****ing magnets, how do they work?
WELL, most metals are paramagnetic, meaning that their magnetic electrons only align and are magnetic when they are in a magnetic field, and are random when they are not.
Fe, Co and Ni are FERROMAGNETIC, meaning their magnetic electrons keep their alignment when they are out of a magnetic field. Why? They have unbalanced 3d orbitals.
Cu is ANTIFERROMAGNETIC, meaning that they have no magnetic charge even in a magnetic field. Why? The magnetic electrons alternate in opposite directions, so they have no net magnetism
There is also FERRIMAGNETIC materials, such as Fe(x)O(y). This is because there are different types of Iron Oxides (e.g. FeO and Fe2O3) which only partially cancel out the net magnetic moment. So, they have a weaker magnetism.
I'm working from memory here, so research it properly yourself, but I think this won't lead you to far astray.
To understand hard and soft magnetism, look into magnetic domains. well worth it.
EDIT:
oh, wood isn't crystalline, so can't align and can't be magnetic (DIAMAGNETIC)