When you begin making your own frit, you’ll notice that there is a largish quantity of steel filings in the end product. Particularly as you filter down, the filings will end up in same container as the smallest particles, usually powder.
I find it fairly annoying to pull the filings off of the magnet, and they tend to get everywhere. This quick trick contains the filings, keeps your hands clean and work surface uncontaminated.
You will need the glass powder or frit, a rare earth magnet, a spoon and a ziploc bag. It doesn’t matter too much what size of bag, a long as it’s fairly sturdy.
Rare earth magnets are very, very strong, so they pull filings out of powder faster than regular magnets. Mine came from a dismantled disc drive, but you can buy them at any hardware store.
Start by turning the ziploc bag inside out. Then, stick the magnet on the spoon (I buy spoons at the thrift store for studio use).
Rare Earth Magnet on Spoon
Slip the spoon and magnet into the inside out ziploc bag.
Spoon in the bag
Stir the spoon-in-a-bag through the powder.
Stir Powdered glass
You’ll see that the rare earth magnet attracts filings very quickly.
Filings in powdered glass
Now, holding the handle of the spoon carefully pull the ziploc bag down and turn it inside out, containing all of the filings, and leaving your spoon and magnet clean.
Turn bag inside out
Now, the ziploc bag can be sealed and disposed of without spreading filings all over your studio.
Bagged Filings
If your powder needs more stirring, you can dispose of frit by holding the spoon over the trash can and pulling the bag away from the magnet, all of the frit will fall into the trash and you can stir more powder.