Magnetized Drill bits

[boiss]

I have noticed that virtually all my drill bits have become magnetized, they have always got swarf etc attached to them. I haven't noticed this before when I used a hand (electric drill) it's only since having and using a vertical stand drill.
Any ideas why and how to demag them? I thought maybe an old electric shaver E core and bobbin.
Mike

[Yorkie]

I use one of these magnetiser/demagnetisers, mostly for magnetising screwdrivers, which I find very useful in holding steel screws when fitting them in awkward spaces. Cheap enough. You just stroke the screwdriver through the'magnetise' space a few times to magnetise it, or through the other hole to de-magnetise it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magnetisers-De..._Equipment&hash=item51a7b87f7b

I dare say that if demagnetised, your drill bits would soon re-acquire their magnetism, but you could then demagnetise them as often as you wish.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Joe]

Nice to know it's not just me! I've got files like it too.

A coil and a transformer would demagnetise them but it's one of those things that I never quite get on with.

- Joe

[pwdrive]

I have noticed that virtually all my drill bits have become magnetized, they have always got swarf etc attached to them. I haven't noticed this before when I used a hand (electric drill) it's only since having and using a vertical stand drill.
Any ideas why and how to demag them? I thought maybe an old electric shaver E core and bobbin.
Mike

All I can think of is pressure unless your set up is inducing a mag field.

Lawrence.

[Nick]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magnetisers-De..._Equipment&hash=item51a7b87f7b

These are extremely useful - had one for years - you can demagnetise lathe/drill bits etc. but the main thing I use it for is magnetising & demagnetising screwdrivers so that you can hold steel screws onto them, or if you are working on an Avo meter or similar, be sure that your screwdriver is completely demagnetised (Avometer movements can easily be put out of calibration by magnetised tools).

Every toolbox should have one...

[pwdrive]

I have a magnetic screwdriver bit holder that fits on one of my screwdriver shanks, great for retreaving hard to get at screws in the radios etc, better than wax off an old capacitor providing the screws are magnetic, a magnetic screwdriver bit holder is standard setup on my cordless drill, great for plasterboard screws you can dip the drill into the box and pick up a few screws at a time, saves getting them stuck in the ends of yer fingers...

Lawrence.

[ex 2 Base]

Regarding magnetised screw drivers If you one of those instant heat soldering guns, simply pass the screw driver through one of the elements/tips or make another from a longish piece of large diameter copper wire.As some says all you need is low voltage AC magnetic field. I notice milling cutter also get magnetised which can be a bit of a nuisance. I made a growler several years ago, and use it for de-magnetising larger things. For those not in the know, a growler was a common device often found in larger garages years ago and today in motor rewind shops for locating armature and stator faults. Basically it is half of a transformer. Mine was a large low voltage transformer,I removed the low voltage winding and carefully milled away the core to form a VEE so that I could lay an armature in the VEE. When the primary is connect to the electric supply and with an armature in place it becomes the secondary, and with a 6" steel rule or a piece of broken hacksaw blade placed just above the armature it will vibrate in simpathy with the 50Hz mains.I used my growler to locate faults on car and motor bike dynamos, its a quick,cheap and simple test.There is another type or shape for fitting inside motor stators, the principle is the same. I'm sure there are other more modern tester on the market, but mine works.Ted