Magnet Closures for Small Leather Goods

[tamiclay]

I produce a small wallet size pouch that I have had a lot of problems figuring out how to make it close without impeding on the design of the pouch. The opening is a little over 3 inches. Its used to carry a cell phone and maybe some credit cards. A magnet would be perfect but for anything to get in the bag it would have to pass the magnet. Perhaps this is a stupid question but is there are magnet that is available that won't pose a problem for the cell phones and demagnatize credit cards - or even some sort of technology other than a zipper or snap that is available on the market that will fit well on a small leather good?

 

[taylog1]

How about a magnet using a Halbach array on the body of the wallet pointing out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halbach_array

and a piece of soft iron on the flap to clip onto the magnet ? - (see your local fridge magnet manufacturers for a source)

then you might be able to get your object into the wallet without dragging it over the magnet.

But watch out for the eelskin

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/906/do-eelskin-wallets-demagnetize-bank-teller-cards