Next week I want to experiment with a magnetic fixing plate: someone's kindly lent me one so I'm keen not to damage it at all.

Once the poles have been aligned my 3mm steel billet sticks to it like sh*t to a blanket, but my tool paths end with a part profile contour that leaves tabs. I'm not expecting anything to go wrong, but would like to stick about 2 or 3mm of aluminium between the billet and the magnetic base as a buffer/sacrificial layer while I'm experimenting.

Smacking away with a wooden mallet the whole thing still seems rock solid - but has anyone had experience of a buffer between the magnetic base and the billet?

Thanks

L