Hey there folks, new guy here with a question on electromagnets. Here's the deal: Am in Angola working for a charity clearing landmines and we're bothered by metal contamination on the minefields. We use strimmers to clear the ground prior to demining then use detectors to find the mines. Sounds easy but the mines contain tiny amounts of metal so every signal needs a thorough investigation which is an operation that takes time. Bit of a problem when there's metal all over the place. We've got lots of dead strimmers/brushcutters with good engines, lots of dead cars and honda 2.1 KVA generators about the place to yield parts. My idea is to stick a car alternator onto the strimmer engine and an electromagnet down where the blade would normaly be. Questions: What would be the most efficient way of using the above mentioned parts to turn them into a man portable electromagnet?Would the pressure plate from a clutch make a good magnet even though it's cast and has high carbon content? I envisage the magnet to be a disc about 20-30cm.What, where and how would be the best way to wind armature winding wire round a bit of car/truck/machine/tank to make best use of the power available?Would the 12V from the alternator be the way forward or is there some way of getting a higher voltage from a conventional alternator? They're 3 phase 110V inside right?We're also in a remote area in Africa so KISS applies!Many thanks in Advance.Jamie.