M4 PM2 Blade Magnetized??

J

Jsmalley9

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Jun 14, 2016
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77
So, I was taking apart my M4 PM2 to clean it and after a screw rolled into the blade laying on the desk I discovered that the blade is magnetized! Is this normal or did it get screwed up during HT or somewhere along the production line? I have a fairly limited knowledge on how HT affects the magnetization of certain steels but figured someone here would have an answer for me!

(I debated putting this in Maintenance, so I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum!)

Josh
 
Generally speaking, magnetizing something requires an magnetic field. At some point, your PM2 was exposed to one. It's not "screwed up" and it won't effect the HT.
 
Most likely that would happen when grinding the blade using a magnetic work holding device.
Definitely not a HT screw up.
 
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I have heard of this happening during the sharpening process on certain steels. It happens by other means, too, but none I can envision your knife having gone through. You can demagnetize the blade.
 
I have a 1” cube neodymium n52 magnet that I sanded to fit under the blade table on my EPA so I’ll assume from everyone’s advice that that’s how it happened!

Thanks for the replies everybody!
 
Jsmalley9 said:
I have a 1” cube neodymium n52 magnet that I sanded to fit under the blade table on my EPA so I’ll assume from everyone’s advice that that’s how it happened!

Thanks for the replies everybody!
Click to expand...
That'd do it! Mystery solved!:thumbsup:
 
Jsmalley9 said:
I have a 1” cube neodymium n52 magnet that I sanded to fit under the blade table on my EPA so I’ll assume from everyone’s advice that that’s how it happened!

Thanks for the replies everybody!
Click to expand...

That is exactly why I stopped using neodymium magnets (any magnets for that matter). Really made a mess of the sharpening process (at first thought is was kinda cool the way they collect the metal swarth). I started to run a separate magnet to collect all the swarth dust during/after sharpeneing.

Then I started searching out electric demagnetizer options to run finished blades over, after realizing the blade held the magnetism, but instead just stopped using magnets all together.

Additionally, a slightly magnetized blade will hold metal filings in the pivot into the future :-/
 
Steel can easily become magnetized if exposed to magnets. Particularly if the magnet is drawn back and forward on the steel's surface. You can magnetize a steel nail or pin by rubbing it a few times with a magnet.
 
You dont necessarily need a magnate. You can magnatize a piece of steel by rubbing It In one direction, not back and forth, on another piece of steel...old trick..for holding screws on a screwdriver...you can demagnatize by "slapping" or quick hit on surface..Aligning the molecules than busting them up again..

I think
 
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It happens. If it bothers you, you can de-magnetize it. There are de-magnitizers for sale and I believe most jewelers have them. I had a blade like that once and I believe I was told by the maker it happens sometimes during the grinding process.
 
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