magnetizing screwdrivers . . . .

[a52-830]

when i was young, i used to magnetize my screw drivers.

i haven't done it in years, and recently, after chasing a screw across the floor, i thought about doing it again.

so, is there a reason *not* to do it? i notice you can buy socket extensions with magnetic tips now, so i assume not, but . . . . . .

 

[jumbojak]

If you work on circuit boards with memory devices it might not be the best idea. I try to avoid magnetic precision screwdrivers for that reason. Otherwise, I can't think of a reason.

 

[rlitman]

If you work on circuit boards with memory devices it might not be the best idea. I try to avoid magnetic precision screwdrivers for that reason. Otherwise, I can't think of a reason.

I cannot say that I have ever heard of a real-world example of a magnetic tool scrambling memory or a hard drive. It might scramble core memory, if you could find any. But hockey puck sized NIB magnets that would mess with an aircraft's compass and so have to be shipped ground would still not scramble a hard drive.

Tape media perhaps might be damaged, but even then, I doubt a magnetic screwdriver is of any risk.

 

[jumbojak]

I cannot say that I have ever heard of a real-world example of a magnetic tool scrambling memory or a hard drive. It might scramble core memory, if you could find any. But hockey puck sized NIB magnets that would mess with an aircraft's compass and so have to be shipped ground would still not scramble a hard drive.

Tape media perhaps might be damaged, but even then, I doubt a magnetic screwdriver is of any risk.

I haven't come across an example either. I do err on the side of caution when dealing with electronics though. It was one of those rules that was drilled into me during middle school. Probably one of those rules that gets repeated until it is generally accepted whether it has any basis in realty or not. I certainly won't fault someone for using a magnetic screwdriver if that's what suits them.

 

[disston]

A larger threat to circuit boards is static electricity, I think, if it produces strange flows of electricity where not wanted. But I'm not an electronics guy really.

All of my screwdrivers seem to magnetize themselves eventually. But it's often not very strong so some added magnetism may help.

 

[Eslader]

Tape media perhaps might be damaged, but even then, I doubt a magnetic screwdriver is of any risk.

I'm sure you're right - a screwdriver wouldn't hurt a tape. Back in the days of steam-powered television we used to bulk-erase tapes with what was basically an electromagnet in a plastic box. They'd put out several thousand gauss, and even then they didn't always erase the whole tape, especially if someone did it wrong and just set the tape on them instead of moving it slowly around on the surface.

I've built computers for decades now with mag-tipped screwdrivers and haven't ever experienced a problem. And you're even less likely to experience one now if you use SSD drives instead of the old spinning platter drives, because SSDs don't use magnetic storage.

 

[rlitman]

...so, is there a reason *not* to do it?.. . . . . .

Well, around my shop, the grinding dust on the floor means that if you drop a magnetic screwdriver (or even worse, one of those magnetic trays), it will be covered with an evil furry flocking of steel slivers. That's the only reason I can think of that a magnet might be a problem. And it's a pretty weak reason at that.

Ok, one even weaker reason. Because you get so used to having the screwdriver tips stick, that you start to drop screws when you're working with stainless or brass.

 

[wmm2]

I'm sure you're right - a screwdriver wouldn't hurt a tape. Back in the days of steam-powered television we used to bulk-erase tapes with what was basically an electromagnet in a plastic box. They'd put out several thousand gauss, and even then they didn't always erase the whole tape, especially if someone did it wrong and just set the tape on them instead of moving it slowly around on the surface.

I've built computers for decades now with mag-tipped screwdrivers and haven't ever experienced a problem. And you're even less likely to experience one now if you use SSD drives instead of the old spinning platter drives, because SSDs don't use magnetic storage.

At one place I worked we did have a floppy disk we think lost data from a magnetic screwdriver laying right on it, but never a hard drive.

 

[njric71]

I have this one: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-magnetizer-magnet-and-demagnetizer/p-00945021000P and could demagnetize it if I needed too. But I don't recall ever using the de-magnetize function.

 

[a52-830]

I have this one: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-magnetizer-magnet-and-demagnetizer/p-00945021000P and could demagnetize it if I needed too. But I don't recall ever using the de-magnetize function.

that is the one i used to use. i didnt realize the outside was a demagnetizer.

i find it amusing that the image features generic screwdrivers, rather than craftsman ones.

 

[tym]

One of my hobbies is working on mechanical wristwatches. Magnetizing the hairspring is a big no-no, so I've gotten in the habit of NOT magnetizing my screwdrivers.

For bigger stuff, I have a screw holder that my dad gave me a number of years ago.

 

[77Mini]

Well, around my shop, the grinding dust on the floor means that if you drop a magnetic screwdriver (or even worse, one of those magnetic trays), it will be covered with an evil furry flocking of steel slivers. That's the only reason I can think of that a magnet might be a problem. And it's a pretty weak reason at that.

Ok, one even weaker reason. Because you get so used to having the screwdriver tips stick, that you start to drop screws when you're working with stainless or brass.

I had the same problem with my welding magnets. metal shavings etc stuck all over them. Seemed you could never get it all off. I found if you use a blow gun and compressor it cleans them off nicely. Thats the only thing I have found that actually works well.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you leave a screwdriver on a magnetic parts tray long enough, it'll get magnetized. The other option is Wiha makes a screwdriver magnetizer, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[Spacey_G]

I have the Wiha mag/demagnetizer. The magnetizer works fine but I've had wildly varying results with demagnetizing. Sometimes it works as expected and other times it seems to magnetize the tool even more. Maybe there's a technique I'm missing.

Generally I don't like magnetized screwdrivers. No real compelling reason, it's just annoying having the tip stick to stuff when I don't want it to. I have some Bondhus t-handle hex drivers and some sizes are magnetic. Putting them back in the stand can be frustrating when they want to stick to the adjacent shanks instead of going where I'm pointing them.

Anyone have any tips on how to *really* demagnetize a tool?

 

[SuperCat]

I don't do a lot of electronic stuff, but when I do, I use this to demagnetize my screwdrivers:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Precision-Magnetizer-Demagnetizer-3601H/204664387
It costs $2.97, and it seems to do the job ok.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I don't do a lot of electronic stuff, but when I do, I use this to demagnetize my screwdrivers:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Precision-Magnetizer-Demagnetizer-3601H/204664387
It costs $2.97, and it seems to do the job ok.

I have one and use it. Seems to work well.

 

[Honest Bob]

A magnetized screw driver does get in the way for me once in a while if I'm trying to drop the screw driver into an area that I cant fit my hands from the side. It will try to stick to something that is not where you want it to go. For example replacing a part in a big laser printer.

Most of the time I prefer a magnetized screw driver and just deal with it the other times.

 

[Wamsutta]

I wish some company made a magnetizer without the demagnetizer.

 

[Ditch]

I wish some company made a magnetizer without the demagnetizer.

use the "wrap wire around the screwdriver" method

 

[pepi]

I wish some company made a magnetizer without the demagnetizer.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
It is not magic; take a magnet any strong one, better yet a hard drive magnet. <o></o>
<o></o>
Run it along the screw driver length wise. And magic the screw driver is magnetized.<o></o>
<o></o>
So simple it's stupid, no tool required<o></o>

Greg

 

[Two Speed]

As an electronics tech, there is nobody in the shop that does not magnetize their screw drivers.
We've also got one of these magnetizers which make it easy (I just scrub a magnet across them at home);

 

[warweapon762]

I have this one: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-magnetizer-magnet-and-demagnetizer/p-00945021000P and could demagnetize it if I needed too. But I don't recall ever using the de-magnetize function.

That type is the older style.

These are a vast improvement over those.