Introduction: Optionally Magnetic Screwdriver

About: Mostly a programmer and random computer guy, but like to mess with hardware and other real life objects sometimes.

Kind of more of an idea then a complex instruction but one that hadn't hit me before and made me go "Why didn't I do this before"?

Magnetic screwdrivers are very handy for keeping screws, especially those so small they are barely visible, stuck to the screwdriver. However, also very unhandy around disks, hard drives, TV sets, etc and not all screwdrivers are in the first place and can be in the way getting the screws off it. With a ferromagnetic but not magnetized screwdriver and a neodyme magnet, you can have it both ways.

Step 1: Put It On

Attach the neodyme to the screwdriver. This temporarily magnetizes the whole thing, strength depending on magnet and closeness to the tip.

Step 2: Use

No more fiddling with keeping a tiny screw stuck - stick it on and put it in or vice versa expect it to be stuck when getting it off. Here I'm using it to replace the battery in a cheap happy meal racing game toy for my daughter (as an additional much narrower tip, an average zinc-air hearing aid battery seems to work instead of the magnesium ones in these, at least to extend it's use as long as she cared).

Step 3: More Magnets, More Power

Here I'm using two magnets, closer to the tip, for the larger outside screws of the same toy to keep the heavier screws in place. And also a three-wing driver since McD uses those whacky triangle screws for their toys for some reason.

Step 4: Conclusion

Removing the magnet again makes the driver now again non-magnetic, handy for dropping small screws off the tip (into appropriate container rather then the floor hopefully). Some mild magnetism might remain, especially if done often, but no more then from a magnetic hanger stand I would think. It certainly doesn't seem magnetic after, though eventually I suppose it might.