How to remove the magnetic property for screw driver?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods to remove the magnetic properties from a screwdriver. Participants explore various approaches, including heating and mechanical techniques, while considering the implications of these methods on the tool's integrity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about methods to completely demagnetize a screwdriver after it has been magnetized.
  • Some participants suggest heating the screwdriver to a sufficient temperature to remove its magnetism, with one specifying around a thousand degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Another participant warns that heating to such temperatures may ruin the screwdriver's blade by affecting its temper.
  • There is mention of the Curie temperature for iron, which is around 770°C (1418°F), as a threshold for losing magnetism.
  • Some participants discuss the use of a demagnetizer tool as a straightforward solution, contrasting it with the heating method.
  • One participant proposes dropping the screwdriver from a height onto a hard surface as a potential method to demagnetize it.
  • Another participant explains the underlying mechanism of magnetization and demagnetization involving magnetic domains and fields.
  • There are humorous exchanges regarding the use of Imperial versus metric units in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the best method to demagnetize a screwdriver, with no consensus reached on a single approach. Some favor heating, while others prefer mechanical methods or the use of a demagnetizer.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential risks of heating the screwdriver, including the possibility of damaging its temper. The discussion also highlights the varying opinions on measurement units, which may affect the understanding of temperature thresholds.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in tool maintenance, magnetism, and methods of demagnetization in practical applications.

oem7110
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Referring to following video, if I magnetize my screw driver having a magnetic property in this way, I would like to reverse the process, is there any approach to completely remove this magnetic property? so there is no magnetic property from my screw driver.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3yC...eature=related
 
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Why suggest anything, in your last thread you just completely ignored responses and argued them wrong.
 
I'll bite anyway, if you heat it up to a sufficient temperature the magnetism will be removed.
 
James Leighe said:
I'll bite anyway, if you heat it up to a sufficient temperature the magnetism will be removed.

Do you have any suggestions on what range of temperature will be enough to remove the magnetism?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
About a thousand degrees fahrenheit depending on the metal.

So you have to get it fairly hot.
 
James Leighe said:
About a thousand degrees fahrenheit depending on the metal.

So you have to get it fairly hot.

Thanks you very much for suggestions
 
At that temperature (God I so hate Imperial units!), you may well take the right temper out of the steel and ruin the screwdriver blade as a tool.
If this screwdriver is really worth saving then you should look up how to harden and temper tool steel. Here are the instructions - read them. At red heat, it will have lost the permanent magnetisation.
 
sophiecentaur said:
(God I so hate Imperial units!)

lol it's true they're horrible.

My american mind has been brainwashed to think in them!
 
At least on that link they tell you how to get the right temperature by the colour so, which ever side of the Atlantic you live, you can do the job.
 
  • #10
A thousand Fahrenheit will not quite do the job. The Curie temperature of iron, oem7110 that is the technical term for the temperature at which a material loses its magnetism, is 770 C. Or for you fans of Imperial units 1418 degrees Fahrenheit. By the way there is nothing really superior of Celsius over Fahrenheit, besides the ease of remembering the boiling and freezing temperatures of water. Now working with a socket set is another matter all together. Especially when you get to the smaller sizes. Is that a 5/32 or a 1/8? And adding pounds and ounces. Worse yet if you are British you might have to put how many "stone" something is into the mix as well. In those cases I do prefer the metric system.
 
  • #11
Ooooh, you're right, it's even hotter than I thought!

Anyway, in general, SI units own Imperial units.
 
  • #14
sophiecentaur said:
That's the smart and boring answer. :rolleyes:

Red hot is free and more fun! And you learn a bit about the nature of steel too.


And perhaps the nature of the plastic handle too:eek:
 
  • #15
Mmm smell those plastic fumes.
 
  • #16
Just drop it from a reasonable height onto a hard surface. The shock that goes through the screwdriver is often enough to demagnetize something that is that weakly magnetic.
 
  • #17
Have you guys never actually hardened and tempered a screwdriver?
But you are right about trying to demagnetise the handle end.
 
  • #18
I'm surprised you have!

Seems like allot of trouble to go through unless it's your lucky screwdriver or something heh.
 
  • #19
boneh3ad said:
Just drop it from a reasonable height onto a hard surface. The shock that goes through the screwdriver is often enough to demagnetize something that is that weakly magnetic.

I would like to know how this magnetic tools work in Magnetizing and Demagnetizing a screwdriver.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
  • #20
Magnetic materials can be magnetized in a magnetic field because the field will tend to align some of it's magnetic domains.

Demagnetization works by using a changing magnetic field in an attempt to 'scramble' the magnetic domains again, which will cancel the overall magnetic properties of the object.

Please see that link I sent you in the other thread, I think the 'true' underlying workings of magnetism would be very interesting for you.
 
  • #21
James Leighe said:
Please see that link I sent you in the other thread, I think the 'true' underlying workings of magnetism would be very interesting for you.

I doubt that he is ever going to listen to you James

I do applaud you patience :biggrin:

cheers
Dave
 
  • #22
if you hold it very near the heating element your soldering gun, switch gun on and draw screwdriver slowly away you will demagnetize the screwdriver.

This also works on CRT type color TV screens that have been placed too close to an unshielded speaker and got a purple "bloom" in the corner..

but why demagnetize a screwdriver? They're much more handy when magnetized.
 
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