Using an AC device as an electromagnet is inefficient, not a good idea.
Industrial lift magnets etc all use DC, the coil current is dependent simply on the resistance of the coil.
I have made controllers for scrap yard lift magnets and these use 100amps at 240vdc.
A shot of reverse current is usually required to avoid residual attaraction of the lift material.
These often get very hot, especially when working in hot environments, and lose their lift efficiency as the temperature rises, a water dip tank is often used to cool these off.
Smaller lift magnet applications do not usually suffer quite so much from this.
Obviously using DC on a AC transformer is going to produce a great deal of heat due to the lack of inductive reactance.
Max.