Demagnetizing a screwdriver

these days, tool companies have found that a lot of people like the handiness of magnetized screwdrivers, so its sometimes hard to find a good set that isnt magnetized. but for some things, such as replacing sensitive electronics like hard drives, its necessary to have a completely demagnetized screwdriver. in this instructable, i'll show you how to demagnetize a screwdriver with heat.

Step 1: Materials

its simple. all you need is a (magnetized) screwdriver, and a heating element. i used an electric stove, but a gas stove, blowtorch, or gas welding torch would also work

Comments

[craig3]

I don't understand why you would need a demagnetized screwdriver for hard drives. Hard drive has some of the strongest magnets inside the case, they work by using magnets dont they?

[IncrediblyCondensedBlackMatter]

you go ahead and use your nice magnetized screwdriver to switch out your harddrive... i bet the cost of the harddrive youll be SOL. they use magnets, but those magnets are placed very precisely. the platters of a harddrive have memory stored in them magnetically. to "flip bits" the internal magnetized head goes over them. getting another magnet close to a harddrive will not only erase it, but also destroy it.

[craig3]

but such a weak magnet like a magnetic screw driver? With the screws on each corner, and now actually immediately close to the discs, it couldn't do THAT much damage to it, surely

[IncrediblyCondensedBlackMatter]

it's generally accepted as an unworthy risk, it's always possible, better to just buy a demagnetized screwdriver or do it yourself

[Phil B]

Sometimes a magnetized tool is an asset. A screwdriver can hold a screw on its tip while trying to install it down a hole in a constricted area. Sometimes a magnetized tool is a pain and you want it demagnetized. I have some pliers and screwdrivers that have become magnetized and wish these were not. Although I no longer have it, I once had the frame of an old electric motor from a junk garbage disposal. I could connect it to AC line voltage and quickly dip the tool into the center opening a couple of times. It was demagnetized without the need to restore the temper of the tool's steel. (I did not want to leave the motor frame plugged in for more than a few seconds. It overloaded circuits fairly quickly.) I no longer have it because the windings eventually failed.

[Phil B]

After thinking about your Instructable, I decided to try a demagnetizer for cassette audio tapes to see if I could demagnetize my screwdrivers and pliers. It works very, very well. The demagnetizer is something I bought in the late 1970's at Radio Shack. Hold the magnetized tool near the underside of the demagnetizer and use the thumb to energize the demagnetizer. Move the tool away from the demagnetizer in an orbital motion. Release the switch with the thumb. This item is no longer in Radio Shack's stock, but you might be able to find one on eBay or at a rummage sale.