Best way to remove magnetism from knives?

S

stormshadow

Joined
Dec 15, 2003
Messages
137
Funny question; I've had my knives on a magnetic holder on the wall for about a year now, and they are all rather magnetic (ie the knives are now weak magnets and are attracted to each other and other pieces of metal). Assuming I was to no longer store them on the magnetic strip, what would be the easiest way to remove the magnetism? Will is naturally decay over time? It's not really a big deal, just a little annoying.

Thanks,
Caleb
 
Caleb,
Go to your local hardware store and let them know that you need a magnetizer/demagnetizer. It's a little cube with two slots (one for each function) so that you can magnetize or demagnetize tools. If you can find one with slots large enough, you should be able to demagnetize your blades.....hopefully.
 
NARCAR said:
Caleb,
Go to your local hardware store and let them know that you need a magnetizer/demagnetizer. It's a little cube with two slots (one for each function) so that you can magnetize or demagnetize tools. If you can find one with slots large enough, you should be able to demagnetize your blades.....hopefully.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much, I had no idea such a thing existed. This actually prompted me to research how to build them online, and apparently some people just use strong earth magnets. I had some kicking around, so I tried rubbing them on the blade, and sure enough, it removed the magnetism! Problem solved!

Caleb
 
NARCAR said:
Caleb,
Go to your local hardware store and let them know that you need a magnetizer/demagnetizer. It's a little cube with two slots (one for each function) so that you can magnetize or demagnetize tools. If you can find one with slots large enough, you should be able to demagnetize your blades.....hopefully.
Click to expand...

In my experience the cheap little things they sell at hardware stores don't completely demagnetize, and in your case may not make much difference at all. An electric demagnetizer is the right tool for the job and are not availible at most hardware stores. The price point might make them less than appealing for your purpose also.

You can make one if you are handy, by removing the armature from a AC electric motor and wiring it up so that you can power up the wire coils in the housing. Put the blade inside the housing, power up the coils, and pull the blade back out. This can be a little unnerving, the blade tends to vibrate and you might wonder if you've been electrocuted. I haven't noticed any permanent effects though:)

You can probably find a jeweler's shop or a watch repair shop that will demag them for you for a fee.
 
Justin King said:
In my experience the cheap little things they sell at hardware stores don't completely demagnetize, and in your case may not make much difference at all. An electric demagnetizer is the right tool for the job and are not availible at most hardware stores. The price point might make them less than appealing for your purpose also.

You can make one if you are handy, by removing the armature from a AC electric motor and wiring it up so that you can power up the wire coils in the housing. Put the blade inside the housing, power up the coils, and pull the blade back out. This can be a little unnerving, the blade tends to vibrate and you might wonder if you've been electrocuted. I haven't noticed any permanent effects though:)

You can probably find a jeweler's shop or a watch repair shop that will demag them for you for a fee.
Click to expand...

It's worth noting here that it's possible to receive electric shocks that do minor nerve and tissue damage without feeling it directly. I forget where, but I read an article once that went over it. I think it might have had to do with tesla coils or something.
 
TV repair shops used to be another good place to find a demagnetizer. Now that's it's all LED or Plasma screens, maybe not...
 
Well... since you asked... Simply heat the blade up until magnets no longer stick to it... someplace around cherry red.. then... well... you'll either have to have it heat treated again, or just chuck it and buy a new one. :)
 
A magnet is a magnet because all the atoms within it are lined up in the same direction, all the positive ends are turned in one direction, and the negative poles in the opposite direction. So to demagnetize something you have to jumble up the atoms. One way is to drop the item on the floor, maybe several times. The earth magnets you used did the same thing that a drop does, and that is to scramble the atoms so that they are no longer aligned.
 
I just tested my induction coil cooktop, the spoon went from picking up multiple screws to having no discernible magnetism.
 
Most stores have demagnitizers built into the check out counter, to disarm the security tags. Just swipe it across the counter. (not all places will have them) That's how I demag my tools and stuff that gets magnetized...
 
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