may prematurely lead to fiber failure rare earth magnets are preferred for the clamping magnet due to their extremely high magnetic forces relative to other magnet types it is envisioned that the present gripping device including clamping magnet will weigh less than 1 kg and be used to test fibers of diameter 1 mm and smaller more preferably the device will weigh less than 100 g and will be used to test fibers of diameter 100 micrometers and smaller in certain desirable embodiments devices of the present invention can be used to hold and test fibers having an average diameter of less than 50 micrometers or more preferably having an average diameter less than 40 micrometers or more preferably having an average diameter less than 30 micrometers or even more preferably having an average diameter of less than 25 micrometers fig8 a illustrates a pair of exemplary devices and clamping method illustrated in fig1 a and 1b that can be used as upper and lower specimen holders in the testing system described in u s pat no 6 679 124 fig8 b illustrates a pair of exemplary devices of fig1 a and 1b using the clamping method illustrated in fig4 a and 4b providing a longer snubbing length for example one full wrap around a portion of the base 2 that is less likely to lead to fiber failure in the grip fig8 c illustrates a pair of exemplary devices of fig1 a and 1b using the clamping method illustrated in fig5 a and 5b providing an even longer snubbing length for example one full wrap around the lower portion of the base 2 and extending to the upper portion of base 2 that even is less likely to lead to fiber failure in the grip.