Nice method with electrostatic sparks through the coil to the ground, indeed. And good scientific approach. However, the silk/hair method still have some potential. The fact is - the heavily used sewing needles eventually became magnetic. IMHO, Rob's physics sounds somewhat perfunctory, he is probably just doing something wrong.

The metal thing can not take any static charge by rubbing - nonsense. But you hold the needle in your hand. And the hand - can. The hands static charge will flow off the surface of the needle to the air creating the electric charges motion required to generate the magnetic field. Though, I'm still not sure what causes the proper polarization when you move the needle in one direction along its axis (in solenoid the current must flow perpendicular to the needle in order to achieve the necessary magnetizing effect).