Farsky

Must refrain...can't. Wouldn't you rather have a nice pearl necklace?

_________________
"Dress cops up as soldiers, give them military equipment, train them in military tactics, tell them they’re fighting a ‘war,’ and the consequences are predictable." —Radley Balko

EEEWWW but I would like real ones.

_________________
"None is more important, none more legitimate, than that of rendering the people safe as they are the
ultimate guardians of their own liberty."- Thomas Jefferson

"Yeah, I'm rehearsing my poker face. I don't handle stupid well. *sigh*" - Farsky

Whew. Took a while, but I was finally able to get them back into a perfect 6x6x6 cube.... They really don't want to go there.

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

If you build it from 2x2x6 bars it goes much easier. First make a single strand into a loop, then match that up for a parallel strand (rather than an alternating strand). Make a loop and flatten again and you should have a long 2x2 parallel strip. 'Cut' this this with an old credit card into 6 bead blocks and assemble carefully (sometimes the blocks try to become rings. Just pinch then back gently). When you put the blocks together position them for the parallel connection and if they resist roll the block over by one face and try again. It doesn't want to stick while it's being build, but is pretty stable once it's together.

I find it's faster to create a 12-circumference cylinder 6 high, then flatten it into a 6x6x2 layer. Repeat twice more, and then "reverse peel" the layers together.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Reverse peel?

Hmmm I need to try that trick..

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

That's what I did.

Where I had problems was getting the last two layers on (from 4x4x6 to the full block). I just couldn't get the polarity to match up right, but the pull between them was so strong they'd jump out of my hand and stick off center instead of on center- and then I'd have to tear apart something when I pulled them apart.

But then, I consider using a credit card cheating

For easy loops: Divide your set into 3 equal chains, then loop each, then double each loop... Double again, and split into thirds and you have 3 2x2x6 blocks from each third of the original chain.

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

My mom has a st of these. Spent an hour with them yesterday afternoon, really had to tear myself away.

She also got a Ball of Whacks for the kids, and it's also quite enjoyable.

What is it about magnets?

_________________
This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

My BIL took his set home...I need to get my own now

_________________


Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

pretty fun stuff...