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Fun and creative, this magnetic sand hourglass timer is actually just a novelty item and can not be used for timing. Instead, can be used as a beautiful decoration for our living room or bedroom. This is how it works when you turn it upside down. The filings filter through from the top globe into the lower globe. The magnet in the base of the “hourglass” causes the iron filings to build into a sort of furry tower. The filings won’t rust or clump because they’re in a sealed environment, so they will flow through when you turn the glass over every time.
Why does your magnetic sand hourglass only measure so little time – 45 seconds, maybe? Because to set up an hourglass that truly measures a full hour would require a lot of space and a lot of iron filings. Iron is heavy so you would need a special desk to hold it up. Your little sand timer will handily fit on any standard office desk without displacing your keyboard, laptop or ledgers.
This innovative item is sure to be a conversation starter at the office. Beginning with a question about what can you do with a 45-second timer? Well, maybe you can turn your eyes away from your computer and give yourself a brief mental break. You could do a desk chair mini-workout. Perhaps you could order lunch, especially if you do it early in your morning before the rush hour. Or you could walk to the water cooler and back – it’s an achievement if you return before the iron filings stop building.
