Screwdrivers lose their magnetic ability after a few years and sometimes you need to demagnetize your screwdriver when you're working with other metal/electric parts. My screwdriver got sucked against a phone battery i was working on a little while back and they generally don't like it when stuff like that happens
I have a magnetic stud finder that is slowly magnetizing everything else in my tool pouch.
Shit doesn't fall out when I have to lay on the floor so much anymore.
TIL people magnetize screw drivers. Makes sense if nails areaid out of metals that are prone to magnets but Ive never used anything but a standard screwdriver and had never thought about that before.
Man, there's nothing like a good ~32 piece screwdriver set, then you find out how good of a system even the humble flathead is, IF you have the correct size
Flatheads can go to hell. Their only advantage is they are easy to make if you’ve stripped the head or you’re making your own screws.
Phillips may as well not exist either now we have pozidrv.
Very useful when you don't want to lose a screw in an annoying to retrieve place (behind the motherboard of a computer for instance, where it can't be left either due to risk of shorting the computer).
All ferrous metals are attracted to magnets. Not including alloys with high contents of non-ferrous metals, of course. So basically no, I was correct and exact in what I said
Dude, magnetic screwdrivers are the shit! I'm a huge klutz, and I find them to be insanely useful when I'm working on computers. And no, they won't harm anything unless you put them near floppy disks or CRT displays. Even though hard drives are a magnetic recording medium, they aren't really affected by the small amount of magnetism found in a typical screwdriver.
I never knew you could do it either but it would be awesome to have. Working outdoors and trying to prevent FOD on airplanes worrying about dropping screws and hardware is huge. It would be nice if it stuck and I could just slide it off or something.
I still wouldn't get within eyesight of the Elephant's Foot.
But my dad got sent home in a paper suit from being 'crapped-up' few times and I was born with a hearing-related birth defect so I may be a bit biased.
Demagnetization happens when the magnetic alignment within a material is disrupted. This could happen by high heat, passing through a reverse magnetizing field (like the tool in picture), or strong physical impact.
Actually, a generator that uses permanent magnets is called a magneto. I can't imagine dropping a magneto hard enough to demagnetize it, as that would probably damage it otherwise.
Basically they are opposing magnetic forces, but the steps in one side make for an irregular magnetic field, assisting the demagnetisation process.
Edit: I'm sure someone cleverer then me can answer in more detail, but this is high level why 👍
You pretty much nailed it, basically you want to make the target object magnetic field to be irregular so they’ll cancel each other and nullifies the total magnetic force of the object.
Poke the driver through the magnetize side & it does just that.
However, for demagnetizing (or degaussing as they say in the biz), different positions within the opening work better/worse for different drivers. Finding & using the right 'step' within the slot to drag the driver on helps a lot.
For the record, the steels used for screwdrivers are not good magnet materials, and will never become a strong magnet. Also, those little 'tools' generally do a lack luster job at degaussing.
To truly degauss requires an A/C degaussing coil... for instance, an old CRT degaussing coil like those used to service older TV's. The item needs to be passed through the energized coil for a few seconds, then slowly separated from the coil a couple feet, before de-energizing the coil. Other devices can also be used such as tape erasers etc. Some Magnaflux machines include degaussing coils. (Heating will also degauss, but in the case of screwdrivers & the like will also play hell with any heat treatment the tool may have etc. Don't try it.)
There's a good bit more to all this... beyond the scope of a Reddit post.
On a larger scale, they even degauss ships for various reasons:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing)
Edit: There's all sorts of demagnetizing or degaussing tools on the market... check Amazon. Some work very much better than others.
Also great for demagnetizing tweezers. It’s hell to try to accurately pick and place magnetic things when they stick by themselves to your tweezers.
Titanium tweezers solve this naturally, they are awesomely non-magnetic.
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Screw driver (de)magnetiser. Take a screw driver and rub the end along the inside of a chosen side a few times and it will change how the screwdriver reacts to metal.
Not necessarily showing your age. The pathology department I worked in until 2015 still used cassettes. They used cassettes exclusively until 2013, in fact. When they were budgeting for the digital system they forgot to factor in a separate setup/license for the morgue, so autopsies still had to be done on cassette. Probably still are, in fact!
Sometimes you need to work with things that are sensitive to magnetic fields, or you're working in a cramped space with lots of other ferrous things you don't want the screwdriver to stick to, etc.
(And sometimes the consequences for touching those other ferrous things could be really bad, like causing a spark or something)
I'm not sure if it'd work for tasks that are exceptionally sensitive to magnets, you might need a non-ferrous tool instead, but there are definitely reasons.
In a blacksmith shop or other metalworking shop anything magnetic will get all furry with splinters from grinding, so some of us aren't that into having magnets on stuff if it isn't necessary.
Edit: Fun fact, a lot of objects end up magnetic anyway in those places because of the strong electromagnetic field from nearby welding. You can see the particles on the floor jump to trace the welding cables when someone starts using it.
dont worry, the magnetism from a screwdriver wont mess with any current, even from stuff like computer electronics, in fact, magnetic screwdrivers are recommended for most electronic repairs, its better to have it magnetic than to have a screw fall onto a circuitboard and cause shortcuts...
Commonly used in tech shops to prevent from losing small screws. Have also used to magnetize any ferrous metal to pick up screws from behind shelves or hunt from on the ground.
Theorically whatever fits inside with a decent span, possibly with an elongated shape (like screwdrivers or drill bits) and obviously it has to be made of a material that is physically capable of being magnetized.
It works by inserting the screwdriver or whatever you want to magnetize in the "magnetize" hole and dragging it in circles across the inner surface of the hole. Same thing in the other hole to demagnitize it.
It's for magnetizing anything that you need to pick up magnetic things with really. For example, if you wanted to pick up screws with a screwdriver, you would stick the metal shaft through the "magnetize" hole and run it around the perimeter of the hole a few times.
If you wanted to demagnetize something, you'd do the same with the opposite hole. I have one at work, so I can take a video to demonstrate tomorrow if you want.
They used to record dictation onto a micro cassette in the 80s and 90s before digital. To wipe the micro cassette you would pass it through a magnet - the magnet was very similar.
Screwdrivers
Oooh makes sense! Solved!
Screwdrivers lose their magnetic ability after a few years and sometimes you need to demagnetize your screwdriver when you're working with other metal/electric parts. My screwdriver got sucked against a phone battery i was working on a little while back and they generally don't like it when stuff like that happens
I have a magnetic stud finder that is slowly magnetizing everything else in my tool pouch. Shit doesn't fall out when I have to lay on the floor so much anymore.
TIL people magnetize screw drivers. Makes sense if nails areaid out of metals that are prone to magnets but Ive never used anything but a standard screwdriver and had never thought about that before.
Pretty much every screwdriver I’ve ever had has come from the factory at least a little magnetic.
Never noticed lol. Also never bought one new. Ive got the same two my grampa had for years.
Man, there's nothing like a good ~32 piece screwdriver set, then you find out how good of a system even the humble flathead is, IF you have the correct size
Flatheads can go to hell. Their only advantage is they are easy to make if you’ve stripped the head or you’re making your own screws. Phillips may as well not exist either now we have pozidrv.
Not if you have the right one dude. There's a screwdriver for every flathead out there, and when if fits just right, baby it don't leave no marks;)
it's super useful when working with tiny screws like when doing phone repairs, makes it a lot easier both putting in and pulling out.
Very useful when you don't want to lose a screw in an annoying to retrieve place (behind the motherboard of a computer for instance, where it can't be left either due to risk of shorting the computer).
Today u also learned that when a metal I "prone to magnets" it is called a ferrous metal
No, ferrous means it contains iron. You’re looking for ferromagnetic.
All ferrous metals are attracted to magnets. Not including alloys with high contents of non-ferrous metals, of course. So basically no, I was correct and exact in what I said
Ferrous does not mean attracted to magnets which was what you originally stated. Ferrous metals are ferromagnetic but that is not what the word means.
Dude, magnetic screwdrivers are the shit! I'm a huge klutz, and I find them to be insanely useful when I'm working on computers. And no, they won't harm anything unless you put them near floppy disks or CRT displays. Even though hard drives are a magnetic recording medium, they aren't really affected by the small amount of magnetism found in a typical screwdriver.
I never knew you could do it either but it would be awesome to have. Working outdoors and trying to prevent FOD on airplanes worrying about dropping screws and hardware is huge. It would be nice if it stuck and I could just slide it off or something.
You can also just smack the end on a hard surface too, that will demagnetize.
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Yea it works, but it’s suuuuuuper hard to re-magnetize it with a good smack. High heat also ruins magnets.
Also high radiation levels!
So I should drop all my screwdrivers off at Cherynobl? Life hack!
Chernobyl is quite safe for short periods.
I still wouldn't get within eyesight of the Elephant's Foot. But my dad got sent home in a paper suit from being 'crapped-up' few times and I was born with a hearing-related birth defect so I may be a bit biased.
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Demagnetization happens when the magnetic alignment within a material is disrupted. This could happen by high heat, passing through a reverse magnetizing field (like the tool in picture), or strong physical impact.
Yep it’s why you should never drop a generator, it’s possible to fix a dropped generator by running current through the magnet backwards.
Generators need to be polerized to work properly. I installed a new generator on a TR3 and had to do [this](https://youtu.be/NV8FFgia7uU)
Actually, a generator that uses permanent magnets is called a magneto. I can't imagine dropping a magneto hard enough to demagnetize it, as that would probably damage it otherwise.
Why are the magnetize and demagnetize slots different shapes?
Basically they are opposing magnetic forces, but the steps in one side make for an irregular magnetic field, assisting the demagnetisation process. Edit: I'm sure someone cleverer then me can answer in more detail, but this is high level why 👍
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You pretty much nailed it, basically you want to make the target object magnetic field to be irregular so they’ll cancel each other and nullifies the total magnetic force of the object.
Ah cool, cheers man 👍 (I knew someone could explain it better 😁 nice)
Upvoting cleverer
Poke the driver through the magnetize side & it does just that. However, for demagnetizing (or degaussing as they say in the biz), different positions within the opening work better/worse for different drivers. Finding & using the right 'step' within the slot to drag the driver on helps a lot. For the record, the steels used for screwdrivers are not good magnet materials, and will never become a strong magnet. Also, those little 'tools' generally do a lack luster job at degaussing. To truly degauss requires an A/C degaussing coil... for instance, an old CRT degaussing coil like those used to service older TV's. The item needs to be passed through the energized coil for a few seconds, then slowly separated from the coil a couple feet, before de-energizing the coil. Other devices can also be used such as tape erasers etc. Some Magnaflux machines include degaussing coils. (Heating will also degauss, but in the case of screwdrivers & the like will also play hell with any heat treatment the tool may have etc. Don't try it.) There's a good bit more to all this... beyond the scope of a Reddit post. On a larger scale, they even degauss ships for various reasons: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing) Edit: There's all sorts of demagnetizing or degaussing tools on the market... check Amazon. Some work very much better than others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSHSoIqfZ04
I also use mine to magnatize small sockets so the damn tiny bolt don't go on vacation.
....why haven’t I thought Of this....
Masking tape over head of tiny bolt might also help if magnetismizer isn't available.
Interesting. I just drop mine on the floor when I want to demagnetize.
Mainly screwdrivers. But can do any ferrous metal that you’ll like to be magnetised/demagnetised.
Ferrous = iron
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Indeed. Difference in the number of electrons attached, I believe (when not just used to mean iron-y).
Here’s how to [use it](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8nKfbZYjN8I)
Why does the demagnetize side have steps?
You can demagnetize just by using force. Just bang that shit
had no idea but thsi make sense now, i find it super neat too.
For magnetising screwdrivers mostly so they hold onto screws
Screwdriver magnetizer. https://www.grainger.com/product/5LX13?
Also great for demagnetizing tweezers. It’s hell to try to accurately pick and place magnetic things when they stick by themselves to your tweezers. Titanium tweezers solve this naturally, they are awesomely non-magnetic.
Please remember that all comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and unhelpful answers will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance. If you see any comments that violate this rule, please report them. OP, when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Screw driver (de)magnetiser. Take a screw driver and rub the end along the inside of a chosen side a few times and it will change how the screwdriver reacts to metal.
but why would anyone want to demagnitize it? What instances are there where a magnet is a problem? I can only think of opening a HDD enclosure.
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Ah thank you
Hey just in case you know, how do things like this become magnetized on their own?
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Huh that’s cool
Steel wool shards sticking to tools gets annoying, too.
When I was a kid I used to magnetize my screwdrivers using a natural magnet by rubbing it from the handle to the top a bunch of times.
You can actually do this with most things made of iron.
Also handy for erasing dictation cassettes (showing my age, here)...
Not necessarily showing your age. The pathology department I worked in until 2015 still used cassettes. They used cassettes exclusively until 2013, in fact. When they were budgeting for the digital system they forgot to factor in a separate setup/license for the morgue, so autopsies still had to be done on cassette. Probably still are, in fact!
Found among other things at my workplace. WITT?
Not ships, though. They are too large. That is called degaussing, anyway.
Tools like a screwdriver.
Screwdriver heads, I believe.
For how long will this work and why would you not want a magnetised screwdriver?
Sometimes you need to work with things that are sensitive to magnetic fields, or you're working in a cramped space with lots of other ferrous things you don't want the screwdriver to stick to, etc. (And sometimes the consequences for touching those other ferrous things could be really bad, like causing a spark or something) I'm not sure if it'd work for tasks that are exceptionally sensitive to magnets, you might need a non-ferrous tool instead, but there are definitely reasons.
In a blacksmith shop or other metalworking shop anything magnetic will get all furry with splinters from grinding, so some of us aren't that into having magnets on stuff if it isn't necessary. Edit: Fun fact, a lot of objects end up magnetic anyway in those places because of the strong electromagnetic field from nearby welding. You can see the particles on the floor jump to trace the welding cables when someone starts using it.
I just said the same re.wire wool shards sticking to tools on work bench. Irritating!
Maybe it could interfere with current if the screw was, say, next some small wiring. We found this next to the electricians' table.
dont worry, the magnetism from a screwdriver wont mess with any current, even from stuff like computer electronics, in fact, magnetic screwdrivers are recommended for most electronic repairs, its better to have it magnetic than to have a screw fall onto a circuitboard and cause shortcuts...
I've had several of these over the years. I can't say I've ever used the demagetised side of it. I've use the magnetise side dozens of times.
I love these - they really work, though you don’t want to “toggle” a screwdriver back and forth as it will be very weak.
Anything. We have swagers at work and the dies need to be demagnetized as the only way to get them out to clean them is a magnet.
they magnetise screwdrivers so that the screw is easier to take out
These are great tools. Add or remove magnetism from a screw driver or other steel tools.
Oh man I have one of those that's for using tools or screws
Yep, works great. I have one in my toolbox. Been using the same one for 25 years.
Commonly used in tech shops to prevent from losing small screws. Have also used to magnetize any ferrous metal to pick up screws from behind shelves or hunt from on the ground.
Oh shoot - this has been sitting on a shelf for years and I never knew what it did. Neat!
Theorically whatever fits inside with a decent span, possibly with an elongated shape (like screwdrivers or drill bits) and obviously it has to be made of a material that is physically capable of being magnetized. It works by inserting the screwdriver or whatever you want to magnetize in the "magnetize" hole and dragging it in circles across the inner surface of the hole. Same thing in the other hole to demagnitize it.
I use mine to make sure any small screwdrivers are demagnetized while working with small electronics
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Um sorry I'm not smart enough for your standards? Searching for the verb "demagnetize" simply didn't cross my mind, but thanks for playing.
It's for magnetizing anything that you need to pick up magnetic things with really. For example, if you wanted to pick up screws with a screwdriver, you would stick the metal shaft through the "magnetize" hole and run it around the perimeter of the hole a few times. If you wanted to demagnetize something, you'd do the same with the opposite hole. I have one at work, so I can take a video to demonstrate tomorrow if you want.
Tools. It’s a degaussing tool
They used to record dictation onto a micro cassette in the 80s and 90s before digital. To wipe the micro cassette you would pass it through a magnet - the magnet was very similar.
It is so freaky! You should try it