Here's a 15 minute mod you can do to a calculator that may save you hours of time in the future.
Pictures follow in order. I bought this scientific calculator for $2 at the local Dollarama Store. I've done similar mods to calculators in the past, but it always involved epoxy and magnets on the outside. I thought I'd try something a bit different with this one. I got a bit lucky with how it was made and the size of the magnets that I had on hand. Ok, I was really damn lucky... but maybe you can make something work with the one you have too.
1. Open up the case and decide where you can stick your magnet without impairing the function of the calculator (or any other tool/device, for that matter)
2. You may be able to remove some plastic like I did here, or find an empty spot in the enclosure. A dab of CA glue should keep them from moving around.
3. I put some tape over them to avoid any problems with the keypad contacts shorting on the magnets
4. Voila! No evidence of modification on the outside, yet it sticks very well to any ferrous surface. An added bonus is that when swarf and dust do get stuck to it, it will be easier to wipe it off than if the magnet was just glued on the back.
I'm sure there are lots of stories to share about using these nifty little magnets. Feel free to add your own to this thread without fear of "hijacking".
Sparky
