Magnetic screws?

S

SuburbanBarbarian

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Aug 12, 2018
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I recently got a CRKT M16-O1KS. Not a bad knife (other than I'm not a fan of the grind). The issue currently is that the 2 screws (or the spacers they pass through) near the butt seemed to have decided they want to be magnetic now. Is there a way to demagnetize them without taking the whole thing apart? I don't want to risk stripping a screw in the process. Honestly, I'm not even sure why they magnetized to begin with. I don't keep my knives on/near magnets and I haven't needed to sharpen the knife yet. I only noticed because I picked it up to put it in my pocket and it carried a safety pin with it.
 
I dont think there is any way with out disassembly. I think the only way to completely demagnetize steel is to heat it red hot. Not for sure on that though. I would try to just live with it. :)
 
Does your screwdriver use Apex bits? If so, it may use a magnet to retain the bits. My Snap-On ratcheting driver does. It will sometimes magnetize the screws. Why would that be a problem?
 
Henry Beige said:
Does your screwdriver use Apex bits? If so, it may use a magnet to retain the bits. My Snap-On ratcheting driver does. It will sometimes magnetize the screws. Why would that be a problem?
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I have yet to touch it with any screwdriver as it's a new knife and works fine. It's a problem because I don't need it picking up bits of metal when I set it down or filings when it does need a sharpening (especially since when it does I'm gonna reprofile it). I'm not buying a deguasser, so I guess I'll have to take it apart and start fooling with magnets.
 
If its a lightly magnetized the shavings should wipe right off. I wipe shavings off of my shop magnets sometimes its not really that hard. Just use a cloth rag, material like a washcloth works pretty well and gets most of the shavings. I am sure compared to a magnet those screws would have very few issues.
 
Magnetism can happen in a number of ways. Iron naturally has little magnetic domains that tend to point in random directions. These can be aligned with an existing magnet. Under the right circumstances, they can be jostled such that they become aligned with the Earth's magnetic field. Once you get enough of those domains pointing in the same direction, you get a magnetic pole. This usually won't create a strong magnet and that magnetism does tend to wear down with subsequent jostling and contact with things.

I've had screws and other small components come that way. It can be tricky when trying to reassemble things that are very small and delicate. I've just never had enough trouble to try and demagnetize something. Heat comes to mind but there seem to be other solutions. Do a web search on how to demagnetize screws.
 
I just want to say I have a demagnitizer, It does not seem to work very well for me... I think many things come out worse than they go in. Mine is pretty cheap though. Or maybe its just operator error.:)
 
:) I believe I still have an old tape head demagnetizer , around somewhere . One of those might work without disassembly .

Many of you probably have no idea what that even is (was) for ! :p
 
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