Magnetic spacer assembly for metal frame construction

An apparatus configured to temporarily support a pair of adjacent metal framing members during construction of a metal frame structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a main body portion comprising an outer tube with opposing first and second ends, a first support plate affixed to the first end of the outer tube, and a locking assembly coupled to a sidewall of the outer tube;
• and
• an extendable portion comprising an inner tube with opposing first and second ends and a second support plate affixed to the second end of the inner tube, the first end of the inner tube insertable into the second end of the outer tube so that the inner tube is slidably retractable and extendable relative to the outer tube, the locking assembly configured to contactingly engage a sidewall of the inner tube to establish a selected overall separation distance between the first and second support plates, each of the first and second support plates comprising a magnet that generates a magnetic retention force to secure the corresponding first or second support plate against a corresponding one of the pair of adjacent metal framing members during installation thereof,
• wherein the apparatus is characterized as a spacer tool utilized to install spaced apart first and second metal framing members of the metal frame structure using a process comprising steps of:
• adjusting the overall separation distance of the spacer tool to a selected distance;
• securing the first metal framing member in a selected, fixed orientation relative to the metal frame structure;
• contactingly engaging a selected one of the first or second support plate against a web portion of the first metal framing member so that a first magnetic retention force is established between the selected one of first or second support plate via the magnet therein and the first metal framing member;
• bringing a web portion of the second metal framing member into contacting engagement with a remaining one of the first or second support plates so that a second magnetic retention force is established between the remaining one of first or second support plate via the magnet therein and the second metal framing member, the first and second magnetic retention forces sufficient to support the spacer tool;
• securing the second metal framing member in a selected, fixed orientation relative to the metal frame structure while the first and second magnetic retention forces continue to support the spacer tool;
• and
• subsequently removing the spacer tool by disengaging the first and second support plates from the first and second metal framing members.