Jeff R. wrote:

There is a safety issue, however, particularly with adolescent
kiddies. They have a two-stage magnet:
1) when you press the "on" button, the magnet comes on gently - just
enough to hold the keeper in place on the job.
2) when you lift the arm up, a microswitch turns on the main clamping
magnet, which is one mother-of-a-magnet. (*tons" of clamping force,
it feels like)

Aye, I did notice that when he put the workpiece on the unit it "stuck"
enough to hold it there for positioning, but less than when he actually
turned it on. Thanks, it makes sense now.

Jon (who likes his fingers in three dimensions thankyouverymuch)

BTW: here is the URL for the local one; dunno how much they go for new:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/tls/2157422533.html