[daniellarusso]

Really impressive work!

I am really interested in what you are able to come up with.

I remember taking apart old telephones with bell ringing mechanisms.

That might be a source of further design inspiration for you.

Maybe ballpoint pen springs?

I purchased a child’s xylophone to try something similar with, but the cost of the solenoids was a dealbreaker for me at the time ($6+ per solenoid on eBay).

[keredson]

Even more crazy were these "iron core for electromagnets" https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Ideal-making-electromagnets-inch..., 6" for $17.

Give me a break. Soft steel is >99% iron and I bought 4' for <1/2 that price from HD. Rip-off.

[keredson]

Hah, yeah, I think I saw them on Amazon for like $20. That seemed nuts; why I decided to roll my own.