what is a rare earth magnet?

Dijos · Mar 5, 2003

what makes it different from the regular kind? thanks, joe

Belstain · Mar 5, 2003

it's just the materials it's made from. usually neodymium but there are a couple others that are used just not as common. neodymium is a rare earth that make for a really really strong magnet, about 10 times as strong as normal ceramic magnets. I can't remember what other rare earths there are or what exactly a rare earth is sorry.

Mike Hull · Mar 5, 2003

I'm not sure, but maybe these places can explain them.
http://www.indigo.com/magnets/neodymium-magnets.html

http://www.wondermagnet.com/dev/main.shtml

http://www.magneticarts.net/ceramic_block_disc.html

firkin · Mar 5, 2003

"Rare earth" refers to the group of elements that have atomic number between 57 and 71, inclusive.
The group is subdivided futher according to the location in the periodic table.

Some can be employed to make strong magnets, but being in this group doesn't guarantee that the element will be particularly good for making magnets though the elements in such subdivisions of the periodic table are grouped together because of some similarity in behavior and atomic structure.

C L Wilkins · Mar 5, 2003

What is a rare earth magnet?

It's a super, duper strong magnet. That's what it is!

"Almost" as strong as duct tape.

Gib Guignard · Mar 5, 2003

Thy are not play things, 1/2" dia. ones will raise a blood blister when thy come together. Handle with care. Gib

rlinger · Mar 5, 2003

Rare Earth? Didn't they try to sing some songs or something back when I was almost a kid??? Seems like they fell off the periodic table though.

rlinger

Mark Van Loon · Mar 5, 2003

if i may ask, where is a good place to get a rare earth magnet?

AlphalphaPB · Mar 5, 2003

I think that some hard drives have strong rare earth magnets inside the case. You'll probably destroy the drive taking it apart, so only do it to really old or defectives ones.

Eric Joseph · Mar 5, 2003

Rare earth magnets are available from Lee Valley Tools, along with hardware to increase their attractive power and mounting hardware.

These magnets are quite strong, but also very brittle. I've used them in furniture projects, such as to hold cabinet doors closed.

Check out Lee Valley's catalog, or website, which is, I believe www.leevalleytools.com

Polock · Mar 6, 2003

More expensive, stronger and can be more fragile. Some people put thin ones in sheaths for retention. If you need them for testing for non-magnetic in your forge, Radio Shack sells cheap bags of 10, round ceramic, with a center hole.

p moore · Mar 6, 2003

MSC has them, but they are very high. Hobby stores, like the ones
around here are called Hobby Lobby. 10, 1/4"x1/10" for about $2.50.
One will lift a 3# piece of steel.

Gib Guignard · Mar 6, 2003

There are dozens of places that sell them on the internet, do a search. Gib

R. Lemmen · Mar 6, 2003

McMaster-Carr carries them (www.mcmaster.com). I've used the pot magnets for industrial applications and they work quite well.

Reg ELLERY · Mar 7, 2003

If you get some from an old hard drive. they come with a steel backing and screw mounting holes. 2 of them on a block of wood and they make a good billet holder for grinding the scale off on the flat plattern. Don't let them get too hot or the glue will break down and they will come of the backing. Lots of fun. but yeah as someone eslse said they will grab your fingers. only about 1/8 thick about an inch long curved.