Switchable welding magnet or fixed arrow?
Updated: 18 October 2026
You are trying to align a corner, but the fixed arrow grabs the bench before it reaches the mark and comes out of the toolbox covered in filings. A switchable welding magnet solves that handling problem: place it while off, engage the lever and switch it off again for release and cleaning. It does not automatically provide more holding force. Our [welding magnet comparison](/hub/soldering-and-welding/welding-magnet) includes one switchable S&R model at £28.98 and fixed sets from £7.89 to £16.19. The right choice depends on how often you reposition the holder, not on treating a lever as a strength badge. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
You are trying to align a corner, but the fixed arrow grabs the bench before it reaches the mark and comes out of the toolbox covered in filings.
You are trying to align a corner, but the fixed arrow grabs the bench before it reaches the mark and comes out of the toolbox covered in filings. A switchable welding magnet solves that handling problem: place it while off, engage the lever and switch it off again for release and cleaning. It does not automatically provide more holding force. Our welding magnet comparison includes one switchable S&R model at £28.98 and fixed sets from £7.89 to £16.19. The right choice depends on how often you reposition the holder, not on treating a lever as a strength badge. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | On/off | Stated pull | Pieces | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  AB Tools AB Tools AT847_4PK | No | about 11.3 kg | 4 | 9.1 | about £11.03 | View offer |
| Best value |  S&R S&R 290.803.000 | No | 9 kg and 13 kg | 2 | 8.7 | about £11.95 | View offer |
| Alternative |  S&R S&R 290.103.100 | Yes | 12 kg side force | 1 | 7.2 | about £28.98 | View offer |
On this page
What stays on with a fixed arrow
A fixed arrow has a permanent magnet in a steel shell and is always active. Common faces hold mild steel at 45°, 90° and 135°. Multi-angle versions add positions such as 30° or 60°. You bring the body in under magnetic pull, so it can shift a light piece or snap onto the wrong surface.
The attraction continues after the tack. You may have to slide or prise the arrow off a broad plate, and every exposed face gathers grinding dust, spatter and swarf. Filings create an air gap on the next joint. A brush, tape or a plastic bag can clean the face, but you will do it again.
Fixed arrows remain the value choice for occasional home fabrication. The AB Tools four-pack costs £11.03 and states 25 lb per holder. Other four- and six-piece sets sit within roughly £8–£16. They let you hold several corners at once for less than one switchable model. If the frame rests on a flat bench and you make only a few tacks, the constant pull can be an acceptable trade. Force, angles and piece count come before type: see the welding magnet buying guide. A switch cannot fix a holder that misses the angle or does not sit flat.
The only switchable holder in this comparison
The S&R 290.103.100 is a switchable permanent magnet, not an electromagnet. It needs no cable. The lever redirects the magnetic circuit so you can place the body while off, activate it, and release much of the swarf after the tack.
The UK listing states 12 kg of side force and 45°, 90° and 135° faces. The shelf price was £28.98 on 16 October 2026, more than every fixed multi-pack here. Published dimensions conflict: the catalogue contains both 1 cm and 3 cm thickness figures, while the title says 3 cm.
The rating is 3.5 stars from 195 amazon.co.uk ratings, with only three UK review texts in the evidence. One values the lever because the holder stays cleaner. Two describe it as large without feeling as strong as its size implies. That sample is too thin for a sweeping verdict, and it is enough to reject the idea that a switch makes this the strongest option. Compare like with like. 12 kg is about 26.5 lb. The YESWELDER fixed listing states up to 50 lb, about 22.7 kg. Neither figure is a laboratory result from this comparison. Buy the S&R for placement and release, not because it looks more industrial.
When four arrows are the rational purchase
Choose fixed arrows when you weld occasionally, the work is supported, and you need several corners at once. Four 25 lb holders can stabilise a small rectangular frame while you check diagonals and tack opposite corners. One switchable magnet cannot cover four positions, so matching that coverage multiplies an already higher cost.
The AB Tools 25 lb four-pack is our top pick for supported light mild steel: a clear specification, a large review base and an £11.03 price. An owner report still shows a limit on a metre of 50 x 50 x 3 mm box, which is why no arrow replaces support. The best welding magnets page sets out that pick and why a 10 lb mini set is the wrong tool for long stock.
Choose the S&R switch when setup friction is the real cost: repetitive work, frequent moves on a large plate, and constant swarf. The lever helps when the holder must land precisely without grabbing a steel bench. It does not increase pull. Both types should normally come off after the tack. The switch makes removal easier. It does not change the method for using welding magnets.
Stronger on/off tools outside this table
UK search results also show switchable tools from Strong Hand and products commonly described as Magswitch clamps. Some are larger shop-floor devices. One Strong Hand 90° switch is listed around £105. Their pull figures and user experience cannot be transferred to the £28.98 S&R listing.
First4magnets also lists small and large switchable welding magnets alongside ordinary arrows, sometimes with ex-VAT and inc-VAT prices together. Those products are market context, not hidden rows in this ten-product amazon.co.uk comparison. Check the model, the pull direction and the tax-inclusive price before treating one switchable holder as another.
Buy fixed arrows if you want a cheap extra hand for occasional supported tacks and you value several pieces. Buy a switchable holder if placement, release and cleaning repeatedly slow the job and one holder covers the setup. Square the joint, support long work, and remove the magnet before you finish the weld.
Common questions
What does the on/off switch actually change?
It lets you position a permanent-magnet holder with the magnetic circuit disengaged, then activate it on the work. Turning it off makes release and swarf cleaning easier. It does not turn the holder into an electromagnet, and it does not by itself increase the stated pull.
Is the S&R switch stronger than a 25 lb arrow?
Its listing states 12 kg of side force, roughly 26.5 lb, so the headline is close to a 25 lb arrow. Real hold depends on contact, steel thickness and leverage. Available reviews do not support calling the S&R stronger, and two UK texts question its hold relative to its size.
Will a switch stop the holder collecting swarf?
It reduces the nuisance rather than preventing it. Steel particles can still reach the faces while the holder is active. When switched off, much of that debris releases more easily, so wiping the tool clean takes less effort than cleaning an always-on arrow.
Are Magswitch and Strong Hand included here?
No. This comparison contains one switchable S&R listing. Strong Hand and Magswitch products found in UK search results use different designs, prices and pull ratings. Their specifications should not be used as evidence for the S&R model.
When are four fixed arrows enough?
They are the sensible choice for occasional tacking of supported light mild-steel frames at standard angles. Four pieces can control several corners at once. Add clamps or another support when the work is long, upright or heavy enough that a released magnet would let it move.
Why does the switchable S&R have a 3.5-star rating?
The aggregate is 3.5 from 195 amazon.co.uk ratings, but only three UK review texts were available for analysis. Those texts value easy cleaning but raise concerns about size and practical hold. That limited sample supports caution, not a definitive explanation for every rating.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this set, last checked on 16 October 2026.
- HSE, Protect your workers from welding fume (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, Change in enforcement expectations for mild steel welding fume (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- HSE, Guidance on the safe use of magnetic lifting devices (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Eclipse, heavy-duty welding clamp data (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Euromag, ferrite magnets (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Tec Products, welding magnets (retrieved 16 October 2026)
- Goudsmit, feasible forces for magnetic grippers (retrieved 16 October 2026)