Somewhat OT - workbench magnetism

Bri in Chi

Bri in Chi

Joined
May 28, 2003
Messages
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I know there are a bunch of tinkerers here in the cantina, so I hope this question isn't too off-the-wall.I recently used a powerful magnet to hold down a part I was working on. Now half the tools on my bench seem to be magnetized. What a pain to pick up a tool, and find it all furry with iron filings. Or with another tool stuck to it. Any ideas about how to de-magnetize stuff. I mean my big cast iron vise is even affected. :confused: :mad: :grumpy:
 
I know some industrial supply companies sell gadgets that are used to demagnify small things like drill bits. There's got to be a cheaper and simpler solution, though.
 
Hit everything really hard with a hammer.

Im pretty sure this will realign the sub-atomic-magnetification-cellular-osmosis-particles which are causing the problem. If this doesnt work, your tools are possessed. Was anyone ever murdered in your shop? Perhaps there is a portal to hell nearby? This would explain the situation. If that is the case, you should have the magnetic items blessed by a priest or you may try drenching them with chicken blood. Hell, im no scientist, but I know this will work.

No need to thank me, I just do what I can.
 
"degauss

To degauss (pronounced dee-GOWS) is to demagnetize. Degaussing a computer display removes any undesirable magnetic field that may have built up within the display, causing distortion of the image or color. Display monitors with cathode ray tube (CRT) technology are subject to the buildup of magnetic fields. Many display manufacturers include an internal coil that will degauss the display when it is turned on. Some displays also include an external control that a user can operate to degauss the display at any time.

Degaussing a magnetic storage medium removes all the data stored on it. A degausser is a device used for this purpose."

Here's a link- some are affordable

http://www.datadev.com/degaussers.html

To me, it's clear that a passing UFO sent a mag-ray through your shop. Be careful when you degauss that the subatomic structure of all your stuff, which has been weakened, doesn't all come apart.

AA :footinmou
 
I've heard you can degauss small objects by wrapping an lamp cord around them and turning the lamp on and off a few times; the electric current disrpupts the alignment of the magnetized particles. You might be able to wrap an extension cord around your workbench a few times and attach it to a lamp. Might be worth a shot.
 
Jebadiah_Smith said:
It needs to be 5 lbs., made of pure silver, and swung by a virgin of virtue true.
Click to expand...

:D ROTF!!! :D
 
1. Dump every that's been charged into a box.
2. Go to the store and buy a 6 pack of beer.
3. Go to the nearest non-union machine job shop
4. Offer the foreman the beer for the use of his coil for ten minutes.

Worked for me once...

ps: If you go the hammer route, I can tell you that it works. Unfortunately, if you hit it hard enough to lose the magnetism, you will be hitting everything hard enough to break it.
 
Nasty said:
ps: If you go the hammer route, I can tell you that it works. Unfortunately, if you hit it hard enough to lose the magnetism, you will be hitting everything hard enough to break it.
Click to expand...

Those virgins pack quite a wallop.
 
Thanks, guys. Then there is this problem I have of brimstone smoke coming up from the trap door in the floor.
It's probably nothing. I'll ignore it.
I knew this was the right place to come for technical expertise :p
 
Nothing to worry about Brian...

You *do* stay out of the room at midnight...right?
 
Used to use a degausser to erase video tapes.
Also used a wand type electromagnet to touch audio recording heads.
Both worked by coil operating on alternating current.

The wand type lets you touch the object to be demagnetised.
Probably need a bigger one to touch each tool.

hmmm..........

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Way back when I was a toolmaker, surface grinding with certain steels produced a strong magnetic response. The degaussing in in a direct relationship with mass. That's why I suggested the shop coil to Brian. The small units won't touch the heavier stuff.
 
This is a semi-common problem with maillers. Depending on the direction of the charge you might be able to slide a magnet the opposite direction (north to south?) and demagnetize some things. A method I found works is to take my pliers and a solder gun (one with two nodes) and touch the pliers to both nodes then turn it on. The charge realigns everything. Of course both of these methods are dependant on the shape of the tool.
 
steels can be demagnitized by heating to the curie point (which varies depending on composition, but is way up there in the visible range), at which time the heat treatment is lost & it will need to be rehardened/tempered and thus this method is probably not applicable to your favorite tools or knives.
 
We had a small, about 12" Square degaussing device to remove the manetic filed from tools used on ferrous material at the last shop I worked in. Josh's idea is worth a shot, I'd give it a try anyway, sure couldn't hurt and might just work. The power cable from a 220 welder might work better if you had access to one.:D
OR you might try making a 220 powered worm digger. I just wouldn't stand on the ground with it plugged in though.:rolleyes: :D ;)

Barring that it looks like the last resort is to try Nasty's idea of the six pac and a local machine shop.;)

Edit:
Or you can see if there's any ideas in this search results from Google...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=demagnetizing+large+pieces+of+steel&btnG=Google+Search

Here's another one searching with Degaussing in the subject line...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Degaussing+large+pieces+of+steel&btnG=Google+Search
 
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