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A Way to Cover Powerful Neodymium Magnets

A Way to Cover Powerful Neodymium Magnets
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Neodymium iron boron (NIB) magnets are extremely powerful. Even moderate-sized ones can be amazingly dangerous to handle at first.

In this project I demonstrate a simple, cheap, relatively effective way to cover 2-inch (5cm x 2.5cm x 1cm) NIB magnets. This size is commonly used in home wind-generator projects.

Materials: aluminum foil, duct tape, masking tape, double-sided tape.
Tools: scissors
 
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Step 1Safety Precautions

Part of the reason I came up with this covering system was because these magnets are so powerful that they can easily injure you. The covering as shown makes them much safer and easier to handle (though caution is still required).

If you've had experience with NIB magnets you've already learned this, and probably the hard way: these things are very dangerous if not handled properly!

Be careful with NIB magnets of any mass...any magnet larger than a penny is definitely dangerous (and even smaller ones can be if they slam together and shatter). These magnets are sintered, which means that they are not a solid mass of metal or ceramic, but are rather compressed powder. Thus they splinter or shatter very easily.

Additionally, they are so strong that two (or more) of them can react while several inches apart, and these two-inchers could easily rip one's flesh off if they pinch together right. They will also attract iron-based metal objects from a distance: scissors, knives, or other objects will unexpectedly be attracted.

So when working with these, before you begin make sure you clear your work area of any metal objects. Work with one magnet at a time until you become very certain of your procedures. If two of the magnets used in this project slam together, there is essentially no way to get them apart without damaging them (actually I'm sure a way could be found to separate them, but it's certainly best to not let them join).

When cutting the tape off the ends there is a special technique I use to prevent letting my scissors attach to the magnet, which I will explain directly
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25 comments
May 31, 2011. 7:12 AMking kolton9 says:
As a matter of a fact, J and K magnetics has a magnet seperator they sell, and if you don't want to buy a magnet seperator, they say to put the two magnets against a door frame and push until the magnets seperate, and keep going(trust me keep pushing, it's just safer that way).
Mar 20, 2007. 2:38 PMpyro22 says:
No, I mean united nuclear's magnets that many inches across. those are the ones that they tell you to plan you path through a room with them so they dont fly across the room and shatter into many peices. They affect magnetic feilds in an entire room and easily crush fingers and arm and make metallic objects shoot twards them at great distances. fun but insanely dangerous;)
Feb 26, 2011. 10:43 AMtool box says:
WT... giant !!!!
Nov 6, 2010. 2:24 PMglory110 says:
Hi, i want start working with this kind of super magnet , and want know have you information about them,, like they power of magnets and lifting power and something like that, i really need this info, if you can help me or know somebody who can please tell me by my email :moein_glory@yahoo.com
im really waiting and tanx a lot
Mar 27, 2009. 7:43 PMMr.Ownage says:
Holy Muffin man...

The is huge!

You could change the place of the north and place it in the south =P
Mar 4, 2009. 5:13 PMVagsmaCutter says:
Whatever you do don't do what I did. I bought two of these thinking they would be fun to play with. I put one in my front pants pocket and as soon as I went to put the other into the other pocket I realized that it was a bad idea. That being said and dumb, covering neo's is definitely a must which makes this a very good Instructable.
Apr 13, 2008. 6:24 AMImperar says:
I have 10 of these in my room they totally destroyed my computer and electronic equipment including credit cards
Jun 9, 2007. 4:11 PMcurlyfry562 says:
K and J have even stringer magnets than United nuclear, the big one pictured above is only N45 and no they are "not the most powerful" as UN claims, the scale goes to N50 which k and J just got a huge stock of like this one.
Apr 13, 2008. 6:29 AMImperar says:
Actually the scale goes to N52 and the one you have here are smaller in diameter than the other one with being held in the hand.
May 4, 2007. 6:09 AMJames (pseudo-geek) says:
oh my word that thing is huge. I want one. bad.
Feb 9, 2010. 3:49 AMlimeyyylime says:
now that they're covered, are they still harmful to credit cards, computers, electronics, etc.?
Feb 26, 2009. 5:07 PMcorncake21 says:
is it better to get magnets at kjmagnetics.com or magnets4less.com?
Dec 26, 2007. 5:21 PMbobdole says:
I found the best way to prevent chips and make these giant magnets somewhat safer is to coat them in a product called PlastiDip, which you should be able to find at a local hardware store. (It's used for coating metal tool handles with a rubberized grip)

You'll need some fishing line or thread, and a non-magnetic container for dipping (it comes in metal cans). Give it at least 2 or 3 coats (allow several hours to dry between coats)

For anyone who wants to buy these magnets to play with, be aware that they can be very dangerous if handled wrong, and for god's sake, if you've never handled neodymium magnets before, DON'T buy two... They are exponentially more powerful when they stick to each other. I've had my keys *embedded* in the back of my hand from careless handling of these things (broke the skin in one place and caused massive bruising). Play Safe!
Apr 7, 2008. 6:27 AMblacjack1 says:
hey guys i live in australia, and i cant buy off unitednuclear because i live outside of th US of A. i was wonderng if i transferred some money to someones account they could but the magnets for me and ship them to austraila.thanks
Jan 29, 2008. 5:45 PMetessema2002 says:
i saw some N45 neodymium magnet rings on unitednuclear.com and no warnings are given in the ring section. N45 neodymium magnet RINGS!! am i the only one that sees the possible damage that may result from carrying a powerful magnet on your finger everywhere you go? i think they should atleast have some kind of warning
Aug 3, 2007. 9:18 PMkillerjackalope says:
you can cut the foil with your thumbnail by setting it down on a surface that's not completely hard like a cutting mat and using your 1st 2 finger as guides by pressing them flat against the surface, I learnt this from many things I have done in life considering my slodering iron went missing and I am a lover of match rockets the tine foil makes a great many appearances in my life
Mar 19, 2007. 4:28 PMJohn Smith says:
Scitoys.com has some magnets that are even slightly more powerful than United nuclear's magnets. I have scitoys 12mm cube magnets, and bought over 12, only to end up with 3 not getting chipped. I really need to try this.
Mar 19, 2007. 3:08 PMpyro22 says:
good instructable. if you think those are powerful look at these monsters (they are near the bottom of the page under "Super magnets") now that's what I call a magnet
Mar 19, 2007. 9:51 AMroyalestel says:
WOW. This has really impressed me with the dangers of these magnets. Holy smokes. Great instructable.
Mar 19, 2007. 5:50 AMmrmath says:
Where do I get these things? They seem like fun! Maybe these are the magnets that we see in cartoons where someone holds out a magnet when the bus comes along, and they are pulled down the street following the bus. :)
Mar 19, 2007. 9:14 AMrockyt says:
are you covering them so to prevent chipping?

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