- Joined
- Feb 17, 2008
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My favorite, and only, grand daughter (7 years old) paid a visit to grandpa Gail's workshop today. I use a lot of small super magnets around the shop and she thinks they are great toys. After she spent about half an hour at my steel top workbench she had about 25 magnets scattered around the workbench. When she left I also had a variety of magnetized bits and pieces including 2 files, several hex keys, a couple of HSS tool bits, and a couple of parts for my current engine project.
So, out comes my portable demagnetizer. It is an old Radio Shack hand held bulk tape eraser. Put the part against the face, press the button and pull the part away before releasing the button. Takes about 5 seconds.
I won't admit to being an old Coot, but I bought this eraser when they were sold for erasing reel to reel tapes before cassette tapes took over. As soon I got it, it saw a lot more service in the shop. Few things are worse than a magnetic file that refuses to give up the filings.
Keep your eyes open at flea markets, eBay, thrift shops, and garage sales. Going price for a used one on eBay is about 5 to 15 USD and about one or two dollars at the rest of the places. Well worth it as you can take it to your machine tool to demagnetize vice jaws and mounted tool bits.
Gail in NM,USA
So, out comes my portable demagnetizer. It is an old Radio Shack hand held bulk tape eraser. Put the part against the face, press the button and pull the part away before releasing the button. Takes about 5 seconds.
I won't admit to being an old Coot, but I bought this eraser when they were sold for erasing reel to reel tapes before cassette tapes took over. As soon I got it, it saw a lot more service in the shop. Few things are worse than a magnetic file that refuses to give up the filings.
Keep your eyes open at flea markets, eBay, thrift shops, and garage sales. Going price for a used one on eBay is about 5 to 15 USD and about one or two dollars at the rest of the places. Well worth it as you can take it to your machine tool to demagnetize vice jaws and mounted tool bits.
Gail in NM,USA