Some tips, for the newbies out there:

In general, any grouping of these will align in a grid, or interlaced. This has to do with lining up their polarities.

The cube is an example of gridded, and here's an example of interlaced (not my photo):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwedd459/4217988531/

These 2 alignments are the core of any design. When building something, create a single long strand so everything's in the same alignment, and then start creating smaller shapes.

Shapes that are great building blocks:
Triangles (9 balls per triangle). Will lay flat.
Hexagons (6 sides, like http://www.flickr.com/photos/kapgar/4179226676/).Will lay flat.
Pentagon (5 sided) Will not lay flat, sits in a slight cone shape.

From those 3 shapes, you can build countless things.

If you get mixed up, and 2 triangles won't "grid" lock together, just turn the circle "inside out".

Really not that much of a deal. Only saves about $6 over the best deal I can find elsewhere. Gotta do better! No Woot! this time. Sorry.

These are great! I paid $30 for one set at a kite shop in Ocean City, MD. These are great fun. Possibilities with these are endless. Make a long string and they'll all stick together like a chain, or you can mold them into just about any shape you can imagine. Gave them to my son for his birthday this weekend and my engineer-husband couldn't put them down. Great stocking stuffer!

Here is the direct YouTube video link, where at 1:30 they show how to get it back to a cube.

It's simple when one sees it being done, but I can understand without knowing the technique how it take months to still never know how to get it back to a cube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpM4A4657k&feature=player_embedded#!

And here's a bazillion YouTube videos showing people using Buckyballs in amazing ways (OK, you caught me, there's only 814 videos that show up on a YouTube search of "Buckyballs"):

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=buckyballs&search_sort=video_date_uploaded&suggested_categories=24,28,22&uni=3

One of my favorites, a girl who made a Buckyball spinning top!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2myfME_GfE

I CAN SEE I AM NOT GOING TO GET ANY WORK DONE THE DAY THESE ARRIVE.

yeawuteva wrote:Here's a little known use for magnets: Prevent corrosion inside your water heater; a magnet placed on the freshwater intake pipe catches damaging metallic calcium particles before they can get inside.

I'm thinkin, my freshwater intake pipe is copper... something to check out this evening when I get home...

I just wanna know what this is gonna do to the metal implant in my hip. Will I be able to get near to (or away from) these balls?

ashliana wrote:What do they make shotgun barrels and firing pins out of these days, anyway... ? :-)

I guarantee if you put a shotgun shell's worth of gunpowder behind them, they'll come out the barrel without any noticeable slowing.

I can't believe I'm going in for 3.

xeju wrote:So wait... Is there something special I can do if I buy 3x? I guess that'd be 1296 balls. Sounds like fun, but what's the advantage to buying multiples?

You can construct a 10x10x10 cube, with enough left over for 6x6x6, 4x4x4 and two 2x2x2.

You can construct a single structure 12x12x9, or 9x9x16.

There's probably even enough to simulate a necktie. Just be careful what you walk underneath.


This seems to be a good deal, but I guess I'm a neocube bigot.

Do you know what would be more dangerous than giving these to a 13 year old? Letting them fall into the hands of Magneto, he could wipe out a whole city. Woot you must lock down your Carrollton, Texas headquarters and secure the site. If he's "in for 3" that would be 1296 buckyballs of death to non-mutants. This world may cease to exist as we know it.

JokerTheImmortal wrote:These always remind me of that scene in X-men 2. Where Magneto yanks all the iron out of the dude.

I'd imagine thats what it would be like if you swallowed a whole set.

Wouldn't that be more like forcing a set INTO someone? (which I also do not endorse, unless you're married*)

*in 2 states

Caveat emptor! They're fun but not very durable. Simply squeezing the mass of magnets around in my hand caused much of the chrome finish at the poles to crack and flake off, after only a week or so.

Well if I bought three more (meaning six) on my other Woot account, could I make a box big enough for my head to fit in? Would that improve my brain power and thinking processes? Would it kill the head lice that nothing from Walgreens can get rid of so far.

I could leave it sitting on my desk and tell people it's some kind of super duper brain improvement thingamabob.

Or I could make a giant sheet and when people walk in I could tilt my head back and lay it on my face. Could tell people it does whatever.

Or could I make a mask to wear on Halloween, call myself "Metal Man" or something else. Seems it would be a cool looking mask, one made out of Buckyballs.

And those who have the skill, wouldn't it be cool to sculpt a mask of someone well known, to anyone, and to wear that as a costume.

Just thinking of all the fun ways to use these things.

Here is an unboxing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86NxTSegrSM

Taxes for New Yorkers? Good thing the coupon work for us too. TAX SUCKS

Jagg3d3d93 wrote:They inherently have each pole on each magnet.

+/- side to all spheres.

Does that mean that our planet is a bigger buckyball?

totally glad I waited up... I have been eyeing these (and playing with a friends) for AGES but just couldn't pull the trigger at $30/each.

Woot I love you!!! In for 2 - so I can share the magnet love as gifts =)

After they legalize Pot in California, these stupid things will get alot of use.

Let me know when Woot sells Monopole magnets.

Pssst... Check out seller Wowgame2009 on a certain auction site by the bay. ;)

Oh, and it IS POSSIBLE to build the 6x6x6 cube again.

well I just got christmas shopping done for 2 people Thanks woot!!

Seriously Woot? I literally just bought a set of these at the mall for $32 bucks. Now you're telling me I can get two sets for $28??? Not cool. Not cool at all.

(Okay, it's a little cool.)

I am totally going to use these as closures in some clothing and accessories I have in mind. I just wish I could afford more than one set!

bwalter01 wrote:Caveat emptor! They're fun but not very durable. Simply squeezing the mass of magnets around in my hand caused much of the chrome finish at the poles to crack and flake off, after only a week or so.

I was interested....but not if will not last. Pass.

For those of you who can't get it back into a cube, this is what I do. The cubes are 6x6x6. You make a strip of 6x36 and use a credit card to cut (non-magnetic strip side) every 6x6 and fold. Using a thin plastic card is the key. Zen magnets come with one in each pouch.

JOATMON wrote:I still haven't been able to get the smashed set into the cube configuration, and I'm afraid to actually open up the replacement set for fear I'll never get them back in the box either.

These things are amazing. One of the best mindless fidgeting toys I've ever bought.

That said, don't be too mindless when fidgeting with them. For example, do not make a bracelet out of them, then type on your laptop. Laptops have hard drives where wrists go. And these magnets will make your hard drive go "click" and stop working forever and completely destroy two days' worth of work that you were just about to back up and make you stay until 2am on Friday night because if you don't your boss will have an aneurism and your life will suck forever.

Uh, hypothetically speaking, I mean.

Be careful of cheap alternatives that have very poor quality plating (a lot of the sets on eBay for under $10).

I got these exact ones for my last birthday and they're pretty cool.

cheeser1 wrote:Hmm....

I would say "cheaper on Amazon" - but isn't Woot technically Amazon too now? How odd.

Edit: Yes, I know, woot is cheaper by $2 -- but really, saving $2 doesn't feel like a woot deal to me.

I concur, a deal yes, but a great deal? not so much. Plus the others come in a nicer tin rather than the plastic case shown here.

Pooracle wrote:Ok, just 2 things I have to say. Do NOT use these for jewelry. If you are not careful and give your grandad a hug with Neo earrings you can damage his pacemaker and kill him. Second, they are stronger than any ceramic magnets you have seen or used (the hard black kind.) But since they are so small they will not be incredibly strong. I have some larger and stronger 1" cubes that can break fingers if you are not careful. These are 0.5cm or about 1/5 of an inch and a weaker grade magnet. I'm guessing they're actually 1/6 and the 216 makes a 1" cube. But no, a cube of smaller spheres is nowhere near the same as a solid cube of this material. They are (unless it says otherwise) nickel plated which can chip or peel and damage the magnet over time - the iron will rust when exposed to air. Expect a few to chip the first time you play with them, but otherwise they're pretty safe and good fun. This size will not damage your credit cards either, but you still probably shouldn't swipe them all over the balls just in case...

goodness. Have you ever had a science class? And passed?

These look like a lot of fun, in for 2.

Sold these at work last spring. Before they could go on the shelves everyone in the store needed to sign an agreement that we would not sell the balls to anyone under 14 without an adult present. Not kidding.

They are freaking otterific though. You need lots of balls to make cool designs, so best off buying two of this deal (which is a pretty good deal, considering my store sold one of these for 28 bucks)

They won't kill your credit cards or hard drives either, the first thing we tested them on was the work computer. It passed the test.

Of all the things I have ever had no use for in my life, this may rank right up near the top of the list.

I've always had a weird love of magnetic toys and doodads... anytime I'm around magnets I seem to have loads of fun.

I'd be stupid NOT to buy these! Now I just gotta figure out if I'm gonna buy two (four sets! perfect Two for Tuesday item!) or one..

Hmmm.....

becmojo wrote:The problem with having this as an office toy is when you work with hard drives. Oops, I just killed everything.

That said, I'm just an intern. In for one [two].

If you ever get the urge to take apart a hard drive you'll find some very strong rare earth magnets inside. They're much more powerful these Buckyballs.
http://www.dansdata.com/magnets.htm

I have these in the disc version. They stack up from end to end and have practical uses like sticking stuff to fridges and filing cabinets when you're not playing with them. They're also way cheaper.
http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/c-9-disc-magnets.aspx

Incidentally I ran these magnets over a Kingston USB drive, because that's what guys do, and it didn't erase the data. Then I tried it with more powerful magnets I pulled from hard drives and that didn't erase the data either. But I bet if I get them near any data I need to keep, it'll be gone.

We own a set of these and they're the type of thing that you just kind of pickup without thinking about it, and just mess with while you're talking or watching television. They're lots of fun!

buffaloed wrote:
Incidentally I ran these magnets over a Kingston USB drive, because that's what guys do, and it didn't erase the data. Then I tried it with more powerful magnets I pulled from hard drives and that didn't erase the data either. But I bet if I get them near any data I need to keep, it'll be gone.

FYI Flash data won't be affected by magnets.

I have several sets of these in black, silver, and original (chrome). They are great fun.

I also bough a set for $13 here which included free shipping. They are the same size and the same quality. Not the same brand, but they shipped in a nice tin instead of this cheap plastic. I'll go get two of those and save $1.99 plus the $5 shipping!

KamikazeKen wrote:anyone ever tried packing these into a 12-guage cartridge? I'm thinking I'll never miss a target that has any metal in it.

Please note, your shotgun is made of steel. Propelling magnets down a steel tube at high velocity may have significantly adverse affects on your accuracy and the lining of the bore of your weapon.

Also, please remember, magnetic fields are very strong, but very short ranged. The "bucky-shot" would have to pass very close to the ferrous target to be drawn towards it and even in that case, chances are, any balls that missed but were close enough to be affected by the interaction of the magnetic fields would simple curve slightly around the target and then continue on. Mythbusters tested using magnets to alter the flight path of bullets, it doesn't really work unless you've got a stupid strong magnet doing the pulling.

john3xv1 wrote:Of all the things I have ever had no use for in my life, this may rank right up near the top of the list.

no use for them? of course, but still fun.

Sorry, the savings isn't there this time, Woot. Have to pass on it.

elpepe wrote:I have had these for 8 months and I still can't get them into the original cube no matter how many times I watch the video tutorial. It is imposssibleeee. My advice to purchasers today, enjoy that original cube while you still have it.

These are fun as The Strangers (2008)though.

I bought these on thinkgeek.com for $30 apiece a few months ago and I haven't been able to make a cube either, however, my artistic girlfriend sat down and figured it out. It takes oodles of patience, but you have to string them all in a line, count them out and begin making a 2D structure. When you have the right number counted out you have to roll them very carefully, one stack on top of the other. If you mess up once, you have to start over, these thing really wanna go CCP, but you have to force them FCC (materials chemistry). Good luck, I certainly don't have the patience, but they are fantastic tinker toys...just bought 2 more to give as gifts for X-mas.

barrywilliams991 wrote:Really not that much of a deal. Only saves about $6 over the best deal I can find elsewhere. Gotta do better! No Woot! this time. Sorry.

Oh good grief, not this again. Those other deals you mention are for ONE set, this Woot on two fer Tuesday is for two sets.

So the one who loses out is YOU, if you passed on this deal.

rasputin2012 wrote:F*cking Magnets, How do they work?

thank you icp...

haha