Desktop hourglass filled with iron filings.

Watching the iron filings pile up like miniature spiky asteroids will certainly capture your attention.

The Magnetic Sand Hourglass is a perfect desktop curio.

Videos

Watching the iron filings pile up like miniature spiky asteroids will certainly capture your attention.
The Magnetic Sand Hourglass is a perfect desktop curio.
Video: Magnetic Sand Timer Demo Video

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Overview

The Magnetic Sand Hourglass is a fun desktop diversion.

Flip it over and watch the grains of iron stack up in seemingly impossible formations thanks to a magnet embedded in the wooden base.

The craggy configurations of the iron filings eventually build into an ordered hemisphere with a spiky surface. Like your favorite movie, you can enjoy watching the Magnetic Sand Hourglass over and over again.

Timer is approximately 35 seconds long.

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Features & specs

Dimensions (hourglass): 6" x 2.25" diameter
Dimensions (base): 3" x 3" x 0.75"
Timer: approx. 35 seconds
Materials: glass, wood, and iron filings
Ages 5+

Watching time fly has never been so interesting!

Check out the demo video below to see the Magnetic Sand Timer in action.

Magnets make everything better

Since the advent of useful timers (silent sand timer = bad idea), the traditional sand hourglass has served a purely ornamental function.

But by replacing the sand with iron filings and introducing a magnet, the Magnetic Sand Hourglass has flipped how we view the hourglass on its head (pun city!). Instead of a boring pile of sand, the Magnetic Sand Hourglass creates spiky, craggy structures as the filings fall.

Watching the iron filings pile up like miniature spiky asteroids will certainly capture your attention.

A mesmerizing tabletop distraction

Mentally blocked at work? Flip over the Magnetic Sand Timer and enjoy the show! Hopefully, it'll help spark that next big idea. Or at least give you something to watch instead of whatever frivolous "work" you've been tasked.

The Magnetic Sand Hourglass is a perfect desktop curio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Why do you call it an "hourglass" when the timer is only about 35 seconds long?

Answer: The shape is that of an hourglass, y'all! Plus, if you wanted an hour-long timer made from iron filings, you'd need a bigger desk! Iron filings are far larger (and heavier) than grains of sand. Plus, you'd need a ridiculously large (and expensive) magnet. Finally, due to the mesmerizing nature of the Magnetic Sand Hourglass, we wouldn't want to be responsible for eating up hour-long chunks of your day.

Question: Is it fragile?

Answer: Well, it is made of glass, so we don't recommend juggling with it. But, it's definitely sturdy enough for life on a tabletop or desk.

Question: Where's the magnet?

Answer: The magnet is in the center of the wood base.

Burning Questions: You Ask, We Answer

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First, please watch the video to the right. It explains the Burning Question feature and answers some common questions.

Now, if there is something that you need to know about this product that we've omitted, please send us an anonymous question and we promise to answer it within 1 business day.